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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 Laney on May 10, 2011, at 13:26:48
It worked but the side effects were not worth it. Too much weight gain and craving sweets, etc. I could have dealt with the other ones but those two were a deal breaker.
But like I said it did work. It took a while but I got there. It ended my depression. I took it along with 10mg. paxil.
I'm looking for something that can be taken with paxil not instead.
Thanks!
Laney
Posted by SLS on May 10, 2011, at 13:32:41
In reply to What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 13:26:48
> It worked but the side effects were not worth it. Too much weight gain and craving sweets, etc. I could have dealt with the other ones but those two were a deal breaker.
>
> But like I said it did work. It took a while but I got there. It ended my depression. I took it along with 10mg. paxil.
>
> I'm looking for something that can be taken with paxil not instead.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Laney
I understand the deal-breaker bit. If you can find something else that works, then why not try? Desipramine is a cousin to nortriptyline, but without the weight-gain. Just remember that Paxil increases the blood levels of desipramine by approximately 100%. That would leave you taking dosages in the range of 75-150mg.
- Scott
Posted by jms600 on May 10, 2011, at 15:12:52
In reply to What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 13:26:48
> It worked but the side effects were not worth it. Too much weight gain and craving sweets, etc. I could have dealt with the other ones but those two were a deal breaker.
>
> But like I said it did work. It took a while but I got there. It ended my depression. I took it along with 10mg. paxil.
>
> I'm looking for something that can be taken with paxil not instead.
>
> Thanks!
>
> LaneySeroxat caused me to gain a lot of weight - over two stones.
Out of all of the SSRIs and SNRIs I've tried, Seroxat was the worst for gaining weight. Could it be that some of your weight gain is down to the Seroxat?? Just a thought.
Posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 15:29:04
In reply to Re: What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by jms600 on May 10, 2011, at 15:12:52
Thanks for your replies. I didn't know that about desiprimine Scott. I will look into it.
Paxil (Seroxat) did not put any weight on me in the fourteen years of taking it. Last June I added Nort and boom - all of the sudden I started putting it on and on and on. If I thought it would stop even at 20lbs over my "normal" weight I could have lived with that but not knowing if and when it would, I said nope not for me.
Thanks again. That's why I love this site. You learn so much!
Laney
Posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2011, at 18:57:52
In reply to Re: What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 15:29:04
Paxil l0mg also worked for me took three months. I stopped on own as wasn't depressed was fine. Ended up when thyroid went wacko on a combo of paxil and luvox? No weight gain for me either. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 10, 2011, at 19:37:43
In reply to What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 13:26:48
hey. What I've found helpful is to make a list of your problems, identify what you think can be helped with medication(s), and then talk to your doctor.
The problem is that "depression" covers a lot of ground. You might gain weight, lose weight, sleep too much, sleep too little, have anxiety, feel numb...on and on it goes. What do the nortip do that you needed? What is it that the Paxil used to do that you need/needed? Do you think your psychosocial situation has changed, and that could be part of the problem?
I don't know if this is an option for you or not, but some people benefit from stimulants (with or w/o an antidepressant) for depression. Not all docs will do it, but it can be helpful, and you wouldn't have to worry about weight gain.
I would think Deplin might add some "oomph" to the Paxil. There's also BuSpar to consider.
Posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2011, at 21:47:39
In reply to Re: What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Christ_empowered on May 10, 2011, at 19:37:43
Deplin is a great idea the drug rep said l5mg is much better than 7.5mg but I wonder if the med once worked and now doesn't wouldn't that mean that meds do work? What do you feel is a good one for anxiety driven depression I seem to recall that might have been the problem. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on May 11, 2011, at 0:22:47
In reply to Re: What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline » Christ_empowered, posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2011, at 21:47:39
I don't know enough about antidepressants to suggest one right off the bat. Tofranil-PM worked for me, but its the oldest, roughest TCA out there, so its probably not an option.
Do you think adding in Effexor, Pristiq, or Cymbalta would work? I mean, that's kinda sorta like a TCA drug, but with different side effects.
My concern would be piling on antidepressant after antidepressant, when part of the problem is antidepressant "poop out." That's why I thought maybe BuSpar; its not the greatest drug on its own, but it can boost antidepressants. I guess these days there's always the option of adding an "atypical" to the mix, although that strikes me as potentially risky...maybe not if the dose was really, really low though (like 1-2mgs Abilify).
Posted by bleauberry on May 11, 2011, at 5:07:13
In reply to What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by Laney on May 10, 2011, at 13:26:48
Desipramine maybe?
A low dose of added Milnacipran? (It is combined with SSRIs in Japan, with the Paxil/Milnacipran comb being a popular one) To many people including me it has a side effect of diminished appetite.
I am assuming the extra NE added to the Paxil is what you needed. The above 2 meds would do that. Hard to know though, because all our meds do so much more than we know. It isn't as easy as thinking in terms of serotonin, NE, or whatever.
There are supplements to deal with the sweets and cravings. I don't know. If I had to choose one of the two scenarios below, I know which one I would choose.
1. Be free of depression, but begin a new chapter on how to battle cravings.
2. Be not well, reintroduce the battle against depression.I dunno. Cravings versus depression. Sorry, maybe it's just me, but I'll take on the challenge of cravings any day over the challenge of depression. No comparison. Cravings are about 50% a mind thing and 50% a biological thing. Both angles can be dealt with a whole lot easier than depression.
That said, I would replace Nortriptyline with Milnacipran if it were me making the swap.
Posted by Laney on May 11, 2011, at 12:12:03
In reply to Re: What could be a good replacement for Nortriptyline, posted by bleauberry on May 11, 2011, at 5:07:13
Bleauberry,
It wasn't just about cravings by any means. It was immediate weight gain and kept on coming. Was it ever gonna stop? Wasn't willing to keep on packing on the pounds.
Anyway, why milnacipran over desiprimine? Scott said desiprimine is not weight gaining. It's a trycyclic and if it works without weight gain then yeah! I can handle the other side effects of tricyclics.
Thanks for your help.
Christ Empowered, I thought I sent you Babblemail.
Laney
This is the end of the thread.
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