I was researching vagal nerve simulators and realized something that hit me like a ton of bricks!
I have taken a plethora of psych drugs to help with the symptoms of POIS (30 or so) and the only ones that have ever helped fall in the anti-seizure category besides just being psych drugs. Depakote for 10yrs which is anti-seizure and mood stabilizer and now Oxcarbazipine which is similiar in some ways. I needed 2000mg of depakote toward the end and am going up on the Ox right now (1200mg- 1800mg). I find I tolerate these drugs very easily whereas most other psych drugs make me worse; and would probably benefit from the vagal nerve stim immensely. You guys may want to consider these drugs, not becasue your crazy but becasue they may stabilize you for the time being. They wk different than other psych drugs and help physical pain and symptoms the most I have ever experienced. More than exercise or any supplement I have taken. They also help make your OCD and mood more stable. Talk to docs first, of course.
A neurologist once diagnosed me with myoclonis, which is a peripheral nervous system seizure- in a sense. Of recent I have not had much, but palpitations are fairly constant, except after abstaining for 1wk or so. This symptom is distressing despite the docs I see saying I am young and have a healthy heart and it will eventually pass.
I think these guys got something right with this study...
Anyone know when it will start?
Andy, you will be interested to know I have the same experience. I have had the best results with meds that were initially designed for anti-seizure purposes. I currently take Lithium Carbonate as my mood stabilizer, and Clonazepam (klonipin) for "anxiety". I put anxiety in quotes, because I've found it's really not what one would think of as classic anxiety (stress generated by obsessive thoughts, fears, worries). It's more of a nervousness that is pervasive in my daily life which occurs no matter what the situation. If I forget to take the klonipin, I experience symptoms like jitters, rapid speech, and an "edginess". All things that are somewhat like precursors to seizures.
I have also had HORRIBLE reactions to certain anti-seizure meds, like Trileptal and Lamictal. Felt like I was going through medieval torture or something. The most important intolerance was when I took Provigil, a "wakefulness promoting agent" that can help people who feel tired a lot. Well, after 2 days on it, it caused me to have something like a seizure. I was luckily in a hospital at the time it happened, and had many people observe the situation. It felt like molten lava was slowly filling up my body, starting from the base of my head and spreading throughout my whole torso, arms and legs. I was panicking and sweating profusely. The doctors told me their best guess was that I had a "vasovagal event", which I found out is doctor speak for a panic-induced seizure. It took some time for it to subside, but about 5 days after I had my first episode of psychosis. I've had to take an anti-psychotic ever since.
I strongly suspect that we will find out something very relevant to us through Dr. K's studies, more than we even expect!
