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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by C.M. on May 12, 2000, at 2:52:40
Hi everyone,
Has anyone personally found or ever heard of Desipramine (which is a tricylic antidepressant)being helpful for anxiety?
C.M.
Posted by JohnL on May 12, 2000, at 4:45:01
In reply to Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by C.M. on May 12, 2000, at 2:52:40
> Hi everyone,
>
> Has anyone personally found or ever heard of Desipramine (which is a tricylic antidepressant)being helpful for anxiety?
>
> C.M.I've never heard of it. But anything's possible. Though the most common approaches to anxiety involve treatments with benzos, there are some people who have responded instead to serotonin meds, betablockers, and even stimulants. Ironically stimulants calm down hyperactive kids. Like I said, anything's possible.
JohnL
Posted by ChrisK on May 12, 2000, at 7:07:41
In reply to Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by C.M. on May 12, 2000, at 2:52:40
I first responded to Benzo's for my anxiety and panic. Once I found the right AD which for me was Nortriptyline (TCA), I was able to eliminate the Benzo. I've been panic free for about two years now and only take a little Klonopin in certain situations. I was even able to add a stimulant (Adderall) to the mix without returning to the anxiety problems. I'm not sure how many people take a TCA specifically for anxiety but I'm pretty sure that it helped me.
Chris
Posted by SLS on May 12, 2000, at 9:37:18
In reply to Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by C.M. on May 12, 2000, at 2:52:40
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Has anyone personally found or ever heard of Desipramine (which is a tricylic antidepressant)being helpful for anxiety?
> >
> > C.M.
>
> I've never heard of it. But anything's possible. Though the most common approaches to anxiety involve treatments with benzos, there are some people who have responded instead to serotonin meds, betablockers, and even stimulants. Ironically stimulants calm down hyperactive kids. Like I said, anything's possible.
> JohnL
If anxiety is a component of a depressive disorder, it will usually resolve upon remission of the depression. Agitated depression with anxiety is certainly responsive to tricyclic antidepressants, even desipramine. When I responded briefly to desipramine, the anxiety that I experienced in social situations vanished. Much depends on what disorder you suffer from. Has your condition been diagnosed?In line with what JohnL said, when treating mood and anxiety disorders, very often the treatment that ends up working seems intuitively paradoxical given the condition.
Providing a better description of your condition and diagnoses would help people give you more targeted feedback.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by ruth on May 12, 2000, at 14:53:35
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by SLS on May 12, 2000, at 9:37:18
I've taken desipramine...it did help with social
anxiety, but wasn't as strong an antidepressant
(for me) as the SSRI's. My concentration and focus
was pretty good on it, and it didn't have any sexual
side effects, except maybe a reduced drive (but
not reduced sensation). You have to be patient with
it. I did have some awful side effects for about
a month or so, but they subsided with time.
Posted by Darby on May 12, 2000, at 16:48:44
In reply to Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by C.M. on May 12, 2000, at 2:52:40
CM
Desipramine was the first AD I took many years ago. I found that it was very effective against feelings of anxiousness, particularly the PHYSICAL aspects of anxiety. The trembling, sweating palms, physical restlessness, etc. were alleviated. The deeper emotional, psychic anxiety, especially the "mind panic" that can accompany depression, was not very responsive to desipramine in my case. It seems to be very relaxing physically because it's rather sedating, which might not have anything to do with its antidepressant actions.
Best,
Darby
Posted by bob on May 12, 2000, at 20:44:39
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by Darby on May 12, 2000, at 16:48:44
Part of the reason I switched to desipramine from nortriptyline is because I've seen it mentioned far more often as having some effect against anxiety or for OCD. Chemically, it's related to imipramine, which I've seen described as having strong anti-anxiety properties.
Nortrip didn't do anything to help with the anxiety I felt that being on zoloft used to cover (klonopin, at the low dose I'm on, doesn't quite handle all of my anxiety on its own). I did notice a very gradual improvement over time in my overall mood with nortrip. I've only been up at 200mg/d of desip for a few weeks. At a lower level, I was backsliding a bit. At 200, I've stabilized and I feel to be gaining back some ground. So, for me, the jury's still a bit out on how much it might be helping with my anxiety ... especially since I've settled into an old anxiety-driven sleeplessness pattern (just don't check the times of my posts recently!).
gimme a few more weeks, then maybe I can say something about it.
cheers,
bob
Posted by Tom on May 12, 2000, at 22:06:38
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by bob on May 12, 2000, at 20:44:39
> It really is funny, how each of us responds differently to meds that are supposed to treat different symptoms. I tried every SSRI (except Celexa) and had severe nervousness/anxiety on just about all of them, and SSRIs are supposed to be the first line treatment for anxiety when going with ADs. I gave up medicine for the longest time because I just had enough. Needless to say I went back on meds. This time Desipramine. But just like SSRIs I can't tolerate much more than the smallest dosages (currently between 40-50mgs day). Desipramine does nothing for my anxiety. I take 1mg of xanax for that. Desipramine also makes my sleep very restless, and sleep was one thing I could always do. Some people just don't find relief from any AD for their anxiety in my opinion.
Posted by bob on May 13, 2000, at 2:00:15
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by Tom on May 12, 2000, at 22:06:38
> ... Some people just don't find relief from any AD for their anxiety in my opinion.
I hear that. While zoloft *helped*, and ritalin also *helps*, and hopefully desipramine will join the battle -- give me klonopin or give me a padded cell.
cheers,
bob
Posted by Fred Potter on May 14, 2000, at 17:08:41
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by bob on May 13, 2000, at 2:00:15
Nothing works for my constant anxiety. I've tried more or less everything I think. I'm not proud of this, and don't recommend it, but alcohol is absolutely the only way of getting some peace.
Posted by SLS on May 14, 2000, at 22:04:22
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by Fred Potter on May 14, 2000, at 17:08:41
> Nothing works for my constant anxiety. I've tried more or less everything I think. I'm not proud of this, and don't recommend it, but alcohol is absolutely the only way of getting some peace.
Have you tried Neurontin?
What about a beta-blocker?
Zyprexa or Seroquel?I don't know. I wish I could help. Sorry.
- Scott
Posted by FredPotter on May 15, 2000, at 16:31:25
In reply to Re: Desipramine for Anxiety, posted by SLS on May 14, 2000, at 22:04:22
Thanks Scott. I'll add these to my list of things to present to my psychiatrist when I get to see him (after a 3 month wait).
> Have you tried Neurontin?
> What about a beta-blocker?
> Zyprexa or Seroquel?
>
> I don't know. I wish I could help. Sorry.
>
>
> - Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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