Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 135592

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Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?

Posted by Mr.Scott on January 12, 2003, at 20:59:27

Maybe my wording is a bit strong, but is it pretty much something one accepts with the SSRI's that you will become a little fatter and less interested in things or spontaneous about life in exchange for a some demonic relief?

 

Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?

Posted by viridis on January 13, 2003, at 3:33:28

In reply to Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by Mr.Scott on January 12, 2003, at 20:59:27

I think that's a fair assessment (in terms of my response). I was on and off Prozac for years, and the typical pattern was intense anxiety, followed by a feeling of being wired, yet not really caring about anything. Other people described me as "spaced out" etc. I wasn't exactly depressed, but not happy either, just sort of numb. And I did gain some weight.

Zoloft made me feel bizarre, with unpredictable, rapid mood swings. It was very unpleasant, even at a tiny dose.

I won't touch SSRIs any more, and my pdoc agrees that these aren't appropriate meds for me.

Having said that, I know people who have done very well with various SSRIs, so I guess it all depends on brain chemistry. I don't think these are inherently bad drugs, just not right for everyone, and definitely overprescribed.

 

Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?

Posted by ivy on January 13, 2003, at 12:41:15

In reply to Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by Mr.Scott on January 12, 2003, at 20:59:27

in my own case i totally agree with what you said. i used to exercise every day and be very active and excited about life. but now i am on lexipro and i'm tired all the time and i don't really care to do anything but sit around with my dog and watch television. either you have to deal with too much emotion (off ssri's) or you can not have enough emotion (on ssri's) there is no good medium as far as i know, but i wish it was invented.

 

Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris? » ivy

Posted by Ritch on January 13, 2003, at 13:20:10

In reply to Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by ivy on January 13, 2003, at 12:41:15

> in my own case i totally agree with what you said. i used to exercise every day and be very active and excited about life. but now i am on lexipro and i'm tired all the time and i don't really care to do anything but sit around with my dog and watch television. either you have to deal with too much emotion (off ssri's) or you can not have enough emotion (on ssri's) there is no good medium as far as i know, but i wish it was invented.

Hi, interesting post. Do you think that SSRI's actually *facilitate* being alone? I DO feel *more* social on them, but it seems like a superficial sociability. It also seems like they *allow* people to be alone without the existential ickiness of *feeling* alone. Just some more thoughts..

 

Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?

Posted by worrier on January 13, 2003, at 19:42:01

In reply to Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by viridis on January 13, 2003, at 3:33:28

> I think that's a fair assessment (in terms of my response). I was on and off Prozac for years, and the typical pattern was intense anxiety, followed by a feeling of being wired, yet not really caring about anything. Other people described me as "spaced out" etc. I wasn't exactly depressed, but not happy either, just sort of numb. And I did gain some weight.
>
> Zoloft made me feel bizarre, with unpredictable, rapid mood swings. It was very unpleasant, even at a tiny dose.
>
> I won't touch SSRIs any more, and my pdoc agrees that these aren't appropriate meds for me.
>
> Having said that, I know people who have done very well with various SSRIs, so I guess it all depends on brain chemistry. I don't think these are inherently bad drugs, just not right for everyone, and definitely overprescribed.

>Hey viridis, question for you. From previous posts, I think we have had very similar experiences with SSRIs, in my case paxil was the worst...pushed me from "just" having panic attacks to daily constant anxiety along with the worst panic attacks I've ever had. I've been off it for 8 months and am still not back to "normal" but can function pretty well on xanax 4 times a day. My pdoc also thinks these are not the drugs for me and thinks many people with panic/anxiety as their primary problem often have problems with the SSRis....too much serotonin. Curious as to what your pdoc's theory is. Thanks, Worrier.

 

Numb and stupid on ssris? Mr. Scott

Posted by bozeman on January 13, 2003, at 21:15:33

In reply to Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by viridis on January 13, 2003, at 3:33:28

Agree with viridis' idea that ssri's are not for everyone. Makes me wish there was a way to actually know in advance how a drug would work, that the darn things were more selectively "targeted" so you could predict response reliably. So much suffering could be relieved that way.

Have known friends who got jumpy, paranoid, apathetic, or just plain weird on ssri's -- but then some like me, who just dumped the obsessiveness and the rest of me pretty much stayed the same. People look at me strangely and can't figure out what's different, tell me I'm more in the "zone" than they've ever seen me but can't put their finger on it. My mind is clear, calm, resilient, I sleep, and sex drive has finally returned full force. Sadly not everyone has such a positive experience, and I resisted being put on ssri's previously because of side effect profiles. Makes me wish even harder that neuropharmacology was more of an exact science.

Keep trying to find a regimen that works for you -- the last stuff they had me try put me in two months of hell where I wished I was dead (and everyone who came within 50 feet of me, too.) Changing meds changed my world. If giving it several weeks to level out doesn't help, talk to your doctor about changing again, and best of luck to you.

> I think that's a fair assessment (in terms of my response). I was on and off Prozac for years, and the typical pattern was intense anxiety, followed by a feeling of being wired, yet not really caring about anything. Other people described me as "spaced out" etc. I wasn't exactly depressed, but not happy either, just sort of numb. And I did gain some weight.
>
> Zoloft made me feel bizarre, with unpredictable, rapid mood swings. It was very unpleasant, even at a tiny dose.
>
> I won't touch SSRIs any more, and my pdoc agrees that these aren't appropriate meds for me.
>
> Having said that, I know people who have done very well with various SSRIs, so I guess it all depends on brain chemistry. I don't think these are inherently bad drugs, just not right for everyone, and definitely overprescribed.

 

Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris? » worrier

Posted by viridis on January 14, 2003, at 4:44:29

In reply to Re: Generally numb and stupidlike on ssris?, posted by worrier on January 13, 2003, at 19:42:01

Hi Worrier,

Well, my psychiatrist didn't really offer a biochemical explanation for why some people can't tolerate SSRIs (although in general he's quite eager to discuss the mechanisms of action of meds, and is very knowledgeable).

When I first went to see him, I was severely anxious and in the midst of a bout of panic attacks. We discussed various approaches, and he was very definite that the first thing to do was to get the anxiety under control with benzos. I told him that I was also prone to depression, and had used Prozac intermittently, sometimes for months. He just sort of shook his head and said that Prozac is the last drug he'd consider for a patient like me, because in his experience it's the most anxiogenic of the ADs. Then I told him I'd recently been taking Wellbutrin, and he corrected himself and said that actually, that would be his last choice.

He suggested that we slowly try ADs once I was stabilized. After a few weeks of Klonopin and occasional Xanax, I was feeling vastly calmer, but still mildly depressed, so I asked about ADs. He suggested one more try with SSRIs, and recommended Zoloft (which he told me he had taken himself for depression, with good results). However, given my bad experiences with Prozac, he started me at a very small dose (12.5 mg/day). After about a week, I was feeling so strange and anxious, with my moods shifting wildly, that I called him and said I didn't think I could tolerate it. He didn't offer any spiel about startup effects etc. -- just said to stop taking it immediately (I already had).

When I saw him, I asked about the significance of my reaction, and he just said that I was obviously one of those people who can't tolerate SSRIs (not the first one he'd seen). He didn't seem to read a lot into it, and just said we'd have to explore alternatives.

Anyway, to make a long story short, we tried a few things; what worked best was Adderall in combination with the Klonopin (I'd previously been diagnosed with ADD; he picked up on the attentional issues too and agreed that I have adult ADD). It's helped me focus, enhances the calming effects of the Klonopin, and is a powerful antidepressant even though I'm not taking it primarily for that purpose. I also take Neurontin; my pdoc feels that it adds "background stability", and it certainly has no side effects.

I'd rate Klonopin as my primary AD, because it alleviates the anxiety that causes severe depression for me. Adderall seems to take care of sporadic, lower-level depression, and maybe the Neurontin is doing something too.

So, for me, SSRIs weren't the answer, although I can't say I tried all of them (and never would now). But I do have several friends who have had excellent results with SSRIs that include Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil, so obviously they work well for some people. Presumably, the responders are ones who need more serotonin in certain synapses, and I guess I have enough already. Something else is going on in my case, and serotonin certainly isn't the only neurotransmitter that affects mood.


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