Comments for neurodudes http://neurodudes.com at the intersection of neuroscience and AI. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:51:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Withdrawal: Paxil > Zoloft > Prozac by From front page http://neurodudes.com/2004/05/25/withdrawal-paxil-zoloft-prozac/#comment-778674 From front page Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:24:20 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=32#comment-778674 I would like to tell everyone about my experience with taking Paxil. I am doing this so that you may make an informed decision should you decide to take this drug. I was not given that option because certain side effects, though known, have not been disclosed to the FDA, physicians, or consumers. I was prescribed Paxil by my doctor during an especially stressful time in my life. I had no history of mental illness nor was I diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I took this medicine, actually a very low dose, from 2001 – 2005. When I decided to stop taking it, I cut my dose back gradually and weaned myself off of it entirely. I began having gastric distress. This began as I was cutting back on the Paxil and continued long after I quit taking it. I had diarrhea every day for 2-1/2 years. Just about everything I ate went right through me. This lasted all day long, every day. From my research, I have since learned that most of the serotonin in your body is located in your intestines, so it makes sense that if you take something that adjusts that serotonin level, then your intestines would be affected. I will try to tell you how this has changed my life. It affects everything that I do, from what kind of job I have, where I go, vacations, where and what I can eat. I have had many tests run by specialists and there is no other cause for the diarrhea. I can also tell you that there have been some very embarrassing moments because of this. About 2 months ago, as an experiment, I started taking the Paxil again. And guess what? The diarrhea stopped almost immediately. I found a blog called Paxil Progress, which is a blog for people who are trying to wean off of Paxil and it seems that my story is not unique at all. This drug causes bowel incontinence, bloating, horrible gas and pain along with the chronic diarrhea. I wish I had known what this drug would do to me before I started taking it. Please do your homework. The doctors will not tell you about the side effects and withdrawal symptoms, nor will GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil. Can you guess why they don’t tell you? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I would like to tell everyone about my experience with taking Paxil. I am doing this so that you may make an informed decision should you decide to take this drug. I was not given that option because certain side effects, though known, have not been disclosed to the FDA, physicians, or consumers.

I was prescribed Paxil by my doctor during an especially stressful time in my life. I had no history of mental illness nor was I diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I took this medicine, actually a very low dose, from 2001 – 2005. When I decided to stop taking it, I cut my dose back gradually and weaned myself off of it entirely.

I began having gastric distress. This began as I was cutting back on the Paxil and continued long after I quit taking it. I had diarrhea every day for 2-1/2 years. Just about everything I ate went right through me. This lasted all day long, every day. From my research, I have since learned that most of the serotonin in your body is located in your intestines, so it makes sense that if you take something that adjusts that serotonin level, then your intestines would be affected.

I will try to tell you how this has changed my life. It affects everything that I do, from what kind of job I have, where I go, vacations, where and what I can eat. I have had many tests run by specialists and there is no other cause for the diarrhea. I can also tell you that there have been some very embarrassing moments because of this.

About 2 months ago, as an experiment, I started taking the Paxil again. And guess what? The diarrhea stopped almost immediately. I found a blog called Paxil Progress, which is a blog for people who are trying to wean off of Paxil and it seems that my story is not unique at all. This drug causes bowel incontinence, bloating, horrible gas and pain along with the chronic diarrhea.

I wish I had known what this drug would do to me before I started taking it. Please do your homework. The doctors will not tell you about the side effects and withdrawal symptoms, nor will GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil. Can you guess why they don’t tell you? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

]]> Comment on Plant neuroscience by guest http://neurodudes.com/2008/06/10/plant-neuroscience/#comment-778667 guest Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:43:39 +0000 http://neurodudes.com/?p=463#comment-778667 Neville, there's a patch of those same plants on the grounds where I work. Almost but not a symbiotic relationship if one were to ask me to opine. Five jpegs: verdant_1.jpg through verdant_5.jpg can be seen <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/k24anson/images/weeds/verdant_1.jpg" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Neville, there’s a patch of those same plants on the grounds where I work. Almost but not a symbiotic relationship if one were to ask me to opine. Five jpegs: verdant_1.jpg through verdant_5.jpg can be seen here.

]]> Comment on Split GFP reconstituted: A dynamic synapse label by neurodudes » Blog Archive » Evaluating different 3D fluorescence microscopy techniques http://neurodudes.com/2008/03/05/split-gfp-reconstituted-as-a-dynamic-synapse-label/#comment-778121 neurodudes » Blog Archive » Evaluating different 3D fluorescence microscopy techniques Tue, 27 May 2008 14:17:56 +0000 http://neurodudes.com/2008/03/05/split-gfp-reconstituted-as-a-dynamic-synapse-label/#comment-778121 [...] techniques. As many of you know, fluorescence microscopy is becoming increasingly important for many cool neuroscience techniques. But equally important in knowing how to properly image [...] [...] techniques. As many of you know, fluorescence microscopy is becoming increasingly important for many cool neuroscience techniques. But equally important in knowing how to properly image [...]

]]> Comment on Steve Grand on Strong AI by neurodudes » Blog Archive » Virtual Neurorobotics http://neurodudes.com/2007/08/18/steve-grand-on-strong-ai/#comment-775760 neurodudes » Blog Archive » Virtual Neurorobotics Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:24:19 +0000 http://neurodudes.com/?p=411#comment-775760 [...] that robot. While there are pros and cons of embodiment in virtual world (some of which have been touched on here before), I think that if your priority is closing the loop from embodiment to research on neural systems, [...] [...] that robot. While there are pros and cons of embodiment in virtual world (some of which have been touched on here before), I think that if your priority is closing the loop from embodiment to research on neural systems, [...]

]]> Comment on Adderall abuse with students by Mike http://neurodudes.com/2004/12/28/adderall-abuse-with-students/#comment-759380 Mike Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:14:28 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=74#comment-759380 I have ADD and a very bad bad case of it all my friends at school say wow dude you have the worse case of ADD i have ever seen and i just laugh and say thanks. i am a sophomore in high school and have been taking medicine since 3rd grade the first neurologist i went to was a phsyco he prescribed me with epilepsies pills! then he prescribed me with a generic alza or something like that, after this i actually went to a not dumb neurologist in about 8th grade because my grades were so bad 7th through 8th i went to a guy named Dr. Robert Kohn he is the most brilliant doctor i have ever talked to his ideas went beyond just trying different medicines to see what happens, together we found a perfect medicine from 8th grade till the end of freshman year i had been taking Adderall XR, with this medicine i had no appetite but incredible focus in the summer i wouldn't take it because i would be like a stick if i did. up until sophomore year in HS Adderall was working great but it all the sudden just stopped so me and Dr.Kohn tried this new stuff called Vyvanse this stuff worked miracles now i am getting a 4.0 and never been better. seriously if your going to take a ADD medicine take this shit it is absolutely amazing! this is my doctors site i was talking about if you wanna visit it and poke around http://www.drrobertkohn.com/ I have ADD and a very bad bad case of it all my friends at school say wow dude you have the worse case of ADD i have ever seen and i just laugh and say thanks. i am a sophomore in high school and have been taking medicine since 3rd grade the first neurologist i went to was a phsyco he prescribed me with epilepsies pills! then he prescribed me with a generic alza or something like that, after this i actually went to a not dumb neurologist in about 8th grade because my grades were so bad 7th through 8th i went to a guy named Dr. Robert Kohn he is the most brilliant doctor i have ever talked to his ideas went beyond just trying different medicines to see what happens, together we found a perfect medicine from 8th grade till the end of freshman year i had been taking Adderall XR, with this medicine i had no appetite but incredible focus in the summer i wouldn’t take it because i would be like a stick if i did. up until sophomore year in HS Adderall was working great but it all the sudden just stopped so me and Dr.Kohn tried this new stuff called Vyvanse this stuff worked miracles now i am getting a 4.0 and never been better. seriously if your going to take a ADD medicine take this shit it is absolutely amazing! this is my doctors site i was talking about if you wanna visit it and poke around http://www.drrobertkohn.com/

]]> Comment on Adderall abuse with students by Me http://neurodudes.com/2004/12/28/adderall-abuse-with-students/#comment-755492 Me Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:42:56 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=74#comment-755492 OK, you people talking about crashing are just being dramatic. Adderall definitely increases your ability to think, remember and it will make you a more successful person. Be smart about using it though. Use it when you don't have to sleep. I find if I take a 10 then I can sleep within 6 hours. So take it at 5 and sleep at 11. I have never ever woke in the morning and felt like I had a hang over, anyone who says that is being dramatic. Given though I have only taken a 10 in the morning then a 10 in the afternoon. It will help you. It is addicting. If you only take one a day and ween yourself off but taking one every other day or so, you will be fine. As far as depression, I personally have never felt it. I think it has helped with any depression I have ever had and has made me a more confident person. I am not saying this to get anyone to do it or anything like that. I am just trying tp put the rest all the drama some people are saying. I think if your responsible about using is and understand that you will need to ween yourself off of it, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls. OK, you people talking about crashing are just being dramatic. Adderall definitely increases your ability to think, remember and it will make you a more successful person. Be smart about using it though. Use it when you don’t have to sleep. I find if I take a 10 then I can sleep within 6 hours. So take it at 5 and sleep at 11. I have never ever woke in the morning and felt like I had a hang over, anyone who says that is being dramatic. Given though I have only taken a 10 in the morning then a 10 in the afternoon. It will help you. It is addicting. If you only take one a day and ween yourself off but taking one every other day or so, you will be fine. As far as depression, I personally have never felt it. I think it has helped with any depression I have ever had and has made me a more confident person. I am not saying this to get anyone to do it or anything like that. I am just trying tp put the rest all the drama some people are saying. I think if your responsible about using is and understand that you will need to ween yourself off of it, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls.

]]> Comment on 1 transistor per neuron recording device by BiPolar Disorder blog http://neurodudes.com/2006/06/04/sciencedaily-semiconductor-brain-nerve-tissue-interfaced-with-a-computer-chip/#comment-749606 BiPolar Disorder blog Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:00:02 +0000 http://neurodudes.com/2006/06/04/sciencedaily-semiconductor-brain-nerve-tissue-interfaced-with-a-computer-chip/#comment-749606 <strong>BiPolar Information </strong> Information on BiPolar Disorder BiPolar Information

Information on BiPolar Disorder

]]> Comment on Adderall abuse with students by RustyDendrite http://neurodudes.com/2004/12/28/adderall-abuse-with-students/#comment-742337 RustyDendrite Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:13:28 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=74#comment-742337 I have been prescribed Adderall for ten years. I was prescribed Ritalin for two years before switching to Adderall. Regarding the Adderall, my initial dosage was 10 mg instant release daily. I increased the dosage to 12.5 mg instant release twice daily in high school. My Freshman year of college I increased my dosage yet again to 15 mg twice daily. I abused Adderall in the later months of my Freshman year, taking 15 mg pills as many as five times daily. I would drink heavily to get to sleep. This year, after going through a train-wreck of an experience where I did not sleep for four days, I stopped taking Adderall for about a month. Realizing that my abuse of the drug was instigated by my underlying depression and discontent with myself and life, I started taking Zoloft to get back on track. Now I am taking 30 mg of Adderall twice daily with 200 mg of Zoloft once daily and I am sleeping well, accomplishing my goals and getting good grades. Adderall has done great things for sufferers of ADD/ADHD like myself, yet has a high abuse potential when the patient is not self-aware. Although I did become heavily psychologically addicted to Adderall last year, the experience has made it physically clear to me that I had mistaken the good that I saw in taking Adderall for the good that was actually inside me. My brain is even more capable than has ever been before, but this is only maintainable if I strictly adhere to my prescription and frequently take breaks from the medication. Adderall is not for those who do not actually have ADD, though it will not harm them if used extremely sparingly. For those with ADD, it is extremely important to know that personal motivation is the biggest factor in utilizing the Adderall. Although "medicine breaks" can help reduce tolerance via the brain's neuroplasticity, building up a tolerance to the drug is inevitable yet manageable. By taking too much Adderall for very long periods of time without allowing recovery, the patient is actually worsening their own condition because no amount of Adderall can replace personal motivation and natural energy. Basically, my message is that if anyone has abused Adderall in the past and has ADD--it is still possible to use Adderall responsibly and have it be as effective as it was prior to the period of abuse. For me, it took going into the extremes of taking Adderall to realize that the "optimal mental state" that I had achieved and was constantly trying to rereach, was not all a product of Adderall. Rather, by embodying that state in the pill, I was making it psychologically impossible to comprehend that 95% of my mental ability was already naturally a part of me. The Adderall just helps connect the dots for sustained periods of time--a task that is extraordinarly difficult for those with ADD/ADHD. Anyway, excuse me for rambling... I coming out of a cold that has put my head in a fog. I have been prescribed Adderall for ten years. I was prescribed Ritalin for two years before switching to Adderall. Regarding the Adderall, my initial dosage was 10 mg instant release daily. I increased the dosage to 12.5 mg instant release twice daily in high school. My Freshman year of college I increased my dosage yet again to 15 mg twice daily. I abused Adderall in the later months of my Freshman year, taking 15 mg pills as many as five times daily. I would drink heavily to get to sleep. This year, after going through a train-wreck of an experience where I did not sleep for four days, I stopped taking Adderall for about a month. Realizing that my abuse of the drug was instigated by my underlying depression and discontent with myself and life, I started taking Zoloft to get back on track. Now I am taking 30 mg of Adderall twice daily with 200 mg of Zoloft once daily and I am sleeping well, accomplishing my goals and getting good grades. Adderall has done great things for sufferers of ADD/ADHD like myself, yet has a high abuse potential when the patient is not self-aware. Although I did become heavily psychologically addicted to Adderall last year, the experience has made it physically clear to me that I had mistaken the good that I saw in taking Adderall for the good that was actually inside me. My brain is even more capable than has ever been before, but this is only maintainable if I strictly adhere to my prescription and frequently take breaks from the medication. Adderall is not for those who do not actually have ADD, though it will not harm them if used extremely sparingly. For those with ADD, it is extremely important to know that personal motivation is the biggest factor in utilizing the Adderall. Although “medicine breaks” can help reduce tolerance via the brain’s neuroplasticity, building up a tolerance to the drug is inevitable yet manageable. By taking too much Adderall for very long periods of time without allowing recovery, the patient is actually worsening their own condition because no amount of Adderall can replace personal motivation and natural energy. Basically, my message is that if anyone has abused Adderall in the past and has ADD–it is still possible to use Adderall responsibly and have it be as effective as it was prior to the period of abuse. For me, it took going into the extremes of taking Adderall to realize that the “optimal mental state” that I had achieved and was constantly trying to rereach, was not all a product of Adderall. Rather, by embodying that state in the pill, I was making it psychologically impossible to comprehend that 95% of my mental ability was already naturally a part of me. The Adderall just helps connect the dots for sustained periods of time–a task that is extraordinarly difficult for those with ADD/ADHD. Anyway, excuse me for rambling… I coming out of a cold that has put my head in a fog.

]]> Comment on Withdrawal: Paxil > Zoloft > Prozac by Marianne Crist http://neurodudes.com/2004/05/25/withdrawal-paxil-zoloft-prozac/#comment-733105 Marianne Crist Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:59:20 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=32#comment-733105 I think this entire SSRI withdrawal is a bunch of malarkey especially if these people have been "suffering" withdrawal more than a month or 3. It doesnt tak that much time to get a drug, any drug out of your system. I have never experienced withdrawal for longer than a week or 2 and then it was because I slowly tapered off. These people who think they know more than the Dr.s' themselves are doing a diss-service to themselves and others who are legitimately looking for help without being so melodramatic about taking psych meds. I think this entire SSRI withdrawal is a bunch of malarkey especially if these people have been “suffering” withdrawal more than a month or 3. It doesnt tak that much time to get a drug, any drug out of your system.
I have never experienced withdrawal for longer than a week or 2 and then it was because I slowly tapered off.
These people who think they know more than the Dr.s’ themselves are doing a diss-service to themselves and others who are legitimately looking for help without being so melodramatic about taking psych meds.

]]> Comment on Adderall abuse with students by jamie http://neurodudes.com/2004/12/28/adderall-abuse-with-students/#comment-727925 jamie Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:37:20 +0000 http://s93794016.onlinehome.us/wordpress/?p=74#comment-727925 I began taking Adderall last September after i talked to my doctor about feeling unmotivated and having a hard time concentrating on my school work. After a simple questionaire i was prescribed 20mg two times daily to treat ADD. As a Sophmore in college i came back up to school and at the beginning the Adderall worked wonders on my concentration and my ability to keep my schedule together. However, I felt myself becoming a completely different person. I no longer felt like the happy bubbly popular girl i was known as being, i suffered from horrible headaches, could never sleep for more than 4 or 5 hours a night, felt absolutly exhausted every day even though i could never fall asleep, I became a machine who just went threw the motions everyday with no emotion. I took the pills religiously as prescribed until the middle of December when i went back home for Christmas break. I figured i needed to take some time off from the pills since i wouldn't be doing any studying and just had about a month to relax and try to feel like myself again. Unfortunatly, it only worsened. I became horribly depressed and felt like i had no passion for life anymore, i would cry at the drop of a hat and was always really bitchy and in a mad mood. My mom told me that she thought that the pills i was taking had stolen my personality and was making me go crazy. (that was really hard to hear!) I am still prescribed to the medication and am trying my hardest to completely stop taking them and hopefully regain my love for life and happiness. Now i rarely take them and only if i have alot of things to get done. I know that sounds horrible but Adderall will alter your mind into thinking that you cant get things done with out it. Its a horrible drug that ruins peoples lives. DO NOT take adderall recreationally or even just to pull all nighters to study. Its very addictive and your a fool if you will sacrifice yourself and everything important to you to get a high at a party or to get a little better of a grade on a test. This drug is prescribed much to easily and doctors should really be more caring about the well being of the patients and have a little more of an in depth evaluation before just handing it out like candy and masking a problem! I began taking Adderall last September after i talked to my doctor about feeling unmotivated and having a hard time concentrating on my school work. After a simple questionaire i was prescribed 20mg two times daily to treat ADD. As a Sophmore in college i came back up to school and at the beginning the Adderall worked wonders on my concentration and my ability to keep my schedule together. However, I felt myself becoming a completely different person. I no longer felt like the happy bubbly popular girl i was known as being, i suffered from horrible headaches, could never sleep for more than 4 or 5 hours a night, felt absolutly exhausted every day even though i could never fall asleep, I became a machine who just went threw the motions everyday with no emotion. I took the pills religiously as prescribed until the middle of December when i went back home for Christmas break. I figured i needed to take some time off from the pills since i wouldn’t be doing any studying and just had about a month to relax and try to feel like myself again. Unfortunatly, it only worsened. I became horribly depressed and felt like i had no passion for life anymore, i would cry at the drop of a hat and was always really bitchy and in a mad mood. My mom told me that she thought that the pills i was taking had stolen my personality and was making me go crazy. (that was really hard to hear!) I am still prescribed to the medication and am trying my hardest to completely stop taking them and hopefully regain my love for life and happiness. Now i rarely take them and only if i have alot of things to get done. I know that sounds horrible but Adderall will alter your mind into thinking that you cant get things done with out it. Its a horrible drug that ruins peoples lives. DO NOT take adderall recreationally or even just to pull all nighters to study. Its very addictive and your a fool if you will sacrifice yourself and everything important to you to get a high at a party or to get a little better of a grade on a test. This drug is prescribed much to easily and doctors should really be more caring about the well being of the patients and have a little more of an in depth evaluation before just handing it out like candy and masking a problem!

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