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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Shoobie Doo on October 17, 2003, at 20:18:07
I have suffered many major depressive episodes, some I endured without medication, some I self medicated with substance abuse, some I used ADs. The only AD which I have ever been able to tolerate is lofepramine/gamanil. I sank into depression in August, was given Cipramil/Celexa and couldn't stand the yomping gurning peppery eyed side effects. Was given Molipaxin/Trazadone but it sedated me too much. It's really sad, but I yearn for the gentle humane touch of my old friend Lofepramine, and I will this time be prepared for the constipation with a big jar of psyllium husks. Its a qustion of balancing the desired effect with the side effects. Sometimes its better the devil you know. Here's hoping.
Mainly, has anyone else had a similar positive experience with lofepramine? It seems less popular than the SSRIs. But I think its a great AD.
Posted by zeugma on October 17, 2003, at 20:56:01
In reply to Lofepramine come back, all is forgiven, posted by Shoobie Doo on October 17, 2003, at 20:18:07
> I have suffered many major depressive episodes, some I endured without medication, some I self medicated with substance abuse, some I used ADs. The only AD which I have ever been able to tolerate is lofepramine/gamanil. I sank into depression in August, was given Cipramil/Celexa and couldn't stand the yomping gurning peppery eyed side effects. Was given Molipaxin/Trazadone but it sedated me too much. It's really sad, but I yearn for the gentle humane touch of my old friend Lofepramine, and I will this time be prepared for the constipation with a big jar of psyllium husks. Its a qustion of balancing the desired effect with the side effects. Sometimes its better the devil you know. Here's hoping.
>
> Mainly, has anyone else had a similar positive experience with lofepramine? It seems less popular than the SSRIs. But I think its a great AD.A dry mouth and the occasional fiber pill is a small price to pay for euthymia.
I feel exactly the same about nortriptyline. It hasn't let me down yet, not even after I walked away from it for ten years. I even had the words "good old Pamelor" in my head as I walked out of the train station tonight.
I think there are types that respond to one or the other, TCA's and SSRI's. Zoloft made me feel hellish.But an advantage is that even when they work, TCA's or at least nortrip don't have the libido-killing effect. I remember years ago in the throes of my last euthymic period (winding down tho) and everyone was talking about Prozac and how AD's killed your sex drive, and i honestly had no idea of what they were talking about- nortrip if anything boosts responses in that area once you get to a certain dose (my experience at least).
Posted by girlygirl on October 18, 2003, at 15:41:33
In reply to Lofepramine come back, all is forgiven, posted by Shoobie Doo on October 17, 2003, at 20:18:07
Hi there - are you in the UK? I didn't realise lofepramine was available in the US.
I was on Lofepramine for about eight months and it was the only AD I ever took that seemed to work (I've also tried Prozac, Efexor, Cipramil, Dothiepin and another TCA I can't remember the name of).
The other TCAs just sedated me beyond bearing and the SSRIs just made me apathetic and numb.
Lofepramine helped me cope for a good long while and I have now come off it and am coping without meds so far.
The reason I came off it was cos I just couldn't cope with the side effects anymore (proof it was working i suppose, cos when I first started I didn't give a toss what side effects there were as long as I could get out of bed). The main problems were the tachycardia (heart rate 100 even in bed at night) sweating (REALLY embarassing) and going bright red (ENTIRE BODY) at the drop of a hat. There was also the lack of sex drive.
If I ever got seriously depressed again, though, I would go back on it and take beta blockers to solve the heart problem.
I thought it was amazing cos I just felt like it woke up the parts of my brain that needed to be woken up - finally! And i could handle social situations. I just seemed to have much more staying power when it came to dealing with people.
best of luck
GG
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