I was dx'd with PBA (pseudo bulbar affect) this past week but I have surmised for years now that I had it but couldn't seem to get through to my doctors that my occasional crying was not acceptable to me.

Well, this week during one of my bad episodes I happened to have an appt with my new neurologist and he asked me several questions about what happens before, during and after. He said the crying seems to be during inappropriate times. He has given me samples of Nuedexta(new drug on the market) to try and of course it is loaded with lots of possible side effects! How many drugs can you be on that can be rough on the liver and not get liver failure! But so far so good none of the other meds have destroyed my liver and hopefully this one won't either.

For those that don't know PBA is uncontrollable laughing or crying during inappropriate times. I would think laughing would be even more difficult but inappropriate crying has sure been embarrassing to me for years.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Nuedexta does the trick for me. For 1 week you only take 1/2 dose and then start on full dose if no adverse effects.

So...how have all of you been? good I hope!

Hi Sassy! Missed you but glad you're back.

So sorry about the PBA. That's got to be frustrating. I hope the new med works well for you. I'm sure others will be along who might have some insight into this.

Welcome back!

thanks Kitty, I did a search on here and was surprised only one hit on PBA.

I've heard of it associated with MS. I found this article about it.....http://www.healthcentral.com/multipl.../81066/crying/

"Avanir pharmaceuticals is looking into further studies of a medication called Zenvia, which is taken orally. This medication consists of a combination of dextromethorphan and quinidine. The FDA is requiring more studies be done before they would approve this drug in the United States."

Dextromethorphan is used in cough medicine...is it not?

when in flare I cry, which is weird because I am not a cry person. I can stand in the face of death and destruction and be calm and cool, yet put me in a flare and I cry at TV commericial or some white car that drove by. Easily irritated and quick to be emotional. It really bugs me that I cant control it. When the flare backs down so do those emotions. How do folks who are emotional deal with it? my ex MIL was like that. its exhausting!

I hope you feel better and the meds work. Nice to see you back again!

Hi Sassy glad you are back. So sorry for your new DX and I hope your new med does the trick with no bad sides.

What cha been up to?

Sounds very much like the symptoms of PBA Dejibo. And it's very interesting that you mention the "easily irritated" part of it as well. In my research i've discovered that while PBA is more commonly associated or classified as "laughing and crying" in some people the ease with which they become irritable seems to go right along with it.

In fact the company that makes Nuedexta just put out a press release which among other things says this

""In addition, we intend to file another IND within the next year to begin studying the potential use of AVP-923 (nuedexta) in other forms of emotional lability – specifically anger, irritability, and other behavioral symptoms of dementia."

The company that makes Nuedexta is called Avanir Pharmacutical and the press release was dated april 4th if you or anyone would like to research that aspect of this further.

Best of luck to you and all.