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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
Has anyone used Luvox®(fluvoxamine maleate) for a mood/anxiety disorder other than Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Studies report it as moderately (i.e. as much as any other SSRI) effective at treating both depression and social anxiety. Has anyone found it to be superior to the other SSRIs for these conditions?
Going through my long, long list of AD disappointments, I noticed that I haven't tried Luvox. I'm getting kind of desperate (please don't suggest ECT, you-know-who :/).
Thanks for any response -- positive or not.
Christophre-Jean.Luvox® is a registered trade mark of Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. [ok, so I'm a bit pedantic; but not obsessive-compulsive!]
Posted by jimmygold70 on January 8, 2002, at 4:20:25
In reply to Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
Please state all the drugs you've taken, at what doses and how you have responded to them (effects, side effects). I'll try to recommend a strategy.
Jimmy
Posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 18:19:18
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » christophrejmc, posted by jimmygold70 on January 8, 2002, at 4:20:25
> Please state all the drugs you've taken, at what doses and how you have responded to them (effects, side effects). I'll try to recommend a strategy.
>
> JimmyI'll try my best... (I don't remember exact dosages.)
citalopram (Celexa®) - No Effect (NE)
fluoxetine (Prozac®) - NE
sertraline (Zoloft®) - NE
desipramine (Norpramin®) - NE
bupropion (Wellbutrin®) - NE (possibly inadequate dose [PID])
tranylcypromine (Parnate®) - NE (PID)
nefazodone (Serzone®) - NE (PID)
venlafaxine (Effexor®) - NE (PID)
imipramine (Tofranil®) - NE (PID)paroxetine (Paxil®) - moderately helpful with depression; intolerable side effects
phenelzine (Nardil®) - moderately helpful with depression and social anxietyalprazolam (Xanax®) - quite helpful with social anxiety and generalised anxiety
lorazepam (Ativan®) - slightly helpful
clonazepam (Klonopin®) - low dose, not helpful
diazepam (Valium®) - low dose, not helpful
buspirone (Buspar®) - no effect
olanzapine (Zyprexa®) - not helpfuld-amphetamine (Dexedrine®) - quite helpful with ADD
l-,d-amphetamine (Adderal®) - less helpful than Dexedrine, more side effects
methylphenidate (Ritalin®) - less helpful than both Dexedrine and Adderal
modafinil (Provigil®) - helpful with motivation and excessive daytime drowsiness, but not with attentionlamotrigine (Lamictal®) - inadequate trial
lithium - inadequate trialIf you want me to go into more detail, I can.
Cheers,
Christophre.
Posted by KimberlyL on January 8, 2002, at 18:33:48
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » jimmygold70, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 18:19:18
I took Luvox for about 14 months for depression/anxiety. It worked well and the only side effect I noticed was of the sexual nature and mild compared to what I'd experienced on Zoloft. (I am female.) It is more expensive I think.
Seems to me you may as well give it a try.
Good luck.
KimPlease state all the drugs you've taken, at what doses and how you have responded to them (effects, side effects). I'll try to recommend a strategy.
> >
> > Jimmy
>
> I'll try my best... (I don't remember exact dosages.)
>
>
> citalopram (Celexa®) - No Effect (NE)
> fluoxetine (Prozac®) - NE
> sertraline (Zoloft®) - NE
> desipramine (Norpramin®) - NE
> bupropion (Wellbutrin®) - NE (possibly inadequate dose [PID])
> tranylcypromine (Parnate®) - NE (PID)
> nefazodone (Serzone®) - NE (PID)
> venlafaxine (Effexor®) - NE (PID)
> imipramine (Tofranil®) - NE (PID)
>
> paroxetine (Paxil®) - moderately helpful with depression; intolerable side effects
> phenelzine (Nardil®) - moderately helpful with depression and social anxiety
>
> alprazolam (Xanax®) - quite helpful with social anxiety and generalised anxiety
> lorazepam (Ativan®) - slightly helpful
> clonazepam (Klonopin®) - low dose, not helpful
> diazepam (Valium®) - low dose, not helpful
> buspirone (Buspar®) - no effect
> olanzapine (Zyprexa®) - not helpful
>
> d-amphetamine (Dexedrine®) - quite helpful with ADD
> l-,d-amphetamine (Adderal®) - less helpful than Dexedrine, more side effects
> methylphenidate (Ritalin®) - less helpful than both Dexedrine and Adderal
> modafinil (Provigil®) - helpful with motivation and excessive daytime drowsiness, but not with attention
>
> lamotrigine (Lamictal®) - inadequate trial
> lithium - inadequate trial
>
> If you want me to go into more detail, I can.
>
> Cheers,
> Christophre.
Posted by jimmygold70 on January 8, 2002, at 18:41:38
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » jimmygold70, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 18:19:18
> citalopram (Celexa®) - No Effect (NE)
> fluoxetine (Prozac®) - NE
> sertraline (Zoloft®) - NE
> desipramine (Norpramin®) - NE
> bupropion (Wellbutrin®) - NE (possibly inadequate dose [PID])
> tranylcypromine (Parnate®) - NE (PID)
> nefazodone (Serzone®) - NE (PID)
> venlafaxine (Effexor®) - NE (PID)
> imipramine (Tofranil®) - NE (PID)
>
> paroxetine (Paxil®) - moderately helpful with depression; intolerable side effects
> phenelzine (Nardil®) - moderately helpful with depression and social anxiety
>
> alprazolam (Xanax®) - quite helpful with social anxiety and generalised anxiety
> lorazepam (Ativan®) - slightly helpful
> clonazepam (Klonopin®) - low dose, not helpful
> diazepam (Valium®) - low dose, not helpful
> buspirone (Buspar®) - no effect
> olanzapine (Zyprexa®) - not helpful
>
> d-amphetamine (Dexedrine®) - quite helpful with ADD
> l-,d-amphetamine (Adderal®) - less helpful than Dexedrine, more side effects
> methylphenidate (Ritalin®) - less helpful than both Dexedrine and Adderal
> modafinil (Provigil®) - helpful with motivation and excessive daytime drowsiness, but not with attention
>
> lamotrigine (Lamictal®) - inadequate trial
> lithium - inadequate trial
>
> If you want me to go into more detail, I can.
>
> Cheers,
> Christophre.OK. One thing I can recommend - don't try Luvox. If you haven't responded to 4 SSRIs you will not respond to Luvox for sure.
How long did you try Parnate ? At what dose ?
How long did you try Effexor ? At what dose ?
How long did you try lithium ? To what drug was it added ?I can still see many options not fulfilled yet.
Jimmy
Posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 19:37:10
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » christophrejmc, posted by jimmygold70 on January 8, 2002, at 18:41:38
> OK. One thing I can recommend - don't try Luvox. If you haven't responded to 4 SSRIs you will not respond to Luvox for sure.
Yeah, but I did respond fairly well to Paxil. (Although from what I've heard, Luvox's OCD reputation is overhyped - it doesn't seem to be much more efficacious for OCD than any of the other SSRIs so it might not be any better (or different) for other disorders.)
> How long did you try Parnate ? At what dose ?
6months at a max dose of 40mg (I can only take 10mg every 3hrs to avoid spontaneous hypertensive crises). This would be a subtherapeutic dose for me, but it's difficult to take more.
> How long did you try Effexor ? At what dose ?
Probably only 3-4 weeks at 75mg. I'm considering trying it again up to 400mg or so.
> How long did you try lithium ? To what drug was it added ?
One day @ low dosage -- hardly worth mentioning. I had changed doctors that day (not by choice). (I plan on retrying it next partial response.) It was added to Prozac, IIRC.
> I can still see many options not fulfilled yet.
as can I. I'm trying to decided whether to give up and go back to something that works O.K. (most likely would be Nardil) or to roll the psychopharmacological dice once more.
Thanks,
Christophre
Posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 0:59:52
In reply to Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
I'm taking Luvox, and have taken all of the other "SSRIs". Every SSRI is slightly different. Luvox is touted as an OCD drug because that was the way it was proposed to the FDA. Marketing it exclusively as an OCD drug set it apart from the other SSRIs. All of them have OCD properties, and depending on the individual, one of the other SSRIs could actually be more effective for OCD than Luvox.
Posted by Roo on January 9, 2002, at 9:26:44
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » christophrejmc, posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 0:59:52
Bob--do you get the sexual side effects with Luvox?
I'm thinking of trying it for that reason. I've
taken prozac and celexa and had sexual side effects
with both of them.
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2002, at 9:34:32
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD BOB, posted by Roo on January 9, 2002, at 9:26:44
Roo,
I can answer that one. Luvox is just as bad as the other SSRI's for sexual side effects. I had no libido at all for 4 years on Luvox.
Dinah
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2002, at 9:43:09
In reply to Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
By the way,
I also had major depression along with the OCD while I was taking Luvox. Luvox worked great with the OCD but did little for the depression. Of course everyone reacts differently and YMMV.
Dinah
Posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 10:36:18
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD BOB, posted by Roo on January 9, 2002, at 9:26:44
> Bob--do you get the sexual side effects with Luvox?
> I'm thinking of trying it for that reason. I've
> taken prozac and celexa and had sexual side effects
> with both of them.Roo:
I have to agree with Dinah - there is little difference in sexual side effects long term between different SSRIs at equivalent doses.
Bob
Posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 10:36:20
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD BOB, posted by Roo on January 9, 2002, at 9:26:44
> Bob--do you get the sexual side effects with Luvox?
> I'm thinking of trying it for that reason. I've
> taken prozac and celexa and had sexual side effects
> with both of them.Roo:
I have to agree with Dinah - there is little difference in sexual side effects long term between different SSRIs at equivalent doses.
Bob
Posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 10:45:06
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » christophrejmc, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2002, at 9:43:09
> By the way,
> I also had major depression along with the OCD while I was taking Luvox. Luvox worked great with the OCD but did little for the depression. Of course everyone reacts differently and YMMV.
> DinahDinah: I find that interesting, as I've taken all the SSRIs, and could swear that this one is not working as well for my depression. I thought maybe I was losing response... but maybe it's the med. What did you do for those four years taking Luvox for your major depression if it wasn't helping?
Bob
Posted by OldSchool on January 9, 2002, at 13:42:51
In reply to Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
> Has anyone used Luvox®(fluvoxamine maleate) for a mood/anxiety disorder other than Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Studies report it as moderately (i.e. as much as any other SSRI) effective at treating both depression and social anxiety. Has anyone found it to be superior to the other SSRIs for these conditions?
>
> Going through my long, long list of AD disappointments, I noticed that I haven't tried Luvox. I'm getting kind of desperate (please don't suggest ECT, you-know-who :/).
>
> Thanks for any response -- positive or not.
> Christophre-Jean.
>
> Luvox® is a registered trade mark of Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. [ok, so I'm a bit pedantic; but not obsessive-compulsive!]
Luvox is just another SSRI. Its no better and no worse than the other SSRIs. Its official label being for "only" OCD was a pure marketing thing. In Europe Luvox is used as a plain old antidepressant, not just for OCD. I have even read recently that the company that makes Luvox is trying to get it FDA approved for depression and not just OCD.Just as the other SSRIs can be used for OCD, often with just as good results as Luvox. I took Luvox for a few months and found it to be as good as what Im on now, Zoloft. Or previous SSRIs Ive been on such as Paxil or Prozac.
SSRIs...one is as good as the other. < yawn >
Old School
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2002, at 18:36:05
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD » Dinah, posted by bob on January 9, 2002, at 10:45:06
Well, I suppose the major depression wasn't for the whole 4 years. I don't remember the whole thing very well. There was some post-partum depression involved. And I've just been diagnosed as cyclothymic, so I guess there were some reasonably good times as well. At the time I was diagnosed with major depression, recurring and OCD.
As to what I did? Well, they kept raising the Luvox dose until I was a stupid emotionless zombie. Well, emotionless as far as good emotions go - the depression kept breaking through. I suppose suffering is what I mainly did. I also had cognitive behavior therapy and a lot of supportive therapy. I think the therapy is what kept me reasonably functional.
Posted by Cecilia on January 10, 2002, at 1:47:30
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by OldSchool on January 9, 2002, at 13:42:51
> > Has anyone used Luvox®(fluvoxamine maleate) for a mood/anxiety disorder other than Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Studies report it as moderately (i.e. as much as any other SSRI) effective at treating both depression and social anxiety. Has anyone found it to be superior to the other SSRIs for these conditions?
> >
> > Going through my long, long list of AD disappointments, I noticed that I haven't tried Luvox. I'm getting kind of desperate (please don't suggest ECT, you-know-who :/).
> >
> > Thanks for any response -- positive or not.
> > Christophre-Jean.
> >
> > Luvox® is a registered trade mark of Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. [ok, so I'm a bit pedantic; but not obsessive-compulsive!]
>
>
> Luvox is just another SSRI. Its no better and no worse than the other SSRIs. Its official label being for "only" OCD was a pure marketing thing. In Europe Luvox is used as a plain old antidepressant, not just for OCD. I have even read recently that the company that makes Luvox is trying to get it FDA approved for depression and not just OCD.
>
> Just as the other SSRIs can be used for OCD, often with just as good results as Luvox. I took Luvox for a few months and found it to be as good as what Im on now, Zoloft. Or previous SSRIs Ive been on such as Paxil or Prozac.
>
> SSRIs...one is as good as the other. < yawn >
>
> Old SchoolI think the Zoloft you are on must be helping you a LOT, Eric. You`re so much less angry than you used to be.
Posted by OldSchool on January 10, 2002, at 9:59:24
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD-Old School, posted by Cecilia on January 10, 2002, at 1:47:30
> I think the Zoloft you are on must be helping you a LOT, Eric. You`re so much less angry than you used to be.
No...its not helping all that much. Just barely keeping me afloat. I developed EPS recently and thats giving me a lot of problems. I feel like I have a retarded depression. No sex drive, sleep is shitty, Ive lost over thirty pounds in the last 10 months without trying. Appetite comes and goes. I wish I could feel some anger again...or some emotion for that matter. It would be nice to have some feeling back.I have these constant muscle twitches nowadays. "Twitch twitch twitch." Never stops. My right side is stiff and mildly weak too.
Old School
Posted by Karley on January 10, 2002, at 14:36:56
In reply to Luvox® for non-OCD, posted by christophrejmc on January 8, 2002, at 1:06:18
I've take Luvox for 9 months , in combination with Trileptal for an Eating Disorder (bulimia). The only side effects I've noted is mild sleep disruption and my dreams have become much more realistic.
Posted by Cecilia on January 11, 2002, at 3:12:29
In reply to Re: Luvox® for non-OCD-Old School, posted by OldSchool on January 10, 2002, at 9:59:24
> > I think the Zoloft you are on must be helping you a LOT, Eric. You`re so much less angry than you used to be.
>
>
> No...its not helping all that much. Just barely keeping me afloat. I developed EPS recently and thats giving me a lot of problems. I feel like I have a retarded depression. No sex drive, sleep is shitty, Ive lost over thirty pounds in the last 10 months without trying. Appetite comes and goes. I wish I could feel some anger again...or some emotion for that matter. It would be nice to have some feeling back.
>
> I have these constant muscle twitches nowadays. "Twitch twitch twitch." Never stops. My right side is stiff and mildly weak too.
>
> Old SchoolSorry it`s not working for you. Are you still thinking of giving ECT a try?
This is the end of the thread.
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