Posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 21:36:46
In reply to Re: Anybody else hate tricyclic antidepressants? , posted by Elizabeth on March 22, 2002, at 21:16:46
> Hi dude. Yeah, TCAs can cause hypertension (just like Effexor can), although hypotension is the more common and better known side effect. How high did your BP get, BTW?
Not very high. But too high for my taste and comfort. My family doc says I have "low tolerance for pressure" and I agree. If my BP even gets on the low end of high I feel it. Chest tightness and pain, that sort of thing. The best I felt cardio wise anytime recently was when I took Amantadine...chest tightness was GONE and BP DROPPED.
>
> I wouldn't say I "hate" TCAs, but they're definitely not for me. I'm sure I've told the tale of what happened when I was taking desipramine (my serum level turned out to be very high). That was the only TCA I tolerated at the usual dose; the others all had nasty side effects at low doses (probably had high levels of those too, but I never got it checked until I tried DMI).
>
> I think the risks of TCAs aren't taken seriously enough by pdocs.
>I think TCAs suck. They are dirty, nasty drugs with a bunch of side effects.
> > I am also very very skeptical about this claim that tricyclics are better than plain old SSRIs for severe depression.
>
> "Severe depression" can mean a lot of different things. I think TCAs are better than SSRIs for some types of severe depression. I wonder if most people who respond to TCAs might also respond equally or better to Remeron or Effexor, tho'.Yeah, Remeron and high dose Effexor are both excellent meds for severe depression. Unfortunately I cant take Effexor now cause of BP probs, otherwise Id be back on that drug in a flash. Remeron is a bit too sedating for me these days. But its good, I agree. I just get a more "real world" AD effect from plain old SSRIs than tricyclics. Tricyclics I feel like Im loaded on benadryl or something all the time.
>
> > TCAs makes me feel like Im sedated off my ass all the time, but with cardio probs.
>
> Ever try desipramine? It doesn't have much in the way of anticholinergic effects, and it's not very sedating. I didn't have any side effects at all until that weird seizure/confusional state thing happened.Nah, thats OK. Even desipramine is a TCA and does have some mild anti-cholinergic side effects. Milder than Pamelor but still there.
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:99075
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99559.html