Re: DM rash,serotonin,Anne-Marie

January 11, 2002

Puffy has taken residence in my face, . Sorry, I

can't resist being silly about this. Beats crying.

How are you feeling tonight, ?? Hope the tummy

is quiet! I will add my two cents about serotonin...I

was flooded with it...doc had me on Paxil and Celexa.

I did okay on it. I got off if in the midst of all

the muscle problems, and I know I went off way too

quick, but I never noticed anything bad cause I was

already in such bad shape...but I don't recommend

doing it!

Lynn

--- jnumber1us wrote:

> Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination re:

> the puffiness.

> Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not

> really there.... "

> You all remember those adorable Puffalump(stuffed

> creatures) toys a

> few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it was

> her favorite

> thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a

> long time ago. Are

> your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could at

> times pass for DM

> hands, but it seems it's just my propensity toward

> rashes and dry

> skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have

> " mechanics " hands-

> mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> , the violet " rash " /coloring on the eyelids

> can be missed.

> When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web. The

> brain has 10% or

> less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I read

> the gut has the

> most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume the

> serotonin

> receptors are throughout the body, as well. They'd

> have to be. And

> those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I think.

> I'm no expert in

> biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the

> receptors from

> taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping

> more serotonin

> flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad

> thing that can happen

> (rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome.

> That occurs when you

> have too much serotonin in your brain (and body) and

> it can be fatal

> if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have

> occurred in people

> who've taken " normal " doses of theri antidepressant,

> but other things

> may well be a factor. I've come across many warnings

> to NOT take St

> s Wort or SAMe or some other things when using

> SSRIs becuase of

> this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that ahead

> of time, though!

> At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine that

> each person is

> different as to how much serotonin they have, and

> what those levels

> may mean. I find it interesting that, even though

> researchers have

> discovered what seems to be lower levels of

> serotonin in brains of

> depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is

> really a cause of

> depression. It's simply not yet understood. A scary

> thing to me is

> that so many children are being given SSRIs, when

> these drugs have

> not been tested in children.I've read that right in

> the inserts that

> come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult

> doses, and no one

> knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

>

January 11, 2002

Puffy has taken residence in my face, . Sorry, I

can't resist being silly about this. Beats crying.

How are you feeling tonight, ?? Hope the tummy

is quiet! I will add my two cents about serotonin...I

was flooded with it...doc had me on Paxil and Celexa.

I did okay on it. I got off if in the midst of all

the muscle problems, and I know I went off way too

quick, but I never noticed anything bad cause I was

already in such bad shape...but I don't recommend

doing it!

Lynn

--- jnumber1us wrote:

> Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination re:

> the puffiness.

> Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not

> really there.... "

> You all remember those adorable Puffalump(stuffed

> creatures) toys a

> few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it was

> her favorite

> thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a

> long time ago. Are

> your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could at

> times pass for DM

> hands, but it seems it's just my propensity toward

> rashes and dry

> skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have

> " mechanics " hands-

> mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> , the violet " rash " /coloring on the eyelids

> can be missed.

> When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web. The

> brain has 10% or

> less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I read

> the gut has the

> most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume the

> serotonin

> receptors are throughout the body, as well. They'd

> have to be. And

> those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I think.

> I'm no expert in

> biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the

> receptors from

> taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping

> more serotonin

> flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad

> thing that can happen

> (rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome.

> That occurs when you

> have too much serotonin in your brain (and body) and

> it can be fatal

> if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have

> occurred in people

> who've taken " normal " doses of theri antidepressant,

> but other things

> may well be a factor. I've come across many warnings

> to NOT take St

> s Wort or SAMe or some other things when using

> SSRIs becuase of

> this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that ahead

> of time, though!

> At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine that

> each person is

> different as to how much serotonin they have, and

> what those levels

> may mean. I find it interesting that, even though

> researchers have

> discovered what seems to be lower levels of

> serotonin in brains of

> depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is

> really a cause of

> depression. It's simply not yet understood. A scary

> thing to me is

> that so many children are being given SSRIs, when

> these drugs have

> not been tested in children.I've read that right in

> the inserts that

> come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult

> doses, and no one

> knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

>

January 12, 2002

Wow . I appreciate you doing the research on that and passing it on.

My Dr. had told me not to take any St. 's Wart or anything like that

while on Celexa. He put me on it knowing it was going to be " temporary " . I

have two very close friends on SSRI's. One Celexa and the other Zoloft.

Those drugs seem to be prescribed quite quickly these days.

Cari

>

>Reply-To: OurMyositis

>To: OurMyositis

>Subject: DM rash,serotonin,Anne-Marie

>Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 05:31:39 -0000

>

> Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination re: the puffiness.

>Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not really there.... "

>You all remember those adorable Puffalump(stuffed creatures) toys a

>few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it was her favorite

>thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a long time ago. Are

>your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could at times pass for DM

>hands, but it seems it's just my propensity toward rashes and dry

>skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have " mechanics " hands-

>mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> , the violet " rash " /coloring on the eyelids can be missed.

>When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web. The brain has 10% or

>less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I read the gut has the

>most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume the serotonin

>receptors are throughout the body, as well. They'd have to be. And

>those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I think. I'm no expert in

>biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the receptors from

>taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping more serotonin

>flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad thing that can happen

>(rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome. That occurs when you

>have too much serotonin in your brain (and body) and it can be fatal

>if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have occurred in people

>who've taken " normal " doses of theri antidepressant, but other things

>may well be a factor. I've come across many warnings to NOT take St

>s Wort or SAMe or some other things when using SSRIs becuase of

>this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that ahead of time, though!

>At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine that each person is

>different as to how much serotonin they have, and what those levels

>may mean. I find it interesting that, even though researchers have

>discovered what seems to be lower levels of serotonin in brains of

>depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is really a cause of

>depression. It's simply not yet understood. A scary thing to me is

>that so many children are being given SSRIs, when these drugs have

>not been tested in children.I've read that right in the inserts that

>come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult doses, and no one

>knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

>

_________________________________________________________________

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January 12, 2002

Lynn,

Paxil and Celexa at the same time!? They are in the same drug family. I

wonder why the Dr. just wouldn't increase the dosage of one instead of

having you take two? So many questions, so little time. LOL

Cari

>

>Reply-To: OurMyositis

>To: OurMyositis

>Subject: Re: DM rash,serotonin,Anne-Marie

>Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 21:47:06 -0800 (PST)

>

>Puffy has taken residence in my face, . Sorry, I

>can't resist being silly about this. Beats crying.

>

>How are you feeling tonight, ?? Hope the tummy

>is quiet! I will add my two cents about serotonin...I

>was flooded with it...doc had me on Paxil and Celexa.

>I did okay on it. I got off if in the midst of all

>the muscle problems, and I know I went off way too

>quick, but I never noticed anything bad cause I was

>already in such bad shape...but I don't recommend

>doing it!

>

>Lynn

>

>--- jnumber1us wrote:

> > Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination re:

> > the puffiness.

> > Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not

> > really there.... "

> > You all remember those adorable Puffalump(stuffed

> > creatures) toys a

> > few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it was

> > her favorite

> > thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> > Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a

> > long time ago. Are

> > your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could at

> > times pass for DM

> > hands, but it seems it's just my propensity toward

> > rashes and dry

> > skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have

> > " mechanics " hands-

> > mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> > , the violet " rash " /coloring on the eyelids

> > can be missed.

> > When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> > Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web. The

> > brain has 10% or

> > less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I read

> > the gut has the

> > most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume the

> > serotonin

> > receptors are throughout the body, as well. They'd

> > have to be. And

> > those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I think.

> > I'm no expert in

> > biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the

> > receptors from

> > taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping

> > more serotonin

> > flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad

> > thing that can happen

> > (rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome.

> > That occurs when you

> > have too much serotonin in your brain (and body) and

> > it can be fatal

> > if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have

> > occurred in people

> > who've taken " normal " doses of theri antidepressant,

> > but other things

> > may well be a factor. I've come across many warnings

> > to NOT take St

> > s Wort or SAMe or some other things when using

> > SSRIs becuase of

> > this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that ahead

> > of time, though!

> > At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine that

> > each person is

> > different as to how much serotonin they have, and

> > what those levels

> > may mean. I find it interesting that, even though

> > researchers have

> > discovered what seems to be lower levels of

> > serotonin in brains of

> > depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is

> > really a cause of

> > depression. It's simply not yet understood. A scary

> > thing to me is

> > that so many children are being given SSRIs, when

> > these drugs have

> > not been tested in children.I've read that right in

> > the inserts that

> > come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult

> > doses, and no one

> > knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

> >

January 12, 2002

Lynn,

Paxil and Celexa at the same time!? They are in the same drug family. I

wonder why the Dr. just wouldn't increase the dosage of one instead of

having you take two? So many questions, so little time. LOL

Cari

>

>Reply-To: OurMyositis

>To: OurMyositis

>Subject: Re: DM rash,serotonin,Anne-Marie

>Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 21:47:06 -0800 (PST)

>

>Puffy has taken residence in my face, . Sorry, I

>can't resist being silly about this. Beats crying.

>

>How are you feeling tonight, ?? Hope the tummy

>is quiet! I will add my two cents about serotonin...I

>was flooded with it...doc had me on Paxil and Celexa.

>I did okay on it. I got off if in the midst of all

>the muscle problems, and I know I went off way too

>quick, but I never noticed anything bad cause I was

>already in such bad shape...but I don't recommend

>doing it!

>

>Lynn

>

>--- jnumber1us wrote:

> > Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination re:

> > the puffiness.

> > Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not

> > really there.... "

> > You all remember those adorable Puffalump(stuffed

> > creatures) toys a

> > few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it was

> > her favorite

> > thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> > Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a

> > long time ago. Are

> > your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could at

> > times pass for DM

> > hands, but it seems it's just my propensity toward

> > rashes and dry

> > skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have

> > " mechanics " hands-

> > mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> > , the violet " rash " /coloring on the eyelids

> > can be missed.

> > When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> > Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web. The

> > brain has 10% or

> > less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I read

> > the gut has the

> > most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume the

> > serotonin

> > receptors are throughout the body, as well. They'd

> > have to be. And

> > those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I think.

> > I'm no expert in

> > biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the

> > receptors from

> > taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping

> > more serotonin

> > flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad

> > thing that can happen

> > (rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome.

> > That occurs when you

> > have too much serotonin in your brain (and body) and

> > it can be fatal

> > if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have

> > occurred in people

> > who've taken " normal " doses of theri antidepressant,

> > but other things

> > may well be a factor. I've come across many warnings

> > to NOT take St

> > s Wort or SAMe or some other things when using

> > SSRIs becuase of

> > this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that ahead

> > of time, though!

> > At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine that

> > each person is

> > different as to how much serotonin they have, and

> > what those levels

> > may mean. I find it interesting that, even though

> > researchers have

> > discovered what seems to be lower levels of

> > serotonin in brains of

> > depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is

> > really a cause of

> > depression. It's simply not yet understood. A scary

> > thing to me is

> > that so many children are being given SSRIs, when

> > these drugs have

> > not been tested in children.I've read that right in

> > the inserts that

> > come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult

> > doses, and no one

> > knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

> >

January 12, 2002

He was treating me for OCD and felt that a combo like

this would give me the one-two punch I

needed....pharmacist thought it odd, too.

Lynn

--- Cari Dorsey wrote:

> Lynn,

> Paxil and Celexa at the same time!? They are in the

> same drug family. I

> wonder why the Dr. just wouldn't increase the dosage

> of one instead of

> having you take two? So many questions, so little

> time. LOL

> Cari

>

> >

> >Reply-To: OurMyositis

> >To: OurMyositis

> >Subject: Re: DM rash,serotonin,Anne-Marie

> >Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 21:47:06 -0800 (PST)

> >

> >Puffy has taken residence in my face, .

> Sorry, I

> >can't resist being silly about this. Beats crying.

> >

> >How are you feeling tonight, ?? Hope the

> tummy

> >is quiet! I will add my two cents about

> serotonin...I

> >was flooded with it...doc had me on Paxil and

> Celexa.

> >I did okay on it. I got off if in the midst of all

> >the muscle problems, and I know I went off way too

> >quick, but I never noticed anything bad cause I was

> >already in such bad shape...but I don't recommend

> >doing it!

> >

> >Lynn

> >

> >--- jnumber1us wrote:

> > > Oh Anne- Marie, it's only your imagination

> re:

> > > the puffiness.

> > > Tell yourself " it's not really there, it's not

> > > really there.... "

> > > You all remember those adorable

> Puffalump(stuffed

> > > creatures) toys a

> > > few years back? My daughter had her Puffy and it

> was

> > > her favorite

> > > thing- poor Puffy. Not sure where he is...

> > > Mike sent me a great picture of HIS DM hands a

> > > long time ago. Are

> > > your hands back to normal, Mike? My hands could

> at

> > > times pass for DM

> > > hands, but it seems it's just my propensity

> toward

> > > rashes and dry

> > > skin and Raynaud's. Vicki, you've said you have

> > > " mechanics " hands-

> > > mine will get kind of like that, to a degree.

> > > , the violet " rash " /coloring on the

> eyelids

> > > can be missed.

> > > When wil you get SHelby's test results back?

> > > Cari, I did a search on serotonin on the web.

> The

> > > brain has 10% or

> > > less of the body's serotonin in it. I think I

> read

> > > the gut has the

> > > most, and the rest is throughout. I would assume

> the

> > > serotonin

> > > receptors are throughout the body, as well.

> They'd

> > > have to be. And

> > > those are what the SSRIs affect directly. I

> think.

> > > I'm no expert in

> > > biochemistry. As I understand it, SSRIs keep the

> > > receptors from

> > > taking UP serotonin. They block it, thus keeping

> > > more serotonin

> > > flowing " freely " in the brain and body. One bad

> > > thing that can happen

> > > (rarely I believe) is called Serotonin Syndrome.

> > > That occurs when you

> > > have too much serotonin in your brain (and body)

> and

> > > it can be fatal

> > > if not recognized in time and treated.Cases have

> > > occurred in people

> > > who've taken " normal " doses of theri

> antidepressant,

> > > but other things

> > > may well be a factor. I've come across many

> warnings

> > > to NOT take St

> > > s Wort or SAMe or some other things when

> using

> > > SSRIs becuase of

> > > this. I have yet to have a doctor tell me that

> ahead

> > > of time, though!

> > > At the least, you sure get ill.I would imagine

> that

> > > each person is

> > > different as to how much serotonin they have,

> and

> > > what those levels

> > > may mean. I find it interesting that, even

> though

> > > researchers have

> > > discovered what seems to be lower levels of

> > > serotonin in brains of

> > > depressed folks, they cannot tell us IF that is

> > > really a cause of

> > > depression. It's simply not yet understood. A

> scary

> > > thing to me is

> > > that so many children are being given SSRIs,

> when

> > > these drugs have

> > > not been tested in children.I've read that right

> in

> > > the inserts that

> > > come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult

> > > doses, and no one

> > > knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

> > >

January 15, 2002

hi and all :-)

jnumber1us wrote:

A scary thing to me is

that so many children are being given SSRIs, when these drugs have

not been tested in children.I've read that right in the inserts

that

come with the prescriptions. Some kids get adult doses, and no

one

knows if that's OK or possibly harmful.

Have been meaning to comment on this for, oh, almost a week now!!!

Finally getting the chance!!!

Unfortunatly, having two children that have been on and are on a number

of different meds, I have fretted over this issue more than once.

Ultimatly the bottom line is money, and how much it costs the drug company

to go through the testing and such thats needed for FDA approval.

By the time a med reaches the market for adults they have already invested

millions into the testing and simply just don't do testing on children

much at all. There are very very very few meds approved for children,

so when the situation is such that you have to put a child on something,

more often than not its going to be one thats not been tested on children,

as much as it seems like they should be the ones most protected by this

kind of testing being done.

I wish there was some answer, but unless the system changes this will

continue to be the case sadly. Thankfully our doctors have been very

careful and we start the kids on very low doses of any new meds so we can

be sure they are okay. This has not stopped one from causing more

harm than good that was not resolved by removing the med, but we have done

okay with the others thus far. Thus far we have had to work with

11 different meds between the two kids, and I have turned down probably

6 more that at one time or another one of their docs thought we should

try that I was not comfortable with. Its all scary and a real pain.

BIG hugs,

January 15, 2002