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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
I was just wondering if anyone has any experiences
with switching from one SSRI medication to another
and if so, what differences they experienced.Prozac has pooped out on me after being on it for years.
The only other SSRI I tried was celexa, and I didn't like
it--gained weight, sweated alot, was too sleepy,e tc.
I know it's different for everybody--that what agrees
with one person, won't with another, but still...I'm
just curious...
I liked the prozac a lot when it worked. I have taken
Wellbutrin (felt more depressed on it), Serzone (felt
suicidal on it), desipramine (felt sick on it)....
I was thinking about trying Zoloft...
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 21, 2001, at 15:27:18
In reply to People's Experiences on various SSRI's, posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
Posted by Janelle on September 21, 2001, at 15:51:14
In reply to People's Experiences on various SSRI's, posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
I was on Paxil for about 6 years before it pooped out on me. I subsequently tried Celexa (could not tolerate the sedation and bad headaches) and EffexorXR (far too activating, made me jittery and MORE anxious).
One thing I've heard is that it is *important* to get on to one SSRI while still tapering off the other one, so as to constantly have some kind of SSRI in your system. I did this in all of my switches.
The other thing I'd like to share is that I keep hearing of people who are doing WELL on ZOLOFT! ((I myself had tried that before Paxil and I started to improve, but then plateau'd with irritability and edginess; it did not *work* right for me).
Bottom line, I'd encourage you to try Zoloft, but ask you pdoc about doing the switch - if you should remain on lower and lower doses of one SSRI as you titrate up on the other one (e.g. Zoloft).
Good luck 2 U!
-Janelle
Posted by PhoenixGirl on September 21, 2001, at 15:55:57
In reply to People's Experiences on various SSRI's, posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
I remember we corresponded months back about the sexual side effects of antidepressants. What are you taking now, have you had any improvement in the side effects? I'm on a pretty low dose of desipramine, and on Adderall, and the problem has improved but is not gone.> I was just wondering if anyone has any experiences
> with switching from one SSRI medication to another
> and if so, what differences they experienced.
>
> Prozac has pooped out on me after being on it for years.
> The only other SSRI I tried was celexa, and I didn't like
> it--gained weight, sweated alot, was too sleepy,e tc.
> I know it's different for everybody--that what agrees
> with one person, won't with another, but still...I'm
> just curious...
> I liked the prozac a lot when it worked. I have taken
> Wellbutrin (felt more depressed on it), Serzone (felt
> suicidal on it), desipramine (felt sick on it)....
> I was thinking about trying Zoloft...
Posted by JohnL on September 21, 2001, at 18:25:17
In reply to People's Experiences on various SSRI's, posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
Just a rough guess, but based on everything you've said, I would favor the strategy of getting back on Prozac again and adding 2.5mg to 7.5mg of Zyprexa to it. Either one alone can work equally well, but when they are combined the effects are synergistic. The sum is greater than the parts, if that makes any sense. Another good med to kickstart that Prozac is Adrafinil.
I think your option of Zoloft is a good choice. I just think Prozac plus Zyprexa would be a better way to go. Just my opinion though.
John> I was just wondering if anyone has any experiences
> with switching from one SSRI medication to another
> and if so, what differences they experienced.
>
> Prozac has pooped out on me after being on it for years.
> The only other SSRI I tried was celexa, and I didn't like
> it--gained weight, sweated alot, was too sleepy,e tc.
> I know it's different for everybody--that what agrees
> with one person, won't with another, but still...I'm
> just curious...
> I liked the prozac a lot when it worked. I have taken
> Wellbutrin (felt more depressed on it), Serzone (felt
> suicidal on it), desipramine (felt sick on it)....
> I was thinking about trying Zoloft...
Posted by Mitch on September 21, 2001, at 23:52:23
In reply to People's Experiences on various SSRI's, posted by Roo on September 21, 2001, at 14:39:00
> I was just wondering if anyone has any experiences
> with switching from one SSRI medication to another
> and if so, what differences they experienced.
>
> Prozac has pooped out on me after being on it for years.
> The only other SSRI I tried was celexa, and I didn't like
> it--gained weight, sweated alot, was too sleepy,e tc.
> I know it's different for everybody--that what agrees
> with one person, won't with another, but still...I'm
> just curious...
> I liked the prozac a lot when it worked. I have taken
> Wellbutrin (felt more depressed on it), Serzone (felt
> suicidal on it), desipramine (felt sick on it)....
> I was thinking about trying Zoloft...I have been on all of them. As far as level of "activation vs. sedation" goes:
1) Prozac-most activating, best for attentiveness/interest.
2) Zoloft-activating but better than Prozac for panic symptoms.
3) Celexa-kind of in the middle-good for social anxiety, insomnia not as troublesome as with Prozac and Zoloft. Provokes the most sweating, also seemed to have the most appetite suppression.
4) Paxil-best for social anxiety, but can be numbing and tiring.
5) Luvox-not as numbing as Paxil, but a lot more nauseating.
Posted by Roo on September 24, 2001, at 9:01:13
In reply to Roo, how's your sex life?, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 21, 2001, at 15:55:57
Phoenix Girl--Sex life still sucks! But I'm no
longer in a relationship so I don't feel incredibly
pressured about it, but it's still a big concern
and bums me out...Right now, my number one concern
is taking care of my depression, and it seems the
SSRI's are the only thing that do a decent job of
combatting it. Glad things have improved with you.
What's the adderall like? Is it an AD? I've tried
desipramine before. It was just "okay" for me too,
less sexual side effects than the ssri's, but still had
a low sex drive.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on September 25, 2001, at 16:44:59
In reply to Re: Roo, how's your sex life?, posted by Roo on September 24, 2001, at 9:01:13
Hi Roo. I'm sorry to hear things aren't better yet. Adderall is a stimulant used to treat attention deficit disorder, and sometimes as an AD augmenter. It's similar to Ritalin, but longer-lasting. I'd try it if I were you. Doctors add it sometimes specifically for sexual problems. I've thought about trying Mirapex, which is a dopamine drug for Parkinson's and seems to have AD properties, but it has a lot of side effects. Dopamine drugs in general are supposed to improve your sex life. Have you tried yohimbine? I'm not sure exactly what it does. Anyway, I will probably be receiving ECT treatments in the next few weeks because my depression is so resistant and long-lasting.
Phoenix Girl--Sex life still sucks! But I'm no
> longer in a relationship so I don't feel incredibly
> pressured about it, but it's still a big concern
> and bums me out...Right now, my number one concern
> is taking care of my depression, and it seems the
> SSRI's are the only thing that do a decent job of
> combatting it. Glad things have improved with you.
> What's the adderall like? Is it an AD? I've tried
> desipramine before. It was just "okay" for me too,
> less sexual side effects than the ssri's, but still had
> a low sex drive.
This is the end of the thread.
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