Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floatingbridge on January 18, 2010, at 18:30:05
How would an exchange of pristiq for milancipran go? Would the Milancipran mitigate the (excruciating) withdrawal of pristiq?
Is the milancipran washout a b*tch?
I reacted negatively to strattera--pain and reynaurds. Could I expect a similar response to Milancipran?
First question most important--no need for a lengthy reply.
Thanks!
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Posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2010, at 21:50:15
In reply to milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone?, posted by floatingbridge on January 18, 2010, at 18:30:05
Seriously thinking hormonal. I'm going to research later. Sorry to not answer your question. Love Phillipa
Posted by Sigismund on January 18, 2010, at 23:42:00
In reply to milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone?, posted by floatingbridge on January 18, 2010, at 18:30:05
I'm unclear.
You take Pristiq and have thoughts about taking milnacipran?
I dunno anything about SSRIs, but I did take milnacipran. Like BB, I couldn't tolerate much of it, but there was a benign kind of effect in there somewhere among the ants under the skin.
Or are you taking milnacipran and wish to switch to Pristiq?
Posted by floatingbridge on January 19, 2010, at 1:11:09
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone?, posted by Sigismund on January 18, 2010, at 23:42:00
> I'm unclear.
>
> You take Pristiq and have thoughts about taking milnacipran?
>
> I dunno anything about SSRIs, but I did take milnacipran. Like BB, I couldn't tolerate much of it, but there was a benign kind of effect in there somewhere among the ants under the skin.
>
> Or are you taking milnacipran and wish to switch to Pristiq?Sigi,
Oh my head is a fact-finding blender. Sorry for the confusion. Ants under the skin doesn't sound good. I'm on pristiq. I dread any washout or taper. I feel sick within 6 hours of missing a dose--that's how I know I've forgotten to take it :)
I was wondering, oh just wondering, what the next miracle drug might be. Something has to work--. Thanks for asking. BTW how did you manage to avoid ssri's?
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Posted by Sigismund on January 19, 2010, at 2:19:06
In reply to oh dear: ants » Sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on January 19, 2010, at 1:11:09
>Thanks for asking. BTW how did you manage to avoid ssri's?
No faith, I (feel I) know the score. Couldn't be bothered. Reuptake inhibitors suck.
But maybe not?
Posted by bleauberry on January 19, 2010, at 17:32:47
In reply to milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone?, posted by floatingbridge on January 18, 2010, at 18:30:05
> How would an exchange of pristiq for milancipran go? Would the Milancipran mitigate the (excruciating) withdrawal of pristiq?
I don't know. It probably would be more help than nothing at all while weaning off pristiq. I would think a better option would be a cross taper. If you want to get away from all the "me too" ADs out there, milnacipran is a good choice. It is actually the only SNRI. Effexor and duloxetine really aren't. Very weak on NE.
>
> Is the milancipran washout a b*tch?In clinical studies milnacipran had surprisingly easy withdrawals compared to other meds such as paxil. The longest I was on milnacipran was 3 weeks. I had maybe one day of a mild withdrawal and that was it. Seems very tame in that regard. I don't know what it is that makes effexor/pristiq so horrid to come off of. My guess is some kind of interplay with the opioid system. I get pretty bad withdrawals lasting about 3 days from just taking duloxetine for about 3 days. Three days on, and then 3 days of withdrawals to pay for it. Geez, some of these meds are just rude. I could take milnacipran with no fear of withdrawals.
>
> I reacted negatively to strattera--pain and reynaurds. Could I expect a similar response to Milancipran?Don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I had decreased pain in some body parts, but increased in another. At times I felt warmer in the hands, other times colder. I think the autonomic effects take months to even out after you've started treatment to rebalance the NE system. Clinical study users at another forum claimed it cured longstanding coldness chilliness stuff, but it took months to cause those adaptations. Depression itself had improved long before that. It's effect on NE is pretty strong, but I don't think as strong or as crude as strattera. The "ants under the skin" comment was probably related to the tingly feeling sometimes. I used to feel that maybe once or twice during the day for a few minutes. I liked it. If that is not what the comment was relating to, then it was probably restlessness/anxiety related, in which case the dose was too high.
As with any medication choice, there really is not accurate prediction of anything. But I think Milnacipran offers a unique opportunity compared to anything else you've taken.
Three big mistakes I see with its use:
1. Doses started too high.
2. Dosage goals based on literature.
3. Doses increased too fast.Remissions have been recorded in at least a couple case studies on pubmed where the dose was only 20mg...which happens to be lower than the recommended starting dose. I liked 12.5mg to 18mg per day.
Posted by floatingbridge on January 19, 2010, at 19:34:44
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone?, posted by bleauberry on January 19, 2010, at 17:32:47
Thanks Bleauberry, that was helpful and clarifying.
Lower doses seem more effective in my case. Some may classify me as med-phobic, but higher dosages inevitably bring on misery and then switching to another med.
I'm trying to calm myself right now and go one step at a time. I sense I'm trying to have more knowledge and control for my consult. However, I can't figure out 'the cure' this week. Like a student before exams, I can only cram so much.
hugs,
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Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2010, at 21:13:06
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone? » bleauberry, posted by floatingbridge on January 19, 2010, at 19:34:44
I'm med phobic also. Love Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on January 20, 2010, at 19:06:55
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone? » bleauberry, posted by floatingbridge on January 19, 2010, at 19:34:44
Hey, you're not alone.
You're talking to someone who can't take more than 5mg Nortriptyline, 6.25mg Zoloft. Or 2.5mg Parnate once every two days. Ya know?
With Milnacipran, my urinary side effects were difficult to put up with. I found the best balance, for me, between those side effects and the rapid benefit I got from the med was in the area of 12mg to 18mg per day.
That meant emptying out the powder from 25mg capsules and making my own custom sized capsules, dividing piles as equally as possible with a razor blade on a plate (looks like someone making cocaine lines :-) ) Or in the case of Savella, which is a tablet, I would have to cut the pills to size, or crush them to powder.
Posted by floatingbridge on January 20, 2010, at 23:26:30
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone? » floatingbridge, posted by bleauberry on January 20, 2010, at 19:06:55
Posted by West on January 25, 2010, at 7:32:16
In reply to Re: milancipran question: Bleauberry or anyone? » floatingbridge, posted by bleauberry on January 20, 2010, at 19:06:55
Milnacipran's tolerability can be an issue, there were obvious issues with headaches, orthostatic hypotension and tachycardia at the recommended theraputic dose 150mg as I recall.
This is probably why pierre-fabre/forst are trying to bring l-milnacipran to market. It's currently in stage II trials.
www.neurotransmitter.net/newdrugs.html
You might be able to manage ok on a smaller dose. The only way to find out is to try it I suppose. You could go half/half for a week with pristiq as long as there are no enzymatic interactions then 75/25 and see how it goes.
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