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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by greywolf on May 6, 2004, at 23:01:01
Starting Remeron tomorrow. Everything else has failed. And after years of trying just about everything out there (except MAOIs) in vain, I'm trying to keep positive about the latest attempt.
So, anybody have anything good to say about Remeron? Any practical advice about what to expect?
Thanks.
Posted by waterfall on May 6, 2004, at 23:15:50
In reply to Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by greywolf on May 6, 2004, at 23:01:01
Hey greywolf,
Remeron worked wonderfully for my depression when many other things failed. Watch out for some weight gain, though. That's a problem for many people.
Cheers.
Posted by poppi on May 7, 2004, at 0:38:12
In reply to Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by greywolf on May 6, 2004, at 23:01:01
Don't know anything about Remeron but do know that a positive attitude and the correct medication will help you get through many things that may now seem unbearable.
Good luck
Posted by chemist on May 7, 2004, at 1:51:47
In reply to Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by greywolf on May 6, 2004, at 23:01:01
> Starting Remeron tomorrow. Everything else has failed. And after years of trying just about everything out there (except MAOIs) in vain, I'm trying to keep positive about the latest attempt.
>
> So, anybody have anything good to say about Remeron? Any practical advice about what to expect?
>
> Thanks.chemist here...post for Sad Panda, he is a remeron king.....all the best, chemist
Posted by Sad Panda on May 7, 2004, at 3:28:28
In reply to Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by greywolf on May 6, 2004, at 23:01:01
> Starting Remeron tomorrow. Everything else has failed. And after years of trying just about everything out there (except MAOIs) in vain, I'm trying to keep positive about the latest attempt.
>
> So, anybody have anything good to say about Remeron? Any practical advice about what to expect?
>
> Thanks.
>Hi Greywolf,
Remeron is great, I sleep like a log on it, once you get use to it sedating effect, it will make SSRI's or Effexor very easy to take. In my mind Effexor + Remeron = Amitriptyline without anti-muscarinic & heart problems.
What other AD's have you tried & how did/didn't they work?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by chemist on May 7, 2004, at 3:32:59
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » greywolf, posted by Sad Panda on May 7, 2004, at 3:28:28
Posted by Sad Panda on May 7, 2004, at 4:03:35
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by poppi on May 7, 2004, at 0:38:12
> Don't know anything about Remeron but do know that a positive attitude and the correct medication will help you get through many things that may now seem unbearable.
>
> Good luckThat's good advice. I never let the Effexor withdrawl horror stop me from taking it.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by greywolf on May 7, 2004, at 7:19:44
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » greywolf, posted by Sad Panda on May 7, 2004, at 3:28:28
Sad Panda:
Thanks to you and all for your comments. Support and insight can work wonders.
As to what I've taken, you name it. I've been at max or near max dose on prozac, luvox, paxil, zoloft, effexor, wellbutrin, celexa, lexapro, serzone, trazodone, lithium, clomipramine, tofranil . . . the list goes on. The problem with the SSRIs/SNRI was mainly that I experienced very little therapeutic benefit even at high dosage, while the main SEs (for me)--sedation and sexual--were intolerable. A couple TCAs were somewhat better, but even when I took them before bed, I was wiped out the next day. I hoped that this would dissipate over time, and as I got used to an increased dosage, but that never happened. Wellbutrin was great in the sense that it's the only thing I've ever taken that didn't do the ol' one-two on both sexual function and being awake during the day, but unfortunately even at 400mg/day I experienced nothing equatable to a therapeutic benefit.
I'm BPII with OCD, but right now I'm not taking lithium by personal choice. We are trying to get the severe, long-term depression under control, and the OCD's been left out in the cold. So right now I'm seriously concerned about finding even a short term fix so I can concentrate a little on this pain-in-the-ass OCD, which is both time-consuming and embarassing. I think stopping the Wb will help because it seemed to exacerbate some of the physical tics I experience.
Thanks for the advice. I will keep it in mind.
Greywolf
Posted by cherylann on May 8, 2004, at 12:48:16
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » Sad Panda, posted by greywolf on May 7, 2004, at 7:19:44
Remeron is the only drug that has truly worked for me. My mistake was thinking that I was feeling so good, I didn't need it anymore. Dumb.
I did gain weight on it, but not giving in to the cravings and excersising helped greatly.
It will make you horribly sleepy the first couple days, but that will lessen.
The AD effects kicked in within a few weeks. The panic abated soon after.
Best wishes
Posted by crazychickuk on May 9, 2004, at 8:16:58
In reply to One more testimonial..., posted by cherylann on May 8, 2004, at 12:48:16
Hi, i been on remeron alone for over a year i am at 30mg now still, and my panick attacks and anxiety have been cut by 50% since starting this wonder drug, it doesnt do much for my depression but when i get depressed i up my dosage to 45mg for a few days then bk down to 30mg, you will feel tired at first especially if you start with a low dose, but then it will all be worth it !! I am to afraid to discontinue this med, cus i know that my anxiety will come bk with a vengance !!
I am not so sure but the less of it you take the more tireder and lazier you get, the more you take the more happier you are, in my opinion anyways!!
DO plse let us know how u get on...
Donna
Posted by Sad Panda on May 9, 2004, at 10:45:42
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » Sad Panda, posted by greywolf on May 7, 2004, at 7:19:44
> Sad Panda:
>
> Thanks to you and all for your comments. Support and insight can work wonders.
>
> As to what I've taken, you name it. I've been at max or near max dose on prozac, luvox, paxil, zoloft, effexor, wellbutrin, celexa, lexapro, serzone, trazodone, lithium, clomipramine, tofranil . . . the list goes on. The problem with the SSRIs/SNRI was mainly that I experienced very little therapeutic benefit even at high dosage, while the main SEs (for me)--sedation and sexual--were intolerable. A couple TCAs were somewhat better, but even when I took them before bed, I was wiped out the next day. I hoped that this would dissipate over time, and as I got used to an increased dosage, but that never happened. Wellbutrin was great in the sense that it's the only thing I've ever taken that didn't do the ol' one-two on both sexual function and being awake during the day, but unfortunately even at 400mg/day I experienced nothing equatable to a therapeutic benefit.
>
> I'm BPII with OCD, but right now I'm not taking lithium by personal choice. We are trying to get the severe, long-term depression under control, and the OCD's been left out in the cold. So right now I'm seriously concerned about finding even a short term fix so I can concentrate a little on this pain-in-the-ass OCD, which is both time-consuming and embarassing. I think stopping the Wb will help because it seemed to exacerbate some of the physical tics I experience.
>
> Thanks for the advice. I will keep it in mind.
>
> Greywolf
>Hi Greywolf,
It looks like the SRI meds don't do you any good, if you say Comipramine & Imipramine have sedation that carries over to the next day, then Remeron is going to render you comatose. Desipramine will be your only hope from the AD's which are not MAOI's. The only other med I can think of for your suitation would possibly be Abilify.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by greywolf on May 9, 2004, at 21:19:53
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » greywolf, posted by Sad Panda on May 9, 2004, at 10:45:42
Thanks, Panda. You're right about the Remeron-it's knocked me on my ass. I'll stick with it though, because my choices have been substantially narrowed. I just hope to wake up sometime soon.
Posted by ravenstorm on May 10, 2004, at 9:31:52
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » Sad Panda, posted by greywolf on May 9, 2004, at 21:19:53
I am just over four weeks in on 15mg of remeron and am doing much better. I had severe anxiety and moderate depression (depression had been severe for the past six months--ie suicidal and extremely slowed down, but had started to ease somewhat before I started the remeron). I saw some improvement immediately, but then also had a lot of backsliding. I believe I have turned the corner at the four week mark, because now I am feeling considerably better (knock wood).
Good luck to you, it is definitely worth a trial of six to eight weeks.
I didn't think this drug was going to do anything for my anxiety based on the first couple of weeks, but yesterday I was able to golf nine holes of golf--something that produces severe anxiety in me. Four weeks ago I had trouble leaving the house!!!!!!!!
Posted by greywolf on May 10, 2004, at 11:02:07
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good, posted by ravenstorm on May 10, 2004, at 9:31:52
Nice to hear some success stories, Ravenstorm. Just wondering, did you experience severe sedation with Remeron? I'm trying to get through this while working at a job where I have to do creative writing everyday, and the sedating effect of Remeron is very strong.Also, since starting this on Friday, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Every joint in my body aches, and I feel like an old man. Anyone else experience this?
Posted by Racer on May 10, 2004, at 19:12:53
In reply to Re: Starting Remeron tomorrow. Tell me something good » ravenstorm, posted by greywolf on May 10, 2004, at 11:02:07
So far, I haven't felt like an old man, but...
So far, I am sleeping even less than I was; I am sedated a fair bit, but also quite agitated; my stomach hurts like a devil starting about half an hour after taking the pill each evening, which lasts about an hour and a half; the depressive symptoms are worse; everything tastes funny to me -- although not so that I'm laughing; and my stomach is bloated like you wouldn't believe. Oh, yeah, and I'm constipated. By the way, in case you're wondering: sedation and agitation at the same time is not something I'd recommend -- except maybe to the doctor who prescribed this.
Overall, if I were going to judge by this alone, I'd stop now. Obviously, that doesn't do any good, so I guess I'll see how it goes. Let's keep each other posted, though, huh?
(Oh, forgot to mention headache and sore throat.)
(Heheh, memory problems? No, I also didn't mention that the doctor I see has told me that if this doesn't work, he sees no alternative to MAOIs. Since I can see an alternative to MAOIs -- death -- that's not an option I'm going for. That's a big part of the reason that I've started the Remeron. Somehow -- guess I must be better than I was, huh? -- taking the damned drug no matter what seemed a better alternative.)
Posted by greywolf on May 10, 2004, at 19:38:49
In reply to I started Friday night, too » greywolf, posted by Racer on May 10, 2004, at 19:12:53
Good luck, Racer. I don't know how long I'll be able to stick with Remeron. One of my basic needs is to be awake, and I can't believe my doctor thought Remeron would do the trick. It's like taking a sleeping pill.
I'm very agitated, and it reminds me of first starting on Wellbutrin. I'm hoping this will wear off, but it had better be quick.
Posted by Racer on May 10, 2004, at 22:54:33
In reply to Re: I started Friday night, too » Racer, posted by greywolf on May 10, 2004, at 19:38:49
Sounds like we're in the same boat, and I'm bloody sick of going in circles.
I'm so relieved to hear that you're agitated, too. That really makes such a difference. I've been told over the years that some of the effects I've experienced are not caused by the drugs -- you know, they're all in my head -- that I'm always afraid that they're just in my head, I'm just imagining them.
(The worst was Paxil, though -- and it's funny so I'll share:
The doctor who prescribed Paxil to me told me -- to my face, mind you -- that the sexual difficulties were only for men. Women -- such as myself -- did not have *any* sexual difficulties on Paxil. I guess ejaculatory difficulties are the only *visible* sign of trouble, huh? I did not ask him if his wife took Paxil and told him it was as great as ever...
He also told me that Paxil didn't cause weight gain, and he couldn't explain the 50+ pounds I gained on it. Guess I just got lazy and self indulgent -- must be hitting the donut shops in my sleep, huh?)
I agree about your doctor not necessarily making the best choice for you, but what else have you tried? And can you hold out for a couple of weeks, and if it works on your depression maybe augment with something to counter the sedation? Just one thought...
Good luck, and keep me posted.
Posted by Sad Panda on May 10, 2004, at 23:41:01
In reply to Re: I started Friday night, too » Racer, posted by greywolf on May 10, 2004, at 19:38:49
> Good luck, Racer. I don't know how long I'll be able to stick with Remeron. One of my basic needs is to be awake, and I can't believe my doctor thought Remeron would do the trick. It's like taking a sleeping pill.
>
> I'm very agitated, and it reminds me of first starting on Wellbutrin. I'm hoping this will wear off, but it had better be quick.
>
>I don't like the sounds of your doc, Remeron is a great sleeping pill at low doses, high doses just makes me cranky & irritable - GRRRRRR! :)
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by ravenstorm on May 11, 2004, at 10:05:54
In reply to Re: I started Friday night, too » greywolf, posted by Sad Panda on May 10, 2004, at 23:41:01
Hi Greywolf and Racer--
Just wanted to let you know that I went through a bunch of weirdness when I started this drug and posted all sorts of queiries on this and especially another board I post on.
The first two days I was in a coma. My speech was even slurred. I had arranged to take a full week off of work, but that didn't end up beingg necessary. Some people, however, take two weeks for the grogginess to clear.
After coma-fest, came four to five days of awake-asleep-awake-asleep-awake-asleep all night long with incredibly vivid dreams. Since I had finally gottenn my sleep regulated before starting remeron, this freaked me out big time. It also passed.
Then, came the blood sugar swings. About two hours after a meal my blood sugar would drop and I would shake and get dizzy and have to eat. It also caused a lot of physical anxiety for me.
I posted several times on this board asking how long for the drug to help with anxiety. For me, it kicked in at four weeks.
So, why/how did I keep going? One, with the help of people on these boards encouraging me to tough it out. Two,the start ups listed above were nothing compared to the hell I went through trying to get back on an SSRI. Three,I didn't have a lot of options left either.
Oh, I forgot to mention the mood swings and extreme anger/irritability that occurred on and off the first three weeks. Can you say "bitch?"
Oh yeah, I was also really dizzy for a while.
My other suggestion, despite common wisdom of less side effects with higher doses, would be to drop to 15mg if you started at 30mg. From what I;ve read on other boards 15mg and 30mg often work pretty similarly, so with 30mg you might end up more sedated than 15mg, at least for the start up period. Doses of 45mg to 60mg seem to make you more acivated.
I bought a book on prescription meds and it specifically states to start at 15mg and titrate from there.
Just what worked for me, of course, YMMV.
Good Luck you guys. Really, don't give up until you giveit a full six eight weeks. That is what I promised myself (even though there were several days where I was ready to throw them in the garbage!)
And no, none of the side effects are
just in your head!
Posted by greywolf on May 11, 2004, at 13:13:59
In reply to Re: I started Friday night, too, posted by ravenstorm on May 11, 2004, at 10:05:54
Thanks, Ravenstorm. Aside from the coma aspect, the thing that has me most concerned is the anger/irritability. I am not normally like that, and I've found myself to be pretty snappish the last couple days. I do not want to be biting the heads off those who support me, so I'll have to be extra careful during this transition.
I am still achy, but it's letting up. It feels like you're coming off a good bout of the flu.
Gotta wonder if Remeron's worth all this if it's just a weak AD.
Posted by ravenstorm on May 11, 2004, at 22:19:12
In reply to Re: I started Friday night, too » ravenstorm, posted by greywolf on May 11, 2004, at 13:13:59
Well, I have read from others on other boards that remeron has really changed their lives and don't consider it a weak AD at all.
I was housebound and suicidal over the winter months and after four weeks on remeron feel almost totally back to the old me and I'm only on 15mg. I didn't feel substantially better until I reached the four week mark so I would really encourage you to give the drug a fair trial of six to eight weeks. If you do and decide it isn't the drug for you, at least you'll really know it wasn't for youu instead of quitting before you can even know if it will work for you. There is no way after a few days or sometimes even a few weeks that you can tell if an AD will work for you. Unfortunately, usually the first weeks are nothing but side effects.. .the relief comes later. I know it sucks, but its true.
Hang in there. I sounded just like you a few weeks ago.
This is the end of the thread.
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