Re: Flagyl//Anxiety

[Guest guest]

,

It is my very ,very strong feeling that Flagyl produces its own neurological

symptoms - especially anxiety, unlike any other antibiotic. I don't believe

what you've described is simply a herx although I believe that Flagyl can

and does cause neurological herxes. I don't think a lot of the LLMDs realize

this yet but my own experience and research really makes me feel strongly

about this and people really need to be prepared for these effects.

When I first starting taking Flagyl, I got into a very weird psychological

state, very anxious depression that felt different to me than any other

depressions I've been through and I've been through a lot. I've been off and

on many antidepressants. At the time I wasn't on anything so my psychiatrist

prescribed Zoloft, which I took at a very low dose but wasn't doing the

trick. I finally figured out that the Zoloft was actually, in combo with the

Flagyl, making me feel worse psychologically. It was making me MORE anxious

so I quit taking it. As a psychotherapist myself, I don't generally

recommend that people take anti-anxiety drugs without antidepressants but in

this particular case, with Flagyl, I do strongly believe that occasional

anti-anxiety meds are best to take alone while dealing with this weird

anxiety. I understand that Klonopin is the best. I take Lorazepam simply

because I had it around. I find that I've taken it less and less and the

anxiety is gone, I'm just left feeling somewhat wired - having a hard time

sleeping.

In many other ways I felt much better after starting the Flagyl and now,

over 3 weeks later I'm really amazed at my progress but it took some doing

to deal w/ the side effects. I also noticed that the slightest bit of

caffeine w/ Flagyl would send me totally up the wall.

I do not mean to advise you - only to warn you about the anxiety and to do

some checking on this. I don't mean to tell you to suddenly quit your

antidepressant if you're feeling really bad. But double check this and

consider that Flagyl may be doing this and the side effect can be combated

but NOT necessarily with an ssri antidepressant. Please back channel me if

you want more information. I think this is really important because if you

believe the Flagyl is helping its critically important to manage this side

effect and it can be managed. I've done it and I've read of many other

people on the sci.med.lyme list who've handled it the same way.

I hope this is clear. I'm a little rushed at the moment but really wanted to

get this out. Take care,

beth

infected w/ Bb in 1984 in California

Undiagnosed bullseye rash

Low grade symptoms through 98

Late neuro symptoms 1/99

Diagnosed 8/99

No ELISA, Western Blot equivocal w/ 4 out of 5 Bb specific bands positive

or equivocal indicative of OLD infection

Abx's: 6 wks oral doxy, 11 wks IV Rocephin, Rocephin oingoing w/ Flagyl 1500

mg.

Live in San Francisco