![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
Gang:
As you may recall from the past year of posts, I have been taking Effexor XR with great success for depression. But my pDoc and I have struggled to find something that I can tolerate or that doesn't cause weight gain for sleep...
I've tried Lorazopam, Trazodone, Ambien, Remeron and Seroquel...
The best was lorazopam, but it's supposedly addicting, so she won't prescribe it for extended periods. Remeron was fabulous except for the horrific weight gain I had on it. Seroquel works great, but I suspect some weight gain from that too.
My pDoc had me start a trial of Abilify, thinking it was in the same family as Seroquel and would help with sleep without weight gain, but WOW!, WHAT A NIGHT!!!
I think i got 1 hour sleep in 10 hours and wasa extremely agitated, tossing and turning all night, plus up six times to use the bathroom.
A brief search through the archives here seems to indicate that Abilify can cause shakiness and loss of sleep.
Did we make a mistake?
I'm going back to Seroquel tonight. I can't function on 1-2 hours of sleep...
Tony
Posted by lauram on September 18, 2004, at 21:22:59
In reply to Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mistake?, posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
Last year I took Abilify for three months. It put me into an agitated manic state due to severe lack of sleep. I couldn't sleep more than 2-3 hours a night. I'd sure be careful, it might not be the drug for you. Good luck!
Posted by D minor on September 18, 2004, at 21:43:30
In reply to Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mistake?, posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
Hi,
my experience with Abilify is that it causes extreem agitation. I take it in the morning because if I take it at night I can't sleep. It also made it so that I can't sit still. I don't think you want to take this if it's sleep you're looking for. I also take Seroquel and Remeron. Those two usually do a good job at knocking me out.best if luck,
Dm
Posted by jerrympls on September 18, 2004, at 23:26:34
In reply to Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mistake?, posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
From what I know, Abilify is stimulating and can cause extreme akathasia/agitation/irritability and insomnia.
One research psychopharmocologist I used to see said that Abilify would be good for me if I needed something stimlating - but that he would never use it for sleep because it's like taking a stimulant at bedtime.
Seroquel worked for me - but weight gain was a problem. Have you tried Tegretol or Neurontin?
Jerry
Posted by SLS on September 19, 2004, at 6:33:55
In reply to Re: Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mist, posted by jerrympls on September 18, 2004, at 23:26:34
Hi Jerry.
I'm glad to see that you are in a better place.
> Seroquel worked for me - but weight gain was a problem.
How much Seroquel were you taking?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by Sad Panda on September 19, 2004, at 10:52:16
In reply to Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mistake?, posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
Hi PoohBear,
It does sound like a mistake to me as the other have said. Do you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep? I too take Effexor as my main AD & add something for sleep & side effects. I recently changed away from Remeron & have tried Nortriptyline & Amitriptyline. I would try at least two of the TCA's. Weight gain caused be Remeron or Seroquel doesn't always mean weight gain from something similar, but it is likely. Trazodone is worth trying too, the Benzos tend to stop working pretty rapidly unless you don't take them everyday.
Cheers,
Paul.
Posted by jerrympls on September 19, 2004, at 19:26:22
In reply to Re: Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mist » jerrympls, posted by SLS on September 19, 2004, at 6:33:55
> Hi Jerry.
>
> I'm glad to see that you are in a better place.
>
> > Seroquel worked for me - but weight gain was a problem.
>
> How much Seroquel were you taking?
>
> Thanks.
>
> - Scott
Hi Scott-I was taking 100-200mg at night. But then again, I have a REALLY tough insomnia (not tha insomnia isn't tough as it is). Some can take 25-50mg and have great results.
Jerry
Posted by PoohBear on September 19, 2004, at 20:56:01
In reply to Re: Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mist » SLS, posted by jerrympls on September 19, 2004, at 19:26:22
Good input as usual.
I took 50mg of Seroquel last night and slept well... much better than the previous night. For thos who wonder about Seroquel doseage for sleep, I have usually taken 100mg, but can get decent results from 50mg.
Trazadone doesn't work for me.
Tony
Posted by Waki on September 19, 2004, at 22:56:55
In reply to Chemist, MAO or Panda: Abilfy for Sleep a Mistake?, posted by PoohBear on September 18, 2004, at 18:49:49
i've tried almost all the sleep aids including anxiety reducers as sleep aids. i first thought restoril (temazepam) was the best thing since sliced bread.
now i believe i found the breakfast of champions for sleep. Remeron (mirtazapine) is an AD that also indices sleep. I kid you not, after 45 mg of this beauty I fall a sleep in 30 minutes and wake up 8 hours later.
my new vote is remeron is the breakfast of champions.
Posted by jerrympls on September 19, 2004, at 22:59:12
In reply to Remeron is the breakfast of champions for(sleep)., posted by Waki on September 19, 2004, at 22:56:55
> i've tried almost all the sleep aids including anxiety reducers as sleep aids. i first thought restoril (temazepam) was the best thing since sliced bread.
>
> now i believe i found the breakfast of champions for sleep. Remeron (mirtazapine) is an AD that also indices sleep. I kid you not, after 45 mg of this beauty I fall a sleep in 30 minutes and wake up 8 hours later.
>
> my new vote is remeron is the breakfast of champions.WHat about weight gain? Or are you not concerned about that?
Jerry
Posted by PoohBear on September 19, 2004, at 23:06:54
In reply to Re: Remeron is the breakfast of champions for(sleep). » Waki, posted by jerrympls on September 19, 2004, at 22:59:12
I kid you not, I gained 12 pounds in two weeks on Remeron. and that was on Weight Watchers. But, as has been noted, that was the best two weeks of sleep I've ever had.
My weight has continued to creep up and I onlt recently suspected the Seroquel. Yuk! Why is it that the good stuff always has some stupid side effect!?!
Tony
> > i've tried almost all the sleep aids including anxiety reducers as sleep aids. i first thought restoril (temazepam) was the best thing since sliced bread.
> >
> > now i believe i found the breakfast of champions for sleep. Remeron (mirtazapine) is an AD that also indices sleep. I kid you not, after 45 mg of this beauty I fall a sleep in 30 minutes and wake up 8 hours later.
> >
> > my new vote is remeron is the breakfast of champions.
>
> WHat about weight gain? Or are you not concerned about that?
>
> Jerry
Posted by Sad Panda on September 20, 2004, at 8:01:20
In reply to Re: Thanks, People..., posted by PoohBear on September 19, 2004, at 20:56:01
I would try the TCA's Doxepin & Trimipramine too. Doxepin has a lot less antimuscarinic side effects than Amitriptyline & is a NE reuptake inhibitor. Trimipramine is a fairly novel TCA because it is a mild Dopamine reuptake inhibitor, but is very weak as a SRI or NRI.
Weight gain from these meds comes from activity at several different receptors. Something that Seroquel, Remeron, Amitriptyline, Doxepin & Trimipramine all have in common is they all block H1 receptors.
Cheers,
Paul.
Posted by Waki on September 20, 2004, at 10:19:59
In reply to Re: Remeron is the breakfast of champions for(sleep). » Waki, posted by jerrympls on September 19, 2004, at 22:59:12
Yes, I'm extremely concerned about weight gain, it's unacceptable. No there is no weight gain with this med.
Posted by Waki on September 20, 2004, at 10:22:47
In reply to Re: Remeron and Weight Gain..., posted by PoohBear on September 19, 2004, at 23:06:54
i think it also has to do with what other med you are combining it with. I am also on wellbutrin xl which supresses my eating. Hence it overcomes remeron if in deed the remeron causes one to eat more.
Posted by PoohBear on September 20, 2004, at 11:31:58
In reply to Re: Weight Gain..., posted by Waki on September 20, 2004, at 10:22:47
> i think it also has to do with what other med you are combining it with. I am also on wellbutrin xl which supresses my eating. Hence it overcomes remeron if in deed the remeron causes one to eat more.
The problem is not necessarily that one eats more because of the med, but also that one's base metabolism is altered, causing food energy to be burned and conserved differently. A friend of mine gained a tremendous amount of weight on Paxil was just using the med as an excuse, UNTIL I ended up on AD's as well.
I used to think that, okay, I'd rather be fat and alive than depressed and dead, but I've overshot my original Weight Watchers goal by 20 pounds... I'm supposed to be no more than 186 (6'0" tall male...), and I got a doctors note for 200, but have had to revise that to 220...
Tony
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.