Posted by allisonm on October 7, 2001, at 19:42:11
In reply to Remeron - What should I expect?, posted by SLS on October 6, 2001, at 19:10:59
Hi Scott,
My pdoc put me on Remeron In March 1998 because I couldn't tolerate Zoloft or Effexor XR. I built up from 15 to 45mg. It knocked me out at first, but soon the fatigue wore off. It was a godsend at the time because I hadn't slept well for months and was exhausted. I did gain weight. I gained it mostly at the larger doses. I found the 45mg most sedating. In fact, I was wary of taking it away from home because it would hit me quickly and make me dangerousle woozy (for driving).
My pdoc added lithium ot the mix, and we think that was a pretty effective combo. Problem with LI and Rem was horrible weight gain that I could not stop. At least on the Rem, I was swimming and watching what I ate and could keep the weight at a certain level. With Li on top, there was no control.The Li was working so well, that my pdoc took me off it in April because I seemed to be doing OK, spring was coming (a big deal for me), and because I had sidefx I hated (weight gain and diarrhea). I crashed by June and was suicidal. I wouldn't go back to Li, so got put on Wellbutrin SR with Rem. That helped stabilize the weight and actually reversed the trend.I took the Rem for around 2 years. Eventually tapered it and upped the WB to make it the primary AD. then Dropped the Rem (no withdrawal problems) and started trying other things to augment the WB. Tried Neurontin, Celexa, and then Serzone.
My DX is major depression -- chronic and refractory. My pdoc says I never react to drugs the way that he things I will, so he has been surprised that the WB/Sezone combo seems to be working as well or better than anything so far (we've been trying to find a good combo since January 1998). He has found Serzone has done little for most of his patients.
Remeron is a good drug. It helped me. I hope it helps you too.
Take care and good luck.
allison
poster:allisonm
thread:80480
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80576.html