Posted by Racer on September 18, 2004, at 11:45:45
In reply to Re: Emotionally Flat on Paxil - is Lexapro Better?????, posted by King Vultan on September 18, 2004, at 10:26:51
I experienced the same sort of emotional flattening on Paxil, but didn't on Effexor -- or, for that matter, on some of the other SSRIs. Lexapro, though, was a different story. I wasn't just emotionally flat -- I was just FLAT. Period. No interest, no energy, no nothing -- it was like being dead, just a zombie. That was, as far as I can recall, at 5mg (half a small tablet).
For relief from the emotional flattening, your choices would probably be from the more activating SSRIs or the SSNRIs like Effexor or Cymbalta, or -- if the activation isn't a problem for you -- maybe Wellbutrin. Then, of course, as King Vultan pointed out, there are the older drugs, like TCAs and MAOIs. Those are good drugs -- so far, all the ADs are about as effective from a statistical standpoint, it's the side effect profiles that are different.
My advice to you, for what it's worth, is to check on the side effects listed for the various ADs out there, make a list of the side effects you, personally, would find most and least tolerable, and then talk to your doctor about the options available within those boundaries. For example, if your blood pressure is on the higher side, some of the TCAs might be a good choice for you, or if you want a more sedating drug, Remeron might be a good choice.
Unfortunately, psychopharmacology is, by its very nature, an exercise in trial and error. If the Paxil has worked for your depression, then there's a good chance that another SSRI will also work for you, and some of the others are much less physically and emotionally sedating.
Best luck.
poster:Racer
thread:392244
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040915/msgs/392316.html