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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 52. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
OK, so I'm 'taking a year out of uni' - I like that little euphemism, I find myself using it a lot lately.
I haven't been at work this week, had a week off. I start back at work tomorrow. I'm working in three different pharmacies next week. I got a bus/train pass so it wouldn't cost so much. Trust me, on my wage you need all the help you can get.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be returning to university in 1-2 years time. I needed a break. I don't hate uni but I do hate it. It's hard to describe, I like my friends but the course it soooooooo boring and depressing it gets me down. I need to work for a while.
I'm not sure whether I can go back to uni on Celexa 60mg though. I feel too apathetic, I don't really DO anything, EVER. I'm thinking I might go back on Prozac. I took 20mg but it didn't really do anything. I think I might need 40-80mg.
~Ed
PS. Would someone please invent a good non-SSRI treatment for OCD??
PPS. I'm told that the pharmacy I'm working at next Saturday is like a methadone factory. The methadone liquid comes in three colours: slime green, compost brown and electric blue. I hear it tastes bad. I wish we used methadone tablets........ I can't be bothered to measure out so many doses.
Posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 14:17:04
In reply to I'm thinking Prozac, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
Did you ever try the 80mg dose of Prozac for OCD? That was the dose that my Dr. said was effective for OCD - back when I was straightening up all the magazines in his waiting room at every visit :)
Posted by rjlockhart98 on August 21, 2005, at 14:21:11
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 14:17:04
I would never take 80mg. EEEKKK!! I would go crazy!
Low doses of SSRI's are ok with me, but moving higher causes me go in to rages.
I would proably kill myself on Paxil.
Posted by john berk on August 21, 2005, at 14:32:52
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 21, 2005, at 14:21:11
Im on 20 mgs. of prozac for ocd, i seem to get pretty good relief,
although my doctor feels 40 would be ideal. most of my friends with ocd take 60-80 mgs. i don't know how they do it. the higher i have gone, the more tired and apathetic i become. my cousin is on 80 mgs. and is what i jokingly call chairbound, he is healthy, but barely moves, always tired!! a non-ssri alternative for ocd would be nirvana!!! good luck ed...john
Posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 14:34:05
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 21, 2005, at 14:21:11
Do you have OCD? Usually they give pretty high doses to curb that - at least in my case. If you have OCD, what do you take?
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 21, 2005, at 14:37:48
In reply to I'm thinking Prozac, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
Hey Ed!
I also took a semester off from uni which was definately the right choice for me. However, it put me all out of kilter with my uni pals, but hey.
Ha! I certainly wish they made apathy-free celexa....
Ppozac was bit of a nightmare for me, but hey....could you deal with being med free when you start up at uni? Hmm I guess that might be asking for trouble!
Good luck with the methadone factory....
Meri
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:46:59
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 14:17:04
>Did you ever try the 80mg dose of Prozac for OCD?
No - I'd like to try it though.
~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:49:41
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 21, 2005, at 14:37:48
Hi Meri,
Why was Prozac a nightmare for you?
I didn't have any side effects when I tried it before, I only took 20mg though.
~ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:50:41
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by john berk on August 21, 2005, at 14:32:52
>chairbound
That's me ;-)
~Ed
Posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 15:20:24
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » Empathy, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:46:59
If you decide to up it - do it very, very slowly. Perhaps 2 weeks in between jumps, that will keep the side effects down. Seems like the body doesn't like it if you flood it with the high dose.
Posted by 4WD on August 21, 2005, at 15:22:29
In reply to I'm thinking Prozac, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
Hi Ed.
Prozac helped with my OCD tendencies. Admittedly they are mild (slight issues with counting, checking car keys and left/right "balance.") I took 20mg/day at first but lowered it gradually to 20mg two or three times a week. Typical SSRI side effects but insomnia was way bad.
Marsha
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 15:55:26
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » ed_uk, posted by Empathy on August 21, 2005, at 15:20:24
Hi Empathy :-)
I think I'll be ok RE side effects. I once took a small OD of Prozac, about 300mg - I didn't have any side effects. This was a few years ago now.
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by KaraS on August 21, 2005, at 16:31:29
In reply to I'm thinking Prozac, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
Hi Ed,
I think it's a worth a shot to try Prozac. It may give you more energy than Celexa. You have nothing to lose.
If that doesn't give you enough then you need to find a pdoc who prescribes MAOIs, Wellbutrin and/or stimulants - even if that means coming to the U.S. or Canada. Don't waste your life being apathetic and stuck to the couch. Believe me when I tell you those years will fly by quickly and you'll have far too many regrets.
Kara
xxx
Posted by linkadge on August 21, 2005, at 16:53:47
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » ed_uk, posted by KaraS on August 21, 2005, at 16:31:29
When I was in the hospital, they wanted me on 200mg of zoloft. They said I had OCD. I refused.
I really don't care if I have OCD or not I don't want to take that much medication.
I cannot do mathematics on SSRI's very well. Math is stuff you need to obsess about. YOu cannot say, "oh well who cares if the formula is not quite right"
One doc actually thought I had a mixture of OCD and schitsophrenia. (I told him about my rTMS device).Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on August 21, 2005, at 16:55:33
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by linkadge on August 21, 2005, at 16:53:47
Oh! but about you. Have you tried an SSRI with a low dose atyptical? You might get by with a lower SSRI dose.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on August 21, 2005, at 20:16:53
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by linkadge on August 21, 2005, at 16:55:33
80 of prozac! When it first came out 20mg was great lots of energy first day then second day anxiety, thired day panic attacks. That was the end of that. But who knows now that my chemistry has changed maybe I could tolerate it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 21, 2005, at 21:40:36
In reply to I'm thinking Prozac, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:01:26
I'm not OCD, but I have a lot of rumination as part of my depression and anxiety. Neurontin was something that made a dent in it for me. Just thought I'd mention it in case it is helpful.
Prozac was icky for me. It actually made me more depressed. Bummer, huh?
Best,
EE
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 22, 2005, at 5:26:49
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » Meri-Tuuli, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 14:49:41
Hi Ed
Well Prozac was the first ever AD I tired and it just made me crazy! Well maybe it was my body reacting to it and it might be different now that I'm a well seasoned ADer! Or maybe it was just that time of my life....anyway I lost loads of weight on it, I couldn't eat properly as I was really nausous all the time. I got really bad chills and all of the usual SSRI side effects seemed alot more pronouced. Plus it made my anxiety much worse.
Good luck!
warm regards, Meri
Posted by Tom Twilight on August 22, 2005, at 15:01:38
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » ed_uk, posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 22, 2005, at 5:26:49
> Hi Ed
>
> Well Prozac was the first ever AD I tired and it just made me crazy!
Plus it made my anxiety much worse.
>
Sorry Ed, my experience with Generic Fluoxetine was also very negative, in some ways it was the worst AD I triedIt caused horrible anxiety to begin with (which I didn't get with Effexor), the anxiety faded after a few days, then I got apathy, it never helped with anxiety or depression, but I was only on it for six weeks
I get the impression it might not be as effective for OCD as other SSRIs, but then I don't suffer from OCD
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:46:53
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by linkadge on August 21, 2005, at 16:55:33
Hi Link,
I've had BAD experiences with APs. I seem to be very sensitive to D2 antagonists, even weak ones. They make me ill :-(
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:48:31
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » ed_uk, posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 22, 2005, at 5:26:49
Hi Meri,
I tried it before at 20mg. I didn't have any side effects, it didn't really do anything. I think I need more!
Kind regards
~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:49:31
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by Emily Elizabeth on August 21, 2005, at 21:40:36
Hi EE!
I tried Neurontin once - I don't think it did anything! :-(
Ed xx
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:51:50
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac, posted by Tom Twilight on August 22, 2005, at 15:01:38
Hi Tom,
I can take 20mg fluoxetine with no side effects. It's like a placebo to me. I think I should try 40-80mg.
Fluoxetine is consistently effective for OCD in clinical trials. I think I might try it again......... or maybe Cipralex or Lustral.
Kind regards
~Ed
Posted by 4WD on August 22, 2005, at 17:07:20
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » Tom Twilight, posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 16:51:50
> Hi Tom,
>
> I can take 20mg fluoxetine with no side effects. It's like a placebo to me. I think I should try 40-80mg.
>
> Fluoxetine is consistently effective for OCD in clinical trials. I think I might try it again......... or maybe Cipralex or Lustral.
>
> Kind regards
>
> ~EdHi Ed,
I was thinking myself you might want to try Lexapro. That's the same as Cipralex, isn't it? I definitely have more energy on the Lex than on the Celexa. I can't say I have huge motivation to go out and landscape the yard or anything but the fatigue thing is less pronounced with Lex.
Also, I have found the best thing I can do for energy is go to the gym and get on the treadmill and really work hard for 30-45 minutes. I hated it at first! I still don't really like it but I watch some sensationalistic TV show while I do it and after about 25 minutes I start to get more energy and feel like I could go on longer. The longer I go, the better I feel (up to a point). The energy lasts at least a few hours usually the rest of the day.
Believe me, I know that when you are feeling like you can barely get off the couch, the gym doesn't sound like a possibility. But it does work. At least for me.
So why do I still have to talk myself into going ...
Marsha
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 17:30:17
In reply to Re: I'm thinking Prozac » ed_uk, posted by 4WD on August 22, 2005, at 17:07:20
Hi M!
>That's the same as Cipralex, isn't it?
It is :-) I might try it.
I agree that exercise is very important........ I ought to be doing a lot more of it!
Kind regards
~Ed x
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