![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 0:50:48
It's week 3 now. I'm getting no motivation, very little sleep, sexual dysfunction, joint pain, weird dreams, social anxiety, headaches. How many weeks should I keep trying it? A lot of people on www.askapatient.com are on it 6 months and still are not sure if its worth it for them. Seems like the ones that rate it a high are on a lot of other drugs in combination with it. I also noticed it seems to cancel out the good effects of Vyvanse.
No amount of sleep aids or benzo's will help me sleep while on this crap!
Posted by Horse on September 1, 2015, at 1:16:37
In reply to Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 0:50:48
Idk, fp. Doesn't seem like it's treating you well. What does your prescriber think? I've heard med trials need be 6-8 wks, but if it's much more harm than good, you'd not be faulted for discontinuing. I've aborted treatments. Latuda for one. Maybe someone here can share an instance when a less auspicious start turned around with persistence.
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 1, 2015, at 5:55:16
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by Horse on September 1, 2015, at 1:16:37
sounds hellish. Personally, I'd discontinue sooner, rather than later, especially if its messing with other meds. The worst thing I can think of is to stick out a terrible trial and then also have problems tapering.
Your call, of course.
Posted by Lamdage22 on September 1, 2015, at 8:43:27
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 1, 2015, at 5:55:16
No, you have to feel horrible if you take ADs. Its all part of the process and it leads staight to heaven.
Posted by Lamdage22 on September 1, 2015, at 8:49:04
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by Lamdage22 on September 1, 2015, at 8:43:27
i find it weird that you have to ask.
Posted by phidippus on September 1, 2015, at 13:00:44
In reply to Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 0:50:48
I've been on it for a month now and have noticed no side effects. I think the dosing the manufacture suggests is too low...I didn't notice a positive effect until I increased the dose to 40 mg. I'm not using it for depression though; I'm using it for OCD. Brintellix seems to be designed to treat anxiety: 5ht1a agonist, 5ht1b antagonist, 5ht1d antagonist 5ht3a antagonist - all of these receptors govern anxiety in some way or another.
> I'm getting no motivation, very little sleep, sexual dysfunction, joint pain, weird dreams, social anxiety
all of these strike me as symptoms, not side effects, which means Brintellix isn't working for you.
Eric
Posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 20:58:06
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » former poster, posted by phidippus on September 1, 2015, at 13:00:44
Eric, I too have OCD, but my worst symptom is social anxiety and derealisation. Would you say Brintellix is pro-social? I just can't believe I'm getting more social anxiety on this med.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.
Posted by Horse on September 4, 2015, at 20:06:48
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » phidippus, posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 20:58:06
Fp, I wish you the best with whatever you decide. I'm up to 20 mg. now and feel better. I notice I'm a little more edgy. Haven't had any panic so far.... Idk if you experience social anxiety, but so far mine hasn't budged. Have you read that the standindg theory of serotonin deficit implicated in social anxiety is being overturned? Turns out patients make too much. Best regards.
Posted by phidippus on September 4, 2015, at 20:19:44
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » phidippus, posted by former poster on September 1, 2015, at 20:58:06
Have you tried pushing the dose to 40 mg to see how you respond?
Right now you could be having a worsening of symptoms because the dose is not adequate.
Id try the higher dose for a month than just stop it if there is no improvement.
Eric
Posted by former poster on September 4, 2015, at 22:43:45
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » former poster, posted by Horse on September 4, 2015, at 20:06:48
Thanks Horse. I'm glad you are responding well to Brintellex. I did see that study about too much serotonin in social anxiety and it makes sense why SSRI's don't always help. SNRI's always worked better for me. I my anxiety has become an obsession therefore SSRI's are helpful in social anxiety since they're effective on OCd.
My doc gave me orders not to go over 20mg. I'm only getting samples of Brintellix, if I took 40mg a day I'd run out too fast and have to make up a lie to get more. I don't know if my insurance would cover 40mg let alone 20mg.
It's amazing how differently people respond to the same med. Brintellix did improve my depression but just like Lexapro increased inflammation. The insomnia was a big issue too. I have unusual responses to many meds. For now I will discontinue the Brintellix and see if the inflamation goes away
Posted by SLS on September 5, 2015, at 3:43:15
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by Horse on September 1, 2015, at 1:16:37
It seems to me that the longer one has been chronically or recurrently depressed, the more time it takes for them to respond to a given drug trial, especially if one has been exposed to a great many drugs previously. As the number of alternatives dwindles, the more sense it makes to administer a drug for a longer period of time and perhaps at higher dosages in order to capture a response.
Waiting for a drug to work while enduring its side effects and the depression itself is torturous. Keep fighting.
- Scott
Posted by Meltingpot on September 11, 2015, at 11:07:57
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » former poster, posted by phidippus on September 1, 2015, at 13:00:44
I agree with Phiddipus, you should up the dose before giving up on it altogether, what have you got to lose? You already feel crap on a low dose, what difference is a higher dose going to make, it might actually make you feel better.
Tell your Doctor you want to try increasing the dose, if he says "no" then ask him why not.
Posted by former poster on September 17, 2015, at 10:33:19
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try?, posted by Meltingpot on September 11, 2015, at 11:07:57
2 weeks off Brintellix and the abnormmal dream side effect hasn't worn off. This is not good. Dealing with derealisation and crazy dreams really is torture as it seems I can never get any peace, even when I sleep.
Posted by phidippus on September 17, 2015, at 12:14:44
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » Meltingpot, posted by former poster on September 17, 2015, at 10:33:19
My best suggestion is you take some Prazosin 20 mg to calm things down.
Perhaps...
The dreams had nothing to do with the BRintellix-the fact you started having abnormal dreams while taking BRintellix was just a coincidence.
Eric
Posted by former poster on September 17, 2015, at 23:30:27
In reply to Re: Brintellix: How much longer should I try? » former poster, posted by phidippus on September 17, 2015, at 12:14:44
Perhaps you are right that the dreams were coincidence. I may give Brintellix another try in the future since I did have some positive effects. Thanks for the advice and support.
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.