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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angelic9144 on August 7, 2003, at 16:14:45
I have OCD (mostly obsessions) + anxiety. Always was anxious but OCD came back full force my Senior year of high school (coincidentally AFTER I went on Accutane) of 1999. I went on Paxil CR right off the bat last year, worked like a DREAM. Once it kicked in I had 80% remission of the obsessions, 0 anxiety. Would go up to 10 girls on my univ. campus a day and get #s, felt like my old self.
Stopped working 4 months later. I spiraled back into anxiety and self consciousness. I maxed out Paxil at 150mg (I tolerate all these meds really well, w/ 0 s/e's) but I never felt how I did back on 37.5 or 50mg. Got on Effexor XR, didn't work, went up to 375, and down to 275.
Tried adding Wellbutrin. It is VERY activating and is not good for people like us, I rec. chucking it. It makes anxiety worse and didn't help my depression because I just got more nervous.
Threw that in the trash. I decided add Paxil back but with Effexor XR. Told my psych and he thought it was a good idea of mine, "enhanced serotonin effect" is what they say it would give me. Helped me get to 60% of my former self. Got off the effexor cold turkey, no s/es or withdrawals. Paxil worked just as good w/o effexor (which was proven to be ineffective). Some days felt ok, some days not, but I could tell it had pooped out.
Tapered paxil down from the 50 I was on to 0, 2 week washout. Went through a LOT of red tape to get Nardil. Pediatrician didn't deal w/ MAOIS. My psych refused me as a partial punishment for calling all the shots with my med treatment and told me he wanted me on Prozac or Luvox. He gave me some line about "well I cant give out nardil without EKG tests, yadda yadda" so I had to go to a new psych and lie and say I was on the max dose. I now have a years supply of Nardil @ 90mg/day :) :) :). I hate lying but now I don't have to worry about it.
Been on Nardil for 3.5 weeks. 3 weeks @ 45, 3 days @ 60.
Current mood:
- Anxiety spiking today as people walk around me in the office. I keep looking when people walk in my work area or around me, and glancing over, thus breaking my concentration. It sends a sort of panic (rush of blood if you will) as they walk by. Although yesterday I talked to a girl like my old self at the mall, flirted a bit. Didn't ask for her # since I'll be shopping there again, figure I'll wait to see if this kicks in more, and I'll have another chance. Trying to do things in baby steps.
Any similarities in your condition, experiences? insight, advice? :) THANKS!
BE NICE TO ME!!! I am tired of mean people :)
Posted by mombear on August 7, 2003, at 19:06:55
In reply to Please read my story reply :) PLEASE! be nice2me, posted by Angelic9144 on August 7, 2003, at 16:14:45
Hi,
Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time...I do hope you follow up with everyone and let us know how you are doing...
You raise many interesting issues in your post, like calling the shots on your meds, but I guess I wanted to address Luvox. It worked wonders for me after the birth of my son, because I had excessive anxiety and obsessive thoughts. I was on it for almost two years and then weaned off of it. Went through a bit of time feeling cranky after being completely weaned off, but that has improved.I hope you can find a med that works for you! I hate when a med works for so long and then it just STOPS. I find that so frustrating.
best wishes,
deb
Posted by KimberlyDi on August 7, 2003, at 19:23:23
In reply to Please read my story reply :) PLEASE! be nice2me, posted by Angelic9144 on August 7, 2003, at 16:14:45
You're so mad, I'm afraid you'll throw something at me <ducking behind desk>. Hey there. Just wanted to toss out that if Nardil is making you angry, it might not be the one for you. 10#'s a day on campus? why? I'm visualizing a bee zooming from flower to flower, a manic bee.
Slow down, rethink this Nardil you have thru deception. Try going back to your p-doc, he has the history with you, knows of paths already taken. Try his recommendation, instead of your belief. It's good to read up and be knowledgeable. But p-docs aren't docs paid to write us prescriptions for anything we want. They have to protect us from ourselves too.
You need to be concerned. I wish you luck.
KDi in Texas
Posted by Ofan on August 8, 2003, at 1:48:29
In reply to Please read my story reply :) PLEASE! be nice2me, posted by Angelic9144 on August 7, 2003, at 16:14:45
I'm in a similar boat, diagnosis wise. I've had OCD from an early age, and it has recently (last 2 yrs or so) tapered into a more general anxiety. Depression, unfortunately, has also come in with the general anxiety.
I've been on Prozac switched to Zoloft switched to Celexa 50 mg, and I've just started Wellbutrin. As you mention, the anxiety seems to have increased with the Wellbutrin (not OCD, just anxiety), but I do like the stimulating effect, which has at least improved the lethargy/
sleepiness and low energy.I too have, in the past, been less than forthcoming with my pdoc in order to get a change of prescription, mainly because I tend to obsess about the drugs I'm taking, and I have had intense OCD-related fear of some of them.
I've come to realize that if I am just brutally honest about what's going on, my pdoc will usually
respond helpfully. Otherwise I start to feel that I'm fighting this totally alone, which is not a pleasant feeling.Regards,
O
This is the end of the thread.
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