![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 1:39:01
I haven't been here in a while, just wanted to let anyone who is interested know how things are going on reboxetine.
GREAT, still, after about 4 months.
The only problem I have is this - I hope it gets approved in the US so my insurance will cover it!
I've suffered depression for a good 15 years, and I can honestly say that I have never felt so much self confidence, desire to be social, willingness to take on new challenges and ability to control my emotions. All those things together do wonders for mood!
Here are some other very real changes that I have noticed.
- After a lifetime of being an absolute disorganized slob, I have kept my home and work spaces clean for months - not because I make myself but because I actually WANT to.
- I found the motivation to quit a couple of drug habits I have felt unable to quit for years.
- I don't find myself feeling guilty when I screw things up, sleep late, opt to have a good time at the expense of some "responsibility" - not that I'm reckless, but I can enjoy being human for the first time.
- I find that I listen to other people's stories and care about them more than I ever have - I am feeling better, so I am less self-absorbed and more able to connect with others.Anyway, I hope this offers someone else some hope. I know everyone responds differently to any AD, but as for me, I'm a reboxetine cheerleader!
Good luck,
Luke
Posted by torchgrl on February 9, 2000, at 2:54:46
In reply to Good times, posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 1:39:01
Luke, just to refresh my/our memory, what dose of reboxetine are you on?
I'm still kicking myself that I had such a lackluster experience with this--I know it's irrational, but I feel like it's my fault for not being a strong responder. Every improvement you list is something I desperately wanted from this med, and it just didn't happen, after 10 weeks of hoping, and I'm kind of at a loss right now. I suppose it's just my need for control that makes me feel like maybe I did something to screw it up...
Posted by Noa on February 9, 2000, at 5:52:24
In reply to Good times, posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 1:39:01
Luke, that doesn't sound like good news to me....it sounds like GREAT news!! Enjoy.
Posted by PattyG on February 9, 2000, at 6:16:40
In reply to Good times, posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 1:39:01
Wow! Sure sounds as though you've found your "magic bullet." What is your diagnosis, may I ask? I'd be interested to know of some of the other meds you've tried (out of curiosity.) Wishing you continued good luck!
Posted by CarolAnn on February 9, 2000, at 9:29:26
In reply to Good times, posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 1:39:01
I just had my Pdoc appointment this morning, and he told me that Reboxetine is scheduled to be approved in the US sometime within *this* year, possibly by the end of summer! I hope, for all of you interested in Reboxitine, that he is right. CarolAnn
Posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 23:45:31
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by torchgrl on February 9, 2000, at 2:54:46
> Luke, just to refresh my/our memory, what dose of reboxetine are you on?
I spent about 7 weeks at 2mg twice a day (half the recommended dose - the pills are easy to split).
The side effects were pretty bad at first - sex problems, slow urination, etc. By the fifth or sixth week, they were more than tolerable. Then I upped the dose to 4 mg twice a day (the recommended dosage). Again, the side effects were pretty bad. But, again, they eased after a few weeks. Now they are almost unnoticeable. There is still some slow urination, but it's nothing compared to the side effects I experienced on Prozac and Celexa. And I don't have any problem with insomnia, which I had with Wellbutrin. A lot of people I have talked to have had serious constipation with rebox, but I have not. I think even that would probably wear off if sufferers could deal with it for a few weeks (ouch).Noa, you are right. It is "great" rather than just "good" what rebox has helped me accomplish.
One thing that made me feel really good - about two weeks ago, when the big winter storm hit the East Coast, a co-worker (I am a journalist, so we worked right on through the storm) said to me, "Luke, I have to ask you something. Are you on Prozac? You seem so much happier and friendly lately."
I smiled and said, honestly, "Nope."If you have any other questions about my rebox experience, just ask.
PS- Another thing that I think has helped in my case - I gave up caffeine. I was a major addict. I drank - no exaggeration - at least 8 20oz sodas a day, tea and coffee. I read in Dr. Bob's Tips that many people feel better when they give up caffeine, so I quit cold turkey and after about a week of mild withdrawal I felt much better.
Good Luck,
Posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 1:53:22
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by Luke on February 9, 2000, at 23:45:31
A journalist who doesn't do cafeine? : )
Posted by torchgrl on February 10, 2000, at 15:34:29
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 1:53:22
> A journalist who doesn't do cafeine? : )
And I barely noticed *any* improvement, even after several weeks up to 10 mg/day, and am now finding that I get more mood improvement ingesting caffeine (well, coffee, at least)... I give up on figuring that stuff out!
Posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 17:30:46
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by torchgrl on February 10, 2000, at 15:34:29
Past few days I have been zonked, so I have been taking in cafeine in the form of strong coffee and coke. BUT, it seems to make me more tired. I am not getting the alertness I used to. Is this related to meds?
Posted by Vince on February 10, 2000, at 19:37:46
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by Noa on February 9, 2000, at 5:52:24
> Luke, that doesn't sound like good news to me....it sounds like GREAT news!! Enjoy.
Luke,
I'm really glad that your having such a positive response and hope it continues. I'm new to this site but not to depression and meds. I was wondering, for comparative purposes, if you could give a brief history of some of the meds you have tried and your responsiveness to them. My doc has indicated that rebox may be a good choice - but we've been waiting for over a year. My best response has been to the MAOIs - specifically parnate. However, it's effectiveness fizzled after nearly 8 years and I'm stuck on Effexor (afraid of risking a holiday to go back to MAO). I've tried all of the SSRI's, Wellbutrin, augmentation etc., however not having real good respnse. In fact, I think the Ritalin augmentation (40 mgs/day) is the only thing keeping me in the ball game. In any event, I'm interested to see what response you've had with the other meds. Thanks and good luck.
Posted by Luke on February 14, 2000, at 22:07:52
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by Vince on February 10, 2000, at 19:37:46
>>I'm new to this site but not to depression and meds. I was wondering, for comparative purposes, if you could give a brief history of some of the meds you have tried and your responsiveness to them.
Actually, I probably cannot give you much to compare. I spent my teen years and most of my 20s thinking misery was just my lot. I waited a long time to get help, so my experience with ADs is quite brief compared to a lot of other people.
First, I was on Wellbutrin for a couple of months, and it worked well. I felt better, had more motivation, more desire to be social, a better attitude - all this despite bad insomnia. But after two months I developed an allergic reaction to it. I broke out in hives. We tried different wellbutrin pills, hoping it was the dye. But it turns out I am simply allergic to wellbutrin.
Next was Prozac, which for me was the "frontal-lobotomy-in-a-pill" drug. It turned me into a zombie for a couple of months. I would go to work and stare at a computer screen for 8 hours, then go home and stare at a TV for a couple of hours before lying down and entering this weird, unsatisfying state of pseudo-sleep. I didn't have the energy to be depressed, or happy, or angry, etc.
Then there was a brief stint on Celexa. Somehow, it had almost the same effect Prozac had. I don't know why, but it just didn't work.
That's when I started doing a lot of research and came across lit on reboxetine.
When I pay my $70 a month plus $14 shipping to get rebox, I really really wish prozac had worked!Hope this helps. Good luck,
Luke
Posted by MA on February 15, 2000, at 8:07:49
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by Luke on February 14, 2000, at 22:07:52
I would welcome an opportunity to feel good at the cost of $84 a month. That sounds like a bargain to me.
Where do you get the Reboxetine? I went back and read your initial response to it and thought how fortunate you are to find something that is working so well.
I'm on Celexa, Wellbutrin and Neurontin and feel OK, but to feel the way you described is too good to be true. Count your blessings and I hope it proves to work long-term.
MA
Posted by Luke on February 15, 2000, at 21:48:31
In reply to Re: Good times, posted by MA on February 15, 2000, at 8:07:49
> Where do you get the Reboxetine?
You can get rebox from IAS.
http://www.antiaging-systems.com/iasstore.htmVery reliable. They ask you to allow 28 days for delivery, but it has never taken more than 15 days for my order to arrive.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.