![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Sheilac on August 21, 2007, at 8:45:55
I am having a really hard time being off of serotinin drugs. I guess after 18 years, my body can't be happy without it.
I worry about using Abiify (what happens after 20 years on that drugs?!).
I just feel miserable!
Posted by linkadge on August 21, 2007, at 13:56:01
In reply to Having a really hard time..., posted by Sheilac on August 21, 2007, at 8:45:55
I know the feeling. I feel that I need some sort of serotonin acting medication. I had been on them for a long time in adolecence and simply don't feel well without.
I think it is some sort of long term adaptation responce. Doctors probably choose not to believe that such things can occur.
Linkadge
Posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 17:58:56
In reply to Having a really hard time..., posted by Sheilac on August 21, 2007, at 8:45:55
Hi
When you say you feel bad, do you mean your depression or physically?
I'm sorry you aren't doing well.
Maxime
> I am having a really hard time being off of serotinin drugs. I guess after 18 years, my body can't be happy without it.
>
> I worry about using Abiify (what happens after 20 years on that drugs?!).
>
> I just feel miserable!
Posted by SheilaC on August 21, 2007, at 19:34:10
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time... » Sheilac, posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 17:58:56
I just feel depressed. The Wellbutrin just doesn't do it for me. I feel like my brain doesn't know how to feel well without the serotonin. Maybe after several months I will feel better. We'll see.
Hi
>
> When you say you feel bad, do you mean your depression or physically?
>
> I'm sorry you aren't doing well.
>
> Maxime
>
>
> > I am having a really hard time being off of serotinin drugs. I guess after 18 years, my body can't be happy without it.
> >
> > I worry about using Abiify (what happens after 20 years on that drugs?!).
> >
> > I just feel miserable!
>
>
Posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 21:08:02
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time..., posted by SheilaC on August 21, 2007, at 19:34:10
Have you tried taking something like L-tryptophan ... precursor to serotonin? Or even Melatonin at night which is the precursor to tryptophan.
Why did you stop the SSRIs?
Maxime
> I just feel depressed. The Wellbutrin just doesn't do it for me. I feel like my brain doesn't know how to feel well without the serotonin. Maybe after several months I will feel better. We'll see.
>
>
> Hi
> >
> > When you say you feel bad, do you mean your depression or physically?
> >
> > I'm sorry you aren't doing well.
> >
> > Maxime
> >
> >
> > > I am having a really hard time being off of serotinin drugs. I guess after 18 years, my body can't be happy without it.
> > >
> > > I worry about using Abiify (what happens after 20 years on that drugs?!).
> > >
> > > I just feel miserable!
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by chiron on August 21, 2007, at 23:33:42
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time... » SheilaC, posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 21:08:02
I'm sure there was a good reason, but I'm curious why you went off of them.
Posted by tecknohed on August 22, 2007, at 0:48:49
In reply to Having a really hard time..., posted by Sheilac on August 21, 2007, at 8:45:55
Maxime makes a good point about L-tryptophan.
EVERY time I come off a pro serotonin drug I take 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) soon as I start to feel bad. Usually works almost immediately and tends to 'normalize' things for me. Though it isn't very effective over long term, not for me, but makes things better nonetheless. Should be fine with Wellbutrin.L-tryptophan is probably a better choice for longer term if you can get a regular supply or a script (Optimax) though its effects are far more wide-spread as it is a pre-cursor for many other tryptamines. Which is not nessecerily a bad thing! 5-HTP is a direct Precursor solely(?) to serotonin, with the aid of vit B6.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HTP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TryptaminesMy experience with wellbutrin isn't too good, especially being a serotonin 'needer' like yourself. Found it even dampened the serotonergic drugs I was taking with it. Just babblemail me if you want to know more.
May I ask why you were put on wellbutrin in the first place? There are so many serotonergic drugs to choose from surely one of them would be worth a try?
Also, I'm a bit confused why anyone would be switched from Abilify to wellbutrin. I thought Abilify was an atypical antipsychotic mainly used for psychosis & Bipolar where wellbutrin would be contraindicated. But then I dont know your diagnosis.
Sorry if I'm missing something, I haven't been on the boards for quite a while.
Posted by SheilaC on August 22, 2007, at 6:38:00
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time... » Sheilac, posted by tecknohed on August 22, 2007, at 0:48:49
For some reason, after all these years on serotonin drugs, the nerves in my bladder wall have become over sensitized to serotoin. So, now whenever I take any drug that effects serotonin, my bladder hurts, spasms, I get urinary frequency and urgency. When I stop taking the SSRIs or SNRIs the pain and all go away, but then I am sometimes left with a terrible bladder infection.
After ruling out all SSRI and SNRIs, my doc said Wellbutrin. He also said that I could try Abilify, but that it may also effect serotonin and give me problems.
The urologist I went to gave me 10mg of Elavil to take at night and that has helped a lot the past few days with the pain. But I wake up hungry.
Don't really know what the answer is. Doc also suggested Emsam, but I was very concerned when I read that one of the side effects is urinary/bladder infections. Ugh!
Posted by Jeroen on August 23, 2007, at 14:34:01
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time..., posted by linkadge on August 21, 2007, at 13:56:01
i need it too ... too bad i need an anti psychotic too, some cant be taken with an SSRI together or they will give you nasty syndromes
Posted by rskontos on August 25, 2007, at 20:03:11
In reply to Re: Having a really hard time..., posted by Jeroen on August 23, 2007, at 14:34:01
When I went off SSRI I started having absences seizures so I saw a neurologist. She explained that the brain will recover from the SSRI but since they take over the functions of the brain it takes time and that is individual. Also the SSRI lives in tissues and takes time to actually leave the body competely. So it the healing process is longer as it takes the liver to de-tox the SSRI from your system. Plus neurotransmitters are damaged and must be remade. SSRI upset not only the brain, but the gastro and central nervous systems which involves a heck of a lot of the body if you ask me. So it makes sense that recovery from them is a long process not a short one. I have been off cymbalta for completely since April and I am still having after shocks if you will. When my grandmother died I guess the stress sent me into another withdrawal and I had brain zaps, the seizures came back and I had another bad rash appear. I had the rash the entire time I tapered and it itched so bad I thought I would go crazy and no creams the doctor prescribed helped. So I understand your feelings of SSRI dependency. Your body will need time to heal itself. But the good thing my neuro says it will. The brain will heal. She says it is an amazing organ. So give yourself time and don't worry which will only hurt you in the long run. I myself feel like most doctors don't know enough to prescribe some of these drugs. I have panic attacks and depression and cymbalta was the wrong drug for me. But then again, I guess the long and the short of it is that doctors play a guessing game with knowing what drug will help anyone with what is going on with them. But if anxiety is your problem like for me most anti-depression don't help with that. I have found some supplements that have helped with the physical aspect of SSRI and getting off and the neurologist confirmed those supplements were valid. I am still taking them. Omega Three at a level of 4000 mg. is being used in Europe to successfully treat depression. It will help you get off an SSRI too. Benedryl too, it mimics the action of an ssri only mildly. There are more if anyone is interested. RK
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.