Posted by Clayton on December 1, 2003, at 4:50:56
In reply to Re: Remeron Prosexual? What is the starting dose? » Clayton, posted by Gidon on December 1, 2003, at 3:09:19
Dear GR,
Well, what are you doing up at this time of night? Glad I'm not alone. I'm going through a personally terrible time right now -- no chance of sleep -- now and it's wonderful to hear from anyone. Thanks.
Anyway, now you're asking me to play doctor and I am not a doctor but a software engineer. I'll give you my OPINION (because I'm too stupid to keep my mouth shut), but I MUST point out that you are foolish to take it without the advice of a doctor. Be careful, my friend. Especially with your brain.
So first off, why are you in such a hurry? My doc took me from 15mg thru 30 mg to 45mg in two weeks. Can you wait two weeks and do it the safe way? No offense intended, but it sounds like you're looking for an aphrodesiac more than an antidepressant. That's okay. If you find a good one, please let me know!!! But two weeks is not all that long, is it?
Now I'll give you my best GUESSES...
I would think that going directly to 45 mg of Remaron would not harm you physically...i.e. it's not toxic. You can check the pharmacology on that. Now, what will it do to you mind? Who knows? If you experienced NO adverse psychological side effects (other than sleepiness) when you took 15 mg, chances are that 45 mg won't make you crazy or take you to a very bad, hellish place.
Did you experience any adverse psychological side-effects (anxiety, insomnia, nightmares or vivid dreams, abnormal thinking) when starting other classes of antdepressants? Zoloft especially? (Wellbutrin is a very different animal as you no doubt know.) I never did but many do. If you did, there is more reason to be cautious of going directly to 45 mg of Remaron. If not, well, here's my best GUESS (Aside to Dr. Bob here: Sir, am I out of line? Should I avoid this sort of unqualified speculation?): Taking a 45 mg dose will either put you to sleep without significantly harmful side-effects or will make you feel mentally energized from the norepinephrine...more drive, motivation, and mental energy). I don't know if it will tweak your sex drive. No idea. As I said, it's sexually NEUTRAL for me. But, the bottom line is I don't think it will harm you. I don't KNOW, but I really doubt it will do any harm. Needless to say, doctors increase doses gradually for a reason and you are making a concious decision to ignore that reason if you do this.
Have you thought about trying 30 mg as a little test to see if it is safe. Try 30 mg for ONE night. If there are no adverse side-effects, 45 mg is very unlikely to harm you.
Dopaminergics have a very pro sexual effect on my libido but not norepinephrine. There have been two SDRI sold that I know off. Both have pulled from the market. One was a French product made by Survector and was purportedly excellant but had a small, yet non-negligable, abuse potential. The other, I believe, may have caused some blood disease in a small per centage of those who took it. Wellbutrin has a weak dopamenergic effect but, as you said, was not for you.
Research topics you might find interesting:
The effects of apomorphine on females (controversial but interesting)
Provigil (Modafinil): I have had a very positive experience with this one. It's mechanism of action is very unclear but it seems to produce some effects similar to norepinephrine. It is a [mostly] non-dopamiergic stimulant that could conceivably counter the drowsy effects of Remaron. The abuse potential is quite small but not zero. It permits many people to sleep if they wish or remain awake and focused as necessary. It has this property for me. It is often prescribed "off label" as an adjunct to a primary depresssion medication. It works well in this regard for me, too. I find it complements Remaron wonderfully. Anyway, I've strayed too far.Again, good luck. Hope it all works out.
poster:Clayton
thread:285407
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031126/msgs/285427.html