![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 ricker on December 10, 2008, at 18:22:15
So my p/doc added 30mg of remeron to my cocktail and lowered my zoloft to 25mg. I am also taking lithium 600mg and clonazepam 0.5/x2. I have taken remeron in the past...15mg and he has restarted to help with sleep. Two days in and I feel okay, but I get this intense feeling of frustration when I attempt to do little tasks such as working at my computer and moving the cursor.... ahhhhh, it's a feeling of extreme and uncontrollable frustration. Kinda like putting a square peg in a round hole or threading a needle in the dark??? It is very hard to explain the feeling but if anyone has experienced it, you'll know what I'm talking about.
I did have a severe bout of akathasia years ago while on an AP but it does not feel like that?Can anyone help explain what I'm feeling and if Remeron could be the cause?
Thanks, Rick
Posted by desolationrower on December 10, 2008, at 18:28:17
In reply to What am I feeling?, posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 18:22:15
sounds like attention deficit when i tried to study for more than a few minutes, especially when on sri
-d/r
Posted by bleauberry on December 10, 2008, at 20:36:31
In reply to What am I feeling?, posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 18:22:15
No way to know for sure. But to me it sounds like a combination of two things. The lowered zoloft dose. That in itself can be a big cause of weirdness. You talked about the lowered dose as if it was nothing. It is significant. The other is remeron, maybe too much norepinephrine stimulation at the moment. All these things should settle down in a few days or weeks.
Posted by JadeKelly on December 10, 2008, at 20:38:40
In reply to What am I feeling?, posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 18:22:15
> So my p/doc added 30mg of remeron to my cocktail and lowered my zoloft to 25mg. I am also taking lithium 600mg and clonazepam 0.5/x2. I have taken remeron in the past...15mg and he has restarted to help with sleep. Two days in and I feel okay, but I get this intense feeling of frustration when I attempt to do little tasks such as working at my computer and moving the cursor.... ahhhhh, it's a feeling of extreme and uncontrollable frustration. Kinda like putting a square peg in a round hole or threading a needle in the dark??? It is very hard to explain the feeling but if anyone has experienced it, you'll know what I'm talking about.
> I did have a severe bout of akathasia years ago while on an AP but it does not feel like that?
>
> Can anyone help explain what I'm feeling and if Remeron could be the cause?
>
> Thanks, Rick
Hi Rick,I haven't felt that but thought I'd do a little brain storming with you:
1. Am I correct in that you have done fine on Remeron, alone, and Zoloft alone? Any chance, keeping in mind your other meds may potentiate the effects of either of these, that you are getting too much seratonin or something?
2. Remeron side effects (from book, take with grain of salt!) Abnormal thinking, anxiety, agitation, confusion, tremors. There were more but none that sounded like what you're feeling.
3. You are now taking twice the dose of Remeron that you did last time? Maybe you would do better on a smaller dose?
4. Does Zoloft cause any w/d's? Sounds like that was lowered to 25mg, don't know from what.
So, I'm not a med expert by any means, but my uneducated geuss is that with the double dose of Remeron, add in Zoloft, and meds that potentiate possibly both, the double dose of Remeron is the culprit. I would maybe go back to 15mg for a bit, see if your symptoms improve, and then you can always titrate back up slowly.
But first call your PDoc!!
Good luck Rick!
~Jade
Posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:48:24
In reply to Re: What am I feeling? » ricker, posted by JadeKelly on December 10, 2008, at 20:38:40
Thanks everyone for your replies. I do agree that the remeron may be a bit to stimulating so I'm going back down to 15mg.... was on that for several years with no side-effects and worked better than 30mg for sleep!
I've been on zoloft for years and I'm beginning to think it's time for a change, maybe lexapro. From what I've read as of late, Zoloft can be a tough ssri for bipolars. Geez, it's never easy is it!
Again, thanks members for your support.Regards, Rick
Posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:57:11
In reply to Re: What am I feeling?, posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:48:24
My Zyprexa trial is overrrrr! P/doc discontinued but prescibed me a good supply as PRN. If things don't work out with the lithium and remeron he said Seroquel is next.
And on another note, I quit smoking 10 months ago... had the dirty habit beat!! Enter Zyprexa and I could not stop thinking about smoking! It was like I never quit and I needed one..... so I started again!!! I mentioned that to my doc and he said the zyprexa had nothing to do with it? Could be, maybe I was just looking for a reason to start, but the cravings were REAL and CONSTANT.Rick
Posted by Phillipa on December 10, 2008, at 21:22:08
In reply to Oh, 1 more thing...., posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:57:11
Ricker have you considered the lithium as can cause twitching or hands shaking whichever you prefer. Just throwing things out. Personally had no trouble with remeron it did absoulutely nothing for me. Just stopped 15mg after a month no withdrawals same with 50mg of zoloft no experience with the lithium but family members were on it and they trembled and that was very frustating to them. Good luck Love Phillipa
Posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 21:24:10
In reply to Oh, 1 more thing...., posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:57:11
I think I'm reading/worrying too much but I found this on the net;
"Action myoclonus is characterized by muscular jerking triggered or intensified by voluntary movement or even the intention to move. It may be made worse by attempts at precise, coordinated movements."
That's what I'm trying to describe, when I make subtle movements with the mouse, or even now when I'm typing, I'll get so overwhelmed and have to stop and look away for several minutes??
Posted by JadeKelly on December 10, 2008, at 22:20:58
In reply to Re: Oh, 1 more thing...., posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 21:24:10
I agree Rick,
drop down on the Remeron, if that doesn't work, I'd get it checked out. No reason to worry. You should call you Doc either way to get an appt. before Spring!
Keep us posted,ha
~Jade
Posted by raisinb on December 11, 2008, at 11:18:12
In reply to Oh, 1 more thing...., posted by ricker on December 10, 2008, at 20:57:11
I think that's totally plausible. If Wellbutrin/Zyban can eliminate your cravings, why can't a med affecting different neurotransmitters cause them? Zoloft causes me to not want to drink alcohol.
I have had jerky twitches on a couple of SSRIs at the beginning, and they usually came on when I was trying to use my mouse. Or when I was sitting still on the couch. Don't know if that's similar to what you are experiencing.
I wonder, too, if you're just experiencing a unique kind of increased anxiety. Reducing Zoloft could certainly up your anxiety. And your mileage will vary, but Remeron did nada for my anxiety or my depression, so when I went down on the other meds, I was in trouble.
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.