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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jan on March 29, 1999, at 6:51:02
I was on paxil 20g for 6 weeks and changed to celexa 20g 3 weeks ago, I changed due to the loss of sexual feeling. My depression has turned into apathy. I have no energy for anything and everything is an effort. My work is suffering and each day is a struggle. I dont seem to be able to meet deadlines and am always late for appointments. Is this as good as it gets? Thank you for listening..stay safe :)
Posted by Wayne R. on March 29, 1999, at 8:16:32
In reply to paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by Jan on March 29, 1999, at 6:51:02
> ... My depression has turned into apathy. I have no energy for anything and everything is an effort.
Jan, here is a posting from Dr Bob's Psychopharmacology Tips area. I responded well to Naltrexone as noted in this posting... Best wishes, Wayne
From: L. Dante
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 01:04:25 -0400
Subject: SSRIs and apathyI have been working with this phenomenon for quite a few years and lately have come to believe it to be what the pharmacologists call tachyphylaxis. At least half the time it can be reversed by adding naltrexone between 25 mg and 100 mg per day as tolerated and giving it two to four weeks to work. Results often include a better remission of the depressive symptoms than you ever got on the initial go round. I wonder if opiate interneurons in the RAS are the common system mediating the antidepressant effects of all the various meds we use.
Posted by Torrey on March 29, 1999, at 23:50:04
In reply to Re: paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by Wayne R. on March 29, 1999, at 8:16:32
Wayne R. wrote:
>I wonder if opiate interneurons in the RAS are the common system mediating the antidepressant effects of all the various meds we use.Could you elaborate on this? I've been hearing about the use of low-dose opiates for treatment resistant OCD, and have wondered at the rationale behind it. Since the SSRI's arrived, the most prevalent idea about depression and anxiety disorders seems to be that "low serotonin" is the culprit. Bathing the neurons in reuptake-blocked serotonin does often seem to help - but inconsistently, and with a number of distressing side-effects. What is this RAS/opiate thing all about?
Torrey
Posted by Jan on March 30, 1999, at 6:59:13
In reply to Re: paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by Wayne R. on March 29, 1999, at 8:16:32
Thank you for your follow-up Wayne. I have looked into the Med you suggested but can only find information relating to its use for alcohol dependecy. Are we talking about the same med here?
Posted by Wayne R. on March 30, 1999, at 13:22:09
In reply to Re: paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by Jan on March 30, 1999, at 6:59:13
Naltrexone is approved by the FDA for the treatment of opiat and alcohol dependence. However, Dr Dante posted several items regarding his use of Naltrexone as an augmentation to SSRI’s. He has gone so far as to have gotten a patent of the method in order to try to encourage studies to confirm the clinical results he has seen. **Reference US Patent 5512593: Composition and method of treating depression using natoxone or naltrexone in combination with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor...
The speculations in the posting as to how it works are Dr Dante’s and I have no clue. I just know it has changed my life! Please search the February postings by myself for more information on Naltrexone and its application to the treatment of depression. I just wish there was a blood test or something to determine *whom* Naltrexone would be effective for. Wayne
Posted by jan on April 3, 1999, at 10:41:04
In reply to Re: paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by Wayne R. on March 30, 1999, at 13:22:09
Thank you wayne. I have tried to find a natural solution as I dont really want to top up the celexa with another powerful drug. I am currently trying ginkgo biloba, which i have read good things about. Fingers crossed I will feel like a sex mad super woman soon :)
Posted by maybelle on April 12, 1999, at 0:54:32
In reply to Re: paxil/celexa..is this as good as it gets?, posted by jan on April 3, 1999, at 10:41:04
I am currently on 200mg of Zoloft, with good results for the past year.
I visited with my GP last week about the overreaching apathy in my life, however. While understandably reluctant to mess with something that "works," she agreed to give Celexa a try...She also welcomed my trying out ginkgo, and said other patients of hers had reported good results.
For the record, the "apathy" definitely includes sex drive. And the high dose of Zoloft also caused (ugh!) nipple discharge.
Posted by Gabriela on September 16, 2002, at 4:00:28
In reply to paxil/celexa..and ginkgo, posted by maybelle on April 12, 1999, at 0:54:32
Hi! I need feedback please! I had a traumatic brain injury 7 years ago and it resulted in all sorts of problems - one of the main ones being that I cannot sleep. So, I have been on all sorts of medication. I have been on Temezepam for a while. In May '02 a doc. started me on 25 mg of zoloft - but since then i had all sorts of strange health issues - 1st it was an eye infection and I saw a variety of doctors and each one said it was something different until they all started saying t was severe conjunctivitis....but it never went near my other eye...something that would have happened considering how bad it was and how long it laste (1 month and 1/2!!). The, a month ago I bacme nauseus and vomitted a lot - but there were times during the day when it would go away and i would eat and be fine. Again, doctors did all sorts of tests and nobody knew what was wrong. SOOOO - I stopped zoloft 3 days ago and am no longer nauseus or vomitting - but this morning i had discharge from my nipple. I saw that somebody had mentioned that this happened to somebody they knew on zoloft - does anybody else know about it? I wasn't takng much. I am really confused and would appreciate hearing from anybody that might know more about this.
Thanks!!
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