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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 14, 2003, at 10:34:45
It's been an odd month.
I started a regimen of Celexa several months ago for what has become an increasingly disorienting depression. It got better at first, then just slid down to the floor like goo on a wall. I was pretty miserable anyway, so I decied to augment the Celexa with some leftover Serzone and Effexor (spaced out in modest dosages). I got calmer, but flatter.
So this weekend, I go to Atlanta for a trip, and forgot to bring my meds. Zing! 3 days cold from what had been a growing army of SSRIs and fish oil and I'm frenetic. Apathy, lethargy, and confusion are replaced by energy, interest, and confusion. Suddenly have a strong libido and an ability to follow-through. I feel an intense, mixed lot of emotions. I'm always moving. I feel like I can't contain myself at times.
Anyway, it's nice. I'm assuming that the rapid drop in serotonin has a lot to do with this, along with a possible rise in dopamine. Anyone else get this effect from stopping ADs? How long does it last? I'm refilling my prescription today, so things should return to "normal" soon, but I don't know that I really want them to. If I'm going to be chaotic and addled, I'd rather it be in a positive form such as this, than the dopey, SSRI autopilot I've been on.
Also, if this is an unusual reaction to discontinuation, what might it indicate about my overall chemistry?
Posted by Creaky_Neurons on April 14, 2003, at 12:22:09
In reply to SSRI discontinuation is telling me what?, posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 14, 2003, at 10:34:45
i've had this experience too. for me sadly, it does not seem to last...
i think our neurons sometimes react strongly to *changes* in the chemical soup in which they swim.
creaky.
Posted by MB on April 14, 2003, at 13:15:10
In reply to SSRI discontinuation is telling me what?, posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 14, 2003, at 10:34:45
After a few years on Paxil, I quit because I had put on 30 lbs. Within two days, my SSRI induced fatigue was gone, I was energetic and motivated, and I was able to feel emotions again (actually, I cried at the drop of a hat, but it felt *good* to be able to cry again). After two years on the Paxil, I had forgotten what it was like *not* to be a zombie. Now, unfortunately, the depression is back (which makes me more of a zombie than SSRIs), so I'm choosing the lesser of two evils and starting Lexapro.
Interesting note: I'm also taking Klonopin with the Lexapro which seems to let me feel emotions *EVEN WHILE ON AN SSRI!!!* Also, I take .25mg of Mirapex (a dopamine agonist) each night for the horrible Lexapro-exacerbated Restless Leg Syndrome I suffer. Guess what? With the Mirapex in my system I can, for the first time, have the big *O* while on an SSRI. Things aren't going so badly this time around.
MB
Posted by Ritch on April 14, 2003, at 13:18:29
In reply to SSRI discontinuation is telling me what?, posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 14, 2003, at 10:34:45
> It's been an odd month.
> I started a regimen of Celexa several months ago for what has become an increasingly disorienting depression. It got better at first, then just slid down to the floor like goo on a wall. I was pretty miserable anyway, so I decied to augment the Celexa with some leftover Serzone and Effexor (spaced out in modest dosages). I got calmer, but flatter.
> So this weekend, I go to Atlanta for a trip, and forgot to bring my meds. Zing! 3 days cold from what had been a growing army of SSRIs and fish oil and I'm frenetic. Apathy, lethargy, and confusion are replaced by energy, interest, and confusion. Suddenly have a strong libido and an ability to follow-through. I feel an intense, mixed lot of emotions. I'm always moving. I feel like I can't contain myself at times.
> Anyway, it's nice. I'm assuming that the rapid drop in serotonin has a lot to do with this, along with a possible rise in dopamine. Anyone else get this effect from stopping ADs? How long does it last? I'm refilling my prescription today, so things should return to "normal" soon, but I don't know that I really want them to. If I'm going to be chaotic and addled, I'd rather it be in a positive form such as this, than the dopey, SSRI autopilot I've been on.
> Also, if this is an unusual reaction to discontinuation, what might it indicate about my overall chemistry?
Eddie, it sounds to me that perhaps it might be best to avoid SSRI's. If you feel that you need to be back on an antidepressant you might want to consider something from a different class such as an MAOI or a TCA or Wellbutrin. Maybe a noradrenergic med could help straighten out the confusion without creating apathy? Perhaps Straterra could be an option.
Posted by Caleb462 on April 14, 2003, at 16:05:31
In reply to Re: SSRI discontinuation is telling me what? » Eddie Sylvano, posted by Ritch on April 14, 2003, at 13:18:29
Whenever I discontinued Celexa, I had a 2-3 spell of elation and euphoria, increased sex drive, energy, motivation, etc. And then it all came crashing down as the withdrawl symptoms begin to set in.
Posted by Questionmark on April 15, 2003, at 0:54:07
In reply to Re: SSRI discontinuation is telling me what?, posted by Caleb462 on April 14, 2003, at 16:05:31
> Whenever I discontinued Celexa, I had a 2-3 spell of elation and euphoria, increased sex drive, energy, motivation, etc. And then it all came crashing down as the withdrawl symptoms begin to set in.
When i quit Paxil i felt the same sort of things. First, an intense return of emotions (which was kind of nice) for about a couple weeks, followed by the horrifying doom and deep dark despair of withdrawal. Interesting how others felt this as well. So but yeah, anyway, the somewhat pleasant return of emotions does, i'm sorry to say, go away... fading into a worse depression. So my advice is to not quit cold turkey-- taper, really taper. Of course if youre curious you can see for yourself.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 15, 2003, at 10:43:38
In reply to Re: SSRI discontinuation is telling me what?, posted by Questionmark on April 15, 2003, at 0:54:07
Thanks for the good feedback, all. I got the Rx last night, just as the intense, pleasant phase was beginning to give way to cramping gut pains and confusion. Sad that it doesn't last.
And, lo and behold, mere hours after taking the Celexa, the emotions, libido, and arousal all dampened down.
At least my gut's stopped cramping.
This is the end of the thread.
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