Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 16975

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

Could anyone suggest the next step for me? Here's what I've tried so far:

Zoloft 25-50mg wicked bad vertigo, no mood chg
Prozac 10-20mg insomnia, anorgasmic, no mood chg
Celexa 20-40mg anorgasmic, no mood change
Celexa 40mg + Wellbutrin 300mg STILL anorgasmic, but finally some relief from depression

So, any suggestions for next steps? It would be just lovely if I could actually be rid of depression, and yet manage occasionally to see fireworks again.

Remeron? TCA's? Nunnery?

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Greg on December 15, 1999, at 22:01:37

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

> Could anyone suggest the next step for me? Here's what I've tried so far:
>
> Zoloft 25-50mg wicked bad vertigo, no mood chg
> Prozac 10-20mg insomnia, anorgasmic, no mood chg
> Celexa 20-40mg anorgasmic, no mood change
> Celexa 40mg + Wellbutrin 300mg STILL anorgasmic, but finally some relief from depression
>
> So, any suggestions for next steps? It would be just lovely if I could actually be rid of depression, and yet manage occasionally to see fireworks again.
>
> Remeron? TCA's? Nunnery?
_____________________________________________
If I understand you correctly, the last combo. did relieve depression somewhat but still problems with anorgasmia, correct?
I had the same problems with all AD's so I tried Gabapentin as a last resort and it seems to work for me in both departments. Of course it is a mood stabilizer but it is showing some promise I understand in relieving depression when all other problems with side effects seem too obtrusive. You can read about it at Dr. Ivan Goldberg's Depression Central address: www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.html
You think you had problems with these side effects with AD's? Don't even think about TCA's.
Get thee to the nunnery? Nah....not yet anyway. As a last resort there is always augmenting with - what's that new stuff for erectile dysfunction that women are trying now too? Can't remember - probably will though after hitting the "submit" button.
Best to you,
Greg
________________________________________________


 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Renee on December 15, 1999, at 23:46:25

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by Greg on December 15, 1999, at 22:01:37

> > Could anyone suggest the next step for me? Here's what I've tried so far:
> >
> > Zoloft 25-50mg wicked bad vertigo, no mood chg
> > Prozac 10-20mg insomnia, anorgasmic, no mood chg
> > Celexa 20-40mg anorgasmic, no mood change
> > Celexa 40mg + Wellbutrin 300mg STILL anorgasmic, but finally some relief from depression
> >
> > So, any suggestions for next steps? It would be just lovely if I could actually be rid of depression, and yet manage occasionally to see fireworks again.
> >
> > Remeron? TCA's? Nunnery?
> _____________________________________________
> If I understand you correctly, the last combo. did relieve depression somewhat but still problems with anorgasmia, correct?
> I had the same problems with all AD's so I tried Gabapentin as a last resort and it seems to work for me in both departments. Of course it is a mood stabilizer but it is showing some promise I understand in relieving depression when all other problems with side effects seem too obtrusive. You can read about it at Dr. Ivan Goldberg's Depression Central address: www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.html
> You think you had problems with these side effects with AD's? Don't even think about TCA's.
> Get thee to the nunnery? Nah....not yet anyway. As a last resort there is always augmenting with - what's that new stuff for erectile dysfunction that women are trying now too? Can't remember - probably will though after hitting the "submit" button.
> Best to you,
> Greg
> ________________________________________________

Viagra. Wellbutrin made me horny for the first time in over a decade. Unfortunately it didn't last. Aparrently it was a shortlived side effect rather than a true benefit of the med. I don't know sho is now more depressed---my husband or me!

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by jen on December 16, 1999, at 0:51:32

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by Renee on December 15, 1999, at 23:46:25

i have been on numerous ADs, and while this may not be applicable to you, remeron, one of the drugs you mentioned really did not mesh well with me. i took my first dose at night as drowsiness can be an effect, got up the next day to go to work, drove to work in a dangereous haze, and had to call a friend to pick me up from work when the fog and dizziness did not subside. i then slept almost 24 hours. i never took another tablet.
just a thought to toss out to your doctor if you do try the med...and perhaps start it on the weekend?

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by JohnL on December 16, 1999, at 2:59:48

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

> Could anyone suggest the next step for me? Here's what I've tried so far:
>
> Zoloft 25-50mg wicked bad vertigo, no mood chg
> Prozac 10-20mg insomnia, anorgasmic, no mood chg
> Celexa 20-40mg anorgasmic, no mood change
> Celexa 40mg + Wellbutrin 300mg STILL anorgasmic, but finally some relief from depression
>
> So, any suggestions for next steps? It would be just lovely if I could actually be rid of depression, and yet manage occasionally to see fireworks again.
>
> Remeron? TCA's? Nunnery?

Hi Lisa. This is a tough one, huh? Nunnery...too funny! :) Anyway, Dr Bob's tips, Depression Central, and various research abstracts all have approaches to deal with sexual side effects, and here are some of them:

Add Buspar. Can improve all phases of sex. More helpful in women than men.
Add Remeron. It blocks the receptors causing the problem. Is sedating at first, may require patience to adjust.
Take 100mg Serzone as needed a couple hours before sex. Like Remeron, it blocks certain receptors.
Wellbutrin alone.
Serzone alone.
Wellbutrin+Serzone.
Add a dopamine agonist, such as Amantadine, Bromocriptine.
Selegiline alone.
Gingko Biloba up to 240mg a day. This herbal supplement improved all phases of sex in a research trial of patients experiencing SSRI sexual side effects. In another study at 240mg it also lowered the Hamilton depression scores even lower than they already were with an antidepressant. All the way down to a 4, which is pretty impressive, and equivalent to totally cured.

It seems to me the most straight forward approach would be to drop the Celexa down to 20mg, bump the Wellbutrin up to 400mg. See how that goes in a few weeks. Maybe then drop the Celexa altogether and stay with just Wellbutrin.

Keep in mind any of these approaches may or may not work. 50/50 chance. But different doctors do use these approaches with enough success that they continue using them. Also be aware any approach can take a while, up to a month or two, to notice real benefit. Deciding on what to try first is difficult. But at least there are choices that seem to work. Talk it over with your doctor. Maybe he/she has had luck with a particular approach. Hope these ideas might help. JohnL

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by ChrisK on December 16, 1999, at 5:52:16

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

I wouldn't rule out the TCA's. Some of us simply react better to them than all of the SSRI's. You may be able to augment a TCA with the Wellbutrin since that may have affected your mood somewhat.

Good Luck with whatever you try.

Chris

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by PL on December 16, 1999, at 9:50:23

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

I had the same experience as jen with the remeron, and agree with JohnL about lowering the celexa and bumping up the wellbutrin. It seem you didn't have any relief until you started the wellbutrin. I myself am on 20 mg celexa and 200 mg wellbutrin 3x day. Just started the added wellbutrin (over the recommede dosage) because my motivation has not been up to par, although I feel better than nothing on the lower dosage.

I don't have any Christmas spirit this year. I have only bought one present for my daugher (16yo). By now I usually have 15 presents for my daughter and 15 for my husband. I hate to disapoint my family, I just feel like I'd be wasting money to shop. (So whats my point, don't we all waste money at Christmas time?)

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Noa on December 16, 1999, at 11:53:42

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by PL on December 16, 1999, at 9:50:23

I seem to remember Racer swearing by periactin for the sexual side effects of ADs.

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Zeke on December 25, 1999, at 22:54:21

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

Someone mentioned Viagara and that's worth trying if you stay with your current combo. I've also read about the Ginko Biloba helping as others have mentioned.

Also like the idea of lowering your Celexa. Else drop it altogather and you should have orgasms again without Viagara. You could also lower the Celexa and add pindolol augment its effect.

What about dropping the Viagara and adding a stimulant. Your doc would probably prefer Ritalin but that could cause seizures with Welbutrin. Dexedrine or Adderall would be a better combo seizure wise though your doc might be anxious about amphetamines. But they provide rapid antidepressant effects for some people.

Synthroid might be another option. Not sure how its worked in combo with Welbutrin.

Don't be afraid to complain to your doc about the anorgasmia, and demand that it be taken seriously. (Luvox is an SSRI antidepressant that you haven't tried but it would likely also cause loss of orgasm.)

Could you tell us a little more about your depression? This could help with suggestions...

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Rackmin on December 26, 1999, at 5:03:39

In reply to Meds - what do I try next?, posted by LisaShh on December 15, 1999, at 20:56:32

Maybe anafranil and/or trazodone.

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Zeke on December 26, 1999, at 14:01:22

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by Rackmin on December 26, 1999, at 5:03:39

> Maybe anafranil and/or trazodone.

Except that Anafranil is likely to have the same sexual side effects as the SSRIs....

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Scott L. Schofield on December 27, 1999, at 19:56:10

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by Zeke on December 26, 1999, at 14:01:22

> > Maybe anafranil and/or trazodone.
>
> Except that Anafranil is likely to have the same sexual side effects as the SSRIs....

I can’t speak for others, but I don’t remember having any problems with it. It sure is a dirty drug, though – the anticholinergic side-effects are no fun. At one time, Anafranil (clomipramine) was considered by many psychopharmacologists to be the most effective antidepressant available. It was rated even higher than the original “gold-standard”, Tofranil (imipramine). It possesses a higher degree of serotonin reuptake inhibition than the other tricyclics, so I imagine it might also resemble the SSRIs as far as sexual side-effects are concerned. It would be fruitful to hear from other users of Anafranil to see if they experienced any.


- Scott

 

Re: Meds - what do I try next?

Posted by Cindy W on December 28, 1999, at 9:13:29

In reply to Re: Meds - what do I try next?, posted by Scott L. Schofield on December 27, 1999, at 19:56:10

> > > Maybe anafranil and/or trazodone.
You might ask about Effexor or Serzone. After trying both, I was pleased to find that neither seems to have the sexual side effects that Prozac, Zoloft, and Luvox had. Serzone made me feel very strange at first, but after two weeks, I really liked the way it helped my mood and decreased social anxiety. Effexor seems more subtle (but I'm not taking as much yet) and is helping my mood and apparently also the OCD. Effexor has changed the quality of my sexual response (the orgasms take a little longer, but are MUCH more a full body and brain experience...so I can't complain!).--Cindy W



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