![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
Im pretty severely depressed on Lamictal, Geodon and Lexapro....Weaning off the Lexapro and trying another AD. I need something that works quick...I have a ton of very important work related issues upcoming and can't be burdened with this look of sadness all the time. People are asking me what is wrong all the time. What works the fastest?? Ive heard Zoloft does not take quite as long as others to kick in....any thoughts?? Thanks!
Posted by linkadge on October 13, 2007, at 20:35:21
In reply to Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
You may want to lower the geodon or add caffiene to boost or speed the responce.
Linkadge
Posted by King of Nothing on October 13, 2007, at 20:48:44
In reply to Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
> Im pretty severely depressed on Lamictal, Geodon and Lexapro....Weaning off the Lexapro and trying another AD. I need something that works quick...I have a ton of very important work related issues upcoming and can't be burdened with this look of sadness all the time. People are asking me what is wrong all the time. What works the fastest?? Ive heard Zoloft does not take quite as long as others to kick in....any thoughts?? Thanks!
Remeron has been proven to 'kick in' quicker than the othe AD's...sometimes as quickly as the first week.
Posted by Phillipa on October 13, 2007, at 22:18:48
In reply to Re: Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by King of Nothing on October 13, 2007, at 20:48:44
Prozac kicked my tail when it first came out first day at 20mg. Phillipa
Posted by cumulative on October 14, 2007, at 3:02:45
In reply to Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
Dextroamphetamine.
Posted by tecknohed on October 14, 2007, at 9:26:05
In reply to Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
I use 5-HTP when switching meds, lifts my mood usually in the first day. Even the first hour! Best used AFTER your mood has started to drop, like in your case. 50-150mg/day should do it. Its not a lasting effect (a few weeks tops) but its enough to make things bearable whilst I'm waiting to start the next AD. It also (I beleive) wont accumulate like drugs do, meaning that once you stop it you can start a new AD in a day or two.
BUT, I'd be carefull if you are still taking ANY Lexapro - there still might be a chance of SE-Syndrome. Maybe stop the Lex completely first.
You can buy 5-HTP from any health food store.
Posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 10:17:09
In reply to Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!!, posted by clubfitter on October 13, 2007, at 20:31:28
I doubt replacing Lexapro with another SSRI will help you. Try a stronger AD like Effexor instead.
Maybe replacing geodon with another atypical antipsychotic like abilify could help you.
/Netch
Posted by clubfitter on October 14, 2007, at 16:13:10
In reply to Re: Fastest Acting AD/SSRI-HELP!! » clubfitter, posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 10:17:09
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE RISKS INVOLVED WITH TAKING THE 5HTP WITH LEXAPRO...IM WEANING OF CURRENTLY AT 10 MG'S AND PRETTY DESPERATE AT THIS POINT....ARE THE RISKS SEVERE?? THANKS
Posted by tecknohed on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:49
In reply to TECHNOHEAD 5HTP?, posted by clubfitter on October 14, 2007, at 16:13:10
> CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE RISKS INVOLVED WITH TAKING THE 5HTP WITH LEXAPRO...IM WEANING OF CURRENTLY AT 10 MG'S AND PRETTY DESPERATE AT THIS POINT....ARE THE RISKS SEVERE?? THANKS
The risk I refere to is Serotonin Syndrome which is basically excess levels of serotonin. Click on this link for more info including symptoms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome
In your case I think the risk would be low, as long as you stop the Lexapro FIRST, then wait 48hrs before starting the 5-HTP at a LOW dose (25mg for example). The fact that your mood has already dropped since you reduced your Lex intake suggests to me that there is little risk.
BUT I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR SCIENTIST OF ANY KIND! I dont know if the 5-HTP would interact with your other meds, especially Geodon which also effects serotonin (maybe someone can help out with this one? I'm not too familiar with Geodon).
Whenever I've used 5-HTP I've been off all serotonin effecting drugs for at least a day or two. I normally start taking it only when my mood starts to drop. In fact I always stop meds without tapering (Nardil being an exception, though it was still quick) - I've found tapering to be more trouble than its worth, particularly with SSRI/SNRIs. Why prolong the agony? BUT THATS JUST ME!
My final advice is IF YOUR NOT SURE THEN DONT DO IT! Sorry I cant be more helpfull.
Posted by Netch on October 15, 2007, at 2:36:47
In reply to TECHNOHEAD 5HTP?, posted by clubfitter on October 14, 2007, at 16:13:10
> CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE RISKS INVOLVED WITH TAKING THE 5HTP WITH LEXAPRO...IM WEANING OF CURRENTLY AT 10 MG'S AND PRETTY DESPERATE AT THIS POINT....ARE THE RISKS SEVERE?? THANKS
A problem with 5HTP is the risk of excessive melatonin causing chronic fatigue. It's made through the same metabolic pathway as serotonin./Netch
Posted by psychobot5000 on October 18, 2007, at 16:47:02
In reply to TECHNOHEAD 5HTP?, posted by clubfitter on October 14, 2007, at 16:13:10
Given that you're already lowering your dose of Lexapro, I think that at this point the risk of starting 5-HTP is minimal. At this point, from taking the SSRI, your body is used to higher levels of serotonin (assuming you were recently taking a significantly higher dose of lexapro than you're on now). Even adding 5HTP, your serotonin levels are likely to be lower than they were before you started weaning. Thus, little or not risk of Serotonin syndrome. So I wouldn't worry about it.
I wouldn't try Effexor. It's practically identical to the SSRIs - its action on Noradrenaline is very weak.
Someone already mentioned that Remeron is reputed to have a quicker onset of action. My experience bore that out, however, I would warn that it's very sedating, and might disrupt your ability to focus.
Some suggest that Tianeptine also has a relatively quick antidepressant action. I would suggest you give it a try, or else coffee or tea, as have already been suggested.
Best luck!
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.