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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UniVerSity on April 5, 2000, at 15:39:04
I've been on Prozac for 7 years, and during the last four, I have suffered from a general apathy that lends itself to hypersomnia, indifference about things, and lack of creativity/motivation.
But Prozac *has* kept depression at bay, and I am very thankful for that. I am reluctant to switch to another AD because Prozac is primarily effective for me, and I don't want to risk an episode of depression that might not respond to anything (although I have no history of treatment-resistance).
So I've tried several things to address the problem. Believing that my apathy may be due to dopamine downregulation, I have tried augmenting Prozac with: Wellbutrin, Ritalin, desipramine, and Amantadine.
Honestly, I didn't give Wellbutrin a fair trial, but quit it after a couple of weeks of jaw pain and anxiety. Amantadine took me to the threshhold of depression after one day, so I quickly discontinued it. Desipramine didn't have any effect except for increased sweating and retrograde ejaculation.
Ritalin--the most effective--gave me euphoric feelings that abated after a week, and seemed dose-dependent.
Any advice? I might try Wellbutrin again, and give it a month at a good dose.
TIA,
JM
Posted by AndrewB on April 5, 2000, at 20:56:22
In reply to SSRI-induced apathy lethargy, posted by UniVerSity on April 5, 2000, at 15:39:04
Hello,
Dr. Bob's Tips section offers some different strategies for treating SSRI apathy. Go to the top of the page, connect to the 'Tips" section, and then connect to 'search', and search using the keywords 'ssri' and 'apathy'. If the apathy is caused by dopamine depletion you may have better results with Mirapex or bromocriptine.
AndrewB
Posted by ChrisK on April 6, 2000, at 6:16:31
In reply to SSRI-induced apathy lethargy, posted by UniVerSity on April 5, 2000, at 15:39:04
I was stuck with apathy/anhedonia for quite awhile. I didn't feel as ddepressed and suicidal as I used to but I didn't feel "good" either. I ws already augmenting with Wellbutrin which helped some but then I added Adderall and that helped a lot. Like Rialin it is most commonly used for ADD but it did help my apathy.
Also if you feel that your apathy may be SSRI poop-out you may want to look into Naltrexone augmentation. There is some good info in the Tips section here.
Chris
Posted by UniVerSity on April 6, 2000, at 13:51:10
In reply to Re: SSRI-induced apathy lethargy, posted by ChrisK on April 6, 2000, at 6:16:31
> I was stuck with apathy/anhedonia for quite awhile. I didn't feel as ddepressed and suicidal as I used to but I didn't feel "good" either. I ws already augmenting with Wellbutrin which helped some but then I added Adderall and that helped a lot. Like Rialin it is most commonly used for ADD but it did help my apathy.
>
> Also if you feel that your apathy may be SSRI poop-out you may want to look into Naltrexone augmentation. There is some good info in the Tips section here.
>
> ChrisThanks.
I tried Ritalin for a week, and it worked, but I was concerned because it made me feel kind of euphoric, and then after a week the same dose didn't have any effect; I was afraid that I was becoming tolerant or something...
Anyway, now that I've discontinued it my pdoc won't prescribe it again...
This is the end of the thread.
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