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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 babs on February 3, 2003, at 18:26:20
Hi- I'm in the process of switching from risperdal to geodon to augment the 60mg of celexa I currently take. The Celexa works fine on the depression but did nothing for irritability and obsessions (very serious obsessions). Hoping the geodon will work but not having much luck so far (10 days in- feel worse, not better). I probably need to give it more time, but I want to be one step ahead of the game here. Tried neurontin- didn't work on obsessions. Risperdal worked great but gained 60 pounds. My pdoc suggested low-dose seroquel if the geodon doesn't work out. Anyone? I've also heard Anafranil (clomipramine) works great for OCD and I had a very favorable response to another TCA- imipramine. I was on it for 11 years before the obsessions drove me into a major depression. I'd love some feedback. Oh- I should add that I have ADD and the Celexa has turned it into a problem- there is evidence that SSRI's aggravate ADD and this has been the case for me so I'd be hesitant to try another SSRI (and I tried Prozac- God was I anxious on that stuff- couldn't eat a thing). Thanks.
Posted by michael73 on February 3, 2003, at 20:51:06
In reply to alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety, posted by babs on February 3, 2003, at 18:26:20
Anafranil worked well for my OCD but it caused me a nervous tension that didn't let me relax. It changed my personality a bit too. Also it closed up my bladder but that may be mainly a problem in men. I think it does help with anxiety but most of the time I was also taking Klonopin. Miraculously my anxiety has abated I suppose because of the medication protecting me from it for five years and my mind finally learning it didn't need to keep causing it. So there is hope for anxiety sufferers. I'm trying Luvox now for OCD and depression. Michael73
Posted by babs on February 3, 2003, at 21:24:05
In reply to Re: alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety, posted by michael73 on February 3, 2003, at 20:51:06
Did you gain weight on the Anafranil? How does the Luvox work for you in terms of anxiety? I find that Prozac and celexa both "amp" me up and I wonder if Luvox wouldn't do the same (and as a result make my ADD worse). Thanks Michael.
Posted by michael73 on February 4, 2003, at 17:24:30
In reply to Re: alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety » michael73, posted by babs on February 3, 2003, at 21:24:05
> Did you gain weight on the Anafranil? How does the Luvox work for you in terms of anxiety? I find that Prozac and celexa both "amp" me up and I wonder if Luvox wouldn't do the same (and as a result make my ADD worse). Thanks Michael.
I went up and down in weight, but I don't think it was because of the Anafranil. I've only been taking the Luvox for a week now and all it seems to do is make me sleepy. I am pulling out of the critical stages of depression now but I'm not sure the Luvox has anything to do with it - I cycle. OCD seems no different yet. I really don't know about Luvox for anxiety but I do believe Anafranil helped. Like I said, anxiety isn't a problem for me anymore, though it was very bad for years and I'm afraid might be if I end up in an uncomfortable work situation - I tend to be social phobic in certain prolonged situations. I think I was lucky enough with the Klonopin and Anafranil and a stable and calm life situation to have had my brain rewire itself to not keep causing anxiety. Best wishes to you. Michael73
Posted by yeltom on February 4, 2003, at 22:46:10
In reply to alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety, posted by babs on February 3, 2003, at 18:26:20
Babs, in regard to whether seroquel is weight-neutral, my informal research reveals that it is similar to risperdal in the short-term but better in the long term. Did you ever try to lower your dose of Risperdal? My doctor is under the impression that it can be very effective for OCD at doses as low as .5 mg. I did read, however, that weight gain on risperdal is not particularly dose-dependent, meaning that you can gain as much weight on a low dose as a high dose. That sounds strange, but maybe seroquel is more dose-dependent. By the way, when your doctor said that the next step would be low-dose seroquel, did he give you any idea about what he means by "low dose"? My doctor seems to be in the dark about what the minimal effective dose would be, and I can't find much specific information on the Web about its use for OCD. Definitely let me know when you start the seroquel and how it goes. If it doesn't work for me, I think I'll try risperdal again. I'm worried about the sexual side effects, but it seemed to work so well for you otherwise. In your case, are you sure it was the risperdal that killed your sex drive and not the celexa?
> Hi- I'm in the process of switching from risperdal to geodon to augment the 60mg of celexa I currently take. The Celexa works fine on the depression but did nothing for irritability and obsessions (very serious obsessions). Hoping the geodon will work but not having much luck so far (10 days in- feel worse, not better). I probably need to give it more time, but I want to be one step ahead of the game here. Tried neurontin- didn't work on obsessions. Risperdal worked great but gained 60 pounds. My pdoc suggested low-dose seroquel if the geodon doesn't work out. Anyone? I've also heard Anafranil (clomipramine) works great for OCD and I had a very favorable response to another TCA- imipramine. I was on it for 11 years before the obsessions drove me into a major depression. I'd love some feedback. Oh- I should add that I have ADD and the Celexa has turned it into a problem- there is evidence that SSRI's aggravate ADD and this has been the case for me so I'd be hesitant to try another SSRI (and I tried Prozac- God was I anxious on that stuff- couldn't eat a thing). Thanks.
Posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 5:59:12
In reply to Re: alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety » babs, posted by yeltom on February 4, 2003, at 22:46:10
Hi Babs and everybody
Since you mentioned obsession, it occurred to me that, even though I have never been diagnosed as having obsession, how could I know whether I'm *clinically* obsessed or not?
Cheers,
Ric
Posted by babs on February 5, 2003, at 7:25:58
In reply to Re: alternatives/augments to ssri's for OCD /anxiety » babs, posted by yeltom on February 4, 2003, at 22:46:10
Yeltom- the celexa did a number on my sex drive (actually the depression prior to the celexa started that ball rolling) but risperdal finished it off. I have tried reducing the risperdal but I get anxious. I don't know what dose he plans as he told me he has 250 pound men who can only tolerate a little because of the sedation and 13 year olds who take 500mg, so we'll see. Won't be doing it for five weeks as I need two weeks to recover from geodon and he is going awat for three weeks after that. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by babs on February 5, 2003, at 7:33:18
In reply to Obsession, posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 5:59:12
Ric- It took me awhile to figure it out but for me it was basically very unpleasant thoughts that I could not get out of my head regardless of how much I talked back to them. They would go around and around and around until I began to think maybe they were true even though I knew in my heart they weren't. Many people have obsessions about doing something they find morally abhorrent- like hurting their child or a pet- performing sex acts they would never want to perform, checking streets to make sure they didn't run over anyone, an obsession with germs. Here's a good link: http://www.psychiatrymatters.md/ Go to diagnosis and scroll down to OCD. You may have to register to use it first. The other thing is that obsessions cause ungodly anxiety. Mine were horrible, even on an SSRI. I needed something else to augment it. Best, Babs
This is the end of the thread.
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