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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
Hi everyone,
I recently visited with my pdoc regarding treatments for my chronic unipolar depression and he mentioned two particular options...
a) Strattera + paxil (20mg strattera because I take paxil which increases concentration 3.5x...paxil in itself not very helpful)
b) high dose effexor (tried lower doses with no success)
Any suggestions and/or personal experiences appreciated.
Posted by ann72 on January 9, 2004, at 14:49:17
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
Jeff,
What exactly is unipolar depression? Ive taken paxil (had to quit, too many side effects) and now my pdoc wants to raise my effexor to 325mg. Im on 150 now. But Im curious as to what your dx is.....Ann
Posted by Sooshi on January 9, 2004, at 21:12:42
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
I've taken 300mg Effexor with great success for controlling my depression (BPII-depressed), which was treatment resistant until I found Effexor Xr. I had also taken Paxil, without much success. Good luck with your decision.
Posted by jeff2004 on January 10, 2004, at 1:29:27
In reply to Re: Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by ann72 on January 9, 2004, at 14:49:17
> Jeff,
> What exactly is unipolar depression? Ive taken paxil (had to quit, too many side effects) and now my pdoc wants to raise my effexor to 325mg. Im on 150 now. But Im curious as to what your dx is.....
>
> Ann
Hey Ann,Officially I guess my dx is "double depression" (meaning periodic major depression overlapping persistent dysthymia)...basically a convenient way of diagnosing someone with refractory depression (I've been struggling w/ depression for 4+ years now)...I hope this answers your question.
Jeff
Posted by ann72 on January 10, 2004, at 10:49:38
In reply to Re: Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 10, 2004, at 1:29:27
Thanks for the info Jeff,
I think I have the same thing, except for I also have social phobia. I'm gonna start really "talking" to my pdoc about my dx. I want to have a normal life....Take care,
ANN
Posted by jeff2004 on January 10, 2004, at 17:35:42
In reply to Re: Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by ann72 on January 10, 2004, at 10:49:38
> Thanks for the info Jeff,
> I think I have the same thing, except for I also have social phobia. I'm gonna start really "talking" to my pdoc about my dx. I want to have a normal life....
>
> Take care,
> ANNHey Ann,
I neglected to mention that I also had a strong component of social anxiety and found that even a small dose of geodon (10-20mg...I guess apparently the concurrent use of paxil increases geodon levels) very helpful for the social anxiety...I guess I should be more appreciative of this but it's difficult when I'm still struggling with the depression. Hope this helps.
Jeff
Posted by rvanson on January 10, 2004, at 23:33:30
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
Find a new Pdoc.
> Hi everyone,
>
> I recently visited with my pdoc regarding treatments for my chronic unipolar depression and he mentioned two particular options...
>
> a) Strattera + paxil (20mg strattera because I take paxil which increases concentration 3.5x...paxil in itself not very helpful)
>
> b) high dose effexor (tried lower doses with no success)
>
> Any suggestions and/or personal experiences appreciated.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on January 11, 2004, at 1:33:44
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
Jeff,
What was your experience on Effexor? I'm currently on 150 mg. My dx is the same as yours, with psychotic symptoms, GAD, and OCD. FYI, Strattera and paxil are maybe not sucha a good idea together in my unsubstantiated opinion.
Posted by Elle2021 on January 11, 2004, at 2:09:05
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
> a) Strattera + paxil (20mg strattera because I take paxil which increases concentration 3.5x...paxil in itself not very helpful)
I vote for the Strattera and Paxil. I tried Effexor and it made me really sick. I had a bad reaction to it.
Elle
Posted by Siraris on January 11, 2004, at 3:52:26
In reply to Pdoc gives me 2 options- WHICH DO I CHOOSE?, posted by jeff2004 on January 9, 2004, at 14:30:37
I think you need to try one and if it doesn't work, try the other. Look at the options with your pdoc and pick one. You can ask every single person on this board their opinion, but it doesn't matter because you are the only person effected. Strattera and Paxil could cause 100 people in the world to laugh hysterically for 5 hours a day, but treat your depression without a hitch.
It all has to do with you and your makeup.
This is the end of the thread.
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