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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on August 13, 2004, at 16:27:21
Hi,
This is a long post, but please stick with me!
I'm going to ask my P/doc when I see him again to take me off the 40mg Prozac i'm currently on for depression. It is fairly good for my depression but I do suffer from fairly severe GAD, social phobia, and mild panic attacks also. I'm currently on 600mg per day Sodium Valproate for my anxiety but it has little effect. I am sure the Prozac is making the anxiety worse. I also get terrible nightmares from the Prozac as well as severe sweating.
Trouble is I don't know what else to try!
I've been on 30mg Seroxat (paxil) - good for anxiety but made me VERY drowsy all through the day, I nearly had a number of accidents in my car while taking it! Also killed my sex drive and made me sweat alot. The withdrawal effects are terrible also. A demon drug.
I've been on 150mg Lustral (Zoloft) - had no effect on either my depression or anxiety.
I've tried Effexor 300mg - made me VERY lethargic and apathetic (which probably made my depression worse). All I wanted to do was lie around all day and do nothing. Also terrible withdrawal effects.
So what else can I try? I want something which will help control my anxiety yet won't turn me into a zombie or make me drowsy as I have to drive alot in my job. I don't mind drowsiness at night but I just can't risk it in the day. I tend to get lethargic so I need something which is also very mildly stimulating.
And of course something with the least side effects!
I've never tried Tricyclics, but I hear they have alot of side effects. I've thought of MAO Inhibitors, but (a) my P/Doc won't prescribe them, and (b) i'm concerned abou the dietary requirements. I've also never tried drugs such as Nefazodone or Trazodone. I've heard Nefazodone doesn't interfere with sleep which could be pretty good for me but I don't know how efficient it is.
I know there's "no gain without pain" and what I am looking for maybe somthing of a "miracle drug", but I don't know what else to do!
Thanks for your help!
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 13, 2004, at 17:18:49
In reply to Please help - need to change my anti-depressant!!, posted by jms600 on August 13, 2004, at 16:27:21
I am on Lexapro. It took a few weeks to adjust too, but I am tolerating it, better than any other med right now.
Posted by HappyGirl on August 13, 2004, at 18:36:11
In reply to Please help - need to change my anti-depressant!!, posted by jms600 on August 13, 2004, at 16:27:21
Hi:
>>> I've also never tried drugs such as Nefazodone or Trazodone. I've heard Nefazodone doesn't interfere with sleep which could be pretty good for me but I don't know how efficient it is.<<<--- I've been on both, Nefadozone and Trazodone. First, I was on the 450 mg.Nefadozone that is fairly 'good/mass' dosage, but I was Nefadozone alone as to 'anti-dep. med.' when I started anti-dep. med. Then, it might NOT be too much. However, for some reason, I developed 'intense thirst' that interferred 'terribly' my 'sleep-pattern' during night/sleep. After having consulted with my pdoc., he rxed 'Trazodone' for its replacement, ... mass dosage, the 300 mg. before the bed. Surely, I knew in my heart that I never tolerated that amount of 'sedative' anti-dep., then I went on my way, ... from 75 mg. to 150 mg. I plan to increase its dosage with time, but will take two-three more months as my system needs to adjust this 'new' med., due to sedation effect/hang-over during the day.
In regard to 'anxiety,' and 'depressive' effectiveness, they're both working on me fairly good, since I've been taking both, .... Nefadozone 150 mg. with my breakfast and Trazodone 150 mg. before the bed in order NOT to make me feel depressed throughout day. Besides this 'two' anti-deps., I've been on also WB sr that seems to compensate my sluggishness and sedative feelings coming from both meds., Nefadozone and Trazodone. All of those three meds. offerring me a great deal of 'relief' in respect of 'depressive' and 'anxiety' areas.
In your case, I feel also, a milder and less sedative anti-psycho.med., 'Seroquel' may be a good choice due to its augumentative property to both depression and anxiety.
H.G.
Posted by verne on August 13, 2004, at 21:22:27
In reply to Please help - need to change my anti-depressant!!, posted by jms600 on August 13, 2004, at 16:27:21
I'm taking inderal LA (time release) 60mgs per day for anxiety and high blood pressure. It works great. The long acting variety is much smoother and doesn't knock me out. Alot of people complain that inderal is too sedating but next to benzos it's the best thing I've taken for anxiety. As an added bonus it's increased my sex drive. My doctor wants to add Zoloft which will probably just screw it up again.
I can't handle anything with an anti-cholerginic effect. Inderal is just the opposite of most of the anti-depressants, mood modifiers, and psychotropics I've tried. I can actually think straight, urinate without it burning, and not spend all my time dealing with the side effects.
Posted by theo on August 15, 2004, at 7:41:53
In reply to Please help - need to change my anti-depressant!!, posted by jms600 on August 13, 2004, at 16:27:21
Word of warning about Lexapro, it made my anxiety much worse and many docs stay away from it for GAD, mainly good for depression alone. I took it for 12 weeks and the symptoms for anxiety never got better but worse.
As far as the SSRI's go, Paxil is hands down great for GAD, SAD but like you said, the sexual side effects are rough. I will be trying Cymbalta in a couple of weeks because it is suppose to be a true SNRI so we shall see.
I've always wanted to try a tricyclic, imipramine but my pdoc stays away from them. She says they are hard on your heart.
This is the end of the thread.
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