![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kizzie2 on February 28, 2011, at 3:58:08
Hi everyone - Id really appreciate some advice.
I have been on anfranil for a number of years following a switch from seroxat (paxil).
At the moment I am trying to find a maintenance dose which needs to be less than 50mg because I get too much drowsiness for the long journey I need for work.
I recently dropped down to 35mg over a few weeks but in the last few days have been hit by depression/ anxiety.
A while ago people here kindly told me that 50mg anafranil is equivalent to approx 20mg paxil/prozac. So on that basis Im assuming that 35mg is equal to 14mg. (I was usually ok on an SSRI at that dose.)
But im just wondering if the lower you go on anafranil if the absorption is actually significally reduced. So maybe 35mg is equal to significally less.
i hope this makes sense.
Thanks for any help.
(Ps. I was taken off SSRIs because prozac increased anxiety, and after being on paxil for quite a while it seemed to stop working and I also had horrible withdrawal even if i tried to reduce a little very slowly. My dr doesnt like to prescribe it anymore.)
Kizzie
Posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2011, at 11:32:27
In reply to Help again please re anafranil equivalent to SSRI, posted by kizzie2 on February 28, 2011, at 3:58:08
I don't know would a blood level test help? Phillipa
Posted by Laney on February 28, 2011, at 13:18:37
In reply to Re: Help again please re anafranil equivalent to SSRI » kizzie2, posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2011, at 11:32:27
Kizzie,
The withdrawl I get from paxil sounds just like yours! What was it like when you switched to anafranil? How long have you been on anafranil and off paxil? Aside from the drowsiness, how is anafranil overall?
Thanks!
Laney
Posted by jpa on February 28, 2011, at 18:04:08
In reply to Help again please re anafranil equivalent to SSRI, posted by kizzie2 on February 28, 2011, at 3:58:08
I've been on anafranil for a very long period of time. When I thought I was better and went off it, my headaches came back very quickly. Anafranil is one of the most poerful headache prevention meds available. When I reinitiated anafranil it no longer provided any relief at the old dosage!! I had to combine it with other meds to find any releif and lost years of my life in the process. Perhaps a coffee on your journey to work is all you need. Good luck.
Posted by Laney on March 1, 2011, at 10:53:28
In reply to Re: Help again please re anafranil equivalent to SSRI, posted by jpa on February 28, 2011, at 18:04:08
JPA,
If you were intentionally trying to minimaalize my condition then I'll ask you to stop. A cup of coffee certainly isn't the cure for me. How stupid do you think I am?
Keep you nasty comments to yourself please.
Laney
Posted by kizzie2 on March 1, 2011, at 14:21:22
In reply to Re: Help again please re anafranil equivalent to SSRI, posted by Laney on February 28, 2011, at 13:18:37
I found the switch to prozac and then anafranil v difficult.
Prozac because it relly increased my anxiety.
Anafranil because i seemed to be v v affected by the physical side effects.
Unfortunately i dont think there are any easy answers :-(
Id still be very grateful if anyone could help me with the equivalent question. Thanks
Posted by Laney on March 1, 2011, at 15:05:10
In reply to anafranil » Laney, posted by kizzie2 on March 1, 2011, at 14:21:22
Thanks Kizzie!
Could you go into more detail about the difficulties switching from paxil to another med? I'm going to be doing this same thing and want to know what's ahead.
I hope someone comes along with the answer to your original questions.
Thanks! Laney
Posted by kizzie2 on March 2, 2011, at 10:32:28
In reply to Re: anafranil, posted by Laney on March 1, 2011, at 15:05:10
Hi - i came off the prozac completely (slowly) but after about 5/6 weeks I had a horrible return of symptoms. depression and anxiety. I normally work full time and enjoy my job but wasnt able to work etc.
My dr suggested that I should go onto a different medication to ssris because i had such problems coming off them plus they seemed to either increase anxiety for me or obsessive thoughts.
Anyway he suggested clomipramine. At first the main problem was physical I was literally bed ridden. Couldnt eat anything. very very shaky. Very difficult to walk. Then for the first 2-3 weeks my anxiety went through the roof.
The worst of the physical effects lasted for about 6 weeks and the worst anxiety reduced after a few weeks. (I wasnt able to take more than 75mg because my pulse became very fast.)
My doctor told me that my response was very unusual so you may find that you dont get any of this - or that you only get it in a minimal way - and it goes away quickly.
Good luck
Posted by kizzie2 on March 2, 2011, at 10:33:37
In reply to Re: anafranil, posted by Laney on March 1, 2011, at 15:05:10
thanks
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.