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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Keko on November 8, 2004, at 12:02:32
Now I'm getting SCARED! Am I latently manic and never knew it???
It's been a little over a week since I've been completely off Lexapro and all SSRIs (been on them since 1992 I believe). Did the w/d thing very slowly with Lexapro, finally pulling away after taking 1/8 of a pill (1.25mg) for a week, so this stuff should be totally out of my system, and the dependency should be gone. You might have read my other messages about irritability. But--I am scaring myself! Yesterday I ended up taking l l/2 Ativan (.75mg), and eventually I mellowed out, but I can't depend upon Benzos to keep pulling me out of this, can I?
Today when I got up, I seemed to be doing okay, but then there were life's irritations. One after the other, and with the third one, I suddenly snapped!!! The final blow came when I missed a phone call, screamed for hubby to hold on, but he didn't hear me as he was hanging up, so I slammed the phone several times, threw the camera I was holding, the batteries flew out, I couldn't find them, didn't care if I broke the camera (it wasn't an extremely expensive one, but still) . . . my whole system was screaming at that point. I then left a screaming message on his answering machine!
I am a kind person, a nice person, but geesh, without the SSRIs (or perhaps from the withdrawal), I can turn back into a PMS screaming lunatic whenever frustration provokdes me. Hubby understands and is trying to tolerate it because he really loves me, but heck, he's on Celexa to mellow HIM out!
I'm scared, who is this person that can't control her temper? Does this mean I'm latently MANIC? Have I been manic all my life but didn't know it? When you have a temper like this, to the point of throwing things and screaming when you're frustrated (usually takes about 3 things in a row frustrating me within l/2 an hour, then the final blow sets me off!) I'm like dynamite.
Don't know if this is SSRI w/d, or the real me. I don't know what to take for it except the benzos (valium makes me tired, and ativan is short-acting). I'm on Neurontin 2x/day (300 mg in a.m., again in p.m.) Again, I'm scared, and I dont want to hurt the people around me with my horrible, horrible snapouts. My pdoc has wanted me on much higher (therapeutic) levels of Neurontin, but I'm scared to take more than 600mg total per day . . . he wanted me to take it for anxiety. I just don't know what to do, and when many of you talk about natural supplements, I get ADDish, I need to know EXACTLY what to take, brand, amount, etc., otherwise I just go back to square one.
Posted by linkadge on November 8, 2004, at 16:51:30
In reply to Scared again. Advice/Support for impulse control., posted by Keko on November 8, 2004, at 12:02:32
You're not latently manic.
It is *extremely* common for SSRI withdrawl to induce manic type behavior and even mood cylcing.
This does not mean that you are bipolar it just shows how powerful the drugs are. It can take time for your brain to fully adjust.Think of it this way.
When you take an SSRI for an extend period of time, you powerfuly surpress endogenious dopamine.
After you stop taking the SSRI, the dopamine levels surge through the roof! All that SSRI apathy is reversed, and millions of thoughts come into your head. The emotional blunting effects of the SSRI are replaced by millions of emotions, anger, rage, jealousy, panic, anxiety, insight, beligerance, imaptience, heightened sexual drive etc.
The first few days of quitting an SSRI, most people feel VERY GOOD, (ie. I did not need to be taking an antidperessant!!!) This is because of that dopamine surge.
It will take a while for your dopamine serotonin axis to reballence itself.Some supplements I can reccomend are the following, you can take them indefinately, and they should ease withdrawl + show that your are not manic/crazy.
Breakfast
1) Folic Acid (1mg), B6(25mg), b12(100mcg)
2) 5-htp 25mg
3) Omega 3 (1 capsule of standardized fish oil)Lunch
1) Omega 3
2) 5-htp 25mgSupper
1) Omega 3
2) 5-htp 25mgBed
Magnesium (250-500mg)
Niacin (100mg)
This is just a suggestion of course but,the vitamins: niacin,magnesium,folic acid,
b6, b12 are all crutial in the
production of serotoninthe amino acid: 5-htp is the precursor
to serotoninomega 3: Is crutial in making sure the
serotonin/dopamine receptors
work properly.
Linkadge
magnesium + 5-htp
Posted by Keko on November 8, 2004, at 17:12:52
In reply to Scared again. Advice/Support for impulse control., posted by Keko on November 8, 2004, at 12:02:32
Thank you again so much, Linkadge! I am printing out your message and will look over the supplements. I truly am a basket case, flying off the handle like crazy. One minute I think I'm under control, and it's usually that 3rd item that sets me off with *I can't take it anymore* behavior. I am getting hostile, but don't want to be mean to anyone!
So you mean to tell me that when we take SSRIs, our dopamine is suppressed? Isn't dopamine the pleasure neurotransmitter? So maybe that's why we feel apathetic while on SSRIs, huh? I really have to read more about this, please, if anyone has any good reading recommendations re. SSRIS and neurotransmitters, PLMK. I'm not looking for the adversarial books (anti-Prozac, etc.) that are written just to make a few bucks by scaring the public, etc., but I want good, sound scientifically written books, preferably by neuroscientists.
PLEASE, I have to get educated on neurons like the rest of you! I used to think that I was more advance than most, but since coming to this forum, I realize I'm a neophyte in the field of neuroscience. This is not a generic forum, and that's why I love it, we seem to have a bunch of researchers here who do their own homework. I'm grateful for this place. Ahhh, sanity, may I once again feel it one day. In the meantime, snap, snap, snap,(lol)
Keko
Posted by MKB on November 8, 2004, at 20:56:17
In reply to Scared again. Advice/Support for impulse control., posted by Keko on November 8, 2004, at 12:02:32
Currently, I am convinced that L-Tryptophan is the answer to everything. I've gone from WRECK to MELLOW in about 10 days.
www.healthrecovery.com
Posted by linkadge on November 11, 2004, at 10:36:30
In reply to Re: Scared again. Advice/Support for impulse control. » Keko, posted by MKB on November 8, 2004, at 20:56:17
You are right. SSRI's generally lead to a supression of dopamine. This may or may not be responsable for the therapudic effect.
Anyhow, upon withdrawl, that dopamine surges without the same level of serotonin (inhibitory neurotransmitter) to keep it under controll.
In other words, things can get out of controll.
YOu are right. SSRI induced apathy is thought to be a result of the indirect surpression of dopamine by SSRI's.
I think that SSRI apathy is a sign that the dose is generally a little too high.
Linkadge
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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