Posted by Racer on March 24, 2006, at 13:47:02
In reply to lexapro no motivation??, posted by freelante on March 24, 2006, at 13:04:47
What do you do? Taking it as a given that you mean, "Aside from talking with my doctor..."?
There are a lot of options for you. It could be that Lexapro is not the drug for you. While the SSRIs are all in one class, all the drugs are a bit different, so if one improves your depression, but has some side effects, you can try another. Prozac and Zoloft are known as the more activating SSRIs, Paxil tends to be more sedating (but better for anxiety), etc. So, trying another SSRI is definitely an option.
If Effexor improved your depression and anxiety, you could also try Cymbalta. It's a newer drug in the same class, which is being touted as having fewer side effects. (Although, frankly, it hasn't seemed overwhelmingly effective for many people, either. It does help many, though.)
Adding Wellbutrin to Lexapro is certainly an option, although it can increase anxiety for a lot of people. Also, while it may be activating, that doesn't mean that it will actually counter the sort of lethargy that you seem to be describing. In real life, things that make sense don't always happen with these drugs. :-} It may be worth a try, though.
Other options involve things like going back on Effexor, if it was effective for you, but adding in a drug like Buspar to counter the irritability. Again, might work. Also, switching to a different class of drug might be a good option. There are newer drugs like Remeron, or older drugs like nortriptyline or desipramine, or if you're willing to adjust your diet to accommodate them, the MAOIs are often thought to be the most effective AD of all. (The dietary restrictions, though, are enough to keep some people away from them.)
You're certainly nowhere near the end of your options, and I wish you luck with your doctor.
(Forgot to mention: if your GP is prescribing for you, get a referral to a psychiatrist. They know more about these drugs, and about the symptoms they are most likely to address. It's worth it, even if you have your GP continue the prescribing longer term once you've found a good treatment.)
poster:Racer
thread:624184
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060322/msgs/624193.html