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Posted by ralphrost on February 7, 2007, at 8:06:35
In reply to Re: SSRI to Tianeptine - side fx (easy now ;) » ralphrost, posted by Declan on February 6, 2007, at 20:37:48
I've heard some good reports of people combining tianeptine with selegiline or another dopaminergic (maybe Cabergoline), because of the tianeptine's gentle AD effect.
You could try it if you feel the need of upping your dosis (as previously posted).
I had a good experience with selegiline (monotherapy) in the past, although i used to feel irritable while on it.
Ralph
Posted by Declan on February 7, 2007, at 11:48:55
In reply to Re: SSRI to Tianeptine - side fx » Declan, posted by ralphrost on February 7, 2007, at 8:06:35
I'm trying to remember how many people have come here mentioning this.
Three that I know of.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on February 7, 2007, at 21:27:53
In reply to Re: SSRI to Tianeptine - side fx » Declan, posted by ralphrost on February 7, 2007, at 8:06:35
Are you giving up on the Tianeptine?
I have emailed my pdoc a number of articles and will discuss the possibility of Taineptine with him in a few days.
I talked him into prescribing Adderall to prolong my Lexapro experience
the Adderall has made a world of change as far as my focus
however the Lexapro is fading in effectiveness
the Adderall as also had a somewhat socializing effect but not quite enough
what do you think of combining Adderall and Tianeptine
Also, how long did it take for the Tiane[tine to "kick in"
thanks
Posted by Declan on February 8, 2007, at 3:35:20
In reply to Declan:Tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 7, 2007, at 21:27:53
I think Adderal and tianeptine might be OK.
YMMV.
I'm not giving up on tianeptine....just having a bad day. It's pretty good for me, all things considered.
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 8, 2007, at 9:42:09
In reply to Declan:Tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 7, 2007, at 21:27:53
I've been on Adderall and Tianeptine. I do think the two are a natural combination--the stimulant adding motivation and energy to Tianeptine's (for me) gentle anxiolytic and antidepressant effect.
That said, I preferred pure dexamphetamine (dexedrine, dextrostat) to Adderall, because Adderall seems to cause more anxiety and heart-rate/blood-pressure increases. Whichever is your favorite stim I'd recommend trying (methylphenidate, too). Such combinations gave me some of the better periods in my recent life.
P-bot
Posted by liliths on February 8, 2007, at 13:10:14
In reply to Re: SSRI to Tianeptine - side fx (easy now ;) » ralphrost, posted by Declan on February 6, 2007, at 20:37:48
hi Declan,
this post in particular touched a real nerve in me.. some of what you wrote really resonated :)
Now of course, I look back and see a life spent more wasted than lived and it just makes me very sad
I thought I'd just join this thread rather than post a new one about starting tianeptine. Yes, it finally came!!
I've been taking it for about 5 days now... 2x daily.
In the morning, I also take focalin XR (40mg) and klonopin (1mg). I've noticed an almost immediate difference, though I still need to overcome a lot of the ingrained habits being depressed for so long left me with. But my ability to focus is intensified and it's easier to actually accomplish something. I'm not sitting around frozen though I have a long way to go towards achieving anything close to the levels of functionality I've experienced in the past. Depression used to come and go when I was younger, meds or not, and unfortunately, I'm dealing with some health issues which are keeping me down and housebound. Hopefully, that will improve.
But when I look back, even just a couple of years ago, I was like a different person in my ability to 'get out and do things'. But it's only that ability to "do" that's REALLY changed. I am what I am, as popeye used to say LOL
In the afternoon, with the tianeptine, I'm still taking 100mg wellbutrin, along with a number of supplements supposedly for stress and improved brain function (who knows if they do anything). I've been considering trying Piracetam and I want to discontinue the wellbutrin but figure I should wait till I'm on the tianeptine for a couple of weeks before stopping.
I do notice as the focalin starts to diminish, I'm still falling into my sluggish evening behavior. Someone on this board has posted that focalin lasts for 12 hours for her - that's definitely not my experience but overall, I'm quite happy with it. In terms of duration, I'd say the focalin works similarly to concerta for me. But as I tend to naturally have trouble with sleep, I don't want to augment with more stims and that was actually the reason I decided not to take the tianeptine 3x daily. I have considered splitting my focalin dose to 20mg in the morning and the other 20mg in the afternoon but one thing I learned when it came to meds was to change only 1 thing at a time! Right now it's tianeptine's turn :)
I'd really prefer to not take anything, though I'm pretty sure I wouldn't last long that way.
I haven't had any noticeable side effects. 'Maybe' I'm slightly more gaseous in the evenings but that could be dietary and it's minimal anyway
so... so far, so good. I only hope it lasts long enough to deal with getting back into living again. I'm still not really able to socialize (part of that is the whole evening 'comedown') but even during the day, it's still hard to go out of the house. And getting/staying in touch with people is still a huge hurdle.
But I do feel a bit returned to myself. I think I'm more interested again and less consumed by self-hate, at least part of the time.
please keep your fingers crossed for me. I've been through and continue to be experiencing some of the worst luck in the world... what's that saying: if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Well, that's been me.
and I could really use a break or I'm giving up
hope you're having a better day. I read further down this thread that you'd had a bad one. Be well and thank you for all your help
namaste,
lilith
> It's interesting that you should mention sense of humour.
> For me tianeptine has been good for that, perhaps because I feel more comfortable/pleasant being me and so don't have to be so careful??
>
> I have no desire to feel less. I'd much rather feel worse than less, because I can (just) handle being me.
> For much of my life I have felt amused and agonised in some kind of mix.
> I've never taken SSRIs and won't bother now. The only ADs I'm interested in are deprenyl and tianeptine, and if it came to the crunch, Nardil and Parnate.
>
> But old self? Afraid I haven't got one. My mood has waxed and waned over the years, and I spent MUCH too long staring at clocks in a challenging manner waiting for time to pass, and I could have read a little less terrible history and looked after myself way better, but apart from that I have felt more or less the same most of my life.
>
Posted by liliths on February 8, 2007, at 14:32:10
In reply to just started tianeptine » Declan, posted by liliths on February 8, 2007, at 13:10:14
I swear, there ought to be a law against admitting you 'might' be feeling better.No sooner do I post that I end up in front of the computer mindlessly playing cards while hating myself
sigh
lilith
Posted by Iansf on February 8, 2007, at 23:12:03
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by liliths on February 8, 2007, at 14:32:10
> I swear, there ought to be a law against admitting you 'might' be feeling better.No sooner do I post that I end up in front of the computer mindlessly playing cards while hating myself
>
> sigh
>
> lilithTry not to look on admitting you might be feeling better as leading to your feeling worse. Moving to a happier state after a long period of depression is difficult, and there will almost certainly be fluctuations. This period of self-hate is one of the them. While self-hate is a state you no doubt know too well, don't deny yourself the knowledge of having felt better. Feeling happy may be less familiar, but it's no less real than feeling unhappy.
Posted by liliths on February 9, 2007, at 6:17:24
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » liliths, posted by Iansf on February 8, 2007, at 23:12:03
Thank you very much for your kind words.
The habit of being depressed can be hard to break. I sometimes fear I sabotage my own attempts to climb out of the pit.
but you are right... both states are transitory and not being attached to either can be a helpful way of coping
namaste,
lilith> Try not to look on admitting you might be feeling better as leading to your feeling worse. Moving to a happier state after a long period of depression is difficult, and there will almost certainly be fluctuations. This period of self-hate is one of the them. While self-hate is a state you no doubt know too well, don't deny yourself the knowledge of having felt better. Feeling happy may be less familiar, but it's no less real than feeling unhappy.
Posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 1:28:30
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » Iansf, posted by liliths on February 9, 2007, at 6:17:24
>Feeling happy may be less familiar, but it's no less real than feeling unhappy.<
I wish I could remember the good things I've read about this, and I wish I could believe it too....I mean really believe it, deep down and without effort.
Force of habits of thought?
Posted by liliths on February 10, 2007, at 7:20:56
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 1:28:30
hi Declan,
I know what you mean. Ever since my initial post I've been consumed by despair. My biggest fear is that I have become so 'comfortable' with pain, I can't let the light in anymore.
But for a few obligations (mainly my aging cat), I'm about ready to just give up. I wish I truly believed I could be restored but the notion of accumulating any time feeling good seems a distant memory
I do think the 'habits' of depression are like some sort of insidious demon
I hope you are having a better day.
namaste,
lilith> >Feeling happy may be less familiar, but it's no less real than feeling unhappy.<
>
> I wish I could remember the good things I've read about this, and I wish I could believe it too....I mean really believe it, deep down and without effort.
>
> Force of habits of thought?
>
>
Posted by elanor roosevelt on February 10, 2007, at 13:39:35
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » Declan, posted by liliths on February 10, 2007, at 7:20:56
met with my pdoc yesterday and we are not on the same page w/ the tianeptine
i just got slammed by the lexapro and i need to pull out of this state of mind
pdoc was lost as to the next step so i walked away with a paxil (not cr) script --
i have tianeptine and would like to start
from what i have read here, it takes a while to kick in and i am deciding if i should try to pull out of this bad spot with the paxil first
actually, just writing this has helped me decide
f*ck the paxil
i am going to start on 2 half-tabs of the stablon today
i am also taking 5mg adderall 2x daily,
10mg ambien and xanax as needed -- approx 2mg daily
Posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 21:30:30
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » Declan, posted by liliths on February 10, 2007, at 7:20:56
I am having a better day. Thanx for thinking of me.
Do you know what it is you are despairing about?
Posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 21:32:39
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 10, 2007, at 13:39:35
Elanor, tianeptine worked for me straight away pretty much.
Like Valium or something like that.
Posted by liliths on February 11, 2007, at 6:20:23
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 10, 2007, at 13:39:35
hi elanor
I felt the taineptine immediately as well - though I started at 1 tab 2x daily. It hasn't 'changed' my world but it has made a difference and every little bit helps. I think, for me, changing some of my depressed, self-defeating habits have become 1/2 the battle
have you always taken your adderall in a split dose? how does that work for you? I've been thinking of splitting my focalin as I feel the effects of the tianeptine much more in the a.m. along with my add meds than I do in the afternoon.
personally I wouldn't waste my time with paxil, unless you've done well on ssri's in the past. They make me numb, anorgasmic and just 'blunt' everything... not my idea of living
Good Luck with the tianeptine... please keep us updated :))
namaste,
lilith> met with my pdoc yesterday and we are not on the same page w/ the tianeptine
> i just got slammed by the lexapro and i need to pull out of this state of mind
> pdoc was lost as to the next step so i walked away with a paxil (not cr) script --
> i have tianeptine and would like to start
> from what i have read here, it takes a while to kick in and i am deciding if i should try to pull out of this bad spot with the paxil first
> actually, just writing this has helped me decide
> f*ck the paxil
> i am going to start on 2 half-tabs of the stablon today
> i am also taking 5mg adderall 2x daily,
> 10mg ambien and xanax as needed -- approx 2mg daily
>
Posted by liliths on February 11, 2007, at 6:34:06
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » liliths, posted by Declan on February 10, 2007, at 21:30:30
hi Declan
I'm so glad to hear you're enjoyed a better day - I hope you gather strings of them :)
If I had to try to condense my despair, I would have to say it's because I simply don't know how to live and can't bear it anymore. Sometimes it feels as if I'm taking small steps out of this pit only to feel myself slide right back down into the muck... I'm so tired of fighting. Starting to think it's time to just give up.
But there are 'issues' as well. I've posted about my recent attempt to get a life (selling my house and going back to school full-time for a year... and it took everything I had left to pull THAT off!), only to be put down because of my treatement for depression. The state denied me the license I worked really hard for, unless I was willing to be treated like a drug addict. What 'might' have actually been a new beginning for me was over before it ever began. I don't even care anymore. I fought them hard the first time and even though I'm still appealing the ruling, I don't have anything left to do battle again. It just doesn't matter and feels like I need to just let go of that and move on.. but to what? I'm unable to leave the house most days... running out of money and fast. Need serious dental work I can't afford....and on and on and on and on... ad nauseum
Thank you for asking but I think I'm a lost cause
I hope you have a glorious day!!
namaste,
lilith> I am having a better day. Thanx for thinking of me.
>
> Do you know what it is you are despairing about?
>
>
Posted by ralphrost on February 11, 2007, at 21:26:41
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » Declan, posted by liliths on February 11, 2007, at 6:34:06
Well,
it seems like there is some relationship between my skin health and mood. After some successful response to Tianeptine (and it's only one week), I'm starting to have Acne again, the ones that got efficiently busted by Accutane... might then Accutane have messed up with my mood? Very probably...
I read an article of an Accutane research showing that it changes monoaminergic transmission.
My previous experience is that dopaminergics (including Ropinirole and oil fish) do increase skin oleosity, leading to acne.
I also heard that Parnate also does that.
Any experience?
Posted by elanor roosevelt on February 11, 2007, at 22:01:39
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine » elanor roosevelt, posted by liliths on February 11, 2007, at 6:20:23
lilith,
I am new to adderall but figured i would have to split the dose to avoid a meltdown.
i skipped the paxil and now i am on my second day with the tianeptine.
i am sorry to hear you are having such a hard time
any way you can get yourself out of the house in the morning?
i know it can be rough but early in the morning, before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it.
also, if you can get just a bit of sunshine.
hang in therehi elanor
>
> I felt the taineptine immediately as well - though I started at 1 tab 2x daily. It hasn't 'changed' my world but it has made a difference and every little bit helps. I think, for me, changing some of my depressed, self-defeating habits have become 1/2 the battle
>
> have you always taken your adderall in a split dose? how does that work for you? I've been thinking of splitting my focalin as I feel the effects of the tianeptine much more in the a.m. along with my add meds than I do in the afternoon.
>
> personally I wouldn't waste my time with paxil, unless you've done well on ssri's in the past. They make me numb, anorgasmic and just 'blunt' everything... not my idea of living
>
> Good Luck with the tianeptine... please keep us updated :))
>
> namaste,
> lilith
>
> > met with my pdoc yesterday and we are not on the same page w/ the tianeptine
> > i just got slammed by the lexapro and i need to pull out of this state of mind
> > pdoc was lost as to the next step so i walked away with a paxil (not cr) script --
> > i have tianeptine and would like to start
> > from what i have read here, it takes a while to kick in and i am deciding if i should try to pull out of this bad spot with the paxil first
> > actually, just writing this has helped me decide
> > f*ck the paxil
> > i am going to start on 2 half-tabs of the stablon today
> > i am also taking 5mg adderall 2x daily,
> > 10mg ambien and xanax as needed -- approx 2mg daily
> >
>
>
Posted by Declan on February 12, 2007, at 0:48:09
In reply to Oh no, Accutane x Mood, posted by ralphrost on February 11, 2007, at 21:26:41
Dunno Ralph
But someone here said tianeptine dried out his skin.
I really only say that to discourage you from restarting Accutane.
There must be dietary type thingos you can do to help with acne????
Posted by ralphrost on February 12, 2007, at 8:11:45
In reply to Re: Oh no, Accutane x Mood » ralphrost, posted by Declan on February 12, 2007, at 0:48:09
Hello Declan,
actually I stopped it in September, after a 7 months full treatment. My skin was great and clean till I started Tia. But I'm doing pretty well on Tia, and don't want to give up.
I'm thinking about starting a lotion version of Accutane (isotretinoin). It has a very mild effect, but maybe it's enough to prevent an avalanche effect of acne. It's not scary, also...
Unfortunately I got acne since I was a kid, it was pretty persistent for me, and nothing (diet, lotions...) ever helped me except Accutane.
Are you better man?
Best wishes,
Ralph
> Dunno Ralph
> But someone here said tianeptine dried out his skin.
> I really only say that to discourage you from restarting Accutane.
> There must be dietary type thingos you can do to help with acne????
Posted by liliths on February 12, 2007, at 9:27:30
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 11, 2007, at 22:01:39
hi elanor,
thanks for the sympathy... it goes a long way. I managed to get out over the weekend but now have some health issues which will probably be the only thing I attend to this week... sigh
that said, I am trying splitting my dose of focalin since the tianeptine seems to work well with it. I had oral surgery this morning, saw no reason to take both pills for that! so I figured I'd take the other focalin in the afternoon with the other taineptine and maybe drop the wellbutrin. It goes against my training of only changing one thing at a time LOL but that said, I'm getting impatient.
I hope to get more mileage from the focalin timewise that way but I also don't want to compromise what it does for me now. The last time I tried cutting the dose, it took 5 days before I noticed the difference and it was really bad. Only this time I'm attempting to just spread it out. I hope it works
I hope the tianeptine is helping you. I think you made a good choice not bothering with the paxil. Are you still taking only 1/2 tabs? and was the adderall given to you for ADD for as an AD?
good luck to you!! I really hope this new regimen works for you :)
namaste,
lilith> lilith,
> I am new to adderall but figured i would have to split the dose to avoid a meltdown.
> i skipped the paxil and now i am on my second day with the tianeptine.
> i am sorry to hear you are having such a hard time
> any way you can get yourself out of the house in the morning?
> i know it can be rough but early in the morning, before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it.
> also, if you can get just a bit of sunshine.
> hang in there
>
> hi elanor
> >
> > I felt the taineptine immediately as well - though I started at 1 tab 2x daily. It hasn't 'changed' my world but it has made a difference and every little bit helps. I think, for me, changing some of my depressed, self-defeating habits have become 1/2 the battle
> >
> > have you always taken your adderall in a split dose? how does that work for you? I've been thinking of splitting my focalin as I feel the effects of the tianeptine much more in the a.m. along with my add meds than I do in the afternoon.
> >
> > personally I wouldn't waste my time with paxil, unless you've done well on ssri's in the past. They make me numb, anorgasmic and just 'blunt' everything... not my idea of living
> >
> > Good Luck with the tianeptine... please keep us updated :))
> >
> > namaste,
> > lilith
> >
> > > met with my pdoc yesterday and we are not on the same page w/ the tianeptine
> > > i just got slammed by the lexapro and i need to pull out of this state of mind
> > > pdoc was lost as to the next step so i walked away with a paxil (not cr) script --
> > > i have tianeptine and would like to start
> > > from what i have read here, it takes a while to kick in and i am deciding if i should try to pull out of this bad spot with the paxil first
> > > actually, just writing this has helped me decide
> > > f*ck the paxil
> > > i am going to start on 2 half-tabs of the stablon today
> > > i am also taking 5mg adderall 2x daily,
> > > 10mg ambien and xanax as needed -- approx 2mg daily
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Jimmyboy on February 12, 2007, at 11:13:02
In reply to Re: just started tianeptine, posted by elanor roosevelt on February 11, 2007, at 22:01:39
Hi everyone,
I have been on Tianeptine for about 17 days now. Its really easy to take, no side effects (finally!) or anything .. I think its helping , but as alot of people say, I think its effects although possibly important .. are subtle, much more than other AD's. I find myself functioning alot better than I have in a long time though.
What type of positive effects have people noticed while on Tianeptine? Anyone know if the AD response will continue to get stronger ( like I said I've been in a little over 2 wks) - is it going to become more pronounced over the course of the next month?
Thanks and good luck to all,
JB
Posted by Declan on February 12, 2007, at 18:59:48
In reply to Tianeptine - what positives have you noticed?, posted by Jimmyboy on February 12, 2007, at 11:13:02
Somewhere I read tianeptine described as a psychotonic.
Jimmyboy, I found/find it comforting and was happy enough just being me, which was an improvement. It felt mildly prosocial and I was prepared to try new things. This was an effect that was clear enough for others to notice in me.
Thanks Ralph, I am feeling better.
Posted by liliths on February 13, 2007, at 8:52:27
In reply to Tianeptine - what positives have you noticed?, posted by Jimmyboy on February 12, 2007, at 11:13:02
hi JB,
well at 17 days, you're ahead of me as I've just started it myself. I too really like the low/no side effects and though I feel 'better', it's really hard to pin down... as you ay, it's a subtle drug, another thing I really like about it. I have noticed it seems to work best with my ADD meds and so I'm now trying to split that dose and see how it goes. Unfortunately I'm dealing with some health issues, which clouds everything but I'd be really curious to know how you're doing on it.
let's see... what dose are you taking? what else do you take? and have you decided if the effects become more pronounced over time? I'm hoping for a resounding yes on that one, if one can call anything induced by it 'resounding', considering it whispers rather than shouts. LOL though I'd say feeling better is cause enough :)
please keep us posted on how you're doing
good luck!!
namaste
lilith> Hi everyone,
>
> I have been on Tianeptine for about 17 days now. Its really easy to take, no side effects (finally!) or anything .. I think its helping , but as alot of people say, I think its effects although possibly important .. are subtle, much more than other AD's. I find myself functioning alot better than I have in a long time though.
>
> What type of positive effects have people noticed while on Tianeptine? Anyone know if the AD response will continue to get stronger ( like I said I've been in a little over 2 wks) - is it going to become more pronounced over the course of the next month?
>
> Thanks and good luck to all,
>
> JB
Posted by elanor roosevelt on February 13, 2007, at 11:18:25
In reply to Re: Oh no, Accutane x Mood » ralphrost, posted by Declan on February 12, 2007, at 0:48:09
> Dunno Ralph
> But someone here said tianeptine dried out his skin.the skin thing
i wondered why it took a sudden turn
nyc is brutal on the skin in the winter but my skin is over the top
maybe fish oils will help
how about bruising?
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