Pharmaceutical Side Effects

I'm so sorry you're experiencing that. How scary! Those heavy meds scare
me. Long ago my doc told me Benadryl (allergy -- with no extras) had the
most effect with the least side effect. It will put you to sleep, but not
prevent you from waking in the middle of the night. But then, maybe Ambien
doesn't either.

Tina


"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
Bear with me, this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to write.
Please be warned that I will be upset if I am mocked in any way about
this.

Caution: This is a strange one.

For about a year, I've been taking Ambien to sleep. Otherwise, I'm up for
days at a time (like now. I've been up since Thursday morning) Recently,
I've been accused by various family members of saying things that are
totally
out of character for me. For example, DD swears I gave her permission to
"have a few shots" of alcohol while she's in Germany, "because there's no
drinking age."

Normally, I'd pooh-pooh it, but the way she recounts the conversation has
a
total ring of truth: The wording, the circumstances, _all_ sound exactly
like me. OTOH, I don't plan to give my thirteen year old blanket
permission
to drink shots. I told her that if indeed that's what I said, I am
rescinding permission immediately.

Then, this week, a friend told us that he had tried Ambien, and he had
strange episodes where he said and did things that he could not remember.
One time when he woke with a beard full of yogurt struck a chord with me:
I
often find several empty cans of Diet Coke on my nightstand, and I swear
they
weren't there when I went to bed. I checked Medline, and it's true:
retrograde amnesia (and other similar behavior) is a known side effect,
and
it got worse the longer a person takes the drug. Their tests showed only
1%
of patients had the side effect, but their study only lasted four weeks.

Ay Carumba! I sat down with my family, and we just talked over all this
stuff. Apparently, I've been saying very strange things (and I no longer
have any secrets) for quite a while. They chalked it up to pain meds,
and/or
constant, severe pain. We've now worked out a contingency plan while I
get
off this medication: anything strange coming from my mouth needs to be
confirmed with Bob before it's considered permission. That kills me, but
for
the girls' sake, I don't want some whacked out thing that I said hurting
them. What doubly kills me is that I thank God I'm no longer driving, it's
scary to think that I could be out on the roads without a clue as to
what's
going on.

One other factor is that I'm on a huge number of different medications,
some
of which may be exacerbating the "Kath's a Whacko" effect. I am going to
call my lung doctor on Monday to get a consult with his pharmacy
specialist
-- she's a doctor that goes through all your medications to make sure that
you're getting the right treatment. This is essential because lung
patients
usually live on an amazing "Chemical Cocktail," and she's probably saved a
ton of lives.

So, for now -- if I say anything totally wierd, please bear with me.

Kathy N-V

That's why she specified Benadryl Allergy, without the extras.

It always ****es me off when companies take a good product (like the plain
Infusium shampoo I liked) and "improve" it. (The shampoo now includes a
light conditioner that nasties up my etremely fine hair).

I've never been a pill taker -- until now, thanks to depression. And I
have a major distrust for most OTC meds. I only recommend the Benadryl as
the measure I know of that does the least, and on the recommendation of my
doc.

Too bad doctors are not well enough versed in nutrition to recommend better
foods or herbs. My friend the herbalist refers to herbs as specialized
foods. Same as prunes are.

What does horseradish do? (I planted some a couple weeks ago, and hope it
can winter over up here)

Tina


"Sjpolyclay" wrote in message
...
Long ago my doc told me Benadryl (allergy -- with no extras) had the
most effect with the least side effect.

ah, but some people have strong reactions to that, and to other OTC meds
like
Contact and so on. Some people in my family see things coming out of the
walls,
so we don't do antihistimines, just lots of garlic and horseradish!!! OTC
does
NOT mean weak or safe for everyone at all times. Stuff affects you more at
different times of day, or different in summer than winter....
Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
http://www.polyclay.com

view my auctions at:
http://www.polyclay.com/Collage/auction.htm

What does horseradish do? (I planted some a couple weeks ago, and hope it
can winter over up here)


Its a blood purifier but mainly is REALLY good at breaking up mucus/congestion
so your body can get rid of it,especially in conjunction with garlic, onions,
and mustards. Great for allergy and sinus sufferers. Try some in your chicken
soup or salads.
Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
http://www.polyclay.com

view my auctions at:
http://www.polyclay.com/Collage/auction.htm

Horseradish and wasabe should open you right up also.
Susan W

"Barbara Otterson" wrote in message
...
On 06 Jul 2003 23:39:06 GMT, atspam (Sjpolyclay)
wrote:

What does horseradish do? (I planted some a couple weeks ago, and hope
it
can winter over up here)


Its a blood purifier but mainly is REALLY good at breaking up
mucus/congestion
so your body can get rid of it,especially in conjunction with garlic,
onions,
and mustards. Great for allergy and sinus sufferers. Try some in your
chicken
soup or salads.
Sarajane

For those of us who can't use onions (allergic), try
cayenne pepper. It works really great too. I always
know when I'm eating good Mexican food, my
nose starts to run. My sinuses clear out right
then and there. If push comes to shove, you can
pack it into empty capsules and swallow, for those
who can't stand to have their throat cauterized.
Barbara
Dream Master
www.dreamweaverstudio.com


"Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what
you have not; remember that what you now have
was once among the things only hoped for."

Do not do what I did with horseradish. My son grew it in his garden and
we had some so I could make horseradish sauce to go with the roast beef.
I chopped it down fine in my food processor. I took off the lid and got
a good whiff off it. It took my breath away completely and with stinging
running eyes I staggered outside. It took sometime before I recovered
from the vapours from it.


Heh, ask Becki about wasabi sometime (Japanese horseradish.....totally
different plant, similar effects). I think of her everytime I have fried
wasabi peas. EG

--
KarenK
Desert Dreamer Designs
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

Heh, ask Becki about wasabi sometime

I knew this was coming as soon as I saw it was you, posting about horseradish.
LMAO LMAO LMAO


Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right.." -- Counting Crows

I knew this was coming as soon as I saw it was you, posting about
horseradish.
LMAO LMAO LMAO

Gawd. Mike says I'm getting predictable too. Time to dye my hair or
something. G

smewches
--
KarenK
Desert Dreamer Designs
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

In article SzYOa.69816$1e.5309@fed1read04, "Karen_AZ"
writes:

Heh, ask Becki about wasabi sometime (Japanese horseradish.....totally
different plant, similar effects).

Actually, most of the "wasabi" sold is regular horseradish, mixed with dry
mustard and green coloring.

The "real stuff" is VERY expensive... hard to grow-- needs shallow stream type
environment amongst other things.

Some of the tubed "wasabi" have "wasabi" as the third or so ingredient-- these
are at least twice the price of the ones without, and none of the dry
(powdered) "wasabi" has any real wasabi in it.... I've seen the roots a couple
of times, for something like $15 for a small one that still needed to be
peeled, trimmed and grated....
Kaytee
"Simplexities" on
www.eclecticbeadery.com
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/simplexities

..
Actually, most of the "wasabi" sold is regular horseradish, mixed with dry
mustard and green coloring.

The "real stuff" is VERY expensive... hard to grow-- needs shallow stream type
environment amongst other things.

really? I will have to check my stock!
fake wasabi - how horrid!

. I've seen the roots a couple
of times, for something like $15 for a small one that still needed to be
peeled, trimmed and ....

gee- we have them around here and they are quite reasonable at Meijer's....

Cheryl of A HREF="http://www.dragonbeads.com" DRAGON BEADS /A
Flameworked beads and glass
http://www.dragonbeads.com/

Horse radish grows wild here in the UK. It is hard to get rid of once it
is planted in the garden. The roots go down forever.
Shirley





In article , Cheryl
writes
.
Actually, most of the "wasabi" sold is regular horseradish, mixed with dry
mustard and green coloring.

The "real stuff" is VERY expensive... hard to grow-- needs shallow stream type
environment amongst other things.

really? I will have to check my stock!
fake wasabi - how horrid!

. I've seen the roots a couple
of times, for something like $15 for a small one that still needed to be
peeled, trimmed and ....

gee- we have them around here and they are quite reasonable at Meijer's....

Cheryl of A HREF="http://www.dragonbeads.com" DRAGON BEADS /A
Flameworked beads and glass
http://www.dragonbeads.com/


--
Shirley Shone