Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 110388

Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Remeron Alone

Posted by Nala on June 21, 2002, at 6:24:02

Concerned about previous threads re:"Remeron is meant to be used in conjunction with SSRI or other AD" I am taking Remeron 45mg qd for the past 5 weeks for Major Depression. At 3 weeks, still depressed so, my Dr. added 25mg Zoloft. However, I am experiencing intolerable GI side-effects from Zoloft again. So, I want to D/C it. Have tried most of the SSRI's and they all have the same side-effects although they do work for MD.Has anyone had sucess with "just" Remeron?

 

Re: Remeron Alone

Posted by Essence on June 21, 2002, at 9:47:01

In reply to Remeron Alone, posted by Nala on June 21, 2002, at 6:24:02

I started Remeron in January of this year, first two weeks I noticed a difference in my depression and then it seemed to poop out on me, my psydoc increased it to 30 mg at that time (I had been on 15), and then again at 8 weeks it seemed to lose it's affect, I decided I was going to stick it out and see what happened, I was reluctant to go any higher. Things did turn around again within a cpl of weeks and now it's been almost 7 mos and I'm quite pleased with the way Remeron has worked for me. All side affects I had were transient and didn't bother me to any great degree. I am fortunate tho, that the weight gain and increased appetite weren't side affects that I experienced. Infact, I am actually losing weight that I had put on while on another anti-depressant prior to Remeron. The only negative thing I can say about Remeron is that it did nothing for my anxiety, I take Clonazepam for that.

 

Re: Remeron Alone

Posted by Nala on June 22, 2002, at 7:33:49

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone, posted by Essence on June 21, 2002, at 9:47:01

> I started Remeron in January of this year, first two weeks I noticed a difference in my depression and then it seemed to poop out on me, my psydoc increased it to 30 mg at that time (I had been on 15), and then again at 8 weeks it seemed to lose it's affect, I decided I was going to stick it out and see what happened, I was reluctant to go any higher. Things did turn around again within a cpl of weeks and now it's been almost 7 mos and I'm quite pleased with the way Remeron has worked for me. All side affects I had were transient and didn't bother me to any great degree. I am fortunate tho, that the weight gain and increased appetite weren't side affects that I experienced. Infact, I am actually losing weight that I had put on while on another anti-depressant prior to Remeron. The only negative thing I can say about Remeron is that it did nothing for my anxiety, I take Clonazepam for that.

Essence,
Thanks for the info. Actually, I'm also on 1mg klonpin QD. I guess I'll stick with "just Remeron" for now.
Nala

 

Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?

Posted by Denise528 on June 22, 2002, at 8:38:13

In reply to Remeron Alone, posted by Nala on June 21, 2002, at 6:24:02

.

 

Re: Remeron Essence

Posted by Denise528 on June 22, 2002, at 8:40:02

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone, posted by Essence on June 21, 2002, at 9:47:01

Hi,

When you say after the first two weeks you noticed a difference in your depression. In what way did you notice a difference in your depression?

 

Re: Remeron - Denise528

Posted by Essence on June 22, 2002, at 10:35:04

In reply to Re: Remeron Essence, posted by Denise528 on June 22, 2002, at 8:40:02

I noticed within a few days my depression lifting and felt very calm during the first two weeks. It was almost 2 weeks to the day when I felt my depression back with a vengeance and became very agitated with alot of anxiety. Once my dosage was upped to 30 mg, the depression eased again until the 8th week, then hit with a vengeance again. That lasted a cpl of weeks and then things smoothed out and it's been easy sailing ever sense.

Essence

 

Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?

Posted by Nala on June 24, 2002, at 6:08:15

In reply to Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?, posted by Denise528 on June 22, 2002, at 8:38:13

> ."GI side effects" means to me: gastrointestinal symptoms; nausea, diarhhea, stomach cramping. All SSRI's have this effect for me and a lot of others I know due to the serotonin receptors that they target. Not a good feeling

 

Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?

Posted by geno on June 25, 2002, at 20:10:51

In reply to Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?, posted by Nala on June 24, 2002, at 6:08:15

ill give you my remeron experience. iv always been on 30mg at bedtime. Its a dream for sleep, next day anxiety. Let me tell you, i guess my body loved this drug, becuase last week i stopped it, and boy what a withdrawl. Axiety, pains headache, some nausea, muscle tightness, sorro thinkin. bUT i cannot take the wieght gain anymore. My doc has me on zoloft 50mg and seroqeul for sleep. also i had to up my benzo dose, 1mg 2x a day, on remeron .5mg 2x a day. maybe after a couple of days on seroquel 50mg, he said it will break though and lessen remeron withdrawls. I beleive my axiety is dopamine driven. remeron has very minor dopamine blockade due to 5ht2 blockade, serquel has more, but not as much as zyprexa. well see.
geno

 

Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?

Posted by Nala on June 26, 2002, at 6:17:05

In reply to Re: Nala, what does GI effects mean?, posted by geno on June 25, 2002, at 20:10:51

> ill give you my remeron experience. iv always been on 30mg at bedtime. Its a dream for sleep, next day anxiety. Let me tell you, i guess my body loved this drug, becuase last week i stopped it, and boy what a withdrawl. Axiety, pains headache, some nausea, muscle tightness, sorro thinkin. bUT i cannot take the wieght gain anymore. My doc has me on zoloft 50mg and seroqeul for sleep. also i had to up my benzo dose, 1mg 2x a day, on remeron .5mg 2x a day. maybe after a couple of days on seroquel 50mg, he said it will break though and lessen remeron withdrawls. I beleive my axiety is dopamine driven. remeron has very minor dopamine blockade due to 5ht2 blockade, serquel has more, but not as much as zyprexa. well see.
> geno

Geno,
Perhaps you had the hunger due to the Remeron dosage. I'm on 45mg and have not gained any weight. At 15mg and 30mg I noticed a remarkable increase in hunger; however, at 45mg, I do not have the desire to overeat. Thanks a lot for you input. I agree with the sleeping factor. I've never slept better in my life, even at 45mg at bedtime.
Nala

 

Re: Remeron Alone » Nala

Posted by allisonm on June 26, 2002, at 13:38:58

In reply to Remeron Alone, posted by Nala on June 21, 2002, at 6:24:02

I started with Rem alone, but it was not enough for me. Nothing so far has been enough, though, so don't go by my experiences. You might consider trying Wellbutrin with the Rem, or Effexor with the Rem. Effexor and Rem are an effective combo, I have read. I also took Rem with lithium, and that helped me, but the diarrhea from the lithium was intolerable.

Good luck.

 

Re: Remeron Alone » Nala

Posted by BarbaraCat on June 26, 2002, at 19:47:13

In reply to Remeron Alone, posted by Nala on June 21, 2002, at 6:24:02

Nala,
I'm currently on 75mg Remeron along with lithium and lorezapam. Remeron is notorious for pooping out, hence the need for augmentation. It worked for me on 30mg just swimmingly for a few months then crash. So pdoc added lithium and its helped very much (but that could also be due to a suspicous bipolar II that's become evident). I took it up from 45mg to 75 to counteract the drowsyness, since at higher doses the norephinephrine kicks in. I've gained 20 lbs on it, alas. It's been the best AD for me so far and I've been on them all.

 

Re: Remeron Alone » Nala

Posted by BarbaraCat on June 26, 2002, at 19:49:12

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone » Nala, posted by allisonm on June 26, 2002, at 13:38:58

Hi Allison,
Diarrea, eh? For me it's been just the opposite. I feel like I've swallowed a cement pie.

> I started with Rem alone, but it was not enough for me. Nothing so far has been enough, though, so don't go by my experiences. You might consider trying Wellbutrin with the Rem, or Effexor with the Rem. Effexor and Rem are an effective combo, I have read. I also took Rem with lithium, and that helped me, but the diarrhea from the lithium was intolerable.
>
> Good luck.

 

Re: Remeron Alone » Nala

Posted by Nala on June 27, 2002, at 5:35:14

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone » Nala, posted by BarbaraCat on June 26, 2002, at 19:47:13

> Nala,
> I'm currently on 75mg Remeron along with lithium and lorezapam. Remeron is notorious for pooping out, hence the need for augmentation. It worked for me on 30mg just swimmingly for a few months then crash. So pdoc added lithium and its helped very much (but that could also be due to a suspicous bipolar II that's become evident). I took it up from 45mg to 75 to counteract the drowsyness, since at higher doses the
norephinephrine kicks in. I've gained 20 lbs on it, alas. It's been the best AD for me so far and I've been on them all.

Barbaracat,
Thanks a bunch. Your input really helped me. So far so good with REmeron alone at 45mg. I've been on it for 6 weeks still working. I think I like it. I did d/c zoloft 5 days ago. I'm just sick of the side-effects (GI-related)
Nala

 

Re: Remeron Alone » Nala » Nala

Posted by BarbaraCat on June 27, 2002, at 12:03:23

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone » Nala, posted by Nala on June 27, 2002, at 5:35:14

Nala,
What kind of GI effects are you getting? Remeron can cause nausea for the first few weeks due to the particulars of the serotonin receptors it's working with. I haven't heard or experienced any GI problems with Zoloft. I struggle with chronic constipation since being on these meds, and believe it's causing most of my physical pains (fibromyalgia). So I'm now eating very simply, just veggies and fruit for a few weeks to get my system brand spanking new again, or close to it.

 

Re: Remeron Alone » BarbaraCat

Posted by allisonm on June 28, 2002, at 9:12:03

In reply to Re: Remeron Alone » Nala, posted by BarbaraCat on June 26, 2002, at 19:49:12

Ohmygosh!!

Diarrhea was so bad on lithium that I could set my watch by it... 11 am and 3 pm everyday. Onset was so fast I often thought I wouldn't get to the ladies room in time.

I even tried different preparations, to no avail. Too bad. My pdoc and I think the combo worked well (except for the huge weight gain), but side fx were intolerable.


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