![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 9:29:27
Hi. I was just traveling and requested that my film be hand-checked at the airport at gate security. I handed it to the staff in a zip-lok baggie. When they did the swipes to hand-check, they picked up something on their analytical equipment. The gentleman asked if I took any blood pressure medication and said some residue might have gotten on the baggie. I said yes. (I have atenolol for anxiety). Of course who knows if any of the other meds might do it too. Maybe it was something else altogether. He stopped asking questions when I said yes about the blood pressure medication. They had to then go through my purse and backpack and do a bunch of swipes. I don't know exactly how their equipment works or what it detects, but I thought y'all might like to know about it in case you request any hand-checks at the airport. It wasn't a big deal and they said it wasn't uncommon, but it added an extra 10 minutes or so to my getting through security.
Emme
Posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 10:15:06
In reply to meds, film, airport security, posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 9:29:27
Never mind my previous post.....after much googling, I think I finally figured it out. The explosives detection equipment pickes up nitrate. That would include nitroglycerine, which I don't take, but tons of people do. In my case, when I use my day pack for hiking/camping I carry waterproof matches in it. Even though I'd taken them out when I packed, there must have been residues that got on the zip lok. Anyway, I guess it pays to think about what's been floating around in your luggage.
Posted by SLS on May 18, 2004, at 10:37:56
In reply to Mighta been the matches, posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 10:15:06
Hi Emme.
What's going on with memantine? I'm up to 30mg. I hope it's working for you.
- Scott
Posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 13:55:36
In reply to Memantine. Are you still taking it?, posted by SLS on May 18, 2004, at 10:37:56
Hi Scott,
I'm afraid I'm doing a *really* poor job of managing my meds with anything resembling logic or consistency. I tried to go up to 5 mg, but it still seemed to activating. I've been trying a smaller amount, like 1.25, or 1.25 every other day. But I keep forgetting to take it, or I lose track of the days and I forget to write it on a calendar! So I keep ending up with extra days in between. I'm not sure I'm being consistent enough for it to be a fair trial or to say it it's helping or not.
My worst problem recently is anxiety over the top and poor sleeping and I'm not being at all uniform in how I'm treating it. I don't know why I seem to be so scattered. We now have several options to help control anxiety/sleep and I'm having a hard time deciding which is best.
Plus I'd really like to try SJW and my pdoc didn't think it would be an optimal choice. But nothing about me is typical, so why not? So I'm thinking of going off-road and trying it without her - I'm not taking any SSRIs or MAOIs or Effexor or tryciclics, etc. so I can't foresee an interaction problem. Trazodone sometimes, but I can omit that if I try SJW.
I should hear sometime this week if I'm going to get a job I want. If I don't get it, and I know my interview was not stellar, I'm afraid the depression will nosedive again.
Sorry for the rambling post with unrelated topics. :)
How are you doing? Is the 30 mg doing anything for you? Are you trying any other changes? I hope your spirits are at least staying intact.
Emme
> Hi Emme.
>
> What's going on with memantine? I'm up to 30mg. I hope it's working for you.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on May 18, 2004, at 20:22:33
In reply to Re: Memantine. Are you still taking it? » SLS, posted by Emme on May 18, 2004, at 13:55:36
Hi Emme.
> How are you doing?
Things pretty much well suck.
> Is the 30 mg doing anything for you?
I don't think so.
> Are you trying any other changes?
I asked my doctor for permission to increase Zoloft from 250mg to 300mg. I started yesterday. It is already making me feel pretty loopy. I don't think it will help, but I wanted to fully explore it. There aren't too many stones left for me to turn.
> I hope your spirits are at least staying intact.
They are, but the hell if I can figure out why.
- Scott
Posted by Emme on May 19, 2004, at 11:06:44
In reply to Re: Memantine. Are you still taking it?, posted by SLS on May 18, 2004, at 20:22:33
Hi Scott,
> Things pretty much well suck.I'm sorry you're still feeling miserable.
> > Is the 30 mg doing anything for you?
> I don't think so.That's too bad. I wonder if memantine is going to turn out to be a bust as far as AD properties. The pdocs' ears pricked up when it became available, but no one on this site has had a clear and sustained response to it yet.
> I asked my doctor for permission to increase Zoloft from 250mg to 300mg. I started yesterday. It is already making me feel pretty loopy. I don't think it will help, but I wanted to fully explore it. There aren't too many stones left for me to turn.My pdoc would say that on occasion, and then come up with yet another idea. Is your bipolar depression making you anergic and sluggish? I forget your history. You've tried MAOIs, yes? Provigil? Abilify? Have you been for a consulting opinion to get extra input?
> > I hope your spirits are at least staying intact.
> They are, but the hell if I can figure out why.Maybe because you're as tenacious as the rest of us here, if not more so. :) Easy to say, I know, but please don't give up hope.
Emme
Posted by SLS on May 21, 2004, at 17:26:26
In reply to Re: Memantine. Are you still taking it? » SLS, posted by Emme on May 19, 2004, at 11:06:44
Hi Emme.
Thanks for responding.
> > > Is the 30 mg doing anything for you?
> > I don't think so.
> That's too bad. I wonder if memantine is going to turn out to be a bust as far as AD properties. The pdocs' ears pricked up when it became available, but no one on this site has had a clear and sustained response to it yet.I make a pretty poor subject for evaluating the efficacy of antidepressant medications. That memantine produced any improvement at all is significant. For me, memantine was an unsuccessful bunt. For others, it might be a home run.
> > I asked my doctor for permission to increase Zoloft from 250mg to 300mg. I started yesterday. It is already making me feel pretty loopy. I don't think it will help, but I wanted to fully explore it. There aren't too many stones left for me to turn.My doctor cut me back to 250mg because I was feeling stoned all day long. I feel better for having skipped my evening dose last night.
> Is your bipolar depression making you anergic and sluggish?
Very.
> You've tried MAOIs,
Yes.
> Provigil?
Yes.
> Abilify?
Yes. I currently take 10mg. It takes the edge off of the anxiety and catastrophic thinking.
> Have you been for a consulting opinion to get extra input?
I've done that quite a few times over the years. I guess you never know from where the right answer will come.
Thanks for the support.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.