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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 Alone on January 26, 2007, at 2:09:10
I had a long ride on prozac. I did well on it for about 7-8 years. But it became ineffective and the side effects increased and became intolerable. Xanax helped extend the ride by helping with insomnia and anxiety. Neurontin later helped with the urinary urgency and frequency, and body temperature swings I later developed. Eventually I became perpetually constipated and depression returned.
Pdoc switched me to Wellbutrin. Began having headaches bordering on migraines and instant constipation. After increase became extemely irritable and short tempered, blowing up over trivial things, like road rage. I also began all day binging on food and I could not stop myself. Wierd. My Pdoc told me to stop medication and made an appointment for Tuesday.
Please help!!! I need suggestions for new med. I have no energy, motivation and SEVERE depression without meds. ALL suggestions based on your personal experiences welcome!!!
Posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 17:03:24
In reply to Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by Alone on January 26, 2007, at 2:09:10
I was on prozac for 10 years. It started pooping out in year 8. When it was definitely over, switched to lexapro which was aweful...worse depression and worse anxiety. Then switched straight to zoloft and wham, practically overnight (3 days actually) my depression and anxiety was much improved.
Since you already know that you respond to serotonin drugs, you might want to give zoloft or paxil a look before messing with other neurotransmitters.
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 27, 2007, at 4:04:56
In reply to Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by Alone on January 26, 2007, at 2:09:10
I've been more or less stabilized on Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. It's far from perfect, but it's better than nothing.
Unlike Prozac, which works on Serotonin levels in the brain, Cymbalta works on norepinephrine and dopamine levels. That's a mix of different neurotransmitters that made a difference for me.
The Wellbutrin was added to try to get me out of the sack more often. Cymbalta is a little sedating for me.
Boy, I can sure vouch for the constipation. I take Metamucil for that - it's a really good fiber laxative that works like a charm.
That's just my experience, though. As we know, results vary all over the place for us.
Good luck,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Alone on January 29, 2007, at 11:22:42
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 17:03:24
Thanks for your input. Years ago when Pdoc was figuring out what to give me we had tried Other SSRIs. Paxil made me sleep all day everyday, Effexor made me so nauseas I was having dry heaves and the same for Zoloft. Any other suggestions?
Posted by Alone on January 29, 2007, at 11:32:40
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestio » Alone, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 27, 2007, at 4:04:56
Thanks for the input. My energy level is non existant when I am experiencing depression. I am curious about the Cymbalta, could you elaborate more about the sedating effect you said it had on you?
Also, I took benefiber and Colase together because my Family doctor told me to. The only thing that comes out when I take the fiber therapy is the Benefiber, nothing else. Also when it expands in my colon my stomach bloats way out and it is so painful, I look like I am 5 months pregnant! The only way to get it out is to take the max dosage of Phillips at night and then do an enema the next day on top of it. I have made an appointment with a Gastroenterologist for Friday. I saw a comercial on TV for Zelnorm. I am going to ask him about that at my appointment.Thanks!
Posted by blueberry1 on January 29, 2007, at 15:08:18
In reply to Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by Alone on January 26, 2007, at 2:09:10
This is purely ancecdotal, but you know what some people have done to either enhance their prozac or to kick it back in gear after poopout to where it is even better than ever? Provigil. I guess for some strange reason provigil and prozac synergize well. Since you are already comfortable with prozac, maybe an idea to think about? I have read anecdotal reports on the web about this combination. I have also read comments at remedyfind about this combination. One guy had to keep upping his dose of prozac all the way to 100mg because it kept pooping out after a few months. When added provigil to it, it worked just like the early days but better.
Something to think about. Might save the hastle of starting completely new meds. And you never know, after a short break from prozac maybe your body will love that molecule to be home again.
Posted by nolegirl23 on January 29, 2007, at 17:51:12
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 17:03:24
> I was on prozac for 10 years. It started pooping out in year 8. When it was definitely over, switched to lexapro which was aweful...worse depression and worse anxiety. Then switched straight to zoloft and wham, practically overnight (3 days actually) my depression and anxiety was much improved.
>
> Since you already know that you respond to serotonin drugs, you might want to give zoloft or paxil a look before messing with other neurotransmitters.Reading this board is so interesting to me; it is fascinating to see how drugs affect each one of us differently.
For example, I had a completely different reaction to Lexapro than Blueberry1. I was on Zoloft for years, and being that it was only my 2nd SSRI, (was on Paxil for one year - HATED IT!)I really didn't know what to expect. But, when I finally admitted that I was only getting worse (more starving, binging, purging, cutting, suicidal thoughts..) my doc switched me to Lexapro.
Within a week, I felt AWESOME! Lexapro had such a calming effect on me (I'm also on Xanax), and my mood improved so much. However, I hear so many folks on this board who responded to Lexapro in the complete opposite way that it affected me. Lots of you say that there was TONS of anxiety associated with Lexapro, and as such, you had to quit.I just find the human brain incredibly interesting. Look at how different all of us respond to these drugs!
When it comes down to it, I am amazed that this field is based on such a "trial and error" basis.Our Pdocs basically 'try' one med, see how it works, if we don't respond well (error) than they just throw another one in there.
I feel like a guinea pig sometimes.I know my Doc is a smart guy, but sometimes, especially when I see the pharmaceudical representative selling their respective drugs leaving his office, I often wonder what motivates him to prescribe what he prescribes...
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 31, 2007, at 22:10:07
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestio » Reggie BoStar, posted by Alone on January 29, 2007, at 11:32:40
Hi Alone,
The sedating effect of Cymbalta hit me near the end of the day. Hours before my normal bedtime, I would start to get really drowsy all of a sudden. I just couldn't stay awake and had to go to bed. I fell asleep immediately, and except for the usual bathroom trips, slept soundly for at least 15-16 hours.
The odd thing is that while I was awake, I felt fine until that sudden drowsiness hit me in the early evening.
There were also times when that 15-16 hours of sleep expanded into 2-3 days. It seemed as though after a week or two of not very energetic activity, I would burn out and do these incredible sleeping marathons.
The Wellbutrin seems to have cleared out the 2-3 day marathons, but I think I'm still sleeping too much.
It's very difficult to tell how much the meds and depression are contributing to these symptoms. Maybe the Wellbutrin is counteracting the Cymbalta, or maybe the Wellbutrin is overcoming depressive episodes better than Cymbalta does.
All I know is that the addition of Wellbutrin is helping me avoid those 2-3 day hibernations. Obviously you could have a completely different reaction to Cymbalta given how your depression works and/or how Cymbalta mixes with any other meds you may be taking.
It really is a crap shoot most of the time, unfortunately. Maybe you should just ask your pdoc if the different neurotransmitters that Cymbalta affects might be worth trying given your negative reaction to Serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac.
Good luck with it, and keep posting!
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Alone on February 1, 2007, at 19:10:12
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions? » Alone, posted by blueberry1 on January 29, 2007, at 15:08:18
I went to my Pdoc and asked him about augmenting Prozac with Provigil and he told me that he has done it in the past, but quit doing it because his patients would never stay on it because their insurance companies would refuse to pay for it, hence he never found out first hand if it was an effective combo or not. He told me he was certain that my insurance would deny payment and said Provigil is extremely expensive. He put me instead on Lexapro, starting me out at 10mg a day.
Thanks for the input!
Posted by Alone on February 1, 2007, at 19:16:26
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestio, posted by nolegirl23 on January 29, 2007, at 17:51:12
Thanks for suggesting Lexapro. When I asked my Pdoc about it he told me he liked it second to Prozac. He started me at 10 mg. I am on my second day with it and I noticed I don't feel the tearfulness that was coming back as the Wellbutrin wore off. Can it start working that fast? Let me know what you think. Thanks again!
Posted by KarenRB53 on December 18, 2007, at 19:46:56
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 17:03:24
> I was on prozac for 10 years. It started pooping out in year 8. When it was definitely over, switched to lexapro which was aweful...worse depression and worse anxiety. Then switched straight to zoloft and wham, practically overnight (3 days actually) my depression and anxiety was much improved.
>
> Since you already know that you respond to serotonin drugs, you might want to give zoloft or paxil a look before messing with other neurotransmitters.Just wondering if Zoloft is still working for you? I've been taking Prozac for close to 10 years, only antidepressant that lifted my depression but am now finding its not working as well.
Thanks, Karen
Posted by KathrynLex on December 26, 2007, at 19:04:16
In reply to Re: Prozac poop-out, Wellbutrin out, any suggestions?, posted by KarenRB53 on December 18, 2007, at 19:46:56
Hi Karen,
I had the "Prozac Poop Out" too. Lexapro worked for me after that, you might ask your pdoc about it. I really liked it...just be sure to taper off instead of stopping cold turkey.
KL
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