Posted by JohnL on August 30, 2001, at 16:20:05
In reply to Motivation problems on Celexa, posted by Kathleen6674 on August 29, 2001, at 22:46:02
>
> I still feel "numbed out" (and not just sexually. What IS
> it with SSRIs?) - I don't feel *as* depressed, although
> I'm still waiting for the full effects to kick in - I know
> it takes up to 8 weeks for that to happen...
>Hi Kathleen,
Numbness from SSRIs isn't unusual. I think it happens more often than people like to admit. The least likely to do that is Prozac. Unfortunately I do understand you had some problems with Prozac.That emotional numbness can be dealt with though. Usually the addition of a norepinephrine drug or a dopamine drug will do the trick. The problem though is sifting through the vast array of choices to discover which of those drugs will work for you. Choosing ones with the easiest side effects might be a good way to narrow down the list.
The most anti-numbness drug I've ever tried is Adrafinil. Ritalin and Adderall did Ok for a few days before they pooped out and tolerance started to set in. The second most anti-numbness drug I've tried is Zyprexa at a low dose. But since weight gain is an issue you are concerned about, another choice that could be better for you than Zyprexa is Risperdal. Usually only a small dose, like 1mg or less, is enough to do the trick.
There are other drugs too, such as dopamine agonists, Amisulpride, or Sulpiride which can work marvelously for symptoms of numbness. They are not easy to get though, so I think Adrafinil and Risperdal are good candidates to try, in addition to your ongoing Celexa. If you find benefit with another drug, then you may well be able to reduce your dosage of Celexa as well.
I wish there was an easier way. But I did want to assure you that what you are experiencing is not unusual, and that it can be treated successfully. I experienced the same emotional numbness for way too many years. My current medication completely elminated that numbness. So believe me, I know where you're coming from.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:76909
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76993.html