Alcohol abuse symptoms and conditions

50 y.o. female suffering from severe depression (or so I thought) since mid-teens. Finally sought professional help 8 mos. ago - diagnosed w/ bipolar disorder/depression/anxiety. Lamictal (now up to 300mg/day) has literally been a life-saver for me. I feel calm, rarely depressed, a bit more patient w/ myself and others, and the suicidal thoughts I've had for 30+ years are gone. I feel happy. The side effects, however, are disturbing. W/ the higher dose, I feel emotionally well but the memory problems are scaring me. When I write, I know which words I should use, but now I frequently omit or misspell words - not a problem before. I've always been a fast, accurate typist but I feel clumsy when typing and frequently hit the wrong keys. I misplace things and since I'm a bit OCD about losing paperwork, etc., it's happening. My job requires me to handle important financial docs. for people and I'm worried that I'll miss or lose something. Some days I can be very articulate w/ great use of vocabulary and other days I feel lucky to put a string of words together that will make sense. I'll lose a thought in mid-sentence. My doctor recommended that I take 1 mg of folic acid per day; it seems to help the memory issues and I may increase that amount. I grind my teeth at night so badly that I'm wearing a night guard to avoid ruining my molars. I find myself frequently rubbing parts of my hands together - especially when my hands aren't otherwise occupied. My dreams are vivid and I recall most of them, which is a pleasant side effect because I went many years without remembering my dreams (maybe due to alcohol abuse?). Another unpleasant side effect is clumsiness. I'll reach for something and miss it or jam my hand into a solid object, I drop things, I hurt myself more often - stubbing toes, smashing fingers, and cutting my hands more often in the kitchen. My doctor has put me on two different anxiety meds but the side effects were not acceptable so I stopped them. I'm considering lowering the Lamictal dosage to see if the memory issues improve; I can deal o.k. w/ the other side effects. I can't imagine not taking this drug, so I'll most likely endure the side effects for as long as possible.

I have been on Zoloft for about 8 months. I began taking it for anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and eating issues. Since I have been on it, my eating issues have gotten a lot worse. I began binging, something I've never done before. I have racing thoughts and feel like I am just floating through life. My weight has gone from about 120 to 155. I am not happy, and am considering coming off of the medication. Has anyone else noticed they have not been able to control their eating while on Zoloft? However, my anxiety did subside.

This testimony should help strengthen our case for warnings for Singulair.

Neurologist Sought Warning for Pfizer Drug
By JEREMY SINGER-VINE
June 20, 2008; Page B10

A British neurologist who analyzed effects of the drug Neurontin told a court hearing Thursday that he advised its maker -- now a unit of Pfizer Inc. -- to include a warning on the drug's label for potential side effects of depression and aggression, but his advice wasn't followed.

The University of London neurologist, Michael R. Trimble, was testifying at a hearing to decide whether civil cases brought against Pfizer alleging suicides linked to Neurontin can proceed. The hearing was jointly held by judges for U.S. District Court in Boston and a New York state court who are hearing similar cases. In various lawsuits consolidated in the federal court, plaintiffs allege more than 100 suicides were connected to Neurontin usage.

Dr. Trimble described what he said was a "plausible biological pathway" that could lead from the compound gabapentin -- the chemical name for Neurontin -- to suicidal behavior, hostility, and aggression. Dr. Trimble said that in 1995 and 1996, he was hired to write two confidential reports for Parke-Davis -- now a unit of Pfizer -- because the company "was concerned about psychosis in relation to their drug." Dr. Trimble said he was unable to find a link to psychosis, but noted effects of depression and aggression.

Lawyers for Pfizer argued at the hearing that the evidence linking the drug to suicidal side effects wasn't scientifically sound. Under cross-examination, they challenged his description of a pathway as a patchwork of studies that didn't prove a biological connection. Neurontin and generic forms of gabapentin are approved for treating epileptic convulsions, but have also been prescribed widely "off label" for other conditions.

In five of nine patient cases he analyzed in 1996, Dr. Trimble said he saw depression and aggression in patients who had no previous symptoms of the side effects, so he said he recommended to the company that the drug "should carry some kind of warning" for susceptible patients.

Thursday's proceedings were the initial phase of a hearing requested by Pfizer to challenge the opinions of the plaintiffs' experts. Under cross-examination and a subsequent examination by the plaintiffs' attorney, Dr. Trimble said the biological pathway between Pfizer's Neurontin and suicidal events were plausible and supported by a series of peer-reviewed neurology research.

I am a 47 year old male who had a heart attack in march of 1993. I have had angioplasty three times with stent implants during the last two procedure's. My primary care physician thought it would be to my benefit to take Zocor. I have been taking 20mg a day for the past 4 years. During the past few months I have been having pain in my right elbow and lack of strength in my arm. I also have been having a steady dull pain in my right leg which runs from my thigh down through my knee and calf. I have had liver function tests done once a year because of an earlier bout with hepatitis and alcohol abuse, but the tests show that my liver is working fine. Does this sound like it could be a side effect of the Zocr?