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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MA on November 12, 1999, at 11:42:03
I'm on 40 mg Celexa for the past 4 mos and still have low motivation and interest in life.
My pdoc prescribed Ritalin 10 mg 2X/day which I had terrible side effects from, particularly headaches. I went to 5 mg 2x/day and didn't have a headache but felt groggy and unfocused. Will this feeling go away and should I try a few more days? I didn't take my dose today because I don't want to feel 'out of it' another day.
I know some meds make you feel crummy for a few days and then kick in. My pdoc said I should feel improved in a day or two. Has anyone found that it took longer and would advise me waiting another day or two?
I think the doc wants to try Dexadrine next but I'm wondering if anyone has had good results when something else was added to Celexa. I had been on Paxil and Wellbutrin, so I'm thinking of adding Wellbutrin to the Celexa.
I tried Buspar with Prozac years ago but don'e remember any real improvement. There are so many choices, we should all be happy, but I find this overwhelming and frustrating beyond belief.
I really don't think there is an answer sometimes.
Should I be happy with feeling just OK? Am I selfish to want to have joy and happiness in my life like other people have without drugs. Would I be better off of all drugs? Tried it once and paid dearly.For those of you feeling great, what is the secret combination. I know, it depends on the individual, but I'm willing to try any combination that has worked for some of you, epecially if it has woked for longer than a year.
My diagnosis: Chronic depression, anehdonia, dysthymia, tinge of social phobia
Current Rx: Celexa 40 mg, EMDR therapy.
Any advice appreciated.
Posted by b on November 12, 1999, at 15:51:37
In reply to Ritalin to augment Celexa, posted by MA on November 12, 1999, at 11:42:03
you have my sympathy. i have done the med jumping game for several years now. i have responded extremely well to the SSRIs but the sexual side effects are intolerable and i go off them, get depressed, go back on them, become happy enough to get into a good relationship, go off them, get depressed...
i am currently on wellbutrin and celexa and am doing great. (of course i am single). but that combo has worked very well for me, so has prozac and wellbutrin. you most definitely deserve to be happy and to feel joy and to get the most out of life. i sincerely hope you can find a combo that works for you.
Posted by JohnL on November 12, 1999, at 16:58:20
In reply to Ritalin to augment Celexa, posted by MA on November 12, 1999, at 11:42:03
> My diagnosis: Chronic depression, anehdonia, dysthymia, tinge of social phobia
>Hi MA. I thought your description of diagnosis was about me. I'm exactly like you.
And like you I am still searching. Most drugs or cocktails have been effective for most of the depression, but totally ineffective on that stubborn anhedonia/dysthymia. Stubborn beast, huh?
The magic for everyone seems so different. No easy answers. For one it's Prozac+Naltrexone. For another it's Zoloft+Buspar. For another, Effexor+Remeron. Prozac+Nortriptyline. Selegiline straight up. MAOI+Lithium. I mean, on and on and on. Whatever works. I wish desperately, for you and for myself, there was some way to predict in advance the best approach. Your current approach seems logical. Time will tell. If disappointing, at least that will give you some clues for your next move. I think we learn something new from each failed trial. Hopefully though what you are doing now will work out fine. Cheering for ya.
Posted by Noa on November 12, 1999, at 17:24:14
In reply to Re: Ritalin to augment Celexa, posted by JohnL on November 12, 1999, at 16:58:20
The thing about ritalin is it doesn't build up in your system, so it isn't like the drugs you have to wait a while to get some effect. However, when starting it, you can avoid some initial discomfort reactions by titrating very slowly up to the desired dose. My doc started me at 2.5 mg for a week, up to 5 for a few months, then 7.5, and finally to 10. I am not sure why the 5 would make you groggy, tho.
Posted by MA on November 13, 1999, at 14:43:32
In reply to Re: Ritalin to augment Celexa, posted by b on November 12, 1999, at 15:51:37
>
> i am currently on wellbutrin and celexa and am doing great. (of course i am single)I laughed at this statement. Sometimes being sincgle has it's advantages, i.e. when going through drug trials...
Whay dose of Celexa/Wellbutrin are you on. Also what times of day do you take it. I'm hoping my doc will let me try this combo. I have plenty of Wellbutrin in stock.
THe Ritalin made me feel really crummy, but a few of the responses made me feel like I didn't give it enough time. YOu never know how long to try anything. I hate to prolong my misery with experiencing side effects that make me feel worse.
Thanks for your response j, and to JohnL and Noa, it's great to have lots of first hand experience to "listen" to.
Posted by b on November 15, 1999, at 10:30:38
In reply to Re: Ritalin to augment Celexa...b...JohnL, Noa, posted by MA on November 13, 1999, at 14:43:32
i take wellbutrin 150 SR (sustained release) and
celexa 20 mg at night. it is a great combination
the thing i can say the most is that i feel
basically the same every day-happy, centered, non-
dramatic. unfort it really is true, and obviously
so from reading these posts, that everyone is
different. i have never tried ritalin and have
no experience with it, but experiencing awful side
effects on a drug can be very upsetting. i wish
you the best.
Posted by Julie on November 16, 1999, at 7:36:59
In reply to Ritalin to augment Celexa, posted by MA on November 12, 1999, at 11:42:03
> I think the doc wants to try Dexadrine next but I'm wondering if anyone has had good results when something else was added to Celexa.
Hi Ma!
I am on Effexor, augmented by Celexa. It was rough at 1st w/side effects, but now doing great. I am trying Adderall as well, but find that I am not sleeping as soundly. I might try Ritalin or go back to Cylert. I hear Wellbutrin can be energizing for some, but I had an allergic reaction to it. (It is used for ADD too).
Be well..
Julie
Posted by MA on November 16, 1999, at 8:22:18
In reply to Adderall w/Celexa etc., posted by Julie on November 16, 1999, at 7:36:59
Well I took it upon myself to stop the Ritalin and add Wellbutrin. I have both 100 and 150 mgs, so initally I split the 100 and took 50 twice a day. Yesterday I took 150 mg in the morning with 20 mg Celexa. I take 20 mg Celexa in the afternoon without taking more Wellbutrin. I don't want to do anything else until I see my doc today.
He probably will not be too thrilled with my decision to start the Wellbutrin on my own. I called and left him a message a few days ago, telling him that the Ritalin was really making me feel out of it and then I asked him about adding Wellbutrin to the Celexa. He hasn't called back, which I understand, since I left a message on his voice mail, which he uses for routine calls. I didn't feel like this warranted an emergency call.
I keep reading things about Nardil and Marplan and in my gut I feel I should try those again. The Marplan worked up until the time Roche stopped making it (around 1994). Nardil was the first AD that ever worked (89-91) but when it stopped working, we never got it to work again.
It's not easy deciding that a formula is not doing enough. I think the Celexa is doing something, but I am unsure about how much it is doing. Making the decision to try something else entirely different is always a major ordeal.
Luckily I am functioning and relatively happy right now, so changing anything is probably too risky. It really is a big gamble to make a change unless you absolutely have to.
Posted by Barbara on December 20, 1999, at 3:06:46
In reply to Update on my Formula., posted by MA on November 16, 1999, at 8:22:18
I was diagnosed with ADD almost two years ago at age 51. I had a touch of depression - was prescribed Ritalin for the ADD - terrible - I felt like I was in a fog and couldnt get out - made my focus and memory worse - and I worried about it more - so we switched to dexedrine - much better - as I am wont to do a year ago depression crept up on me - starts with a tinge of insomnia and proceeds from there- so now we are on celexa (new this month), wellbutrin, cytomel, estratest (testosterone supposed to help with sexual dysfunction - I DONT THINK SO!!!) and of course dexedrine - a touch of trazodone at night for insomnia and for those mornings when you prefer to walk into walls and forget where you are and where you need to be - etc (never could develop a tolerance!) -- the point of all of this is that if Ritalin is not the one for you and youre an adult - youre in good company! Switch!
This is the end of the thread.
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