Thursday, April 30, 2009

Third Day

I'm on my third day of the first bottle of pills (two pills, twice a day). I'll continue this dosage for almost two weeks before switching to bottle #2.

No notable effects to report.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

First Day

I took my first dose in the Pagoclone study this morning. As per the instructions, I am to take two pills in the morning and two in the evening each day for the next few weeks. I would think it would take at least several days for any effect to manifest itself, but who knows? I don't even know if these pills are Pagoclone or placebo. We'll just have to wait and see.

Monday, April 27, 2009

I've got the pills

A month ago I went to a medical office in Manhattan to see if I would be a good candidate to participate in a study on the medical treatment of stuttering using a drug called Pagoclone.

I filled out some forms, answered some questionnaires, sat for a videotaping (I had to read out loud and then speak extemporaneously for about five minutes), gave a urine sample (they want to be sure participants aren't taking mood altering drugs, I guess) and that was it. They said they would be in touch. A week or two later, they called to say I would be a good candidate for the study and asked me to return for a follow up.


I went back today, answered more questionnaires, gave another urine sample, had a physical exam and that was it. They gave me three bottles of pills that I will take (in varying doses, according the instructions) for the next two months. There is a chance, of course, that I have the placebo. But I hope, hope, hope I have gotten the real thing. I know it is not a cure - I know the best it can do it to reduce the intensity (and perhaps frequency) of my stuttering. And even if it is Pagoclone and not placebo, maybe it won't do anything at all. Whatever - I'll take what I can get.

These are the pills they gave me:


Kinda freaky looking, huh?

Anyway, I'll start taking them tomorrow (Tuesday, April 28, 2009).

I'll try to post to this blog to keep track of things during this initial two-month trial. This is really just for my own sake, but if anyone happens to stumble across this blog when searching for info on Pagoclone or stuttering, I hope you find this helpful.