Posted by JohnL on April 5, 2000, at 3:05:50
In reply to Can reboxetine (Edronax) make depression worse?, posted by Scott L. Schofield on April 4, 2000, at 10:10:55
Scott,
Sorry to hear things were rough for you. But indeed Reboxetine--or any antidepressant--can actually worse depression.
We often think of depression in terms of deficient neurotransmitter levels. But the exact same symptoms of depression, anxiety, or pyschosis can be caused by EXCESS neurotransmitters. Excess NE can cause depression and/or anxiety. Excess dopamine can cause depression and/or psychosis and/or anxiety. Just a few examples. The awareness that excess is just as bad as deficient is an important concept I think.
I too have worsened on Reboxetine or Wellbutrin. Boosting NE levels for me does not appear to be a wise thing to do. I can dramactically increase the intensity of my depression very quickly this way. Longer term trials did not produce better results. I think the response noticed in the first week or two is pretty predictive of the direction response will go in a longer trial.
Strangely the NE med Desipramine--but not Nortriptyline--improved my depression. So there must be a lot more to the tricyclics than just NE reuptake. NE reuptake with Reboxetine or Wellbutrin worsened me badly, but NE reuptake with Desipramine improved me, while NE reuptake with Nortriptyline was neutral. Go figure. I think I like the tricyclics better, because one of them is bound to work. Reboxetine with its very limited mode of action will probably be of benefit in a limited number of patients. And for some of us--like you and me--Reboxetine can make things a lot worse.
poster:JohnL
thread:28828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/28920.html