Posted by CareBear04 on November 23, 2004, at 23:20:22
hey all,
i've tried old and new drugs in every class except the antidepressants. in this class, i've taken lexapro, paxil, effexor, zoloft, and wellbutrin. my current AD is zoloft 50mg. i think i need a higher dose because i don't feel it working anymore, but i'm "bipolar spectrum" (where in the spectrum, no one can accurately place) and SSRIs tend to cause agitation and insomnia, even with mood stabilizers, and i haven't been able to increase the zoloft past 50mg. i'm working between lithium and lamictal, but i would like a more reliable AD on board. a big problem recently has been weight loss due to things like stimulants, drug toxicities, nausea and indigestion, and swallowing problems. in a recent hospital stay, they diagnosed me with anorexia as primary disorder, even though i don't have any history of eating disorders and had valid medical reasons for weight loss. a few doctors have suggested remeron as a good choice to cut back my benzo use and address sleep problems with the added bonus of increased appetite at lower doses. the problem is that i also have no energy, and i don't want to be even more sedated by something like remeron. when i took zyprexa, i couldn't get up to function, even at the lowest dose. i'm also not sure i trust my doctors enough to control the dose-- low for now and higher when sleep, anxiety, and appetite get better. that's why i was thinking more seriously about the old ADs like the tricyclics or the MAOIs, which may have more risks, but which seem to have more predictable side effects. an AD that would increase appetite in the short-term would be nice, but ultimately, i just want something that will help with energy and not be too sedating. any experience or suggestions? any reasons why i should definitely not take the old antidepressants? thanks!!!!
poster:CareBear04
thread:419551
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041123/msgs/419551.html