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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sean on March 30, 2000, at 16:59:27
How can anyone in paradise be so depressed and anxious? I ask myself this every day. Since I stopped the Celexa due to inability to get it here and its total destruction of my sexual desire I have been a wreck.
I tried Wellbutrin before the Celexa and it sent me thru the roof. I also tried one tablet of Prozac and had to take 4 Clonazepams to calm down before I drove myself to emergency.
Can anyone recommend any other SSRI or combination that might help me based on my history?
I am 6 hours drive from the nearest neuropsych and would prefer to cautiously try some meds from the local pharmacy. Nice thing about Costa Rica is that no scripp is required.
Posted by Amanda S on March 30, 2000, at 21:06:54
In reply to Desperate in Costa Rica, posted by Sean on March 30, 2000, at 16:59:27
Sean, If I were you I would travel the six hours to the doc and get the correct diagnosis. You are playing with fire if you start taking meds that might be dangerous to you. There are so many that are addictive and have bad side effects. I am bipolar and anxious and take a mood stabilizer. Please go to this doc. I am afraid noone on this site will tell you a certain drug you should take. Do you have a regular doc local. Have him look into it. I am sorry of your predicament. This site will help you stay informed and get you through sometimes rough days. Take care
Posted by kazoo on March 31, 2000, at 0:53:42
In reply to Desperate in Costa Rica, posted by Sean on March 30, 2000, at 16:59:27
> Nice thing about Costa Rica is that no scripp is required.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
*NOW* you tell us this, Sean? Now?
That is what I call paradise, this side of Eden.
I wonder if there are any "directs" to Costa Rica from Bradley International?Greetings to Sean.
I remain, hopelessly optimistic, kazoo.
Posted by sean on March 31, 2000, at 11:01:46
In reply to Re: Desperate in Costa Rica, posted by Amanda S on March 30, 2000, at 21:06:54
I clearly would prefer a qualified DR, but my sense is that most of them treat alphabetically, if not Celexa then lets try Effexor, if not than Prozac, if not Zoloft...At least that is how I was treated when I was living in LA. I think if I had some recommendations from people on this site I could at least have something to take to the table when I do make it to the capital.
I sense that there are upper SSRIs and downer SSRIs and I clearly am a candidate for the latter.
> Sean, If I were you I would travel the six hours to the doc and get the correct diagnosis. You are playing with fire if you start taking meds that might be dangerous to you. There are so many that are addictive and have bad side effects. I am bipolar and anxious and take a mood stabilizer. Please go to this doc. I am afraid noone on this site will tell you a certain drug you should take. Do you have a regular doc local. Have him look into it. I am sorry of your predicament. This site will help you stay informed and get you through sometimes rough days. Take care
Posted by KarenB on March 31, 2000, at 11:52:34
In reply to Re: Desperate in Costa Rica, posted by sean on March 31, 2000, at 11:01:46
Sean,
I suggest you do see a doctor, to try to rule out any abnormal physical cause of your illness (other than brain chemicals run amuck). But... you were prescribed Celexa while in the US, right? Do you have a diagnoses from a psychiatrist or was it a regular M.D. who prescribed it? If you were prescribed an SSRI and you can't get it now, and your only complaint was loss of sexual desire, I would not be afraid to try another SSRI, so long as you request the insert at the pharmacy and follow the recommended dosage, starting low and working your way up gradually. Just be wise and careful. Realize too, that it may take 3-4, sometimes even 8 weeks to get a full assessment of what it will do for you. It has been my experience, though, that if it is just too miserable (like you describe Wellbutrin and Prozac) that it needs to be ditched immediately. There are just some "side effects" I am NOT willing to live through.
And for those who want to give me a hard time about this, it is perfectly legal where he is, OK?
I self medicated in the Philippines, very successfully and do have some suggestions. I do not have anxiety type depression, so I'll just tell you about a couple that were too sedating for me - you may find them to be just right.
Paxil is a sedating SSRI, used for depression, social and other types of anxiety. I also found Zoloft to be extremely sedating. Tianeptine is a whole different animal - definitely worth a try if the SSRIs don't work and it's available there. You can't get it in the US. Try Zyprexa if you need to gain about 50 lbs. Don't try any of the older tricyclic antidepressants - with your anxiety and the way you reacted to Wellbutrin, I would think they would send you through the roof as well.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor.
Good Luck!
Karen
Posted by Sean on March 31, 2000, at 16:52:16
In reply to Re: Desperate in Costa Rica, posted by KarenB on March 31, 2000, at 11:52:34
This was the type of response I have been seeking. I am an adult (35 yrs old)and am aware that I and I alone am solely responsible for my actions and yes obtaining SSRIs without a prescription is legal here. I intend not to abuse this and follow the insert to the T unless I can no longer stand the side effects.
My US Dr was a certified Neuropsychiatrist and he did finally get me on Celexa which clearly did work for me sans the sexual disfunction, which seems to be enemy number one of all SSRI takers.
Interestingly enough in my case, I loved the Wellbutrin for two weeks and then I degraded into a nervous wreck. I wonder if Wellbutrin in combo with another SSRI would fit the bill. However, I would be crazy to mix and match SSRI's on my own. I am loco but not to that extent.
> Sean,
>
> I suggest you do see a doctor, to try to rule out any abnormal physical cause of your illness (other than brain chemicals run amuck). But... you were prescribed Celexa while in the US, right? Do you have a diagnoses from a psychiatrist or was it a regular M.D. who prescribed it? If you were prescribed an SSRI and you can't get it now, and your only complaint was loss of sexual desire, I would not be afraid to try another SSRI, so long as you request the insert at the pharmacy and follow the recommended dosage, starting low and working your way up gradually. Just be wise and careful. Realize too, that it may take 3-4, sometimes even 8 weeks to get a full assessment of what it will do for you. It has been my experience, though, that if it is just too miserable (like you describe Wellbutrin and Prozac) that it needs to be ditched immediately. There are just some "side effects" I am NOT willing to live through.
>
> And for those who want to give me a hard time about this, it is perfectly legal where he is, OK?
>
> I self medicated in the Philippines, very successfully and do have some suggestions. I do not have anxiety type depression, so I'll just tell you about a couple that were too sedating for me - you may find them to be just right.
>
> Paxil is a sedating SSRI, used for depression, social and other types of anxiety. I also found Zoloft to be extremely sedating. Tianeptine is a whole different animal - definitely worth a try if the SSRIs don't work and it's available there. You can't get it in the US. Try Zyprexa if you need to gain about 50 lbs. Don't try any of the older tricyclic antidepressants - with your anxiety and the way you reacted to Wellbutrin, I would think they would send you through the roof as well.
>
> Disclaimer: I am not a doctor.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> Karen
Posted by CarolAnn on April 1, 2000, at 10:27:34
In reply to Re: Desperate in Costa Rica (Thank you Karen), posted by Sean on March 31, 2000, at 16:52:16
Sean, FYI - Wellbutrin is not an SSRI, so it can be mixed with some of them. I was on Wellbutrin for several months with no improvement, so the doc added Celexa. One psychiatrist also told me that Prozac and Wellbutrin is considered to be quite effective. The other thing is that, sometimes if the patient is on one of those SSRIs, Wellbutrin can be added just to combat the sexual problems. Good luck! CarolAnn
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