Posted by Racer on May 8, 2007, at 12:32:06
In reply to Re: Remeron or Paxil? » Phillipa, posted by Crazy Horse on May 7, 2007, at 21:24:43
> > . Low dose remeron is what i'm thinking..but thank you so much for your imput. :)
>
> Love, Monte
>Just remember that Remeron changes its profile based on dose. Lower doses are more sedating, so if that's something you need, that's not a bad choice.
I've taken both, although Remeron only lasted a week. Paxil saved my life, it was the second AD I ever took, and made a huge difference for me. But it came with some pretty heavy side effects for me: weight gain and sedation being the two biggies, along with the old standard anorgasmia. The sedation was maybe the worst -- I felt half asleep all the time, although that probably made a difference in my reaction to the weight gain. The anorgasmia would not bother me as much now, especially knowing that cyproheptidine helps me with that.
The Remeron, though, was a nightmare for me. I couldn't sleep, and I went into a RAGE. Now, I know y'all don't know me in real life, and I know that I've lost my temper a few times on these boards, but in real life I have a hard time expressing any sort of anger. In fact, I tend to turn it on myself -- if I'm angry, it's because I'm the most horrid, hateful person on the planet, etc. After years of therapy I'm starting to be able to say that I think I might be angry about something. On Remeron, I had to tell my husband not to get too close to me, because I was afraid I'd hit him. It scared me so badly -- I was afraid I'd hurt the cats, or hit my husband. It was terrifying for both of us. I tried raising the dose, but that made it worse. So, my trial lasted eight days.
Now, just to be clear, there was another element to this: when the doctor said Remeron, I felt as though I was being punished and betrayed. So, that probably had something to do with my reaction -- I didn't have any sort of hope of it working, only all those bad emotional reactions. While I wouldn't try Remeron again myself, I do think that the circumstances had something to do with my reaction.
I don't know that that will be helpful to you in making your decision, but I hope it's helpful somehow. By the way, why only those two?
Good luck, with whatever you choose.
poster:Racer
thread:756638
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070502/msgs/756796.html