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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
Hi Guys. I am currently taking klonopin for anxiety. However, I find that I am often very emotional and feel like I might burst into tears whenever there is a difficult conversation happening. Are there drugs out there known to dull emotions? I have been on paxil in the past which does seem to have this effect to some degree.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
Maddog
Posted by ST on July 27, 2004, at 23:02:16
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
Probably a mood stabilizer like Lithium or Depakote. I was on Depakote and it definitely made me less overly reactive. I'm a very emotional person and I feel things strongly and suddenly. I'm off Depakote after ten years of being on it. I have *definitely* noticed my emotions have come surging back!
ST
Posted by mike lynch on July 27, 2004, at 23:04:50
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
I had this problem to..especially in therapy I was unable to talk about anything that was slightly sensitive for me...the adderall I was taking seemed to exacerbate this problem alot..But it seems any ssri's such as paxil,lexapro, and prozac are the best for dulling emotions if that is truely your desire...In my opinion they dulled my emotions to much...it was a side-effect I could really do without....
Posted by jay on July 27, 2004, at 23:42:35
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
> Hi Guys. I am currently taking klonopin for anxiety. However, I find that I am often very emotional and feel like I might burst into tears whenever there is a difficult conversation happening. Are there drugs out there known to dull emotions? I have been on paxil in the past which does seem to have this effect to some degree.
>
> Any suggestions are appreciated!
>
> MaddogHi...ummm I think you will find *most* antidepressants do this. Many find it a bothersome side effect, though, as it "numbs" their emotions almost completely. But, it appears most of the SSRI/SNRI brand of meds will help with something like over-crying (is there such a term?..heh) and/or being really "weepy". Again, though, you don't want to eliminate it *all*.
Best,
Jay
Posted by Emme on July 28, 2004, at 2:20:20
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
I find it has few side effects. It caused me brain fog if I took too high a dose. But I've been able to find a low enough dose that's still calming and doesn't make me spacey. And yes, it'll take the edge off the emotions.
Posted by zeebop on July 28, 2004, at 4:34:57
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
> Hi Guys. I am currently taking klonopin for anxiety. However, I find that I am often very emotional and feel like I might burst into tears whenever there is a difficult conversation happening. Are there drugs out there known to dull emotions? I have been on paxil in the past which does seem to have this effect to some degree.
>
> Any suggestions are appreciated!
>
> MaddogAll SSRIS give flat dull emotion.
NE/DA ADs do not have this effect eg desipramine,reboxetine,selegiline,maprotiline
Posted by King Vultan on July 28, 2004, at 19:37:43
In reply to Re: Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by zeebop on July 28, 2004, at 4:34:57
>
> All SSRIS give flat dull emotion.
> NE/DA ADs do not have this effect eg desipramine,reboxetine,selegiline,maprotiline
>
I quite agree.Todd
Posted by lelebug on July 28, 2004, at 23:22:00
In reply to Re: Drugs that reduce emotion » zeebop, posted by King Vultan on July 28, 2004, at 19:37:43
I use to over cry a lot. Lexapro at 20mg pretty much put an end to that for me. i could still cry, but only when I was VERY affected by something. Also Trileptal as a mood stabilizer helped ease my emotional outbursts. I like it because I felt like I could function from a logical stand point instead of a emotional one all the time. Good luck.
Le
Posted by platinumbride on July 29, 2004, at 4:35:38
In reply to Re: Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by zeebop on July 28, 2004, at 4:34:57
>
> All SSRIS give flat dull emotion.
I have not had this experience with ssris.You mentioned that you are taking klonopin. I think many will agree that it makes one feel very "weepy" and overly emotional at times. At least it does me. It does help me to remember that when I get all weepy it is the klonipin talking and not me.
Maybe an ssri would be good for you. It seems that a lot of people have a dulled sense of emotion. I am just not one of them,
Good luck,
D
Posted by theo on July 29, 2004, at 16:58:45
In reply to Consider Keppra, posted by Emme on July 28, 2004, at 2:20:20
What dose of Keppra are you taking? Do you take it twice daily or 3 times a day?
Posted by Emme on July 29, 2004, at 18:52:46
In reply to Re: Consider Keppra » Emme, posted by theo on July 29, 2004, at 16:58:45
> What dose of Keppra are you taking? Do you take it twice daily or 3 times a day?
I'm only using it sporadically at the moment. I was using it more regularly this winter when I needed settling down. The tabs I have are 500 mg, but I only need 62.5 to 125 mg (the tabs are solid and choppable). That dose is beneficial and if I go higher than that, my brain doesn't think. My doctor has learned to let me start off with a fraction of the recommended dose of any drug and play with it to see what I can tolerate.
Twice a day seemed to do it for me.
I'm sure there must have been other side effects besides brain fog and maybe some fatigue at the higher dose. But I just can't think of any. For me it seems to be a pretty gentle drug. It really struck me how it took the edge off my emotions. A touch of "I don't care" is a nice break when your amygdala's on overdrive.
Posted by Sebastian on July 29, 2004, at 19:31:22
In reply to Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by maddog on July 27, 2004, at 20:39:30
Zyprexa and celexa did it for me.
Posted by Sad Panda on July 30, 2004, at 10:26:58
In reply to Re: Drugs that reduce emotion, posted by zeebop on July 28, 2004, at 4:34:57
>
> All SSRIS give flat dull emotion.
> NE/DA ADs do not have this effect eg desipramine,reboxetine,selegiline,maprotiline
>
>I have never experienced this with Prozac or Effexor, but I would guess that SSRI emotional flatness is more likely a sign that it's not the right choice for you rather than the norm.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by starflower on August 4, 2004, at 10:30:36
In reply to Re: Drugs that reduce emotion » zeebop, posted by King Vultan on July 28, 2004, at 19:37:43
Hi there - just wanted to add my two-penneth worth.
The drugs I have been on that have blunted emotions are:
Lexapro
Zispin
Prozac
ImipramineThe ones that haven't are:
Paxil
Lustral (although it induced mania and was a nightmare otherwise)So the SSRIs do, others don't pattern doesn't work across the board for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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