I have MS. With it came a sizeable anxiety issue. Then came the "ms hug" where you feel like you have a tight belt squeezing around your rib cage. Really irritating.

I got off xanax for a while, and did well, but when my MS flares up or I am around a flare, I have such anxiety issues. The cure for the "ms hug" was ativan and it works great! but its also a benzo.

I want so badly to go back to the days of not needing to take any pills, shots, rubs, creams, or ointments.

I think i will start cutting back on some of this junk and see where it lands me.

Anyone else have success stories to coming off this stuff. YES I know to come off it slowly, and be careful as to just jump off can cause siezures and other disturbances. I am down to 0.25 at night. I think I will cut that in half now, or go every other day and see what happens. I simply dont want to live my life on all of these meds. I think I want to transition over to a more naturopathic life.

I have an appointment with a naturopathic MD on March 1. this should be interesting.

Theanine might help. Dr. Blaylock MD has suggested for nerve damage in his PN newsletter.

It works on GABA receptors like the benzos. It might help you
to get off more comfortably.

I use 300mg at night (because I sometimes have anxiety in the middle of the night).

It has worked very well for me since August.

I'd suggest Doctor's Best brand...I used Swanson's on my second order and it didn't work as well.

Amazon carries it too, besides iherb.com

more details about theanine here:
http://web-us.com/l-theanine_anxiety_reducer.htm

Whatever one you decide on make sure it is SunTheanine.

Theanine works nicely without causing sedation or any hangovers.
My son put me onto it...last summer. He still uses it, as he has
anxiety/ADHD issues, still left over from his childhood.

I am going to a naturopathic MD on the 1st of the month, and since I have so many issues going on at the same time I am going to wait for some suggestions from her first, but wow! I like this stuff you pointed out.

This MD sells all sorts of naturpathic homeopathic stuff, so I am hoping that she can transition me off 99% of the junk I am on. While it all served its purpose in its day, I feel like MD after MD added and added and now I sit with a handful of needs everyday, and consquences if I dont take um. So..now I feel its the lack of med causing the anxiety, and not the disease itself.

I would like to get off the wheel now please.

Be prepared.... those naturopaths sell alot of expensive stuff.

Many of their preps have "proprietary combinations" in them.
This term allows the manufacturer to hide the real content.

The company discussed here is commonly applied by them.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...light=theanine

I firmly believe that combo products can be difficult to get used to because you cannot know what you are really getting, what is working and what is not.

Some naturopaths do neurotransmitter testing.

I'd sit down and make a precise list of what your priorities are.
If your list is to get off the Benzos first, then only do that to start. Jumping in with many "products" can be very overwhelming and confusing. If you have been on Benzos a long time, it will be difficult. This has to do with GABA, which runs the "inhibitory nervous system".

There is even an oral GABA now claiming effectiveness...
By Natural Factors. I intended to try it...but the Theanine is working so well for me, I haven't yet.
It is called PharmaGABA. Most GABA oral does not make it thru the stomach, but this one is supposed to.

When you go there, bring home this naturopath's suggestions and do your own research.

An example... 5HTP may work for some people, but l-typtophan is gentler and works in a more broad way. Some people get irritable on 5HTP, which really is very close to being a drug all by itself.

I guess for you the two biggies are the anxiety and remyelination factors.

I'll look at any suggestions you care to post here for you too if you want. It will be just my opinion, though. And I tend to be conservative.

Thank you!

I want my optic nerve to heal.
I want to get off the anxiety stuff.


I will tell her that I am NOT interested in tackling 12 problems at the same time. lets start slow and tackle a few. Since I still hold my nursing degree I can order many of the things she sells online for myself. I dont plan on walking out with $500 worth of suppliments for one month.

I have cut off xanax in the past and been quite successful, and while a goal is to come off the MS contin (i am down to the lowest dose twice a day, and now transitioning to once a day) i know that one will be slower. it would be a dream to be drug and supplement free, but I know I may be unrealistic with that goal. I know the "western meds" do as much harm as they do good, and dont encourage the body to "heal itself" but rather mask symptoms in order to allow the patient to feel calmer.

Comparing opiates to Benzos, I think the Benzos take longer.

The opiates have a withdrawal but it is not as long lived. Much of the withdrawal is visceral-- GI tract-diarrhea cramping, sweating, vomiting, trembling, sometimes Blood pressure/cardiac effects. That usually ends in a few days. A craving may remain, but the symptoms will be gone from the withdrawal fairly quickly. The pain may be worse also.

The Benzos can take months in some people. This is because they enhance inhibitory neuron activity. All of our nerves have an action part, and another system of inhibition. In fact the inhibition ones are more numerous! Benzos enhance the inhibitory system, and when removed, the agitation is unmasked and when severe may lead to seizures even. Valium before it was controlled was notorious for this upon withdrawal. So is Klonopin.
I've seen Klonopin users who ran out and were trembling so much they could barely walk!

So I am sure you know this, but I do think you will handle it okay.

This is one MS page with a long supplement list:
http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuse...how/pageid/772

Not all are needed for everyone and it can be dunning reading all that.
The best B12 is 5mg methylcobalamin daily on an empty stomach. This will be absorbed well orally, and help the most.
You could even do 2 a day for a month to get best high levels going. There is no upper safety limit for B12. So it is not considered toxic. Over 90% is not absorbed this way in most people hence the high dose.

Using the methylfolate form of folic acid is also important. I have a member here sending me articles on how synthetic folic acid (this is not bio active in humans) may BLOCK movement of folATE into the nervous system, thru the blood brain barrier.
Here is the LONG article if you want to read it...It is VERY LONG.
http://www.ajcn.org/content/87/3/517.long
So using methylfolate is the best insurance today.

Good for you. I totally understand where your coming from and feel for you wanting to go au naturalle. I came from a holistic healing background before starting on my journey through the health care system. I fought against pharmaceuticals and psychotropic medications tooth and nail every time I was introduced to a another one. Thankfully now I am only on a very low dose of Resperidol but I'd love to be completely med free too. What has helped me thus far is managing my health through lifestyle choices ie. diet, exercise, regular sleep. As long as you have those basic three down you should be good to go further. I am a proponent of the body knows best. So I have made a habit of listening to it. Recently I have gone vegan because dairy was giving me a terrible mucous sticking to the back of my throat. Anyway, good luck on you health goals, it's worth the effort.