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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 0:57:37
As you all know, I've been taking the Coaxil (Czech) brand of tianeptine for over a week now and I am not impressed thus far. It is proving to be effective in modifying/normalizing my response to stress - almost ran over a pheasant yesterday and instead of reacting by shaking for half an hour afterward (or with the fist-waving, hollering rage/angst of benzos) I was completely calm, composed and serene.
The Problem
------------Is that it isn't helping my anxiety much, agoraphobia/apprehension about going outdoors is getting worse. In addition my mood is still low and motivation is poor, and I seem to be detached from my emotions in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable.
The Solution
-------------Might be adding Zoloft (Lustral actually) for its DA reuptake properties. I'm wondering if tianeptine might offset the serotonergic side effects? Does this work in practise? Anyone taken tianeptine with an SSRI or other antidepressant?
I skipped last night's dose and I'm feeling back to my normal self already. My mood seems a little brighter and the fog is clearing. Maybe I should come off it altogether?
All opinions welcome.
Q
Posted by Declan on March 14, 2007, at 2:10:14
In reply to Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 0:57:37
I've taken tianeptine and Parnate, on the rationale that the tianeptine would get rid of that awful seratonin thingo the Parnate does and make me happy.
It didn't work that way at all, and I spent the day in bed on Valium, so I dunno about doing it with Zoloft.
OTOH I was very encouraged by tianeptine and SAMe, and even managed to do some elementary tasks.
Sleep was disturbed though..........I'd need something to help there.Tianeptine with deprenyl was OK, but sleep again was the issue.
A few people have said that tianeptine doesn't do much for their motivation, and I agree.
What it did for me was it took me out of my awful (who's to say?) space so I could talk to people for a bit.With tianeptine I have felt something I described as 'nervous irritation'.
Maybe you are referring to the same thing when you say 'I seem to be detached from my emotions in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable'?
Posted by Pluto on March 14, 2007, at 4:08:32
In reply to Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 0:57:37
Have taken Tianeptine with Prozac. Nothing happened. Here in this part of the world, it is very difficult to get Tianeptine, so I had to quit taking it.Otherwise, it was a fair mix.
Cheers
PLS
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 4:51:41
In reply to Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 0:57:37
I've just found my old RemedyFind rating of sertraline from 2003. It was not good;
__________________________________________________
Sertraline - Intolerable Poison
I was prescribed sertraline for social anxiety disorder. This drug had one of the worst variety of side-effects of all the SSRI's. Soon after taking my first dose I began heavy sweating, feeling generally unwell; then came the sudden, violent attacks of vomiting and explosive diarrhea! I told my doctor, who said to continue taking it. I immediately disposed of the rest of the prescription in the bin - where most of my SSRI medications have been laid to rest. I refuse to suffer such ill effects on the whimsical advice of a physician who has never had to endure them.
__________________________________________________Escitalopram - Excellent; While it Works
I've tried Cipralex twice. The first time soon after it was marketed, I switched from citalopram to escitalopram and was not impressed. The second time I felt a tremendous, rapid lift in mood (within a DAY of starting Cipralex). I was euphoric - everything felt like spring-time, so much hope and a life out there to look forward to.My mood was so good I think I may even have been approaching hypomania.
Cipralex has pooped-out on me once and seems to be heading that way again. My Psychiatric Nurse is suggesting adding other meds to the cocktail to maintain stability. I'll keep the post updated if there are any developments.
Two major side effects *really* annoy me. Sexual dysfunction and emotional numbness are the only adverse effects I've experienced, but they are very disruptive and intrusive side-effects. I often feel as though I'm being chemically castrated by Cipralex. That's hard to take when you're young, free and single. Trouble is, the Cipralex has numbed my feelings to such an extent I don't feel much more that a dim, bovine acceptance of the whole thing.
__________________________________________________
Maybe I should try escitalopram instead? Not sure what I'm looking for here. Maybe a bit of that spring-time feeling again?Q
Posted by Pluto on March 14, 2007, at 5:36:51
In reply to Re: Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 4:51:41
I had been on Zoloft in the past. Upto 150mgs. All I could say is good things about this drug. Unfortunately, it pooped out or I can't say whether it was undiagnosed diabetes that made my depression resistant to Zoloft.It is a clean drug with few side effects.
Cheers
PLS
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 6:47:37
In reply to Re: Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed » Quintal, posted by Pluto on March 14, 2007, at 5:36:51
>It is a clean drug with few side effects.
Sertraline worked that way for you Pluto, but for me (and many others going by what I found on RemedyFind) it has so many side effects of such severity that it's intolerable compared to other drugs, even of the same class. Something that has me retching into the toilet pan every twenty minutes in between bouts of explosive diarrhea is not a clean drug. At one point I had to bring a bowl with me into the bathroom because the waves of vomiting and diarrhea would coincide and I couldn't decide witch end to relieve first.
It's a common statement here 'Your Mileage May Vary'.
http://www.remedyfind.com/treatments/65/1431/
Q
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 10:07:28
In reply to Re: Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Declan on March 14, 2007, at 2:10:14
>With tianeptine I have felt something I described as 'nervous irritation'.
>Maybe you are referring to the same thing when you say 'I seem to be detached from my emotions in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable'?No, it's more like I'm feeling emotions at a distance, or through a barrier of some kind - a psychic condom of sorts - that while it prevents unwanted ideas and hyper-arousal, dulls some of the best sensations life can give.
It's just not a very satisfying way to live.Q
Posted by naughtypuppy on March 14, 2007, at 10:23:01
In reply to Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed, posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 0:57:37
> As you all know, I've been taking the Coaxil (Czech) brand of tianeptine for over a week now and I am not impressed thus far. It is proving to be effective in modifying/normalizing my response to stress - almost ran over a pheasant yesterday and instead of reacting by shaking for half an hour afterward (or with the fist-waving, hollering rage/angst of benzos) I was completely calm, composed and serene.
>
> The Problem
> ------------
>
> Is that it isn't helping my anxiety much, agoraphobia/apprehension about going outdoors is getting worse. In addition my mood is still low and motivation is poor, and I seem to be detached from my emotions in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable.
>
> The Solution
> -------------
>
> Might be adding Zoloft (Lustral actually) for its DA reuptake properties. I'm wondering if tianeptine might offset the serotonergic side effects? Does this work in practise? Anyone taken tianeptine with an SSRI or other antidepressant?
>
Zoloft's binding affinity for dopamine is too low at theraputic doses to be of any use. See http://www.preskorn.com/columns/0005.html#fig1 You would prbably be better off using a med such as Wellbutrin or Amantadine> I skipped last night's dose and I'm feeling back to my normal self already. My mood seems a little brighter and the fog is clearing. Maybe I should come off it altogether?
>
> All opinions welcome.
>
> Q
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 10:43:35
In reply to Re: Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed » Quintal, posted by naughtypuppy on March 14, 2007, at 10:23:01
Thank you for the link naughtypuppy, I wasn't planning on getting a DA reuptake inhibitor as such, just that sertraline is the most dopaminergic of the SSRIs (and all the drugs I have available in my left-over drug bag). I thought I might be able to reduce the serotonin side effects with tianeptine, but I don't think I'll bother after reviewing my previous rating of it. I suspect the short half-life of tianeptine might also cause problems when using it for this purpose.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2007, at 10:43:43
In reply to Re: Tianeptine and Zoloft - Advice Needed » Quintal, posted by naughtypuppy on March 14, 2007, at 10:23:01
Q sounds like it's not a very good med for you anyway. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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