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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 10:11:38
Hi,
I've been on Luvox CR for a little over a week now, at 100mg at night for the first 3 days, then 200mg at night. I came off of Clomipramine to Luvox, so the mechanism (SSRI) was essentially the same.I still feel like utter sh*t and am suicidal to boot. The Luvox was chosen to help with my obsessive-nature of my depression. While I have more energy now that i'm off the clomipramine and don't have to deal with TCA side effects, the Luvox at 200mg isn't working at all. It feels like a sugar pill. I thought Luvox was supposed to kick in early.
Also, is it worth trying 300mg, and if so, how long should I wait at 200mg before begging my pdoc? I'm miserable, helpless, suicidal, wishing all of this would just end, in unbearable pain, and wanting to die. Please have mercy on me.
God i'm so sick of these antidepressant cocktails NOTHING F*CKING SEEMS TO WORK, EVEN ECT!
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2009, at 12:04:50
In reply to Luvox not working yet, posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 10:11:38
Uncouth I don't know what to say. Been on generic luvox for many years. Wouldn't know if depressed or not. But 300mg isn't that the top dose? What do you do during the day? Can you work? Go out driving? As both would help as I've been home too many years. Hang in there. Love Phillipa
Posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 12:17:46
In reply to Re: Luvox not working yet » uncouth, posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2009, at 12:04:50
Phillipa your constant posting is both admirable and appreciated. But I wish others would chime in with their wisdom as well. I'm beyond miserable it seems my brain can only focus on the pains of the present, and the regrets, failures, squandered opportunities of the past. I feel like a prisoner in my own thoughts. CBT barely helps.
Posted by Sigismund on June 9, 2009, at 15:34:49
In reply to Luvox not working yet, posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 10:11:38
Alex, I always read your posts but I have no idea how to be of any assistance. I imagine you are taking a number of other things along with the Luvox, the interactions of which I know nothing about. I've never even taken an SSRI. I suppose I feel that you are waging a war against your depression in a way that is not helpful, given the tools at hand and the fact of the war itself. However I also feel that you are not going to want to hear me talking about acceptance. I dunno....I think it is all trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Apart from anything else (a fair bit) you must be so sick of these stupid (if I may so term them) drugs. Still and all, I understand your reason for trying Luvox, but like I said, I've never tried it.
Posted by Sigismund on June 9, 2009, at 15:38:48
In reply to Re: Luvox not working yet, posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 12:17:46
>the regrets, failures, squandered opportunities of the past
I know, but you haven't had that much past if I remember your age correctly.
Wait till you are my age...so much more past, so much less future.
Of course that may be a good thing.
Posted by bleauberry on June 9, 2009, at 19:08:49
In reply to Luvox not working yet, posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 10:11:38
You will need to distract yourself from the day to day and look to the future. Get a calendar, mark on it a date that is 8 weeks from today. Until then, do not change anything. When that date arrives, then evaluate where you are. These meds cause longterm adaptive changes in the brain that do not happen in a week or a couple weeks. For some people with genetics slow to respond it takes more like 12 to 16 weeks. Also, because you have started and stopped so many meds, and you are on a bunch of others, those factors create the environment where adaptive changes will take even longer to happen.
In the meantime if you have any underperforming meds in your cocktail, you can put your focus on eliminating them. Cut it down to 2 or 3 meds total. Let the Luvox ride for a couple months while you are focused on cleaning house.
I've said it before and I still believe it. That is, depression that does not respond to a multitude of drugs or ECT has a cause to it that has been shrugged off or not considered. As just one example, there are now several hundreds of reported cases, many now showing up on TV news and documentaries, of people who suffered incredible treatment resistant suicidal depression who gained their lives back when some brilliant non-specialist decided to treat them for Lyme disease instead. Most of them never recalled a tickbite, never got the rash, and their first lab test was negative. They ALL got better on antibiotics, NOT antidepressants of any kind. THEIR depressions were at least as bad as yours, some of them even worse, and some of them complicated with hallucinations and real crazy stuff. No hosptials, doctors, or meds could help them, and often made them worse. Who would have ever thought....antibiotics? Far fetched, right? Well, like I said, it is just one example. If psych meds aren't working, why would someone NOT look in other places for answers? I don't get it.
Stories like that HAVE to make you wonder. No?
Posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 19:52:59
In reply to Re: Luvox not working yet, posted by bleauberry on June 9, 2009, at 19:08:49
i have nothign to add to your post but just want to thank you for writing it, and please, folks, more opinions on my original luvox etc. questions.
i did a few camping trips, don't ever remember a tick bite, maybe i should just go on antibiotics for a while?
what about that amantadine/ borna disease virus stuff? any truth to that???
Posted by ace on June 11, 2009, at 22:03:26
In reply to Luvox not working yet, posted by uncouth on June 9, 2009, at 10:11:38
> Hi,
> I've been on Luvox CR for a little over a week now, at 100mg at night for the first 3 days, then 200mg at night. I came off of Clomipramine to Luvox, so the mechanism (SSRI) was essentially the same.This is not correct. Clomipramine and Luvox act in many dissimiliar ways.
>
> I still feel like utter sh*t and am suicidal to boot.It's early days.
Any positive response under a week is deemed as a placebo effect.
Unfortunately, you may have to give this agent up to 8 weeks at a high dose.
Suicidal in terms of just suicidal ideation, or, have you made/entertained specific, tangible plans?
Certainly do inform family about this or to close friends, and to an MD. Even if you feel you don't feel you have the strength to do this, I would advise to: push against this apathy.The Luvox was chosen to help with my obsessive-nature of my depression. While I have more energy now that i'm off the clomipramine and don't have to deal with TCA side effects, the Luvox at 200mg isn't working at all. It feels like a sugar pill. I thought Luvox was supposed to kick in early.
How did you go with the Clomipramine?
I am not a fan of the SSRI's, but I do feel that Luvox is the best one for OCD.
> Also, is it worth trying 300mg, and if so, how long should I wait at 200mg before begging my pdoc?Ramming up the dose early in treatment won't necessarily work. It could do nothing and cause you a lot of side-effects.
At this point in time, I feel you would benefit from a drug like Xanax, which does have AD and anti-anxiety properties.However possible I would surround yourself with friends and family, and let them know how you are feeling. Let go off life's responsibilities for a period of time, and spend time where you are cared for by other people and have time to recover.
If necessary (the aforementioned situation is not plausible) I would admit myself to a psychiatric ward/hospital, although I would like to see people be encouraged to do more than take medication, smoke, and eat in these places!
If your problem is a long term depression with OCD, I cannot but recommend a trial of Nardil or Parnate.
I'm miserable, helpless, suicidal, wishing all of this would just end, in unbearable pain, and wanting to die. Please have mercy on me.
> God i'm so sick of these antidepressant cocktails NOTHING F*CKING SEEMS TO WORK, EVEN ECT!Keep going, stay alive. Very easy for me to say, I know.
Keep in mind that this horrible period you are going through WILL AND MUST TERMINATE!YOU WILL AGAIN FEEL HAPPINESS- even if everything you are feeling at this moment is telling you otherwise.
Hang on, endure, persevere.............
Ace:)
Posted by uncouth on June 11, 2009, at 22:07:14
In reply to Re: Hang on...... » uncouth, posted by ace on June 11, 2009, at 22:03:26
Thanks everyone. Today was the first amount of sunshine i've seen and felt in MONTHS. I had a great job interview yesterday, (though i'll be devestated if i don't get an offer next week) ,and although my big problem, which is both psychological, and psychiatric (ADHD, fatigue, motivation issues, self-sabotage syndrome) is actually doing the WORK itself, i felt really good about the interviews at a cool company.
So things feel good today, even though I'm on 6 hours of sleep. I hope things feel good tomorrow. Finally maybe the meds are working and ENABLING me to feel the other positive, good things life has to offer me.
So no hospital for me at least today :)
Posted by floatingbridge on June 11, 2009, at 22:30:10
In reply to Re: Hang on......, posted by uncouth on June 11, 2009, at 22:07:14
That's great news!
Candace
Posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2009, at 19:01:21
In reply to Re: Hang on......, posted by floatingbridge on June 11, 2009, at 22:30:10
Fabulous news so how do you feel today? Better still? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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