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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 13:07:01
Has anyone ever taken an ssri and been augmented with Lithium? My pdoc just added 300mg of Lithium to my 20mg of Paxil at bedtime. Is this really an augmentation, or does the pdoc think I have bipolar disorder? Please acknowledge. I am also pondering on trying Nardil again, which only lasted a week the first time. I started to panic a bit, because I was getting hypotensive. The post started yesterday on the Nardil user has got me somewhat excited. All I am trying to achieve is relief from SA,GAD, and Depression. Thanks, for any feedback.
Posted by Amber_MB on March 28, 2007, at 14:13:17
In reply to Paxil plus Lithium, posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 13:07:01
I was just curious how you are doing with Paxil. I know my oldest sister takes Paxil and she couldn't stop it during her pregnancy, though with many attemps to do so her ob/gyn told her it would be worse for her to come off it than take it while she was pregnant. I had to go and help her a few times while she was pregnant and trying to come off of it before they decided to keep her on it and she acted like a heroin addict with withdrawal. She is still on it today and "trying to stop". I have heard it is highly addictive even though they market it as "non-habit forming drug". I just was put on Vistaril after turning Paxil down for anxiety. I refuse to be another addict to the medication Paxil. So what is your experience? I know this is a little off topic, but still just a little curious. Thanks :)
Posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 15:04:16
In reply to Re: Paxil plus Lithium, posted by Amber_MB on March 28, 2007, at 14:13:17
> I was just curious how you are doing with Paxil. I know my oldest sister takes Paxil and she couldn't stop it during her pregnancy, though with many attemps to do so her ob/gyn told her it would be worse for her to come off it than take it while she was pregnant. I had to go and help her a few times while she was pregnant and trying to come off of it before they decided to keep her on it and she acted like a heroin addict with withdrawal. She is still on it today and "trying to stop". I have heard it is highly addictive even though they market it as "non-habit forming drug". I just was put on Vistaril after turning Paxil down for anxiety. I refuse to be another addict to the medication Paxil. So what is your experience? I know this is a little off topic, but still just a little curious. Thanks :)
Cerebus: No problem, I have been on Paxil for about 14 weeks. I have also heard of the terrible withdrawl syndrome associated with this drug. Unfortunately I have tried about every ssri possbile, including Effexor, which I took for about 2 years. I quit it in a short time and was placed on Paxil. Paxil seems to help my GAD but not SAD. I believe you can quit by slowly tapering and implementing another medication. I too will probably pursue another medication. I seem to be in search of a magic pill, which realistically does not exist. I hope your sister has good luck tapering off of Paxil. Obviously, she is not the first to do this.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 28, 2007, at 20:30:25
In reply to Re: Paxil plus Lithium, posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 15:04:16
I take lithium with lexapro (and a few other things) for treatment resistant depression. Lithium is one of the oldest and best-studied augmenters for depression. I'm pretty sure that your pdoc doesn't think you are bipolar. Li gave my AD's a good boost. It also helped reduce suicidal ideation, something that Li is known for.
Hope it does for you what it has done for me.
Best,
EE
Posted by suebird on March 30, 2007, at 11:18:35
In reply to Re: Paxil plus Lithium, posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 28, 2007, at 20:30:25
I have been on paxil for about 2.5 yrs and had my ups and downs due to having surgery i'm also on klonopin.05 at bed time it seems to help me myPaxil does is 20mgs twice a day, and I have come off of it as well if you want to u need to do it really slow, but was off of it only 3 months to have to go back on it. I'm having problems right now due to having emergency surgery for my gall bladder removal then they had to put me back into the hospital due to getting a bad infection in my intestines so from all the meds they had me on has up set me so I have a appt at my p-doc doctor today to see what can be done. But please do not be afraid of the meds they r there to help us. Suebird
Posted by theo on March 30, 2007, at 21:10:11
In reply to Paxil plus Lithium, posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 13:07:01
Do you take your 20mg Paxil at bedtime, or just the Lithium?
Posted by theo on March 30, 2007, at 21:10:45
In reply to Re: Paxil plus Lithium, posted by cerebus on March 28, 2007, at 15:04:16
Do you take your Paxil morning or bedtime?
Posted by cerebus on March 30, 2007, at 21:56:23
In reply to Re: Paxil plus Lithium » cerebus, posted by theo on March 30, 2007, at 21:10:45
Hello, I take both at bedtime. So far, I don't get very tired in the afternoon. I am only on 300mg of lithium and 20mg of Paxil. Lately, it seems to be making more anxious. Maybe, I will give it more time. Nardil is still on my mind to retry. Thanks, and good luck.
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