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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PrettyLady on January 18, 2013, at 13:48:51
Hi. I've taken SSRIs for 13 years, and suddenly can't tolerate them due to the fact that they aggitate me and cause horrid anxiety, and panic. Was wondering if anyone has ever tried Elavil? Or if anyone's had to switch from SSRIs for depression and anxiety, what worked for you?
Thanks a lot!
Posted by Phil on January 18, 2013, at 14:25:37
In reply to Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail?, posted by PrettyLady on January 18, 2013, at 13:48:51
I did fairly well on it for 5 years. Pre SSRI's which, at least for me, suck. I've never slept better and would wake up refreshed.
I was on 250 mg which is a lot. For me, very constipating. I kept Senokot in business.
Weird thing on it, I loved to exercise but can't guarantee that anyone else will. Sexual side-effects. Made me manic at times but was probably bipolar and didn't know it.
It's a big gun. I think it will help with anxiety and panic.
Watch what you eat or you will gain weight, not as bad as anti-psychotics though.
The pills smell like a chemical plant, which they basically are.
Posted by linkadge on January 18, 2013, at 14:27:33
In reply to Re: Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail?, posted by Phil on January 18, 2013, at 14:25:37
Elavil can be a good medication. I had sucess with it.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2013, at 15:36:02
In reply to Re: Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail?, posted by linkadge on January 18, 2013, at 14:27:33
Is it considered an upper downer kind of med? As given a TCA once and the doc said upper downer just don't remember name of TCA. Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 18, 2013, at 19:17:09
In reply to Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail?, posted by PrettyLady on January 18, 2013, at 13:48:51
> Hi. I've taken SSRIs for 13 years, and suddenly can't tolerate them due to the fact that they aggitate me and cause horrid anxiety, and panic. Was wondering if anyone has ever tried Elavil? Or if anyone's had to switch from SSRIs for depression and anxiety, what worked for you?
> Thanks a lot!I actually use Elavil to sleep; works better than Ambien for me. Wanted to share this so you would know that it definitely is a very sedating drug.
Kat
Posted by tensor on January 19, 2013, at 3:38:07
In reply to Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail?, posted by PrettyLady on January 18, 2013, at 13:48:51
> Hi. I've taken SSRIs for 13 years, and suddenly can't tolerate them due to the fact that they aggitate me and cause horrid anxiety, and panic. Was wondering if anyone has ever tried Elavil? Or if anyone's had to switch from SSRIs for depression and anxiety, what worked for you?
> Thanks a lot!Is there a particular reason you choose Elavil? S/E-wise it's pretty heavy, but surely effective. Was just thinking that there are other TCAs with a more tolerable side effect profile. This chart is pretty good:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19985485/Antidepressant-Comparison-Chart/tensor
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 20, 2013, at 17:44:51
In reply to Re: Experience with Elavil when SSRIs fail? » PrettyLady, posted by tensor on January 19, 2013, at 3:38:07
I'd be more inclined to try nortriptyline first, and only move onto amitriptyline if nortriptyline doesnt work, because at theraputic doses (150mg/day) amitriptyline can have a lot of side effects, where as nortriptyline is a lot milder while still being an very efective antidepressant and anxiolytic
This is the end of the thread.
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