Scribblings

Drug Study

I don't remember if I've written about this or not but I have gotten into a drug study about depression. How did it happen? Well, I've been feeling more depressed and anxious the last couple of months. I asked Linda for Drenk's number, which is where she goes for help. I called and they didn't seem to want to help me, though, because of insurance issues. But they did give me a number for a doctor who was doing a drug study on anxiety.

I called him and made an appointment to go in. The anxiety study seemed more about worry than it was about panic attacks so I wasn't sure how I'd fit. As it turned out, this Dr. R has more than one study running. My first hubby Rich was in a drug study at Johns Hopkins so I'm familiar with them. You get free medical care and medicine all the while you are in the study. Definitely a plus for us. Anyway, Dr. R has a study on depression and based on my answers and stuff he says I have severe depression. No surprise.

The study involves taking Prozac so that meant I had to get off all the meds I'd been taking for years. They weren't working for me anymore anyway and although I wasn't enthusiastic about Prozac I figured it couldn't hurt. The beginning was really rough. I had a hard time getting off my meds especially now when everything is so stressful. My blood pressure was out of control and that was scaring me.

Today was the third visit back. It was the best visit so far. My blood pressure if finally normal. I've been taking two meds to try and control it but then this week I decided to cut back severely on my caffeine intake. I also found out the tingling I have in my hands and feet are normal, a result of withdrawing from my meds. The Prozac hasn't been working miraculously but I'm holding my own I guess.

I will be in this study for at least 6 months.