![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wisekaz on October 14, 2007, at 22:17:58
Hi
Just wondering if anyone has had any success with going back on to a medication you were on previously. I have heard that is often doesn't work as well the second time? I was on aropax for 9 years and it seemed to stop working so am trying some other meds but feel now that maybe aropax was doing more for me than I realised with less side effects.
Ta
Posted by Racer on October 14, 2007, at 22:31:57
In reply to Going back on to a medication previously stopped, posted by wisekaz on October 14, 2007, at 22:17:58
You'll hear both ways, because for some people it doesn't work as well again, while for others the best system is rotating through several medications as each "poops out" on them. The SSRIs are notorious for working well for a couple of years, then their benefits fade. Often, a different SSRI will be effective as a replacement, until it too poops out -- at which case the first drug may be effective again. Some doctors recommend planning to rotate through SSRIs this way, and it works fine for some people.
My guess is that the Medication Go Round has you frustrated enough you're not really remembering -- in an emotional sense -- why you went off aropax in the first place. If it wasn't working adequately, it might be worth continuing trials of other drugs for a bit longer. Maybe you'll find something great for you that you just haven't hit on yet. Maybe the Zoloft will kick in and rock your world. (It's my favorite SSRI, by the way. Works as well as any, with far fewer side effects for me.)
Good luck, whatever you decide to do
Posted by your#1fan on October 14, 2007, at 23:03:27
In reply to Re: Going back on to a medication previously stopp » wisekaz, posted by Racer on October 14, 2007, at 22:31:57
My best med ever was Prozac 40mg. It has litterly changed my life patterns, im not saying its my "favorite" like candy.
This medication has really worked incredibly in keeping me, i mean, in situations that anyone would get depressed in.....i dont, maybe i feel a bit irrtible, and mad about whats happened, like my BEST cat died on my vacation (this is the #1 cat i loved) in the vet. I couldnt do anything, they had to put him down, because he had 8 siezers in 2 days. I didnt know how to describe it........i knew it happened but, i wasnt feeling the emotion i should of felt. It was blunted. Later it came out through anger, thats why i think SSRI can actually cause rages because you cant feel the emotion that you used to feeling in situations, so you "lash" out.
Anyone that is wonder about SSRI lash outs read this.
Posted by Phillipa on October 14, 2007, at 23:35:12
In reply to Going back on to a medication previously stopped, posted by wisekaz on October 14, 2007, at 22:17:58
Paxil at l0mg worked good for two years for me with a benzo and I chose to stop the med as I was no longer depressed. Anxiety is my main issue and it was the first approved for social anxiety. How much were you on and for how long and what for? How much time has gone by since you went off it as it may work just fine for you. At least you know you can tolerate it good luck Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 14, 2007, at 23:37:36
In reply to Re: Going back on to a medication previously stopped » wisekaz, posted by Phillipa on October 14, 2007, at 23:35:12
Oh see you were on it for nine years quite a long time. But how long since you stopped taking it and what have you tried that makes you want to go back to paxil? Phillipa
Posted by Racer on October 15, 2007, at 1:38:57
In reply to Re: Racer - SSRI's why you lash out., posted by your#1fan on October 14, 2007, at 23:03:27
> I didnt know how to describe it........i knew it happened but, i wasnt feeling the emotion i should of felt. It was blunted. Later it came out through anger, thats why i think SSRI can actually cause rages because you cant feel the emotion that you used to feeling in situations, so you "lash" out.
>Actually, I think that sort of reaction is why so many people have suggested CBT type therapy for you so many times.
SSRIs can cause apathy for some people. That's part of why I don't want to take them, because apathy isn't all that helpful for me -- but it can be helpful to many people. The apathy would explain why you didn't react more to losing your cat. (I'm sorry about that, by the way. I lost my 19 year old monster cat this year, and it's very hard.)
The rage afterwards, though, is something which I think is probably unrelated to the medication. That sort of reaction sounds to me like a certain dysregulation of emotion, which is something therapy can address better than medications can. CBT or even DBT would be good options, if you ever choose to act on that advice.
I hope that helps.
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.