Posted by Racer on September 10, 2007, at 15:19:03
In reply to I am curretnly on celexa for my depression, posted by christyluv1977 on September 10, 2007, at 14:11:22
PolarBear has some good questions, but here's a very basic answer based solely on the information in your post:
If Celexa worked, but no longer works, it's worth trying Lexapro. Lexapro is a very similar drug -- it's actually one form of the compound in Celexa -- and may also work for you. Sometimes the SSRIs just stop working, at which point switching to another SSRI often works.
If the Celexa did not work, then you'd be looking at either switching to another anti-depressant with anxiolytic effects, or switching to another anti-depressant and adding something anxiolytic. The more calming anti-depressants tend to have weight gain associated with them. And sometimes adding an anxiolytic can actually increase depression. It's a harder choice to make. And the medication which often comes up as a good anxiolytic adjunct to anti-depressants -- Zyprexa -- is known for significant weight gain. One option might be Remeron, which does tend to cause weight gain at lower doses, but it apparently causes a lot less at higher doses. Another option is to add something like a low dose of Seroquel -- an anti-psychotic not known for a lot of weight gain in most people -- to an anti-depressant.
Or, of course, there's adding something to be taken specifically at the start of a panic attack. Something like propranalol or a benzodiazepine.
When you say you see your doctor, are you referring to a psychopharmacologist (pdoc)? Or are you getting medications from your GP? Often, GPs do not have a lot of experience with the choices available. It's probably worth trying a good pdoc, if you haven't.
I hope that helps.
poster:Racer
thread:782031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070831/msgs/782051.html