![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by biff on August 12, 2006, at 21:17:31
Quick summary: major depression, started treatment with Lexapro 3 years ago (20 mg). Worked for ca. 6 months, then had to up dose to 30 mg, then 6 months later 40 mg, then 6 months later, went to 20 mg Lexapro + 300 mg Wellbutrin. Ultimately 300 mg Wellbutrin + 10 mg Lexapro was optimal. BUT...Wellbutrin caused bad hives (no itching, but so bad as to be practically disfiguring). So, went back to 30 mg Lexapro. Hives disappeared, but back to same problem as before with Lexapro vis-a-vis sexual side effects, lack of reliable control of depression. Based on posts I've read here, I'm unsure as to what to try next. Suggestions would be appreciated.
Biff
Posted by bart on August 13, 2006, at 16:45:13
In reply to tried lexapro, wellbutrin, what next?, posted by biff on August 12, 2006, at 21:17:31
read on up a fairly newly prescribed drug (chemical has been around a while though) called EMSAM. There are many posts on this forum about it
Posted by Racer on August 13, 2006, at 22:31:02
In reply to tried lexapro, wellbutrin, what next?, posted by biff on August 12, 2006, at 21:17:31
Since you got some pretty good benefits from the Lexapro, I'd say try a different SSRI. Celexa, the parent drug, is generic (I think) and cheaper, and might work well for longer. Or Paxil, or Zoloft, or Prozac -- they're all in the same class, so they may work well for you.
Another alternative is to look at drugs in a class that mimics the Lexapro-Wellbutrin combo, like Effexor or Cymbalta. (Personally, I'd suggest trying Effexor first. It just seemed like a more effective drug to me. It does have a withdrawal problem, but forewarned is forearmed -- if you know that, you can plan accordingly.)
And then there are the TCAs, which are dirt cheap, but they have more side effects than the newer drugs...
That's at least a start for you. I hope it helps.
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.