Posted by Janice on January 8, 1999, at 3:27:19
I developed a full blown case of sleep apnea
(the obstructive variety) while taking Nortiptyline
(was on the maximum dose of Nortriptyline). At that
time, in 1996, without CPAP (continuous positive airway
pressure) my oxygen levels were dropping to 60% while
asleep : a level that put me a little above dead, says
a respiratory therapist. Needless to say, I was waking
up feeling like crap, tired with major headaches, fre-
quently. Nortriptyline also made me tachycardic, heart
rate around 120 even when sleeping. When I discon-
tinued the Nortriptyline after taking it for a year,
I noticed that my sleep apnea improved even without the
CPAP machine, which I detested wearing and refused to
use, at the time. Anyhow, I went on to Luvox, ending
up on a maximum dose of 300 mg. The funny thing about
Luvox is that it improves my sleep apnea, but when I
go to a lower dose, my sleep apnea gets worse; I begin
to wake up with headaches, more frequently. Can you
tell me why these two drugs affect my obstructive sleep
apnea differently (Nortriptyline makes it worse, Luvox
makes it better) and why they affect the sleep apnea
at all?Also, any thoughts about too rapid a withdrawal from
Luvox, or any SSRI, causing a 'flu-like syndrome'? Is
it dangerous to withdraw to rapidly? Will this 'flu-
like syndrome' cause long-term damage? I've cold
turkeyed on the Nortriptyline and Luvox (my pdoctor
probably loves me :+) and neither was pleasant, but I
lived through it. I went back on the Luvox at a lower
dose, but, now, will taper off in order to try Celexa.Also, is there a site on the web where I can learn
about the various AD's, how they affect norep and sero,
and the like, so that I can have a better idea of
what's happening in my brain and body and have a better
idea of which AD might be the most helpful?
poster:Janice
thread:2141
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990101/msgs/2141.html