Posted by jay on November 26, 2001, at 15:58:34
In reply to Re: Atypical a.d's make Endogenous depression worse? » jay, posted by JohnX2 on November 18, 2001, at 16:19:54
John:
Sorry so late getting back. After many years, nortriptyline (name brand, atually), in smaller doses...25-50mg's, plus benzo...got me employed...got me my first serious relationship (no, I wan't manic...just felt so much better about myself..)...got me socializing...I lost weight on it....got a new and good job.
I sadly jumped on the Effexor XR bandwagon...not that there is anything wrong with it...but I just tried it because it was so 'new'. I just realized a month or so ago that after several years, the Effexor was justmaking me fat, and the problems outweighed the good.
So, I am back to nortriptyline, slowly losing the pounds...I go shopping for nice clothes now...enjoy thinks a bit better...feel *good* about myself...have sexual energy back...and the bit of benzo just takes a tad off the regular anxiety tomake it all that much more better.
BTW...Nortiptyline and Protriptyline are the only tricyclics to have a proven "thermogenic" effect on many...not all. (I have the medline reference if you want.) Yes, weight IS a big deal, I don't care what they say, because in the long run, being obese is very unhealthy and damaging to depression further. Doctors take it WAY too lightly.
Anyhow...give it a shot..honestly....you might really be surprised. Start and go slow...it is a powerful med, and the benzo's do great for the anxiety!
I will catch up on the rest of the posts now...:-)
Best wishes...
Jay>
> I was thinking about trying nortriptyline.
>
> What would I expect from the side effects of
> these older tricyclics vs the new meds?
>
> I tend to do better on stimulating meds.
> They usually don't make me anxious or jittery
> and are more likely to lift my depression.
> The sedating meds like Paxil are disasterous.
> While Zoloft and Wellbutrin were great.
>
> Anyways, I haven't found a "majic bullet" that
> sticks. I always get an elesuve anti-depressant
> response and was wondering what some of these
> older NRIs do in the brain that is different
> from meds like Wellbutrin or Effexor or Reboxetine?
>
> One of those older meds is supposed to be
> good for tension headaches, I don't remember
> which, but it was a noradrenergic med and I
> get tension headaches from meds.
>
> thanks for any info,
> john
>
> >
> > There is much talk about how the tricyclics somehow aren't good for "atypical" depression. I think, though, that most folks have a number of symptoms that do somewhat indicate atypical depression, but also have many endogenous symptoms. (Irritability, anxiety, bouts of insomnia..etc.) I also think the reverse of the first statement is true...and that meds for atypical depression can are little to no-good for endogenous depression symptoms, and maybe can make them worse, especially in the long run.
> >
> > From my little bit of experience (n=1..heh,) it seems the highly activating quality of the newer SRI/SNRI's seem to really complicate endogenous depressive symptoms. I think that is why many only attain partial relief from the newer a.d's. I've noticed that the tricyclics, in particular nortriptyline, help my depression and anxiety in a fairly different way than the newer meds.
> >
> > Again, this is why I believe folks should consider (especially if you have had many problems with the newer a.d.'s..or they haven't helped.) a tricyclic. Two of the more popular ones seem to be desipramine and nortriptyline. As far as side-effects go...some are different than the newer meds, but I don't think much worse in the long-term. Weight-gain is not much different, from what long-term experience seems to show.
> >
> > There are a vast number ot tricyclics to try...so I would suggest taking a shot.
> >
> > Jay
poster:jay
thread:84318
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011123/msgs/85216.html