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Alpha-Stim vs Prescription Drugs: Let’s Talk Side Effects
Alpha-Stim offers a safer option for treating pain and mental health conditions
One of the most notable factors about Alpha-Stim is its ability to treat anxiety, insomnia, depression* and pain, without the negative side effects attached to most prescription medications.
In fact, out of over 100 clinical research studies, less than 1% of patients reported mild and self-limiting side effects, including dizziness (6 cases or 0.07%), skin irritation/electrode burns (6 cases or 0.07%), and headaches (9 cases or 0.10%).
Below we look at the side effects of medications vs the safer option of using Alpha-Stim.
*FDA cleared for anxiety, insomnia and pain only, with approval for depression outside of the United States.
Alpha-Stim vs Prescription Drugs for Anxiety
When anxiety hits, it fills normal, everyday activities with panic and fear of the unknown, a possible emergency or a worst-case scenario becoming reality. Anxiety can be one of the most frustrating hindrances because individuals who have it often don’t know why they are battling it, or how to stop it. Seeking help can often result in a prescription that only continues to hinder the ability to participate in daily activities.
When looking specifically at anxiety, the NIMH noted that many patients are also prescribed Benzodiazepines or anti-anxiety medications such as Clonazepam, Alprazolam, and Lorazepam.
Side effects of these anti-anxiety medications can include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Nightmares
- Problems with coordination
- Difficulty thinking or remembering
- Increased saliva
- Muscle or joint pain
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Changes in sex drive or ability
- Rash
- Hives
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Seizures
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Depression
- Difficulty speaking
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
- Difficulty breathing
Anxiety can be impairing enough, without having to deal with side effects that slow you down even further.
Why Alpha-Stim is better: Alpha-Stim offers almost immediate relief for acute anxiety. Reduction is usually experienced during a single treatment. Moreover because it’s not a drug, it can be used more safely and in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Alpha-Stim is also a safer choice for those with preexisting chronic conditions (excluding those with implanted devices such as cardiac defibrillators), or who may already be taking other medications that could negatively interact with anxiety medications.
“It was like it just melted the anxiety away. I could not believe the relief. How many times have I dealt with the anxiety because I didn’t want to take the drugs? Alpha-Stim allows me to fix my problem without stopping life. Life still goes on. To have a solution to the problem that allows me to go on about my life without any adverse effects is incredible.” – Dakota Meyer, US Marine and Medal of Honor recipient
Alpha-Stim vs Prescription Drugs for Insomnia
Insomnia leaves its victims lying awake at night, wondering why they cannot participate in one of the most basic human functions: sleep. Desperate individuals reach out to their doctors looking for relief from exhaustion, and they are often met with prescription medications that may provide temporary relief, but that often hinder their ability to function the next day.
In addition to being prescribed for anxiety, benzodiazepines are also often prescribed for insomnia because of their ability to act as a “hypnotic sedative,” according to WebMD. Common sedatives prescribed for insomnia include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Librium, Lunesta, Sonata, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion.
Side effects from these medications prescribed for insomnia include:
- Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
- Changes in appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty keeping balance
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dry mouth or throat
- Gas
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Impairment the next day
- Mental slowing or problems with attention or memory
- Stomach pain or tenderness
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Unusual dreams weakness
Insomnia medication is often associated with a “hangover” type effect.
Why Alpha-Stim is better: There are no such side effects with Alpha-Stim, allowing you to get more and better sleep, without any regrets the next morning. Patients usually see improvement after the initial treatment, but results may take up to three weeks.
“My doctor prescribed the Alpha-Stim for my chronic insomnia. The first night I tried it, I went to sleep without any medication for the first time in years. It’s a small miracle! As I continue to use it, I find my mind is clearer, my moods more even and my stress level is at an all-time low. I’m extremely grateful to have discovered this wonderful device.” — Linda Segall
Alpha-Stim vs Prescription Drugs for Pain
Then there is pain. The term may be broad, but it affects us all at one time or another. When pain reaches a certain level, it calls for a trip to the doctor. However, a patient with temporary pain—maybe sore limbs following a car accident, or recovery from a minor surgery— is often issued a permanent diagnosis when a doctor prescribes small doses of highly addictive medications.
The United States is currently facing an opioid epidemic, which is taking the lives of around 91 Americans each day. This is due in part to the increasing rate at which doctors prescribe the highly addictive medication, which is found in fentanyl, hydrocodone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, and oxycodone, to patients suffering from varying degrees of pain.
As WebMD noted, while basic symptoms from opioid pain medication include constipation, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. One of the most alarming symptoms stems from the fact that after taking the medication, “you might find that you need more and more of the drug to achieve the same effect in reducing pain.”
Symptoms of withdrawal from opioid pain medications include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Irritability
When it comes to traditional prescription medications for pain, not only is the list of side effects long, but it also includes conditions that can severely impact the patient’s daily activities. A prescription for temporary pain can come packed with side effects such as “mental slowing or problems with attention or memory” or “impairment the next day.”
Why Alpha-Stim is better: Alpha-Stim is safe and proven effective for treating acute, post-traumatic, and chronic pain. It offers immediate relief before medication would even have time to start taking effect. When you’re in pain and need relief, the last thing you need is impairment from drugs. Moreover, unlike many pain medications, there is no risk of overuse or addiction.
“I wish this would get into more Veterans’ hands versus a multitude of prescriptions. I have taken numerous NSAIDs and narcotic pain relievers and there is no comparison. This device is amazing. Keep getting the word out so fewer Veterans have to suffer! A grateful disabled Veteran!” – Carl Warner, US Military Veteran, Florida
Alpha-Stim vs Prescription Drugs for Depression
When depression sets in, it can affect you mentally, physically and emotionally. Whether it comes as a result of the loss of a loved one or a divorce, a trip to the doctor in search of something that will return you to feeling like your normal self can often result in a prescription that only makes the depression worse.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one of the most common medications doctors prescribe to treat depression is antidepressants. Antidepressants are also used for other health conditions, such as anxiety, insomnia, and pain. The most popular types of antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Sertraline, Paroxetine and Escitalopram.
The list of side effects for these medications is long and includes a variety of symptoms. The side effects listed by the FDA are:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight gain
- Diarrhea
- Sleepiness
- Sexual problems
- Thoughts about suicide or dying
- Attempts to commit suicide
- New or worsening depression
- New or worsening anxiety
- Feeling very agitated or restless
- Panic attacks
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- New or worsening irritability
- Acting aggressively, being angry, or violent
- Acting on dangerous impulses
- An extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- Other unusual changes in behavior or mood
A prescription for a patient who is battling a bout of depression can actually worsen and prolong the condition with side effects such as “thoughts about suicide or dying,” “attempts to commit suicide,” and “new or worsening depression.”
Why Alpha-Stim is better: When treating depression with Alpha-Stim, significant improvement typically takes three weeks or more of daily treatment. After the depression is under control, two to three treatments per week or less are usually sufficient to maintain good results.
“I want to thank all of you for making the Alpha-Stim available. Within a week of using it, I experienced relief from clinical depression, which has stubbornly resisted treatment for over two years. Until I started using the Alpha-Stim, I had only partial relief with a SSRI antidepressant. Within three days, I noticed my sleep was much improved. Then, I noticed feeling more emotionally resilient. Today, I am almost back to the outgoing, spontaneous person I know myself to be!” – Sue Clark Lindh
*FDA cleared for anxiety, insomnia and pain only, with approval for depression outside of the United States.
