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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 starflower on April 23, 2004, at 4:10:30
Hi there
I need some input outside of my own head please ...
I am miles away from home, having a really hard time and losing hope of ever finding a med that works for me without numbing me out.
The only thing that worked was Paxil and the withdrawals were just a nightmare, so I'm reluctant to restart that.
Since the Paxil I've spent two years going through:
Effexor
Remeron
Moclobemide
Imipramine
Lexapro
WellbutrinThe Lexapro helped a lot but I felt completely numb on it, wasn't able to cry, no ability to feel excitement. Basically, I didn't feel 'in my life'. Same thing with Remeron, altho' with that one I felt incredibly hungry and swelled up from oedema, so that one wasn't great either.
Prozac had the same effect when I took it 5 years ago (although it helped even less with the depression and made me agitated).
So it looks like I respond to the SSRIs but I don't want to risk the numbing again.
My doc has given me a choice of:
Zoloft
Lamictal
Paxil CRI just don't know. The Paxil would probably help, although I came off because it had pooped out at 20mg. Rather than up my dose, I freaked out because I was having withdrawal effects in between doses (I'm a pretty fast metaboliser I think) and took myself off using the liquid, little bit by little bit. But the withdrawals were still pretty bad - rebound depression, huge amounts of anxiety (which hadn't been much of a problem til then) head shocks, the works.
Anyone had a similar history to mine and success with Zoloft? How does it compare ot the other ads?
So what do you think? I just need some input, far from home, head in a spin, mood down the drain.
King Vultan - you there??!
Ta
SF
Posted by SLS on April 23, 2004, at 7:33:25
In reply to End of my tether ..., posted by starflower on April 23, 2004, at 4:10:30
> Anyone had a similar history to mine and success with Zoloft? How does it compare ot the other ads?
> So what do you think? I just need some input, far from home, head in a spin, mood down the drain.I am currently taking Zoloft 250mg along with a few other medications. It has not produced apathy, flattening of affect, nor emotional numbing. Lexapro, on the other hand, did produce these effects. I am experiencing only one side effect from Zoloft - reduced libido. This really sucks, but it is truly worth the sacrifice if these drugs do for me what I need them to.
>:-(
Friggin' drugs!
- Scott
Posted by Sad Panda on April 23, 2004, at 13:10:06
In reply to End of my tether ..., posted by starflower on April 23, 2004, at 4:10:30
> Hi there
>
> I need some input outside of my own head please ...
>
> I am miles away from home, having a really hard time and losing hope of ever finding a med that works for me without numbing me out.
>
> The only thing that worked was Paxil and the withdrawals were just a nightmare, so I'm reluctant to restart that.
>
> Since the Paxil I've spent two years going through:
>
> Effexor
> Remeron
> Moclobemide
> Imipramine
> Lexapro
> Wellbutrin
>
> The Lexapro helped a lot but I felt completely numb on it, wasn't able to cry, no ability to feel excitement. Basically, I didn't feel 'in my life'. Same thing with Remeron, altho' with that one I felt incredibly hungry and swelled up from oedema, so that one wasn't great either.
>
> Prozac had the same effect when I took it 5 years ago (although it helped even less with the depression and made me agitated).
>
> So it looks like I respond to the SSRIs but I don't want to risk the numbing again.
>
> My doc has given me a choice of:
>
> Zoloft
> Lamictal
> Paxil CR
>
> I just don't know. The Paxil would probably help, although I came off because it had pooped out at 20mg. Rather than up my dose, I freaked out because I was having withdrawal effects in between doses (I'm a pretty fast metaboliser I think) and took myself off using the liquid, little bit by little bit. But the withdrawals were still pretty bad - rebound depression, huge amounts of anxiety (which hadn't been much of a problem til then) head shocks, the works.
>
> Anyone had a similar history to mine and success with Zoloft? How does it compare ot the other ads?
>
> So what do you think? I just need some input, far from home, head in a spin, mood down the drain.
>
> King Vultan - you there??!
>
> Ta
> SF
>
>Hi Starflower,
How did you go on Imipramine? Clomipramine is also worth a go & don't exclude the MAOI's either. I'd give Zoloft a trial as it has the best efficacy of the SSRI's & is also the safest one. What is your DX?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Flipsactown on April 24, 2004, at 14:16:16
In reply to Re: End of my tether ..., posted by SLS on April 23, 2004, at 7:33:25
Scott,
Had same problem with libido when I was taking Zoloft. Viagra took care of that.
I have been off my cocktail of Prozac, Remeron, Lamictal and Lithium a couple of months now. I have been on Nardil up to 45mg for 3 weeks started at 15mg. I have to say that it has definitely lifted my unipolar depression and will probably have to increase dosage when I see my new pdoc on May 12. I fired my last one, when he refused to even consider rxing Trazadone for my insomnia. Anyway, I am taking generic Benadryl which seems to take care of the insomnia SE from Nardil. This is the same pdoc that forced me to sign a separate waiver form on Lamictal, hoping to discourage me from even trying it by scaring me with the "sometimes fatal rash" warning which I was very well aware of.
Are you still taking Lamictal? Lamictal seemed to have been effective initially then just seemed to fade just as quickly. That is when I decided to try Nardil. Nardil maybe the magic bullet yet!! Like Ace says, "Nardil Rules!"
FST
> > Anyone had a similar history to mine and success with Zoloft? How does it compare ot the other ads?
>
> > So what do you think? I just need some input, far from home, head in a spin, mood down the drain.
>
>
>
> I am currently taking Zoloft 250mg along with a few other medications. It has not produced apathy, flattening of affect, nor emotional numbing. Lexapro, on the other hand, did produce these effects. I am experiencing only one side effect from Zoloft - reduced libido. This really sucks, but it is truly worth the sacrifice if these drugs do for me what I need them to.
>
> >:-(
>
> Friggin' drugs!
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on April 24, 2004, at 19:04:25
In reply to Re: End of my tether ... » SLS, posted by Flipsactown on April 24, 2004, at 14:16:16
Hi.
Thanks for the feedback.
> Had same problem with libido when I was taking Zoloft. Viagra took care of that.
That's interesting. I keep hearing conflicting reports between people who say that Viagra increases their sex drive and those who claim that it does not. If my libido does not return when my depression resolves, I'll definitely keep it in mind.
> I have been off my cocktail of Prozac, Remeron, Lamictal and Lithium a couple of months now.
That's a pretty smart combination. Your idea?
> I have been on Nardil up to 45mg for 3 weeks started at 15mg. I have to say that it has definitely lifted my unipolar depression and will probably have to increase dosage when I see my new pdoc on May 12.
I think 60mg is the sweet-spot for most people. I hope it does the trick for you.
> Are you still taking Lamictal?
Yes. Although it is minimally effective when I combine it with a TCA, it's better than nothing.
> Lamictal seemed to have been effective initially then just seemed to fade just as quickly.
That seems to be the rule rather than the exception. It was with me.
> That is when I decided to try Nardil. Nardil maybe the magic bullet yet!! Like Ace says, "Nardil Rules!"
It is a hell of a good drug. I wish you luck with it.
Yes, there is such a thing as a magic pill.
- Scott
Posted by Flipsactown on April 24, 2004, at 21:45:45
In reply to Re: End of my tether ... » Flipsactown, posted by SLS on April 24, 2004, at 19:04:25
Hello Scott,
> > I have been off my cocktail of Prozac, Remeron, Lamictal and Lithium a couple of months now.
>
> That's a pretty smart combination. Your idea?As a matter of fact, most everything I suggested to my pdoc was my idea that is after being enlightened by all the informed posts here including yours. It seemed like you knew a lot more than my last pdoc who I decided to fire. He was way too conservative but did not even know that with Prozac the washout period is 5 weeks. He had told me to go ahead and start my Nardil after only 2 weeks. That is when I lost confidence in him and when he would not even consider rxing Trazodone or Ambien for the insomnia SE of Nardil, that was the last straw. I have been assigned a new pdoc and have an appointment to see him on May 12.
> I think 60mg is the sweet-spot for most people. I hope it does the trick for you.
Yep, so far so good!
> Yes, there is such a thing as a magic pill.I sure hope so, because depression is a real drag.
FST
Posted by Keith Talent on April 24, 2004, at 22:21:45
In reply to End of my tether ..., posted by starflower on April 23, 2004, at 4:10:30
I've been on almost all the SSRIs. On Paxil I went up to 80 mg a day, which was very effective but I couldn't stand the sedation. Clomipramine is the bees knees, but you can't have orgasms. These two are the most potent, both in the lab and in my personal experience. Next most potent is Zoloft, but the advantage of it is that is has the most acceptable ratio of benefits to side effects - I think that's why it's the top seller. But for me, an SSRI on its own does not fix the anergia/lack of get-up-and-go part of my depression. I'd say go for Zoloft, but with something else as well.
Posted by Sad Panda on April 25, 2004, at 0:43:42
In reply to Re: End of my tether ..., posted by Keith Talent on April 24, 2004, at 22:21:45
> I've been on almost all the SSRIs. On Paxil I went up to 80 mg a day, which was very effective but I couldn't stand the sedation. Clomipramine is the bees knees, but you can't have orgasms. These two are the most potent, both in the lab and in my personal experience. Next most potent is Zoloft, but the advantage of it is that is has the most acceptable ratio of benefits to side effects - I think that's why it's the top seller. But for me, an SSRI on its own does not fix the anergia/lack of get-up-and-go part of my depression. I'd say go for Zoloft, but with something else as well.
>
>Hi Keith,
Some Remeron would probably fix Clomipramine anorgasmia in the same was it does for SSRI's & Effexor - 5-HT2C antagonism.
An Aussie pdoc who has this website http://www.psychotropical.com/ advocates Zoloft combined with Nortriptyline or Desipramine. I am still thinking about replacing Remeron with Nortiptyline because I have a severe lack of drive & motivation. I have to see an Endocrinologist first to see if Thyroxine can help me.
Cheers,
Panda.
This is the end of the thread.
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