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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by clouds on September 28, 2005, at 0:15:06
hello, i'm new here. here's my current crisis:
i was taking celexa for depression/social anxiety for about ten months, ending in July 2005. i ended up feeling sort of complacent but not especially improved. since going off the celexa (since i didn't see much reason to stay on it, plus i hated the sexual side effects), i have had some emotionally traumatic experiences culminating in the loss of a two year relationship that is (was?) very meaningful to me. i am now starting what will be my last year of college (though i am older than most undergrads, at 24, since i took time off and then returned) and my success and health and sanity is at risk due to an extreme resurgence in depression, feelings of worthlessness and anxiety about being abandoned. i know that what i need to do is take care of myself and a good place to start is to get back on meds. i am seeing a counselor but haven't yet made an appt. with a psychiatrist because i wanted to have an idea of what i want to do (they usually seem to let you pick, in my experience). i am not inclined to do celexa again since it was ineffective last time, and i am afraid to stray from SSRI's (honestly i don't know what the other classes of drugs do). should i try lexapro? any suggestions about meds and/or breakup grief?
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 28, 2005, at 1:12:16
In reply to which antidepressant will really work?, posted by clouds on September 28, 2005, at 0:15:06
Ah, if only we knew the answer to that one. It can be such a tricky thing. My guess is that one med that will come up if you talk to a psychiatrist is Effexor. It is really popular now and is not an SSRI. It works on serotonin, but it also works on norepinephrine. There are a lot of mixed feelings on Effexor. It is worth educating yourself on and forming some thoughts of your own. Check out some of the threads on this site and also maybe the drug's website. I haven't taken it myself, so I don't have too much more to offer.
Wellbutrin is also non-SSRI. It can be taken alone or added to an SSRI to help decrease side effects or increase effects. Many people like it, but many people find it increases anxiety. It might make sense to try something that works on serotonin 1st though b/c you had at least a partial response to Celexa.
I hope that some of this is helpful. When you mentioned the end of a 2 yr relationship, it caught my eye b/c a similar situation precipitated my current episode of depression. Take care and welcome to p-babble.
Best,
EE
Posted by Bill LL on September 28, 2005, at 9:24:52
In reply to which antidepressant will really work?, posted by clouds on September 28, 2005, at 0:15:06
I think you should make an appointment right away with a psychiatrist, or at least an internist. Therapy is good for some people as well although my own experiences with it and those of friends have not been very good.
There are some drugs that improve mood and anxiety which generally don't cause sexual side effects such as Wellbutrin, Remeron, Lamictal, and Seroquel. Also, the addition of Ritalin, Adderal, or Provigil to an antidepressant can often counteract the tiredness and improve the antidepressant's effectiveness.
For a college student, I think that Ritalin or Adderall is a great choice to add to an antidepressant since it will help you concentrate on your school work.
But whatever you do, make your appointment now before your grades suffer. Don't wait.
> hello, i'm new here. here's my current crisis:
>
> i was taking celexa for depression/social anxiety for about ten months, ending in July 2005. i ended up feeling sort of complacent but not especially improved. since going off the celexa (since i didn't see much reason to stay on it, plus i hated the sexual side effects), i have had some emotionally traumatic experiences culminating in the loss of a two year relationship that is (was?) very meaningful to me. i am now starting what will be my last year of college (though i am older than most undergrads, at 24, since i took time off and then returned) and my success and health and sanity is at risk due to an extreme resurgence in depression, feelings of worthlessness and anxiety about being abandoned. i know that what i need to do is take care of myself and a good place to start is to get back on meds. i am seeing a counselor but haven't yet made an appt. with a psychiatrist because i wanted to have an idea of what i want to do (they usually seem to let you pick, in my experience). i am not inclined to do celexa again since it was ineffective last time, and i am afraid to stray from SSRI's (honestly i don't know what the other classes of drugs do). should i try lexapro? any suggestions about meds and/or breakup grief?
Posted by Bill LL on September 28, 2005, at 9:26:43
In reply to which antidepressant will really work?, posted by clouds on September 28, 2005, at 0:15:06
One more thing. If you get your anxiety and depression under control but find that you have sexual side effects, take Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.
Posted by clouds on September 30, 2005, at 2:04:37
In reply to Re: which antidepressant will really work?, posted by Bill LL on September 28, 2005, at 9:26:43
Thanks to Emily E. & Bob for your responses. I've made the appointment and I'm going to see the psychiatrist on Monday morning. Someone at the student health center at my school, whom i've never seen before but I almost prefer it that way, since they can look at my situation with a fresh outlook. I'm quite sure they're going to instantly offer the most common SSRIs and I want to try to ask questions about other things like Effexor and Wellbutrin. The sexual side effects are not really a concern to me right now, so I'm thinking maybe an SSRI would be fine. I don't know, I'm at such a loss. I hope I end up seeing someone good, who will actually be helpful. Blah. This week has been so awful ...
Posted by jerrympls on October 2, 2005, at 2:15:04
In reply to which antidepressant will really work?, posted by clouds on September 28, 2005, at 0:15:06
Really the question one should be asking is "Which antidepressant will work best with my particular brain chemistry." Which -unfortunately -science hasn't figured out as of yet.
This is the end of the thread.
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