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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 Janelle on August 24, 2006, at 2:04:46
I had been a *regular* here awhile back (quite awhile back!), but a variety of life circumstances kind of took me away for long time. I'm able to return sporadically and have a question about anti-depressants.
I have a vague recollection of having read a thread on HERE about taking two anti-depressants simultaneously because one seemed to boost the other. I also seem to recall that in some cases it was Prozac that was added to an anti-depressant already on board and the Prozac seemed to help/boost the other a-d.
Is this accurate? Meaning is it possible that a person who is already on an a-d adding a low dose of another one, that the additional one can boost the original one?
I ask because I have been on 30 mg/day of Celexa for a few years and it seems to be losing its efficacy. And recently I had to increase my dosage slightly to alleviate ongoing mild depression and now even that doesn't seem to be helping much, so I'm wondering if this is a sign of impending "poop out" or if as time went by I simply need a bit more Celexa.
Anyway, my pdoc open-mindedly, though reluctantly, agreed to let me add on the lowest dose of EffexorXR (37.5 mg/day) to my 30 mg Celexa because a number of years ago, for reasons I can't remember, I had been on this combo of a-d's and felt very good! It just seemed to *click*, for lack of a better way to describe it.
I will be starting my re-trial of the EffexorXR/Celexa a-d combo (I take a few other pmeds also) within the next few days, and I imagine it will take awhile for the EffexorXR to kick in (if it even does this time) ... and I'm wondering who out there has any experience taking two a-d's at the same time, and if you have found that one seems to boost the other? Thanks.
Posted by nellie7 on August 24, 2006, at 5:05:42
In reply to Using TWO anti-depressants: one to boost another?, posted by Janelle on August 24, 2006, at 2:04:46
Hi Janelle,
Adding a little effexor might be worth trying, since celexa affects serotonin and effexor works on other neurotransmitters as well. Taking effexor only may cause problems of overstimulation, so sometimes the solution is to add only a little of another AD which works differently.
I also take celexa 30 mg and haven't tried adding another AD, but it seems to make sense if you feel that celexa alone is not enough.
Good luck!Nellie.
Posted by Racer on August 24, 2006, at 11:14:50
In reply to Re: Using TWO anti-depressants: one to boost another?, posted by nellie7 on August 24, 2006, at 5:05:42
I've been on two a/ds at the same time, including a combination of Effexor XR and Prozac. Often it helps, where neither alone would help.
There are things to watch out for, mostly things like serotonin syndrome, which is why you wouldn't combine, say, Prozac and Paxil or Zoloft. But generally, adding another med, from a different class, can make all the difference in the world.
In fact, right now I'm only on one medication, and it's weird for me, since it's been so long since I haven't been on a combo.
Hope that helps.
Posted by joslynn on August 24, 2006, at 14:28:35
In reply to Using TWO anti-depressants: one to boost another?, posted by Janelle on August 24, 2006, at 2:04:46
I am on two ADs from two different classes: Lexapro and Remeron.
My depression was quite severe, requiring hospitalization, and they put me on a Celexa Remeron right away, because I had the kind of depression where I couldn't eat and woke up way too early, and the Remeron makes you sleep and eat...a lot!
Then I went off Remeron due to weight worries. I also switched from Celexa to Lexapro.
I was on just Celexa and just Lexapro at various times, and seemed ok, but have gone back on Remeron at various time when some depression and/or anxiety broke through and I was having trouble eating and sleeping again.
So now I am on both, but it is very, very hard not to gain tons of weight on the Remeron. To see me, you wouldn't call me fat, but I used to be slim and now I'm not.
Anyway, mentally and emotionally, the combo of the two work very well for me. (Or is it all just a coincidence? How can one really prove it?)
Circumstantial evidence would lead me to believe it's a good combo for me, let's just say that.
I sometimes wish I had started on just one, so then I would have known if that alone could have done the trick. But I was in bad shape and I guess they wanted to get me sleeping and eating again quickly.
Good luck!
Posted by bart on August 24, 2006, at 14:44:09
In reply to Using TWO anti-depressants: one to boost another?, posted by Janelle on August 24, 2006, at 2:04:46
Try considering Wellbutrin in order to reboost efficacy of celexa. I did that with Lexapro and it works out okay
This is the end of the thread.
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