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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 7:11:54
I had a bad go with my Ketamine shots yesterday but my pdoc wants me to continue because I had done so well initially.
He switched me from Lexapro (I already stopped it 2 nights ago, sort of intentionally because I was really depressed, not thinking straight, and didn't think it was working) to Viibryd (he really likes it and gave me samples), added Ambien XR instead of Restoril (it didn't help me sleep) and 5mg of Saphris for my irritability and impulsivity (because I tend to self-medicate and am not always med compliant, he said he wouldn't consider Nardil for me).
I had the worst reaction to Saphris last night--I felt like I was kicking a drug or going through withdrawal, with electric zaps going through my body. He told me this morning it will really help me and to still stay on it, but start at a 1/4 of 5mg, then go to 1/2.
Any thoughts? I'm back at aquare one and at a loss. I can't go through this again. I don't have it in me.
Thanks and I hope everyone's doing well.
-b
Posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2013, at 9:42:33
In reply to New meds-feedback really needed, posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 7:11:54
Bryn so you are continuing with ketamine. I sure wish Eric would comment on the viibryd as I know he likes it for OCD.
I don't know a thing about Saphris. How horrible and scarey to react to a med that way. So you will continue? Phillipa
Posted by Bob on February 20, 2013, at 14:21:41
In reply to New meds-feedback really needed, posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 7:11:54
> I had a bad go with my Ketamine shots yesterday but my pdoc wants me to continue because I had done so well initially.
>
> He switched me from Lexapro (I already stopped it 2 nights ago, sort of intentionally because I was really depressed, not thinking straight, and didn't think it was working) to Viibryd (he really likes it and gave me samples), added Ambien XR instead of Restoril (it didn't help me sleep) and 5mg of Saphris for my irritability and impulsivity (because I tend to self-medicate and am not always med compliant, he said he wouldn't consider Nardil for me).
>
> I had the worst reaction to Saphris last night--I felt like I was kicking a drug or going through withdrawal, with electric zaps going through my body. He told me this morning it will really help me and to still stay on it, but start at a 1/4 of 5mg, then go to 1/2.
>
> Any thoughts? I'm back at aquare one and at a loss. I can't go through this again. I don't have it in me.
>
> Thanks and I hope everyone's doing well.
>
> -bWhat specifically do you mean when you say you "had a bad go of it" with the ketamine shots? They just weren't helping, or there was an actively negative effect?
Posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 19:39:30
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » brynb, posted by Bob on February 20, 2013, at 14:21:41
> What specifically do you mean when you say you "had a bad go of it" with the ketamine shots? They just weren't helping, or there was an actively negative effect?
>
>i freaked out. crying hysterically and felt like i lost my mind; couldn't grasp whether i was sane or even human.
-b
Posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:15:29
In reply to New meds-feedback really needed, posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 7:11:54
None of those meds are going to cover up a lexapro withdrawal. What you described may have some element of side effects in it, but I think the majority of it is withdrawals. You described it pretty much picture perfect.
Posted by Bob on February 21, 2013, at 15:47:18
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed, posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:15:29
> None of those meds are going to cover up a lexapro withdrawal. What you described may have some element of side effects in it, but I think the majority of it is withdrawals. You described it pretty much picture perfect.
I had a similar line of thinking. Although some of it could be due to ketamine, you had a sudden discontinuation of Lexapro, and that could definitely be producing withdrawal. I'm not saying that is definitely what happened, but it may be worth looking into.Bob
Posted by ihatedrugs on February 21, 2013, at 17:33:16
In reply to New meds-feedback really needed, posted by brynb on February 20, 2013, at 7:11:54
> I had a bad go with my Ketamine shots yesterday but my pdoc wants me to continue because I had done so well initially.
>
> He switched me from Lexapro (I already stopped it 2 nights ago, sort of intentionally because I was really depressed, not thinking straight, and didn't think it was working) to Viibryd (he really likes it and gave me samples), added Ambien XR instead of Restoril (it didn't help me sleep) and 5mg of Saphris for my irritability and impulsivity (because I tend to self-medicate and am not always med compliant, he said he wouldn't consider Nardil for me).
>
> I had the worst reaction to Saphris last night--I felt like I was kicking a drug or going through withdrawal, with electric zaps going through my body. He told me this morning it will really help me and to still stay on it, but start at a 1/4 of 5mg, then go to 1/2.
>
> Any thoughts? I'm back at aquare one and at a loss. I can't go through this again. I don't have it in me.
>
> Thanks and I hope everyone's doing well.
>
> -bB
I agree with Blueberry. You are most likely experiencing Lexapro withdrawals. I've taken it twice and each time I stop it I have to do it gradually. What seems to work for me is to stop taking it until I feel the brain zaps then I take it. I keep doing it until the brain zaps are less intense and I begin to cut the pill in half. I'm sure there are smoother ways of doing it like lowering the dose every week or two. If after taking Lexapro the zaps stop then it's just withdrawal which will go away.
ihatedrugs
Posted by brynb on February 22, 2013, at 13:51:04
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed, posted by bleauberry on February 21, 2013, at 12:15:29
hi-
i know you're right, and dropped viibryd and restarted lexapro. (and i'm doing better already.)
thank so much!
-b
Posted by brynb on February 22, 2013, at 13:59:53
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » bleauberry, posted by Bob on February 21, 2013, at 15:47:18
> > None of those meds are going to cover up a lexapro withdrawal. What you described may have some element of side effects in it, but I think the majority of it is withdrawals. You described it pretty much picture perfect.
>
>
> I had a similar line of thinking. Although some of it could be due to ketamine, you had a sudden discontinuation of Lexapro, and that could definitely be producing withdrawal. I'm not saying that is definitely what happened, but it may be worth looking into.
>
> Bob
>thanks, bob.
you're right. i restarted lexapro, and dropped viibryd. had a ketamine treatment already and i'm starting to do better.
thanks again!
-b
Posted by Bob on February 22, 2013, at 14:17:45
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » Bob, posted by brynb on February 22, 2013, at 13:59:53
> > > None of those meds are going to cover up a lexapro withdrawal. What you described may have some element of side effects in it, but I think the majority of it is withdrawals. You described it pretty much picture perfect.
> >
> >
> > I had a similar line of thinking. Although some of it could be due to ketamine, you had a sudden discontinuation of Lexapro, and that could definitely be producing withdrawal. I'm not saying that is definitely what happened, but it may be worth looking into.
> >
> > Bob
> >
>
> thanks, bob.
>
> you're right. i restarted lexapro, and dropped viibryd. had a ketamine treatment already and i'm starting to do better.
>
> thanks again!
>
> -b
It's somewhat of a relief to know that it probably wasn't the ketamine shots.
Posted by brynb on February 22, 2013, at 15:26:30
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » brynb, posted by Bob on February 22, 2013, at 14:17:45
Posted by Phillipa on February 22, 2013, at 21:17:26
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » brynb, posted by Bob on February 22, 2013, at 14:17:45
What dose of lexapro? And the ketamine treatments are working? That's fantastic. Phillipa
Posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 5:45:46
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed, posted by Phillipa on February 22, 2013, at 21:17:26
> What dose of lexapro? And the ketamine treatments are working? That's fantastic. Phillipa
hi p-
i went back to lexapro 20mg. i was only off it a few days, so...
eric is the only one here who posts about viibryd. i babblemailed him and he didn't get back to me. i never see mention of it.
my k treatment went great yesterday. (let's see how i feel this weekend!)
hope you're well...
-b
Posted by Bob on February 23, 2013, at 15:19:34
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » Phillipa, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 5:45:46
>
> i went back to lexapro 20mg. i was only off it a few days, so...
>
> eric is the only one here who posts about viibryd. i babblemailed him and he didn't get back to me. i never see mention of it.
>
> my k treatment went great yesterday. (let's see how i feel this weekend!)
>
> -bAre you still going to try to switch over to Lexapro?
Posted by Phillipa on February 23, 2013, at 20:36:44
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » Phillipa, posted by brynb on February 23, 2013, at 5:45:46
Let me see if can get Eric to post I tried once and he didn't seem to want to. But he did say that viibryd was good for OCD? P
Posted by brynb on February 24, 2013, at 19:37:35
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » brynb, posted by Bob on February 23, 2013, at 15:19:34
> Are you still going to try to switch over to Lexapro?hi bob-
i stayed one lexapro and i'm already doing better. thanks for asking.
-b
Posted by brynb on February 24, 2013, at 19:39:45
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed, posted by ihatedrugs on February 21, 2013, at 17:33:16
> B
>
> I agree with Blueberry. You are most likely experiencing Lexapro withdrawals. I've taken it twice and each time I stop it I have to do it gradually. What seems to work for me is to stop taking it until I feel the brain zaps then I take it. I keep doing it until the brain zaps are less intense and I begin to cut the pill in half. I'm sure there are smoother ways of doing it like lowering the dose every week or two. If after taking Lexapro the zaps stop then it's just withdrawal which will go away.
>
> ihatedrugsi ihd-
good advice. i think it was definitely withdrawal zaps as i've been back on lexapro and i'm ok again. thanks so much!
how are you feeling theses days?
-b
Posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2013, at 20:41:53
In reply to Re: New meds-feedback really needed » ihatedrugs, posted by brynb on February 24, 2013, at 19:39:45
Really great that the lexapro is working again and also quickly. Happy for you. P
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