Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
My name is Mike. I am a 69 year old retired Fire Fighter. I was recently diagnosed with Ocular MG, and have been taking Mestinon since this past Thursday which seems to work well for four to five hours at a time. I'm on 60 mg three times daily.
However, I had a severe anxiety attack very early this morning with thoughts of suicide. Is this normal? Any suggestions on coping would be appreciated.
However, I had a severe anxiety attack very early this morning with thoughts of suicide. Is this normal? Any suggestions on coping would be appreciated.
It wears off after 4 hours and I think that could be effecting you.
Also ....could the fact that you have this disease be throwing you into a very bad stAte of mind? What usually helps you when you are seriously stressed.
It is seriously overwhelming to find out we have this disease.
You fight fires but learning you have mg may be very scary to you.
It sure was for me. Fear was unbelievable. Then I realized the fear was causing me more problems than the disease.
With that said, as mentioned, if you are taking prednisone or other form of steroid they can alter your mood. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this.
With all of that said, being dignosed with any condition can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, its good your being proactive and taking note of any changes in your behavior.
If the Mestinon is wearing off to quickly you can ask for a time release version. I take 3 tablets a day of a 80mg time released version that provides a more consistent delivery of the medicine throughout the day.
Keep us up to date on how you are doing and of course feel free to ask anything
Joe
http://www.rxlist.com/mestinon-side-effects-drug-center.htm says in the side effects that confusion, panic attacks... are possible
When I first started it, I had some odd feelings including sort of feeling unstable physically, but most of it went away in a few weeks and mestinon helped me a great deal (although I needed to eat with the pill taking and take Imodium to cut the digestive irritations).
One has to try to keep a rational view at a high level on what MG meds can do to jerk us around and keep telling oneself that it is probably just the medication doing it, and I shouldn't act on these strange impulses. That said, tell your doctor and get a very experienced neuro in MG. We have a very rare condition and most MDs don't have a clue about it.
I thought about suicide but that was probably more due to my initial response to MG being chronic and progressing so fast and the things it took away from me. My neuro said to hang in there and things would improve with my medications (Mestinon and Prednisone), and in a few months I realized I could live with MG and the meds and actually have a decent life ahead. Some folks stay at ocular, but most move into more general and need stronger meds. My ocular lasted about 2 weeks and then progressed to general.
Here is what the web site says:
Stop using pyridostigmine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
extreme muscle weakness, muscle twicthing;
slurred speech, vision problems;
severe vomiting or diarrhea;
cough with mucus;
confusion, anxiety, panic attacks;
seizure (convulsions); or
worsening or no improvement in your symptoms of myasthenia gravis.