![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 3:09:48
From what I found from searching online, it seems like it is basically *okay* to COMBINE an SSRI and a Tricyclic anti-depressant (TCA) -- as in being on BOTH an SSRI and a TCA at the same time ... has anyone out there done this or is doing this ... if so, how is it going ... is it helping, made things worse, etc.? Thanks.
Posted by finelinebob on September 6, 2006, at 20:43:04
In reply to Anyone take a combo of an SSRI and Tricyclic a-d?, posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 3:09:48
I did it with zoloft and notriptylene. After 2.5 years of trying anything but a TCA or MAOI, my stubborn PDoc who still felt I needed an SSRI finally gave a TCA a try. I remember him talking about a number of combinations that had been studying and showed some promise for treatment resistant depression.
For me, however, it made me realize that I didn't need an SSRI and when I dropped the zoloft my mood improved even more and some side effects disappeared. So much for SSRIs ... my seratonin is doing quite fine, thankyouverymuch.
YMMV
flb
Posted by vainamoinen on September 6, 2006, at 22:08:45
In reply to Anyone take a combo of an SSRI and Tricyclic a-d?, posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 3:09:48
You would think there might be some danger of serotonin syndrome but I did 60 mg Prozac with 200 mg Imipramine with no problem. You do get the combined side effect profile of both the SSRI and the TCA which sucks donkey phallus. In other words no orgasms or sex drive for you, dry mouth, sedation, constipation. Or paradoxically, sleeplessness and agitation. Maybe both, fun huh.
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 22:36:40
In reply to Re: Anyone take a combo of an SSRI and Tricyclic a-d?, posted by finelinebob on September 6, 2006, at 20:43:04
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Interesting you should mention that your pdoc was stubborn in his or her belief that you needed an SSRI.
My pdoc is very open, but frequently makes a point of reminding me of the possible side effects of SSRI's, especially in people with BiPolar conditions.
And the general consensus, if I could call it that, among a few pdocs who worked at a clinic a friend of mine went to, were quite adamantly anti-SSRI's. I don't know what they considered an acceptable alternative, though!
Anyway, the more I think about my situation, the more I think that when I bring up the TCA idea to my pdoc, I would not want to combine a TCA with an SSRI. I'd want to go back to just a TCA for depression if my pdoc even thinks it's worth a try to go on a TCA. At first I would be taking both kinds of a-d's because I'd have to be weaned off my current Celexa while titrating up on whatever TCA I might be given.
Although it was many years ago, I had success on Elavil, and those pesky side effects (sedation, but it did get me to sleep like a baby, dry mouth, constipation, etc.) did subside after a couple of weeks as I had been told they would. However, what helped then (and then was a long time ago) might not work now, so if my pdoc thinks it's worth try to put me on a TCA, it would not necessarily be Elavil.
Posted by Janelle on September 6, 2006, at 22:39:57
In reply to Re: Anyone take a combo of an SSRI and Tricyclic a-d?, posted by vainamoinen on September 6, 2006, at 22:08:45
Very good points you made, really! Well, if you read my reply to finelinebob, you'll see that I've decided to discuss with my pdoc the possibility of going on just a TCA, alone, not combined with an SSRI.
I had success with Elavil (a TCA), though it was many years ago, and since I have mood swing problems (which can be exacerbated by SSRI's), perhaps I'm better off returning to the good ol' times when TCA's ruled the psychiatric world, lol!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.