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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 joy on October 27, 2002, at 10:41:06
I have been on Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Serzone, and Nortriptyline [last one for headaches, ha!]. While Paxil worked for anxiety, the side effects were terrible; always hungry, constipation, sexual dysfunction immediately, etc, and coming off Paxil is horrendous, taking weeks and weeks. Prozac worked a little but pooped out fairly quickly and had the least side effects, but sexual dysfunction, insomnia and hip pain among them [did not help bad anxiety]. I had headaches on Zoloft for weeks, diarehea and cramping. Serzone was agitating after a couple of weeks to where I had crying jags all the time. Celexa did nothing at 20 mgs and I had major agitation on itat 30 mgs. I started all these meds at a low dose and gradually went higher. I'm so disappointed. I find Xanax as needed better than anything for anxiety and insomnia. I'm disgusted with the antidepressants; people gaining 40 or 50 pounds in a few months and not being able to enjoy sex!! Is it me??????? Weight gain and sexual dysfunction are a main cause of depression. Does anyone feel the same way????? I'm really not a negative person [I try to practice cognitive behavioral therapy per David Burns' book 'Feeling Good'], but I think these antidepressants are terrible. Am I wrong??????? Thanks for listening.
Joy
Posted by JonW on October 27, 2002, at 12:49:30
In reply to Antidepressants are so disappointing; is it me????, posted by joy on October 27, 2002, at 10:41:06
Side-effects suck and in a lot of cases they cannot be justified. Don't give up, though. You'll find something out there that improves your quality of life. I'm glad to hear you are doing CBT. Meds + CBT is a potent combination, and I would argue it's an essential combination if you have a serious illness and want to achieve remission. Are you working with a CBT therapist? If not, you should be. It makes a huge difference, and being with a qualified therapist makes a huge difference as well. Hang in there!
Jon
Posted by Dinah on October 27, 2002, at 12:53:01
In reply to Antidepressants are so disappointing; is it me????, posted by joy on October 27, 2002, at 10:41:06
Has your pdoc suggested adding a mood stabilizer? Antidepressants just don't work well for some people at all. Sometimes they work well only with the addition of a mood stabilizer. It's possible that your depression has a bipolar component that is exacerbated by antidepressants alone.
Posted by linkadge on October 27, 2002, at 15:00:16
In reply to Antidepressants are so disappointing; is it me????, posted by joy on October 27, 2002, at 10:41:06
You're right they are terrible. For some
who seem to have a strict anxiety disorder,
they are unusfull. You said Paxil helped your
anxiety. This is not to belittle your case,
but some people would sacrifice their sexlife
their weight, and much more to get rid of the
crippling anxity they experience. For me
the there was absolutly no sex life anyway
with the anxiety I had.Keep looking, and keep waiting. They are deveolping drugs as we speak with less side effects. A potent substance P inhibitor is in the works with no more side effects than the placebo. This may help many with anxiety and depression, and not destroy other joy giving areas of life.
Linkadge
Posted by viridis on October 27, 2002, at 20:23:29
In reply to Antidepressants are so disappointing; is it me????, posted by joy on October 27, 2002, at 10:41:06
It sounds like your depression has a major anxiety component. Although some would argue this, I think that for some people anxiety leads to depression, especially if you also suffer from chronic insomnia. That's certainly the case for me -- treating the anxiety seems to be the key, and antidepressants just make things worse.
I had a bad time with antidepressants, but have done very well with a low dose of Klonopin (a benzodiazepine, in the same class of drugs as Xanax). It drastically reduced the anxiety, worry, and insomnia, and the episodes of severe depression finally stopped. Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe these drugs because they're supposedly "addictive" (a misleading term; they can cause medical dependency, but then so can ADs). There's a huge thread on this further up the page.
Anyway, since you've responded well to Xanax, you might ask your doctor about Klonopin. Doctors are more likely to prescribe it than Xanax (it's longer acting, so is thought less likely to cause addiction, dependency, or whatever). It's especially favored for those who experience panic attacks in conjunction with their anxiety. Klonopin is a wonderful drug for many, and I've had great success with it.
Posted by McPac on October 28, 2002, at 20:19:22
In reply to Re: Antidepressants are so disappointing; is it me????, posted by linkadge on October 27, 2002, at 15:00:16
"A potent substance P inhibitor is in the works with no more side effects than the placebo. This may help many with anxiety and depression, and not destroy other joy giving areas of life."
>>>>>>>What is the name of this drug?
Do you know which company is developing it?
Thanks!
Posted by linkadge on October 30, 2002, at 18:43:56
In reply to Link Re: Antidepressants are so disappointing, posted by McPac on October 28, 2002, at 20:19:22
I'll look for the post, the link was
actually in a post on this board. A previous
substance p antagonist had been developed
with potent anxiety and depression relieving
properties, unfortunately it damaged the
liver, a newer derivitive is looking potent
and promising, I will try and find the linkLinkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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