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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jcc80 on August 16, 2012, at 11:42:48
Hi, new guy here. This forum seems to have the most members experienced with TCAs. I started desipramine a few weeks ago, alongside abilify and ritalin.
The doctor reluctantly prescribed it at my request. Basically what I am hoping for is a kick-in-the-butt of motivation, and desipramine sounded like a good choice.
I started at 50mg then jumped to 100 after a few days. Initially it seemed pretty energizing, but now I'm not sure if that was a placebo. Now I see that the dosages vary widely from 25mg all the way to 200 or more. Can I generally expect higher doses= more stimulation? I'm experiencing no anticholinergic sides at 100mg.
Thanks!
Posted by schleprock on August 16, 2012, at 12:13:58
In reply to Desipramine experiences, posted by Jcc80 on August 16, 2012, at 11:42:48
> Hi, new guy here. This forum seems to have the most members experienced with TCAs. I started desipramine a few weeks ago, alongside abilify and ritalin.
>
> The doctor reluctantly prescribed it at my request. Basically what I am hoping for is a kick-in-the-butt of motivation, and desipramine sounded like a good choice.
>
> I started at 50mg then jumped to 100 after a few days. Initially it seemed pretty energizing, but now I'm not sure if that was a placebo. Now I see that the dosages vary widely from 25mg all the way to 200 or more. Can I generally expect higher doses= more stimulation? I'm experiencing no anticholinergic sides at 100mg.
>
> Thanks!Do doctors regularly prescribe placebos?
I started Nortriptyline at 200 mgs. My anxiety\depression was so bad at that time I had no idea if I was experiencing side affects.
What made you choose Desipramine, if I may ask?
Posted by jcc80 on August 16, 2012, at 14:19:49
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences, posted by schleprock on August 16, 2012, at 12:13:58
Because supposedly it was least likely to be sedating.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 16, 2012, at 19:52:45
In reply to Desipramine experiences, posted by Jcc80 on August 16, 2012, at 11:42:48
If ritalin isnt giving you enough of a kick in the butt, its unlikely desipramine will, but it would be worth pushing it to 200mg/day for 4 weeks and see what happens.
Bupropion (300mg daily) might be worth a try also
Posted by Alexei on August 21, 2012, at 11:34:14
In reply to Desipramine experiences, posted by Jcc80 on August 16, 2012, at 11:42:48
> Hi, new guy here. This forum seems to have the most members experienced with TCAs. I started desipramine a few weeks ago, alongside abilify and ritalin.
>
> The doctor reluctantly prescribed it at my request. Basically what I am hoping for is a kick-in-the-butt of motivation, and desipramine sounded like a good choice.
>
> I started at 50mg then jumped to 100 after a few days. Initially it seemed pretty energizing, but now I'm not sure if that was a placebo. Now I see that the dosages vary widely from 25mg all the way to 200 or more. Can I generally expect higher doses= more stimulation? I'm experiencing no anticholinergic sides at 100mg.
>
> Thanks!
I found desipramine to be very stimulating, and one of the best AD's I've ever taken. I would hang at 100mg for a little while. It took almost 6 weeks for it to really work for me.May I ask what you take abilify for? Depression? How do you like it?
Posted by jcc80 on August 21, 2012, at 16:24:23
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences » Jcc80, posted by Alexei on August 21, 2012, at 11:34:14
The abilify was supposed to be an add-on for depression. Sometimes I can't really tell what it's doing, but if I get off of it, after a week or so I start feeling lousy.
Alexei, did you stick with 100mg? Or did you go higher?
Posted by Alexei on August 22, 2012, at 7:06:29
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences, posted by jcc80 on August 21, 2012, at 16:24:23
> The abilify was supposed to be an add-on for depression. Sometimes I can't really tell what it's doing, but if I get off of it, after a week or so I start feeling lousy.
>
> Alexei, did you stick with 100mg? Or did you go higher?
Hi jcc ...I stayed at 100mg, but I think if I had gone up to 150-200mg, it would have really knocked out my depression completely. It was combined with Lexapro to "create" an snri. It works much better that way than to use effexor or cymbalta.May I ask what your dose of abilify is? I'm taking it for the same reason as you, but I'm not that impressed. Will you stay on it?
Posted by jcc80 on August 22, 2012, at 8:58:15
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences » jcc80, posted by Alexei on August 22, 2012, at 7:06:29
2mg. I originally was prescribed 15 by a doctor who thought I was cyclothymic (no way) and it was horrible. Zombie with akathisia. Ended up breaking it into quarters, and it was acceptable. Finally asked for a 2mg prescription.
I'll stay on it for now, as I somehow felt worse every time I tried to dump it.
Posted by Alexei on August 22, 2012, at 9:13:01
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences, posted by jcc80 on August 22, 2012, at 8:58:15
> 2mg. I originally was prescribed 15 by a doctor who thought I was cyclothymic (no way) and it was horrible. Zombie with akathisia. Ended up breaking it into quarters, and it was acceptable. Finally asked for a 2mg prescription.
>
> I'll stay on it for now, as I somehow felt worse every time I tried to dump it.Good luck with the desipramine. Hope it works well for you. It's good stuff IMHO.
Posted by jcc80 on August 23, 2012, at 9:46:16
In reply to Re: Desipramine experiences » jcc80, posted by Alexei on August 22, 2012, at 9:13:01
Thanks. By the way, when it kicked in, was it a sudden, light-turned-on kind of thing, or more gradual? I'm 5 weeks and 1 day in, and don't think I'm responding.
This is the end of the thread.
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