Cognitive problems update - dopamine and CFS.

[Guest guest]

Many group members are highly educated/informed about

neurotransmitters - I am not. Because of that, I will share some

personal information that someone could interpret that may help the

group as well as myself.

Proposed hypothesis: Influencing the neurotransmitter dopamine may

help clear up the brain fog and cognitive problems associated with

CFS. If someone knows how to do this with supplements rather than

medications, kindly share/explain.

Read my story only if you have the energy.

In addition to CFS I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder/Depression. I

started having panic attacks at age 17. I won't share my current age

(funny about that since I'll share all this) but I am in my middle

years.

I know that many doctors will exclude CFS as a diagnosis if depression

is present, however, I have been formally diagnosed with the illness

because onset came after an episode of the flu with very high fever

along with a period of extreme stress. Also, I my other conditions

never affected my ability to exercise or be a workaholic.

I have taken Xanax along with an antidepressant of some type on and

off for years. With the SSRI's and SNRI's,(Prozac, Cymbalta, Effexror)

I run into problems with the norepinephrine, as it can make me very

irritable and even more anxious. Thus, I cannot take what is

considered to be a " therapeutic dose " .

When I started having cognitive difficulties due to CFS, I tried

Adderral, Provigil, etc., but nothing helped me as well as the anti-

psychotics, such as Zyprexa, which work on dopamine. For some

inexplicable reason, medications which work on this particular

neurotransmitter really help me to stay awake, focus....in short, give

me my brain back

Unfortunately, Zyprexa is all over the news with the weight gain

issues, which is why I stopped taking it in spite of the results.

I am now on Geodon, which is similar to Zyprexa without the weight

issue ( in fact, it helps you lose weight).

My point is, I think I have been an experiment that may give evidence

that influencing dopamine may help CFS.

Perhaps someone in this group can or has simulated the results with

supplements, which I would rather take than all these #@$%$$@ drugs.

Let me know.

Janice