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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by elbee on October 24, 2008, at 15:42:06
I'm bp1. Anyone taken this. My pdoc thinks it might be good to try for worrying/anxiety. What did you take it for? Did it work? How did it help? Did you notice any side effects? Thanks in advance.
-Elbee
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 18:11:53
In reply to Luvox. Anyone taken?, posted by elbee on October 24, 2008, at 15:42:06
Elbee still on luvox very low dose. But about l0 years ago went on it and absolutely no side effects for me kept waiting for them but none was also on ativan at the time. Got up to 250mg felt great for about three weeks then pdoc took me off it to trial celexa which did not work. And back to luvox never could tolerate the high doses again. But for some reason my body needs the 50mg take night with valium. I'd highly recommend it. Good for anxiety. Love Phillipa
Posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 20:27:27
In reply to Luvox. Anyone taken?, posted by elbee on October 24, 2008, at 15:42:06
Luvox is an SSRI. Although it is FDA-approved for OCD and social anxiety, it is an antidepressant which carries the risk of inducing mood cycling in people with bipolar.
Are you taking a mood stabilizer?
> I'm bp1. Anyone taken this. My pdoc thinks it might be good to try for worrying/anxiety. What did you take it for? Did it work? How did it help? Did you notice any side effects? Thanks in advance.
>
> -Elbee
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 20:39:03
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » elbee, posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 20:27:27
Really? Could that be why for about two weeks didn't need sleep that much for the first time in my life and had so much energy? I even said to the pdoc could I be hypomanic she said no you just don't know what normal is. Maybe I'm bipolar do you have any articles or links? Seriously. Phiilipa
Posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 20:50:30
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » azalea, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 20:39:03
Dr. Phelps maintains an excellent website, www.psycheducation.org.
Mood swings while on antidepressant can be a soft sign of bipolar disorder.
Have you tried a mood stabilizer?
> Really? Could that be why for about two weeks didn't need sleep that much for the first time in my life and had so much energy? I even said to the pdoc could I be hypomanic she said no you just don't know what normal is. Maybe I'm bipolar do you have any articles or links? Seriously. Phiilipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 21:54:13
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » Phillipa, posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 20:50:30
Azalea would that explain why the severe panic attacks at age 24 and meprobamate and valium and beer (I Know) eliminated them and now after all these years the benzos no longer work. Seem to have a paradoxical effect make me tired and in the past made me just normal me and could go off them when no stress? I once took trileptal 150mg couldn't afford a higher dose money wise. Took lamictal to 50mg twice and had such bad spitting that had to stop it was riding around with a cup in my hand as the saliva had to be spit out. Now I manintain really nothing on 50mg of luvox and been cutting down on valium and xanax from valium 20mg to 12.5 and .5xanax to .25. But the anxiety won't leave and want to do so many things but so tired. I'm 62 but was a runner and aerobics instructor for years and then bedside nursing and now 6 miles at least a night on my bike only way to get a bit of energy. And haven't slept for more than four hours without up for more meds and then sleep late. I can be babblemailed. Love Phillipa
Posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 22:00:40
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » azalea, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 21:54:13
Anxiety can be a symptom of bipolar disorder or a separate condition. Have you tried Lithium?
For a discussion of anxiety and bipolar disorder,
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/Anxiety.htm> Azalea would that explain why the severe panic attacks at age 24 and meprobamate and valium and beer (I Know) eliminated them and now after all these years the benzos no longer work. Seem to have a paradoxical effect make me tired and in the past made me just normal me and could go off them when no stress? I once took trileptal 150mg couldn't afford a higher dose money wise. Took lamictal to 50mg twice and had such bad spitting that had to stop it was riding around with a cup in my hand as the saliva had to be spit out. Now I manintain really nothing on 50mg of luvox and been cutting down on valium and xanax from valium 20mg to 12.5 and .5xanax to .25. But the anxiety won't leave and want to do so many things but so tired. I'm 62 but was a runner and aerobics instructor for years and then bedside nursing and now 6 miles at least a night on my bike only way to get a bit of energy. And haven't slept for more than four hours without up for more meds and then sleep late. I can be babblemailed. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 22:20:22
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » Phillipa, posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 22:00:40
No can't have hasimotos thyroiditis very unstable at the moment. Phillipa ps article in folder does the hasi's have an effect on the diagnosis? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by azalea on October 25, 2008, at 13:03:24
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » azalea, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2008, at 22:20:22
I agree Lithium would NOT be a good idea with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Perhaps another trial of Lamictal starting at a VERY LOW dose, like 2mg or 5mg? These doses are only available in the chewable dispersible tablets. I'm guessing that your previous trial started titration at 25mg.
Titration to therapeutic dose would be lengthy, but ultimately worth it if you can avoid side effects and achieve significant benefit.
> No can't have hasimotos thyroiditis very unstable at the moment. Phillipa ps article in folder does the hasi's have an effect on the diagnosis? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by cactus on October 25, 2008, at 16:26:26
In reply to Luvox. Anyone taken?, posted by elbee on October 24, 2008, at 15:42:06
I was put on Luvox for severe anxiety and depression, it did help with anxiety a little but not so much with depression, within 10 months I was on 300mg and had some bad side effects so I was switched to effexor which didn't help either. SSRI's and SNRI's don't agree with my chemical make up.
A very good friend of mine is BP1 and she has been on Luvox for years. It works quite well for her and she doesn't take anything else with it except for the occasional valium when she is having a hard time. Maybe 2 scripts of valium a year max.
Don't get me wrong, BP1 is a complex disorder and she still has bad days and sometime weeks but compared to anything else she has tried Luvox seems to be the best med for her. Good luck, peace C
Posted by Phillipa on October 25, 2008, at 18:36:06
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » elbee, posted by cactus on October 25, 2008, at 16:26:26
Sounds positive and I did the titrating at 25mg starter pack was supposed to boost an ad. Love Phillipa
Posted by azalea on October 25, 2008, at 21:19:59
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken?, posted by Phillipa on October 25, 2008, at 18:36:06
Lamictal has been studied with positive results in boosting response to SSRIs in unipolar depression. I've included an abstract below. Because of the combination of anxiety and depression you experience, Lamictal might be beneficial.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2002 Aug;63(8):737-41.
Lamotrigine as an augmentation agent in treatment-resistant depression.
Barbee JG, Jamhour NJ.
Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Ave., Box T4-6, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA. jbarbe@lsuhsc.edu
BACKGROUND: The anticonvulsant lamotrigine has been reported to be efficacious and well tolerated as monotherapy in the treatment of bipolar patients as well as in treatment-refractory bipolar disorder. However, there is a paucity of research on the use of lamotrigine as an augmentation agent in treatment-refractory unipolar major depressive disorder. METHOD: This study was a retrospective chart review on the efficacy of lamotrigine augmentation in 37 individuals diagnosed with chronic or recurrent major depressive disorder (DSM-IV) who had failed to respond adequately to at least 2 previous trials of antidepressants. Thirty-one patients who were on lamotrigine treatment for at least 6 weeks (6 discontinued prematurely due to adverse events) took a mean dose of 112.90 mg/day for a mean of 41.80 weeks. The primary efficacy parameter for this study was the Clinical Global Impressions scale, which was retrospectively applied. In addition, these data were supplemented by an analysis of prospectively rated Global Assessment of Functioning scores. RESULTS: On the basis of intent-to-treat analysis, response rates were as follows: 40.5% (15/37) much improved or very much improved, 21.6% (8/37) mildly improved, and 37.8% (14/37) unchanged. The percentage of patients who were rated much or very much improved and completed 6 weeks on the drug was 48.4% (15/31). No differences were found in the doses of lamotrigine given to responders and nonresponders. CONCLUSION: Analyses revealed that lamotrigine treatment was most effective for patients who had been depressed for shorter periods of time and had failed fewer previous trials of antidepressants. Data also suggested a trend toward increased response for patients with comorbid anxiety disorders and/or chronic pain syndromes.
> Sounds positive and I did the titrating at 25mg starter pack was supposed to boost an ad. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2008, at 18:50:23
In reply to Lamictal augmentation » Phillipa, posted by azalea on October 25, 2008, at 21:19:59
Thanks Phillipa ps and sorry elbee we hyjacked your thread.
Posted by yxibow on October 26, 2008, at 23:28:46
In reply to Luvox. Anyone taken?, posted by elbee on October 24, 2008, at 15:42:06
> I'm bp1. Anyone taken this. My pdoc thinks it might be good to try for worrying/anxiety. What did you take it for? Did it work? How did it help? Did you notice any side effects? Thanks in advance.
>
> -ElbeeAs noted below there are varying opinions for BP... I can't speak for management of depressive phases of BP.
I took it for what is still a complex "orphan disorder", at one point 450mg. Mostly for OC aspects I believe, although it was also used for a possible theory of downloading dopamine. To this day there is no explanation why I have so many effects from a raise at D2.I'm now taking a much lower dose (200mg), and actually trying a switch to Anafranil, for OCD/Depression.
As for Luvox, it really is a superior agent for OCD, it wasn't completely marketing. Of course, with the panoply now of SSRIs and other add-ons, people have their own different regimes for the OC Spectrum.
It's one of two SSRIs that are supposedly supposed to be calming -- it is fairly weight neutral, Paxil is the other one, some claiming weight gain, that's a mixed reaction, though it does have a mean gain I think of like 5-10lbs. The main problem with Paxil is remembering to take it, it has a short plasma life as opposed to Luvox.
Besides electric shocks, which I've gotten on just about every serotonergic agent, the only major side effect has been slight nausea at dose raising, which is rather common with SRI/SSRIs/etc.
-- Jay
Posted by elbee on October 27, 2008, at 13:55:13
In reply to Re: Lamictal augmentation » azalea, posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2008, at 18:50:23
Hi Phillipa,
No not at all. I didn't feel like you hijacked the thread. I'm glad it led to some questions you had. :)
Posted by elbee on October 27, 2008, at 13:56:42
In reply to Re: Luvox. Anyone taken? » elbee, posted by azalea on October 24, 2008, at 20:27:27
Hi Azalea,
Thanks to you and to everyone for your replies. I'm taking a mood stabilizer too---lamictal.
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2008, at 19:26:41
In reply to Re: Lamictal augmentation » Phillipa, posted by elbee on October 27, 2008, at 13:55:13
Ah thanks elbee for being so forgiving and understanding. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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