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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Denise528 on July 1, 2002, at 13:11:38
Anyone else there had really good effects from SSRIs and tryciclics in the past only to go back on them and find that not only do they not work they make you feel worse.
I've had this experience with Paxil, Seroxat and Prozac, I don't class it as tolerance because they were still working when I came off them. Now whenever I go back on them I get heaps of negative energy, where I feel like I have energy but can't seem to apply it to anything, can't concentrate, so I just end up chain smoking and driving around aimlessly and feeling suicidal. I know that they don't work in the same way anymore because the sensations I get now are so different. When I used to take them, they'd kick in almost immediately, I'd get a real boost from them, music would sound amplified (only not manic)
I've tried Effexor and although it kind of relaxes me and I am more focused on the little things, it makes me really tired, apathetic and sometimes even more depressed but in a different way.
Has anyone else had these experiences only to go on to find another drug that does work. I am beginning to lose hope and feel like nothing will ever work again. I think God gave me two chances and now I'm out on my own.
Denise
Posted by noelle on July 1, 2002, at 14:29:09
In reply to Anyone else out there?, posted by Denise528 on July 1, 2002, at 13:11:38
Denise,
When I was first diagnosed with Depression I started on an SSRI-prozac, and its seemed to work, but since then I have tried Wellbutrin, and effexor-which I hated, I had weird dreams and didn't want to move. In fact most of the med's I've tried have pooped out Are you taking these for depression? I think a lot of things can change your brain chemistry and its reaction to meds drugs, age etc. Perhaps you need some testing, I was re-tested and now find that I mostly have Anxiety and from that I was prescribed a Neurontin
Posted by Denise528 on July 2, 2002, at 4:49:55
In reply to Re: Anyone else out there?, posted by noelle on July 1, 2002, at 14:29:09
Hi Noelle,
Yes I too have had really wierd, long dreams on Effexor that seem to stay with me throughout the next day. I've always taken the medication for depression and some anxiety. What sort of tests have you taken to diagnose your condition and how does the neurontin make you feel?
Denise
Posted by hildi on July 2, 2002, at 17:42:26
In reply to Anyone else out there?, posted by Denise528 on July 1, 2002, at 13:11:38
> Anyone else there had really good effects from SSRIs and tryciclics in the past only to go back on them and find that not only do they not work they make you feel worse.
>
> I've had this experience with Paxil, Seroxat and Prozac, I don't class it as tolerance because they were still working when I came off them. Now whenever I go back on them I get heaps of negative energy, where I feel like I have energy but can't seem to apply it to anything, can't concentrate, so I just end up chain smoking and driving around aimlessly and feeling suicidal. I know that they don't work in the same way anymore because the sensations I get now are so different. When I used to take them, they'd kick in almost immediately, I'd get a real boost from them, music would sound amplified (only not manic)
>
> I've tried Effexor and although it kind of relaxes me and I am more focused on the little things, it makes me really tired, apathetic and sometimes even more depressed but in a different way.
>
> Has anyone else had these experiences only to go on to find another drug that does work. I am beginning to lose hope and feel like nothing will ever work again. I think God gave me two chances and now I'm out on my own.
>
> DeniseYes, I am going through this right now. I stopped the zoloft because of side effects (after a somewhat successful 8 years on it) and went on celexa. On celexa I am, just like you mentioned, 'depressed in a different way'- I have all kinds of nervious tension and energy, but cannot concentrate on anything. I too am driving around aimlessly and chain-smoking like crazy- increasing the nausea side effects I already feel. The dr. also gave me trilep- I forgot how this is spelled. Something to help with my anxiety but I am afraid to take it. (I believe it is in the class of meds like neurontin, mentioned in the other post) I tried to go back on the zoloft and it has not been effective as before. I also can tell right away if something is going to work or not. I think the trick for me now is to find the right 'combination'- something to increase the effectiveness of an a/d. Now, if I could only figure out what that is . . .??!!
Posted by rainbowlight on July 2, 2002, at 18:02:57
In reply to Anyone else out there?, posted by Denise528 on July 1, 2002, at 13:11:38
I am having the same reaction to Zoloft. The second time around is definately not as good as the first. The good news for you is that it sounds like you have only tried a few of the AD's. You may have to try a few more to find the right one, they all act so differently for everyone. Good luck, hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Noelle on July 2, 2002, at 22:10:32
In reply to Re: Anyone else out there?, posted by Denise528 on July 2, 2002, at 4:49:55
I was given the MMPI and haven't started Neurontin yet, but I'm honestly afraid of being too relaxed. The MMPI is a very reliable test 500 questions and there is no way to curb it anyway because the questions aren't really what they seem. Are you seeing a psychologist (PHD)?
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 6, 2002, at 0:18:04
In reply to Anyone else out there?, posted by Denise528 on July 1, 2002, at 13:11:38
He Denise,
Have you tried a mood stabilizer with your SSRI? I've had a classic poop out non-response from all SSRI's, with similar symptoms to yours, namely going on them again made me feel agitated and aimless, like you described so well. I've since learned that it wasn't so much the second or third time around that was my problem, but taking SSRI's alone was the problem. Since adding lithium (well, I am Bipolar II also) my AD's suddenly sprang to life and started working. It also could mean that serotonin isn't your problem and adding an SSRI is creating too much serotonin in your system. Good luck. This med tightrope is a bummer. - BarbaraCat
Posted by d miller on July 7, 2002, at 12:46:05
In reply to Re: Anyone else out there? » Denise528, posted by BarbaraCat on July 6, 2002, at 0:18:04
I too have had this problem. I was effexor 75 mg for 4 years and it worked really well on my GAD anxiety. Then I went off it for about a year, relapsed and went back on. I've been on it since March at a high dose, and have not had the same benifits at all. I'm very med sensitive now, so I had to switch to the tablet version of effexor so that I can cut the pills and slowly increase up. I'm at 130mg now my pdoc wants me to get to at least 150mg, which has been so hard with every increase I get more anxiety and feel suicidally depressed.
My pdoc also prescribe Buspar for the anxiety. This too I've slowly had to increase and I'm now at 15mg I been on Buspar since mid April, but I have not seen any benifits.
I think if a medicine worked well and you get off it (not because of poop out) and try to get back on again, it just doesn't work the same. I guess our brains have somehow changed. I mentioned this to my counselor and she said that that is very rare. After reading on this site for many months before posting, I do not agree with her. It is much more prevalent then the doctors will tell us.
D. Miller
This is the end of the thread.
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