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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 7:36:01
Scott
I've been lurking around here for years and have always been interested with what you have to say.
You obviously are very intelligent and have a lot of experience with psych meds.
I know you are not a dr., but you probable have more knowledge than alot of them.
I would like some advice from you, and feel free to decline if it makes you uncomfortable.I had a severe depressive/panic episode at age 33 that lasted about 9 months. My life was turned upside down at that time, and I thought I was dying. Eventually I broke down and went to family Dr. and he gave me Serzone and Xanax.
The serzone didn't work at all and I was afraid to take the Xanax for fear of addiction.
The dr. referred me to a shrink, and he gave me imipramine.
Within 3 weeks or so, I felt better than i ever had in my life (probable hypomanic).
I stayed on it for about 9 months and accomplished so much! Eventually weaned off and took only supplements, (st. johns wort, L tyrosine) and stayed in remission for about 7 years.
Depression came back and this time I took Paxil.
(I have 4 siblings on Paxil, and they all do well and are very successful)
It worked OK but not nearly as good as Imipramine,and the side effects sucked.
I switched to Lexapro and it didn't have as many side effects, but gave me only a partial response.My brother, who has exactly the same things as me, told me about Mirapex. He takes it for RLS, but I think it helps his anxiety/depression.
I went on it last week ( with lexapro 10mg) and immediately felt awesome. But within a few days though I started getting horrible depression daily at about 3pm, lasting for a few hours.
I have had this before when starting up paxil and lexapro, so Im not sure if it is the Lex or the Mirapex.My questions to you are.
1. If the imipramine worked once, will it work the same way again?
2. Is it safe to stay on long term? (i'm 43)
3. Should I stay on the Mirapex and give it a chance? (it' only been a week or so.)As I said before, I know you're not a Dr., I'm just looking for advice/support from a fellow sufferer.
Thanks
Tim
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2009, at 8:12:26
In reply to Attn; SLS, posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 7:36:01
Hi Tim.
Thank you for the flattering words. Sometimes, I don't feel so smart.
I don't have much time, so I will try to comment more later. For now, I feel that the most important question you asked was in reference to the potential to recapture the antidepressant response you had to imipramine by returning to it. It is my observation that tricyclics "poop-out" far less often than SSRIs. Not only that, but it seems to me that you can recapture the antidepressant response to a tricyclic more often than you can with an SSRI.
It is a great observation that your siblings respond to the same medication. As you know, this is quite common. Have any of them discontinued Paxil and returned to it successfully?
Because of your history of recurrence of depression, you might have to remain on some sort of somatic treatment indefinitely. I know that sucks. However, to allow relapses to occur by discontinuing treatment will only lead to treatment resistance and a general worsening of the illness.
- Scott
Posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 9:48:56
In reply to Re: Attn; SLS » gman22, posted by SLS on November 20, 2009, at 8:12:26
Once again thank you, sir
My family has done well on Paxil, and some of them have gone off and back on with no troubles (except for the eventual return of panic/depression--usually within 3 months)
My dad is 80 and still takes it.
I guess sometimes I get stubborn and don't want to be on a med, or have to deal with side effects.
But I know the alternative is a life of horror.
I will probable try to wait for the lexapro and mirapex to work, and after a few weeks, if not I will go back with Imipramine or another TCA.
It's weird that the new drugs are pushed hard by younger docs, and the old school docs like the TCS's still. My old Pdoc just died a few weeks ago-I wish he was still around because he was really wise.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 10:37:41
In reply to Re: Attn; SLS, posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 9:48:56
Seems my small family do well on zoloft and paxil. And especially benzos. Parents are well as sibling and kids and neices nephews on xanax low dose. Only time had a remission was of the anxiety as main syptom and that was on the benzos and l0mg paxil years ago. Phillipa welcome to babble
Posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 11:46:10
In reply to Re: Attn; SLS » gman22, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 10:37:41
Thank you Phillipa!!
Posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2009, at 22:52:51
In reply to Attn; SLS, posted by gman22 on November 20, 2009, at 7:36:01
Tim,
I'm interested in what you decide about miraprex.
Good luck to you--I know you'll figure this out.
fb
This is the end of the thread.
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