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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by porkpiehat on April 16, 2014, at 11:04:01
I'm only on day 4 of my Brintellix trial and I'm noticing a few things that are concerning me. Of course I'll give it more time, but I'm wondering if anyone has discontinued and found it to be a rocky road.
Celexa and Lamictal were both quite tricky!
Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 16, 2014, at 13:30:24
In reply to Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by porkpiehat on April 16, 2014, at 11:04:01
> I'm only on day 4 of my Brintellix trial and I'm noticing a few things that are concerning me. Of course I'll give it more time, but I'm wondering if anyone has discontinued and found it to be a rocky road.
>
> Celexa and Lamictal were both quite tricky!What symptoms have you noticed?
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on April 17, 2014, at 3:18:35
In reply to Re: Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 16, 2014, at 13:30:24
If you think it's not going to work out, you may want to go ahead and discontinue immediately if you have consistent problems with discontinuation syndrome.
I imagine it would be similar to Celexa, but maybe it wouldn't be as bad since it has less 5-HTT inhibition comparatively? I could see it being one of the milder ones, but it's so new that I haven't read too many people who have been on it awhile and then quit it, so it might be really bad.
I guess you were thinking that you would go ahead and get off of it now if you heard bad reports? I haven't because the reports may not be written yet, and I've told you my theory. If you still think it may do you some good, then obviously 4 days isn't a proper trial.
Posted by porkpiehat on April 17, 2014, at 12:54:11
In reply to Re: Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 16, 2014, at 13:30:24
Things that are "concerning" me so far about Brintellix (day five now):
What was at fist activating has become lethargic and unmotivated...
...And bored. Getting through work is terrible because I just don't care about any of it.
...I would hardly say that it has no impairment of sex drive.
...I am getting a tightness in my chest. Not sure how else to phrase it...perhaps physical anxiety.
I was so looking forward to this drug; on paper it seemed like the silver bullet that I think just having it on hand boosted my mood.
In preparation for it I dropped down to 10 mgs Celexa. For the two days before starting it I felt amazing. Sex drive back like a big block Chevy (or whatever). Woke up with a full range of emotions. Although I was getting irritable at the end of the day.
However I knew it was just a little "honeymoon" and that the depression/anxiety would eventually pop up so I started Brintellix.
Now I'm romanticizing this two-day period of sex drive and work competence. I took 50 mgs of Trazadone last night to make me bored and pissy today at work. That has either done the trick or the Brintellix is kicking in (at 10 mgs).
I am also taking 100mgs Lamictal bid.
Posted by porkpiehat on April 17, 2014, at 13:00:06
In reply to Re: Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by porkpiehat on April 17, 2014, at 12:54:11
Oh yeah...I'm down to 5mgs Celexa...
...craving for sweets is really up
...got dumped tuesday night so it will be hard to make a subjective assessment of mood and motivation.
Posted by phidippus on April 18, 2014, at 19:29:20
In reply to Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by porkpiehat on April 16, 2014, at 11:04:01
What's happening at only 4 days? I'm on my 4th day of it, too.
Eric
Posted by porkpiehat on April 18, 2014, at 20:17:13
In reply to Re: Brintellix discontinuation? » porkpiehat, posted by phidippus on April 18, 2014, at 19:29:20
I'm glad you asked!
I'm at 10 mgs now. It's hard to say what is what b.c.
I'm still weaning off Celexa (down to 5mgs) at the same time. I'm also taking 50mgs of trazodone at night, as it seems to help at work (I was finding it hard to push through the boredom,repetitive pointlessness of it all on Monday, Tuesday, Wed, and the trazodone really helped me be happier). It also seems to cut down on the nausea.
Today however, I started feeling agitated and irritable around 3pm. I also get a tightness in my chest.
I am attributing this to one (or more) of the following:
...The trazodone wore off leaving some nastiness
...The agitation is due to the weaning off the Celexa (which it is known to do)
...The Brintellix is causing its own irritability. It is an unknown and Buspar (HT-1A agonist) definitely gave this irritability.
...This is the early onset of some serotonin syndrome (Brintellix/trazodone/celexa) even though each is at a low dose.Last Friday I was down to 10 mgs of Celexa and I felt great (strong and horny!) until the late afternoon when the irritability came on. It also happened briefly on Saturday. I started the Brintellix Sunday and got an immediate AD/Anxiolytic effect, which faded by tuesday.
My sex drive has been dropping. I have noticed some lethargy/apathy on the first few days. Nausea is bearable, especially with the trazodone.
I chose Brintellix to help with the obsessive thinking about the people around me, and the concentration that the buspar used to help with.
I wouldn't say I felt acutely depressed when I started it...but I know I would if I were on nothing.
That is my long-winded answer.
What is your experience so far?
Posted by porkpiehat on April 18, 2014, at 20:42:09
In reply to Re: Brintellix discontinuation?, posted by LouisianaSportsman on April 17, 2014, at 3:18:35
LS I'd love your thoughts on my above post also!
Posted by phidippus on April 19, 2014, at 15:45:31
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome? » phidippus, posted by porkpiehat on April 18, 2014, at 20:17:13
> I'm at 10 mgs now.
How long?
> I'm still weaning off Celexa (down to 5mgs) at the same time.
At this point you should just stop it.
>I'm also taking 50mgs of trazodone at night, as it seems to help at work
That is a very small dose of Trazadone and I have no idea what effect it could be having on you during the day.
> Today however, I started feeling agitated and irritable around 3pm. I also get a tightness in my chest.
This may have been a limited symptom panic attack, which means your Brintellix isn't up to therapeutic yet and your Celexa is no longer therapeutic.
> ...The trazodone wore off leaving some nastiness
I doubt it.
> ...The agitation is due to the weaning off the Celexa (which it is known to do)
Weaning off the Celexa enough has left you susceptible to panic.
> ...The Brintellix is causing its own irritability.
Again, how long have you been on the Brintellix?
> ...This is the early onset of some serotonin syndrome (Brintellix/trazodone/celexa) even though each is at a low dose.
Very doubtful. You would have more physical symptoms.
> What is your experience so far?
Smooth sailing so far. It does an excellent job of ameliorating anxiety. It hasn't effected my mood yet.
Eric
Posted by porkpiehat on April 20, 2014, at 14:53:19
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome? » porkpiehat, posted by phidippus on April 19, 2014, at 15:45:31
> > I'm at 10 mgs now.
>
> How long?THIS IS DAY 7. I MOVED TO 15MGS THIS MORNING HOPING TO CUT THE EDGE OF MY IRRITATION. ENDED UP GOING BACK TO BED.
>
> > I'm still weaning off Celexa (down to 5mgs) at the same time.
>
> At this point you should just stop it.I DID YESTERDAY (SATURDAY)
>
> >I'm also taking 50mgs of trazodone at night, as it seems to help at work
>
> That is a very small dose of Trazadone and I have no idea what effect it could be having on you during the day.I AM SUPER MED-SENSITIVE!. THE METABOLITE OF TRAZODONE LEAVE ME WITH A KIND OF ECSTACY "I WISH I COULD HUG THE SUNSHINE" FEELING THAT EMELIORATES THE ANGER
>
> > Today however, I started feeling agitated and irritable around 3pm. I also get a tightness in my chest.
>
> This may have been a limited symptom panic attack, which means your Brintellix isn't up to therapeutic yet and your Celexa is no longer therapeutic.
>
> > ...The trazodone wore off leaving some nastiness
>
> I doubt it.
>
> > ...The agitation is due to the weaning off the Celexa (which it is known to do)
>
> Weaning off the Celexa enough has left you susceptible to panic.
>
> > ...The Brintellix is causing its own irritability.
>
> Again, how long have you been on the Brintellix?
>
> > ...This is the early onset of some serotonin syndrome (Brintellix/trazodone/celexa) even though each is at a low dose.
>
> Very doubtful. You would have more physical symptoms.
>
> > What is your experience so far?
>
> Smooth sailing so far. It does an excellent job of ameliorating anxiety. It hasn't effected my mood yet.
>
> Eric
>
>IM GLAD ITS WORKING FOR YOU. I'M WONDERING IF I JUMPED TO 15MG TOO QUICK. I REALLY WANTED THE IRRITABILITY TO GO AWAY!
AFTER I DOSED THIS MORNING AND GOT SICK AND WENT BACK TO BACK I HAD A SEX DREAM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER!
WHAT DOES ARE YOU ON?
Posted by phidippus on April 20, 2014, at 16:21:10
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome? » phidippus, posted by porkpiehat on April 20, 2014, at 14:53:19
> THIS IS DAY 7. I MOVED TO 15MGS THIS MORNING HOPING TO CUT THE EDGE OF MY IRRITATION.
You're hoping for too much from the medication. Give it a couple more weeks till you feel the full effect.
> I'M WONDERING IF I JUMPED TO 15MG TOO QUICK.
I would have given it two weeks and then gone to 20 mg.
> WHAT DOES ARE YOU ON?
I'm on 20 mgs.
Eric
Posted by porkpiehat on April 26, 2014, at 13:31:17
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome? » porkpiehat, posted by phidippus on April 20, 2014, at 16:21:10
So it seems that taking Trazodone at night was doing something funny with the Brintellix. I stopped the Trazodone and felt a little better.
Also my HIV meds cut the plasma levels of Brintellix up to one-third, So we are going to get me to 20 or 30 mgs. For now 5mgs at night and 10 mgs during the day
I continue to have some demotivation/apathy so far on the Brintellix. Around evening time I start to have to have an innate fear/distrust of people that I haven't had in some time. I can concentrate better. Too soon to tell about the sex drive.
Posted by jrbecker76 on April 30, 2014, at 15:26:29
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome?, posted by porkpiehat on April 26, 2014, at 13:31:17
> So it seems that taking Trazodone at night was doing something funny with the Brintellix. I stopped the Trazodone and felt a little better.
>
> Also my HIV meds cut the plasma levels of Brintellix up to one-third, So we are going to get me to 20 or 30 mgs. For now 5mgs at night and 10 mgs during the day
>
> I continue to have some demotivation/apathy so far on the Brintellix. Around evening time I start to have to have an innate fear/distrust of people that I haven't had in some time. I can concentrate better. Too soon to tell about the sex drive.I also experienced irritability from Brintellix, but I would say that the main culprit is coming from the m-cpp metabolite of Trazodone. I've sworn off Nefazodone and Trazodone because of the anxiety and irritability that resulted from them.
Posted by porkpiehat on May 3, 2014, at 16:31:44
In reply to Re: Brintellix agitation...serotonin syndrome?, posted by jrbecker76 on April 30, 2014, at 15:26:29
Yeah, the agitation stopped not long after I removed the trazodone.
Now it's just a matter of kicking the apathy/lethargy. I was expecting this med to be more activating!?!?
This is the end of the thread.
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