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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 15:51:13
Does anyone know the psychopharmacological reasons why SSRI's might cause anxiety? Also, do some SSRI's tend to be more or less prone to cause anxiety?
Thanks.
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 15, 2001, at 16:25:25
In reply to Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 15:51:13
Because they also inhibit the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine which few know and many deny.
> Does anyone know the psychopharmacological reasons why SSRI's might cause anxiety? Also, do some SSRI's tend to be more or less prone to cause anxiety?
>
> Thanks.
Posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 17:23:24
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by SalArmy4me on July 15, 2001, at 16:25:25
Sal:
Thanks. So is there any augmentation strategy that will offset that effect?
Posted by Joy on July 15, 2001, at 17:59:28
In reply to Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 15:51:13
Some SSRIs and ADs can cause anxiety in certain people, while others do not. Serzone caused me much anxiety and I had crying jags on it. Celexa did nothing for me at 20 mgs, but at 30 mgs I felt agitated. Prozac works well for me, but I had to go to 40-60 mgs; the 20 mg dose was not quite enough. My anxiety was helped a lot with Prozac, but some people do suffer anxiety on it. It's basically trial and error. Paxil is good for anxiety for many people, but has a lot of side effects. This is just my personal observation.
Joy
> Does anyone know the psychopharmacological reasons why SSRI's might cause anxiety? Also, do some SSRI's tend to be more or less prone to cause anxiety?
>
> Thanks.
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 15, 2001, at 18:34:51
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety? SAL, posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 17:23:24
Zyprexa at bedtime.
> Sal:
>
> Thanks. So is there any augmentation strategy that will offset that effect?
Posted by bob on July 15, 2001, at 19:42:53
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by SalArmy4me on July 15, 2001, at 16:25:25
> Because they also inhibit the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine which few know and many deny.
>
> > Does anyone know the psychopharmacological reasons why SSRI's might cause anxiety? Also, do some SSRI's tend to be more or less prone to cause anxiety?
> >
> > Thanks.Are you saying that SSRIs increase the levels of norepinephrine? I have never heard this before, and none of the drug monographs claim any affinity for norepinephrine receptors. The one SSRI I took that claimed it affected noradrenergic receptors was quite different, therapeutically, than all the others. Are you claiming that they affect norepinephrine to an appreciable extent?
Posted by Janelle on July 15, 2001, at 21:13:02
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety? SAL, posted by SalArmy4me on July 15, 2001, at 18:34:51
Is working for me; hope it doesn't wear off!
Posted by Gerry S. on July 16, 2001, at 8:57:15
In reply to Yes - Zyprexa at bedtime can do the trick!, posted by Janelle on July 15, 2001, at 21:13:02
Thanks everyone. Zyprexa is indicated for use for schizophrenia. Does that suggest that it is not to be used in the case of just depression alone?
Posted by Janelle on July 16, 2001, at 14:20:54
In reply to Re: Is Zyprexa safe in the use of Depression?, posted by Gerry S. on July 16, 2001, at 8:57:15
GerryS - Although Zyprexa is "officially" an anti-psychotic med and would therefore be indicated for use for schizophrenia, it has also been found (I think in lower dose range) to be helpful with depression as well as anxiety.
Several people who post here (myself included) are taking Zyprexa for depression, etc. So, to answer your question - YES, it CAN be used for conditions other than schizophrenia. This is true of other a-p's as well as anti-convulsant/seizure meds being helpful with anxiety.
Posted by Mitch on July 17, 2001, at 11:08:55
In reply to Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by Gerry S. on July 15, 2001, at 15:51:13
Gerry S.
Excessive extracellular serotonin can create a lot of autonomic activation-sweating, diarrhea, i.e., which can also manifest as insomnia, agitation and anxiety which is common with SSRI's. They also boost norephinephrine levels to some extent. For many people, this abates after a few weeks due to serotonin receptor downregulation (fewer receptors) and the serotonin levels drop to a more "normal" level. However, some people have persistent troubles with anxiety over time with SSRi's. The order of level of "activation" that SSRi's cause (according to my pdoc) is
1) Prozac (most)
2) Zoloft
3) Celexa
4) Paxil
5) Luvox (least)I have taken all of these and it seems like a fairly accurate assessment-but of course there are going to be individual differences and idiosyncracies. But I prefer the more activating ones despite the anxiety (at lower doses).
Mitch
> Does anyone know the psychopharmacological reasons why SSRI's might cause anxiety? Also, do some SSRI's tend to be more or less prone to cause anxiety?
>
> Thanks.
Posted by Kingfish on July 17, 2001, at 11:34:44
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety? » Gerry S., posted by Mitch on July 17, 2001, at 11:08:55
Thank God for this post!! I am going to see my pdoc earlier than our scheduled appointment this week because he put me on Prozac to counteract sedation from Topamax and to help with depression and the anxiety and panic attacks it is causing are unbearable.
It's bizarre, because I feel better at times, actually a little happy, but then I have the most ridiculous panic attacks, and high levels of anxiety I've never had before, OCD symptoms have returned with a vengeance, cravings for alcohol have returned with a vengeance, and just a general angst hovers about me. But I'm more motivated and not sedated.
Welbutrin did this to me as well, but much, much worse.
Posted by Mitch on July 17, 2001, at 13:13:02
In reply to Re: Why can SSRIs cause anxiety?, posted by Kingfish on July 17, 2001, at 11:34:44
K.
I know, it's a real drag. Prozac was my favorite and I took it for the longest (for seven years), but the MAX dosage I could handle without getting panicky was 2.5-5.0mg/day. I had to practically drink Immodium all day because of the diarrhea from it. BUT, I was attentive, sociable. It was just that the *flavor* of the anxiety switched. It is a real double-edged sword with AD's (esp. SSRi). Wellbutrin made me wired too, but I was taking Klonopin with it and it took the edge off. I am on 12.5mg Zoloft now and it still makes me edgy-but I can't stand the other SSri' (mind-numbing fogginess, inattention, memory problems, etc.)
Mitch
> It's bizarre, because I feel better at times, actually a little happy, but then I have the most ridiculous panic attacks, and high levels of anxiety I've never had before, OCD symptoms have returned with a vengeance, cravings for alcohol have returned with a vengeance, and just a general angst hovers about me. But I'm more motivated and not sedated.
>
> Welbutrin did this to me as well, but much, much worse.
This is the end of the thread.
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