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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
Hello,
Is there anyone else out there who have had success with ssris and tryciclics in the past but when they've gone off them and then gone back on them again they haven't worked second time around? If so did you eventually find something else that did work? I'm at my wits end and reluctant to take zyprexa which is the only thing which seems to help.
I'd really like to know because I'm at my wits end with this.
I'd really appreciate a response.
Denise
Posted by Essence on August 29, 2002, at 7:27:26
In reply to Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
Hi
Ten years ago I stopped taking Prozac abruptly after being on it for 3 yrs with no problems. I was anti-med back then and was determined to not live life on any medication. I did very well for about 9 mos drug free then the depression and anxiety/panic disorder kicked in full force again. My psydoc reinstated the Prozac but it did not have any effect. I was then put on Paxil which did the trick. I had to also add a benzo (Xanax .50 x 4/day) during this time to help with the anxiety and panic as the Paxil didn't alleviate the anxiety. I stayed on the Paxil for about 5 yrs, then switched to Effexor because I couldn't tolerate the side affect of the Paxil any longer. The Effexor worked well, only thing is, after being on it for a while, I was severely emotionally blunted. I felt nothing for a number of years, my reaction to stressful life altering situations was void. Went off the Effexor and Xanax two years ago, worse HELL on earth withdrawing from both these drugs, and was put on Amitryptoline (sp) and Risperdal. I had no success with this combination after two years, and came off it last fall, started Remeron in Jan of this year with very good results with the exception of the anxiety, Clonazepam was started in March to help with that. It (Clonazepam) has worked somewhat to some degree, not as good as Xanax, but it's my psydoc's choice of benzo so I live with the residual anxiety. Anyhow, the Rem and Clonazepam has gotten me to a place where I can now work again, which I hadn't in almost 3 yrs.
Ess
Posted by Bill L on August 29, 2002, at 10:47:28
In reply to Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
Denise - When you went back on an SSRI and it did not work, maybe you needed a larger dose. A lot of times people give up on a drug instead of raising the dose.
Posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 12:55:57
In reply to Re: Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by Bill L on August 29, 2002, at 10:47:28
Thanks to both of you for getting back to me.
Bill,
I would try upping the zooloft, I'm currently on 100mg but it is making me so agitated, suicidal, smoking incessantly, no motivation etc that I'm not sure I want to. I've spent the whole day on this site instead of working, obsessing over drugs and I end up more confused than ever. My gut feeling is that the zooloft just doestn't work anymore.
Essence,
I'm interested in perhaps trying Klonopin, although I don't have much a problem with sleeping. Do you find it causes flattening?
Denise
Posted by Bill L on August 29, 2002, at 15:48:08
In reply to To both of you., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 12:55:57
Have you ever tried adding lithium to an SSRI? A lot of people have success with lithium. It augments the anti-depressant effects of SSRI's so that you can use a lower dose of the SSRI.
Posted by joy on August 29, 2002, at 16:23:02
In reply to Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
I know what you mean. The 2nd time I tried Paxil, it did not work well like the first time. It's just the way it is, unfortunately. One thing, Xanax has always worked for me. I only take it as needed, but never had bad side effects and at least it lets me sleep. Sometimes a higher dose works; sometimes not. I hope you feel better.
Joy
Posted by Essence on August 29, 2002, at 16:33:54
In reply to To both of you., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 12:55:57
Hi Denise,
No I haven't had any blunting on Clonazepam. In fact I am loving that I can feel things again, whether it's happy things or sad things, at least now my reactions to situations are normal.
Ess
Posted by jsarirose on August 31, 2002, at 3:11:38
In reply to Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
> Hello,
>
> Is there anyone else out there who have had success with ssris and tryciclics in the past but when they've gone off them and then gone back on them again they haven't worked second time around? If so did you eventually find something else that did work? I'm at my wits end and reluctant to take zyprexa which is the only thing which seems to help.
>
> I'd really like to know because I'm at my wits end with this.
>
> I'd really appreciate a response.
>
> Denise
>
This is a known problem. With SSRI's they have a decreased chance of being effective after stopping and restarting them. Each time you stop and restart the drug your chances of having a positive reaction are greatly reduced. I believe for Prozac it's something like only 40% of those that take it for a second round are helped by it (compared to 100% of those that were helped initially).My doctor discussed this with me when I wanted to try Prozac again after being off it for a couple years. We tried it, but no luck.
It's true you should try to push the dose as high as you can (if side effects are manageable) before giving up. And there are often good drugs you can augment it with to increase the effect. But don't expect to get the same initial reaction as you had the first time around.
-Jessica
Posted by Mats on September 3, 2002, at 6:17:32
In reply to Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on August 29, 2002, at 5:49:55
I been on and off SSRI three times.
First trial with 25mg Zoloft witch gave me a good antidepressive effect.
Second time 50 mg, still a good antidepressive effect.
I am now on my third time on zoloft at 100 mg. Altough its working to some degree, its nowere near the effect of my first trial with 25 mg and 50 mg.I am now searching for a compatible ssri. Maybe Prozac?
Posted by d miller on September 3, 2002, at 11:19:02
In reply to Re: Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by Mats on September 3, 2002, at 6:17:32
I to have noticed this. I was on Effexor for 4 years at 75mg and it worked well. I stopped for about 9 months and then had a rebound of anxiety and depression. Now I'm taking effexor again but I'm now at 225mg it worked great for about 18 days and now I'm feeling depressed and anxious again.
dmiller
Posted by denise528 on September 4, 2002, at 8:47:31
In reply to Re: Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by d miller on September 3, 2002, at 11:19:02
It's awful istn't it? It feels like somebody has played a cruel joke on me, if I had of known I would never have come off them in the first place. I only came off them so that I wouldn't develop a tolerance to them but I shouldn't have bothered. They should put a warning on the prescription information about this. It happens too often and nobody really knows why.
Denise
Posted by joy on September 4, 2002, at 16:31:48
In reply to Re: Has anyone else found they don't work 2nd time., posted by denise528 on September 4, 2002, at 8:47:31
The same thing happened to me on Paxil. Paxil worked very well for the 4 months I was on it. After I weaned off it, my symptoms came back but it never worked as well for me again. I always tell people to be careful before they come off an SSRI that works well, since it won't work as well if they stop taking it and need to take it again.
Sad, but true.
Joy
This is the end of the thread.
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