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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 Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:11:50
I have horrible, often irrational obsessive, racing thoughts. Have heard Luvox is an SSRI (a-d?) and is good for OCD, which I have PART of (not textbook OCD). Anyone with experience with Luvox, I'd appreciate some info (good, bad, whatever). Thanks!
Posted by Mr. Scott on July 1, 2001, at 21:00:36
In reply to What do y'all know about LUVOX ??, posted by Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:11:50
I know that it has more side effects and drug interactions than Prozac and Zoloft, but isn't a whole lot different. As much as I am sick of the whole lot of them, I would probably start with P or Z before Luvox.. It sedated me more than the others too.
Posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 1:33:17
In reply to Re: What do y'all know about LUVOX ?? » Janelle, posted by Mr. Scott on July 1, 2001, at 21:00:36
Hi - what (specific) kinds of side effects does Luvox have? I did read that it has more drug interactions than Prozac and Zoloft, but did not know that it isn't a whole lot different. I figured it would be since it is targeted to OCD (rather than depression per se) and I know someone with OCD who is having great success on Luvox, but did say it makes her sleepy but she manages with that.
I tried Z (plateaued) and am "afraid" of Prozac because I hear it can agitate and heighten anxiety, and having just taken Celexa which has been called a "weak Prozac" had worse anxiety and obsessive thoughts while on it, I'm just not sure where to turn if the Effexor doesn't work (I shouldn't fear the worst and have a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I can't help it. I'm feeling discouraged and impatient titrating up gradually, waiting, etc.) Plus, I'm feeling very sedated with not even a full dose of Effexor. Ack!
Posted by Mr.Scott on July 2, 2001, at 13:58:34
In reply to MR. SCOTT (and others) about Luvox:, posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 1:33:17
I hear you.. Then I would keep Luvox in your back pocket if Effexor doesn't cut the mustard. Basically it made me sleepy, a little swollen in the face, and thats really about it. It being targeted to OCD is just based on FDA approval and marketing junk. It is just as good for depression as the rest of the ssri's.
Scott
Posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 23:13:45
In reply to Re: MR. SCOTT (and others) about Luvox: » Janelle, posted by Mr.Scott on July 2, 2001, at 13:58:34
My pdoc told me that the company that makes Effexor was involved in politics and marketing junk to get Effexor as the only SSRI "approved" (bythe FDA I presume) for generalized anxiety.
Too bad this kind of stuff is going on, and so far (well, I'm only at 75 mg), I feel minimal improvement with my anxiety and very drowsy, lethargic, de-energized and want to sleep all the time.
I know someone who DEFINITELY has OCD and has responded well to Luvox, which I found interesting since Luvox is an SSRI! Thanks for your response above.
Janelle
Posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 2001, at 15:16:30
In reply to What do y'all know about LUVOX ??, posted by Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:11:50
> I have horrible, often irrational obsessive, racing thoughts. Have heard Luvox is an SSRI (a-d?) and is good for OCD, which I have PART of (not textbook OCD). Anyone with experience with Luvox, I'd appreciate some info (good, bad, whatever). Thanks!
It's an SSRI. It was used in Europe before we had Prozac, although it wasn't introduced in the US until 1995 or so. It has a reputation for causing sedation (sometimes a good thing) and nausea (not good) a little more often than other SSRIs.
SSRIs are supposed to be good for racing thoughts, but you might want to start out on a low dose (like 25mg) and increase it very gradually, as SSRIs can make anxiety worse before they make it better.
-elizabeth
Posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 2001, at 15:21:01
In reply to MR. SCOTT (and others) about Luvox:, posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 1:33:17
> I tried Z (plateaued) and am "afraid" of Prozac because I hear it can agitate and heighten anxiety, and having just taken Celexa which has been called a "weak Prozac" had worse anxiety and obsessive thoughts while on it, I'm just not sure where to turn if the Effexor doesn't work (I shouldn't fear the worst and have a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I can't help it. I'm feeling discouraged and impatient titrating up gradually, waiting, etc.) Plus, I'm feeling very sedated with not even a full dose of Effexor.
How much are you taking? Sometimes you just have to be really patient with ADs, starting at a micro-dose (like 18.75 or 25 mg of Effexor twice a day) and working your way up very slowly.
Nardil and Parnate are very good for racing thoughts and agitation, I think. So are benzodiazepines (in sub-hypnotic doses). Some people are also helped by small amounts of an atypical antipsychotic (for example, 2.5-5 mg of Zyprexa, or 25-75 mg of Seroquel).
-elizabeth
Posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 2001, at 15:24:22
In reply to Thanks, MR. SCOTT; and about marketing:, posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 23:13:45
> My pdoc told me that the company that makes Effexor was involved in politics and marketing junk to get Effexor as the only SSRI "approved" (bythe FDA I presume) for generalized anxiety.
Effexor isn't an SSRI, but yeah, it was the first antidepressant approved for GAD. I think Paxil is now labelled for GAD, too.
> Too bad this kind of stuff is going on, and so far (well, I'm only at 75 mg), I feel minimal improvement with my anxiety and very drowsy, lethargic, de-energized and want to sleep all the time.
75 mg isn't a bad dose -- for some people, it's all they need. But anyway, I'd try going down to a lower dose (for example, Effexor XR comes in 37.5 mg capsules, and I found it more tolerable than the immediate-release tablets).
> I know someone who DEFINITELY has OCD and has responded well to Luvox, which I found interesting since Luvox is an SSRI!
Why is that interesting? SSRIs (and the tricyclic clomipramine) are considered the best medications for OCD.
-elizabeth
This is the end of the thread.
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