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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
I am thinking about switching from Effexor to Anafranil because I am having sexual side effects on the Effexor. What does anyone know about Anafranil? What are the side effects? Does it cause weight gain? Are there negative cardiac effects? I am a little scared of it because it is a tricyclic. Any information anyone can give me is very much appreciated. Thanks! Lin
Posted by JahL on October 30, 2000, at 19:46:02
In reply to ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
> I am thinking about switching from Effexor to Anafranil because I am having sexual side effects on the Effexor. What does anyone know about Anafranil? What are the side effects? Does it cause weight gain? Are there negative cardiac effects? I am a little scared of it because it is a tricyclic. Any information anyone can give me is very much appreciated. Thanks! Lin
I've recently finished a high dose (300mg/day) trial of clomipramine (4 dysthymia/social phobia), unfortunately to no good effect. Over here in the UK it is highly regarded for use in treatment-resistant depression/OCD. It is often combined with Lithium.
I found it needed to be treated with respect, slow ramping & tapering the order of the day. The main side-effects were pronounced urinary hesitation, dry mouth and fairly pervasive sedation. It is known here as the 'sweating drug' for good reason.
I found it dampened my appetite,though strangely enough, actually altered my sense of taste. For the first time in years I had a sweet tooth!
I'm no expert but I think all tricyclics can promote cardiac side-effects. Certainly whilst on the high dose, I would experience occasional 'twinges' in my chest.
On the plus side, of the 15 antidepressants I have tried so far, it is easily the most prosexual.
Good luck,
Jah.
Posted by JahL on October 30, 2000, at 19:46:10
In reply to ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
> I am thinking about switching from Effexor to Anafranil because I am having sexual side effects on the Effexor. What does anyone know about Anafranil? What are the side effects? Does it cause weight gain? Are there negative cardiac effects? I am a little scared of it because it is a tricyclic. Any information anyone can give me is very much appreciated. Thanks! Lin
I've recently finished a high dose (300mg/day) trial of clomipramine (4 dysthymia/social phobia), unfortunately to no good effect. Over here in the UK it is highly regarded for use in treatment-resistant depression/OCD. It is often combined with Lithium.
I found it needed to be treated with respect, slow ramping & tapering the order of the day. The main side-effects were pronounced urinary hesitation, dry mouth and fairly pervasive sedation. It is known here as the 'sweating drug' for good reason.
I found it dampened my appetite,though strangely enough, actually altered my sense of taste. For the first time in years I had a sweet tooth!
I'm no expert but I think all tricyclics can promote cardiac side-effects. Certainly whilst on the high dose, I would experience occasional 'twinges' in my chest.
On the plus side, of the 15 antidepressants I have tried so far, it is easily the most prosexual.
Good luck,
Jah.
Posted by R.Anne on October 30, 2000, at 20:55:40
In reply to ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
There is another posting close to yours where the person really liked Anafranil and it worked well for her. On the other hand, it had bad side effects for me (choking, continual coughing, rasp voice)and did not help my OCD. I am now taking Paxil (that helps my OCD) and Effexor (for depression). I am a little wired yet but okay. My appetite has lessened, too, on this combo. If you think Anafranil might help, then try it, don't let me stop you. Apparantly, it DOES work for some. Good luck.
*******
> I am thinking about switching from Effexor to Anafranil because I am having sexual side effects on the Effexor. What does anyone know about Anafranil? What are the side effects? Does it cause weight gain? Are there negative cardiac effects? I am a little scared of it because it is a tricyclic. Any information anyone can give me is very much appreciated. Thanks! Lin
Posted by JohnL on October 31, 2000, at 5:24:54
In reply to ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
> I am thinking about switching from Effexor to Anafranil because I am having sexual side effects on the Effexor. What does anyone know about Anafranil? What are the side effects? Does it cause weight gain? Are there negative cardiac effects? I am a little scared of it because it is a tricyclic. Any information anyone can give me is very much appreciated. Thanks! Lin
Anafranil is notorious for causing sexual side effects, perhaps even more so than Effexor. In addition, you'll likely experience other harsher side effects than you did with Effexor. You mileage may vary though. There are scattered reports, though very rare, of increased sexual desire with Anafranil. But that's the exception, not the norm.
If you want to look at tricyclics, Nortriptyline might be your best bet.
In the SSRI arena, Prozac is generally regarded as having the fewest sexual side effects. Paxil and Zoloft are usually the worst sexual offenders. But of course, it varies dramatically in individual cases. Though Prozac is generally the most sex friendly of the SSRIs, there are plenty of people who have had sexual side effects with it. I personally experienced serious sexual side effects with all of the SSRIs...I mean ALL...except Prozac. I fully expected Prozac to be like all the others, and was suprised to find my sexual desire actually increased. The sexual experience takes a little longer to finish, but there is none of the genital numbing I experienced with other SSRIs. Sex for me is better on Prozac than it is when I'm not taking anything.
Probably the most pro-sexual antidepressant, generally, is Wellbutrin. But it has its own set of side effects than can be rough to start with. Serzone is sex friendly too, though it has kind of a spotty record and can be a bit too sedating. Remeron is another choice, though I personally think it is best as an add-on for insomnia rather than stand-alone treatment.
I guess the only way to find out what is best for you is to try different things and find what you like. I personally would not put Anafranil high on the list though.
John
Posted by Shell on October 31, 2000, at 21:39:19
In reply to Re: ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by R.Anne on October 30, 2000, at 20:55:40
> There is another posting close to yours where the person really liked Anafranil and it worked well for her. On the other hand, it had bad side effects for me (choking, continual coughing, rasp voice)and did not help my OCD. I am now taking Paxil (that helps my OCD) and Effexor (for depression). I am a little wired yet but okay. My appetite has lessened, too, on this combo. If you think Anafranil might help, then try it, don't let me stop you. Apparantly, it DOES work for some. Good luck.
I found your post especially interesting because I am taking Effexor for both depression and OCD. I was told by my doctor that the Effexor would work for both. Do you get better results with the addition of Paxil than you would with the Effexor alone?
Shell
Posted by R.Anne on October 31, 2000, at 22:16:39
In reply to Re: ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?) » R.Anne, posted by Shell on October 31, 2000, at 21:39:19
> > There is another posting close to yours where the person really liked Anafranil and it worked well for her. On the other hand, it had bad side effects for me (choking, continual coughing, rasp voice)and did not help my OCD. I am now taking Paxil (that helps my OCD) and Effexor (for depression). I am a little wired yet but okay. My appetite has lessened, too, on this combo. If you think Anafranil might help, then try it, don't let me stop you. Apparantly, it DOES work for some. Good luck.
>
> I found your post especially interesting because I am taking Effexor for both depression and OCD. I was told by my doctor that the Effexor would work for both. Do you get better results with the addition of Paxil than you would with the Effexor alone?
>
> Shell****
Yes, my OCD isn't as bad when the Paxil is added. I can't take a high dose of Effexor (and that is necessary to treat OCD usually) because I can't seem to take high doses of anything without getting overly sedated. So, I take 3 (37.5 mg)capsules of effexor and 30 mg. of Paxil-I am going to increase the Paxil to 40 mg. tonight. Hopefully, I won't get too sedated. The OCD has been especially hard to treat for me. Some of the antidepressants have seemed to make it worse (Celexa). My OCD isn't at it's worst right now. I had taken both Paxil and Effexor xr in the past and then I was back on Paxil alone and it stopped working for depression but helps the OCD (I have yet to find the miracle pill that works for everything!). So, I decided to go on Paxil and Effexor (effexor has been activating for me). I'm still adjusting to this combination and increasing and so I hope this combo. will work even better with time. My OCD has been so hard to treat. But the paxil does help. I also read recently that some people respond to lower doses of medicines and perhaps I'm one of them. Is the effexor working for you?
Posted by rogdog on November 1, 2000, at 19:43:38
In reply to ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?), posted by Lin on October 30, 2000, at 18:53:35
hi, I took anafranil for 4 months and it was no help at all for anxiety, or ocd. in fact it made me more anxious,and as far as side effects the main ones for me were anxiety,memory problems,hypertrichosis, and my sex drive was zilch! wasnt a great one for me , but who knows it might do wonders for you. good luck, rog
Posted by Shell on November 2, 2000, at 21:45:12
In reply to Re: ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS (cam?)Shell, posted by R.Anne on October 31, 2000, at 22:16:39
I'm not sure if Effexor is working for me or not! I have only been on it for about two months and my doctor has been increasing the dosage very slowly. I am now at 300 mg. Right now, the depression is much more severe than the OCD, so I notice the OCD less. I do still have some symptoms, but then I still have the depression symptoms as well.
The medicine that seemed to work best for the OCD for me was Prozac. Although I didn't have depression when I started taking Prozac, my husband noticed that I seemed less stressed and more content. Unfortunately, those nasty sexual side effects made me want to switch.
Shell
Posted by R.Anne on November 2, 2000, at 22:03:34
In reply to Re: ANAFRANIL -- QUESTIONS » R.Anne, posted by Shell on November 2, 2000, at 21:45:12
> I'm not sure if Effexor is working for me or not! I have only been on it for about two months and my doctor has been increasing the dosage very slowly. I am now at 300 mg. Right now, the depression is much more severe than the OCD, so I notice the OCD less. I do still have some symptoms, but then I still have the depression symptoms as well.
>
> The medicine that seemed to work best for the OCD for me was Prozac. Although I didn't have depression when I started taking Prozac, my husband noticed that I seemed less stressed and more content. Unfortunately, those nasty sexual side effects made me want to switch.
>
> Shell*********
Shell,
I know it takes time for these medicines to get to working for us and it can be disturbing just waiting. The OCD is a bear for me, too, and every time it gets worse I get more depressed. I've been depressed a lot, too, and always worried that I may never get rid of these OCD symptoms or that I'll be struggling with the medicine adjustments forever. For me that's what it's been-trial and error with medicines for years. Then sometimes they just quit working for me and I have to start all over. I am on effexor and paxil right now and I've been struggling to keep out of the pits of depression. I watch t.v. to get my mind off of my problems for awhile and that seems to help some. Sometimes I go to the 24 hour store just to walk around and get a little exercise!I know what you're going through on adjusting to the meds.-I still am, too. I'm trying to get up and do things and stay busy-that helps fight the depression, too. But I'll hang in there-there is hope. For you, too!
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