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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by merpmerp on December 29, 2010, at 9:55:25
I've been thinking for about a year now that I have excess serotonin from my Lexapro, despite steadily decreasing the dose. I'm now on 2.5 mg and still feeling that way. (I've been on 2.5 mg for about a month and will probably give it another month.) I'm scared to make any more changes - probably irrationally - but still scared.
***Maybe trigger***
(Before taking this med I did not have these symptoms, I am listing only symptoms I have developed since taking SSRIs). I have bad anxiety manifested by racing, intrusive violent thoughts and extreme muscle tension. The intrusive violent thoughts bother me the most. I also have extreme fatigue. These symptoms do seem to be dose dependent, becoming worse when on a higher dose.
I was placed on Prozac and then Lexapro for extreme depression and anxiety manifested mostly by crying fits and insomnia, some *s* ideation but not of the intrusive or violent type. I am a stubborn one, but finally getting to the point where I'm ready to admit that SSRIs may not be for me.
-Can these symptoms be caused by excess serotonin? I'm so confused by it all since I thought serotonin was supposed to be in general a "calming" neurotransmitter.
-Would a different SSRI be of any help? I had these symptoms at even 10 mg Prozac and also even now at 2.5 mg Lexapro.
I admit that I'm scared to leave the SSRIs because at least I'm familiar with them, but...
-What might I try besides an SSRI, what neurotransmitters *might* be better to consider? (I know that no one here can diagnose me.)
Thank you for any input. Next step once I develop a plan of action will be fighting with my pdoc about letting me try something new.
Posted by sigismund on January 13, 2011, at 10:21:03
In reply to Excess Serotonin Symptoms and Ideas, posted by merpmerp on December 29, 2010, at 9:55:25
I wonder if it might make sense for you to take a minimal dose of an SSRI and (when it becomes available to you, which it surely soon will) say 25 mg agomelatine or less, to block the 5ht2c receptor a bit?
Posted by merpmerp on January 24, 2011, at 16:59:38
In reply to Re: Excess Serotonin Symptoms and Ideas » merpmerp, posted by sigismund on January 13, 2011, at 10:21:03
Agomelatine is something I do have an interest in trying, for sure. I've struggled with insomnia issues for most of my life (although it's gotten slowly better over the years). At the moment I'm doing OK on ~1.25 mg/day Lexapro and 1000 mg of L-tyrosine a day (yay dopamine)! So I'm not gonna rock the boat right now, but other meds I have my eye on are Wellbutrin and agomelatine when it's available. Thanks!
This is the end of the thread.
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