Posted by undopaminergic on May 11, 2008, at 14:09:26
In reply to Re: Prozac burn-out, posted by pajoco on May 11, 2008, at 9:37:09
> My doc knows how I feel, and says we can try to supplement the Prozac with Omega 3, or perhaps a thyroid med, if I want to try that first. Just torn about what to do. Thought I was set for the rest of my life since the prozac worked so well - literally set me free - so even more depressed about that.
>It's not a bad idea to try to augment the Prozac with supplements and drugs. Lithium augmentation is often effective (and at lower doses than those needed for bipolar); if you try this, it may be a particularly good idea to also add some thyroid hormone and omega-3 oils, as lithium can impair thyroid function, and some doctors think omega-3 helps reduce some of the potential adverse effects of lithium. Other options for supplementation are serotonin precursors - tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to be precise. Other useful add-ons are stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine); they often have a mood-elevating effect and also commonly promote weight loss.
If you decide to switch, I think Zoloft (sertraline) would be a logical choice, as you have responded very well to Prozac, and Zoloft is a more potent drug that belongs to the same class of medication, SSRIs. After that, Effexor or Pristiq (a newer, slighly improved version of Effexor that is new more expensive) would seem the most logical choices. Alternatively, addition of Strattera (atomoxetine) to Prozac or Zoloft could be tried, and a further alternative is Cymbalta (duloxetine).
poster:undopaminergic
thread:828342
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080510/msgs/828496.html