I should not have to find out from a science fiction book that, attempting to treat my migraines, my doctor has given me a blood pressure medication that tends to erase stressful memories.
Seems to require significantly higher doses than I was prescribed. Still, you'd think something like that would have been mentioned.
ETA: Crap! I can't seem to remember who's President!
Well, it's a non-selective Beta blocker, so it stands to reason that it would block the physiologic response to stress. It's the polar opposite of an adrenaline rush.
ReplyDeletePretty cool that it may work on stressful memories as well, though. Brain chemistry is a wonderfully complex and mysterious thing, innit?
"Wonderful," "terrifying." Um, yeah. Very much so.
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered about this sort of thing. My own experience with doctors is that they've got a pill for just about anything that ails you. That's a Good Thing(TM), but it strikes me that it must be pretty hard to keep up with all the side effects and interactions with other medications. Therefore, I suggest that your doctor might not even have known (or, at least, remembered) that this was a possible problem.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if I could erase memories of 10th grade gym class...
"Still, you'd think something like that would have been mentioned. "
ReplyDeleteIt was probably pretty stressful when he did. :|
She.
ReplyDeleteWell, in all fairness memory alteration/loss is a side effect of high stress too.
ReplyDeleteAnd alcohol.
And being called to testify before congress.
BGM
ROBERTA
ReplyDeleteTHE BOOK I RECOMMENDED TO TAM AND YOU MAY HAVE EFFECTIVE REMEDIES IN OTC WITHOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS THE PROBLEM IS
MOST DOCTORS TRAINING THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO WRITE SCRIPTS MOST HAVE LITTLE OR NO KNOWLEDGE OF DIET AND THE VAST AREA OF VITAMINS AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS WHICH CAN BE USEFUL IF PROPERLY APPLIED THEY CONDEMN WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW DESPITE ITS EFFICACY THE FIRST RULE OF MEDICINE SHOULD BE DO NO HARM THE SECOND SHOULD BE DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PATIENT CHOOSE FROM THE ENTIRE KIT OF USEFUL ITEMS
Roberta; I read your blog most days and very seldom comment.
ReplyDeleteHowever I wanted to tell you about my experience with Propranolol. I have been taking 40 mg. daily for 4 months,along with other meds, after a quintriple bypass. It affects your balance along with your memories. Keep this in mind when you are climbing ladders, and be careful.
No stress in my life..good sleep is the answer. At bed time I just take my little cocktail of chlorohydrate and ginger ale anf I'm dead to the world in 52 seconds.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember who's president? Far out! Where I can get me some?
ReplyDeleteRoberta, you might doublecheck your diet while on prescription meds. There may be foods or drinks you should avoid. In my case I have to stay away from grapefruit juice.
ReplyDelete"Can't remember who's president? Far out! Where I can get me some?"
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the internet for today, kids. Submissions are closed. :D
I've been on it for a few months. I think what it is for me, it's not that it blocks the stressful memories so much as it makes me care about them less.
ReplyDelete(I had a very, very bad experience with a student last spring. I remember the experience but I don't get the same jitters and rapid heartbeat I used to over it).
I also find that it cuts my stage fright when teaching and such. (Haven't tried playing piano for an audience since I've been on it, but before I took it I had a disastrous recital experience that made me swear off them forever)