Posted by jujube on November 3, 2004, at 11:26:37
In reply to Re: Saw pdoc - didn't go as I had hoped - scared, posted by banga on November 3, 2004, at 10:43:55
Thanks. I feel some relief that Anafranil worked for you, and there was no serotonin syndrome issues when combining it with an SSRI.
As far as the pdoc appointment goes, I think I just felt that I didn't get to cover everything I had wanted to. Plus, he shot down the suggestion of adding Provigil (kind of figured he would). I don't think it is used in psychiatric circles in Canada very often. Anyways, he showed me all the possible side effects, and he is probably right that it wouldn't necessarily be a good addition for me at this time. I think he worries about all the research I do. Maybe he's concerned that I am scaring myself away from treatments and meds that could potentially help me. Don't laugh, but I am a bit of a freak when it comes to meds. I am so weird at times, that I will suffer with an excrutiating sinus headache all day because I worry about having a reaction to Sinutab (I had a bad reaction once, but I think I had taken something else just before). The first med I took was Paxil, and that was in my mid-thirties. It was the only psychotropic I was ever on, until I fell into an anxious depression again late last year and have had to experience the frustration and despair of having to try one med after another.
Thanks again. And, I do wish you luck and success on Cymbalta.
Tamara
> Sorry you felt it didn't go well. That's so frustrating. The consolation I could give you from my own case: I combined Anafranil with Lexapro, with no serotonin syndrome problems. I think if the doses aren't huge, it could be OK. My pdoc is very leery of drug interactions, so I doubt he'd have done it if he thought it was risky.
> Anafranil did not make me tired in the least. When it did work for me, it was wonderful--it helped my anxiety too, and on it the antidepressant effect seemed--well more colorful, it seemed my emotions were less flat than they were on the SSRI alone. The ONLY side effect was some weight gain. I had no trouble adjusting doses, no trouble with withdrawal effects--even when I would bend to my impatience and decrease it rapidly. So I can at least be one example that it doesn't necessarily come with a whole load of bad side effects.
> We're each different of course. I too am considering nortryptiline as a next drug, thinking it may be more antianxiety than the Anafranil (currently trying Cymbalta, wish me luck!). But I still have some anafranil around, I feel it is always there if nothing else works. It's just that as soon as I gain 5 lbs, my back hurts....
> Hang in there, it's a tough feeling when you walk away feeling you weren't heard...
poster:jujube
thread:411041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041103/msgs/411062.html