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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by markwell on October 23, 2011, at 17:22:59
I'm bipolar 1 and I think ad's are too activating for me. I'm going to continue with viibryd for now but the anxiety just seems to get worse and worse. My pdoc wants to try adding lithium to the tegretol I am already on if the viibryd fails. Anyone with experience with this combination? My concern is I also have gad. I don't think either of these drugs help with anxiety, that is why I was hopeful viibryd would help. Any suggestions?
Mark
Posted by Bob on October 23, 2011, at 17:27:55
In reply to viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 23, 2011, at 17:22:59
> I'm bipolar 1 and I think ad's are too activating for me. I'm going to continue with viibryd for now but the anxiety just seems to get worse and worse. My pdoc wants to try adding lithium to the tegretol I am already on if the viibryd fails. Anyone with experience with this combination? My concern is I also have gad. I don't think either of these drugs help with anxiety, that is why I was hopeful viibryd would help. Any suggestions?
> Mark
I don't have any suggestions, but just wanted to mention that my doctor told me this past week that the people he's prescribed it to so far consider it to be quite activating.
Posted by Phillipa on October 23, 2011, at 17:59:51
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » markwell, posted by Bob on October 23, 2011, at 17:27:55
Bob also for unipolar depression and anxiety? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on October 23, 2011, at 21:59:47
In reply to viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 23, 2011, at 17:22:59
Lower dose Lyrica? It is an anticonvulsant, though not anti manic. It usually reduces anxiety. Just a thought. It works pretty quickly.
Posted by Bob on October 23, 2011, at 22:29:52
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » Bob, posted by Phillipa on October 23, 2011, at 17:59:51
> Bob also for unipolar depression and anxiety? Phillipa
I don't understand your question.
Posted by Phillipa on October 23, 2011, at 23:08:00
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » Phillipa, posted by Bob on October 23, 2011, at 22:29:52
Bob I understand the anxiety if bipolar with viibryd But do you feel anxiety also will manifest if unipolar depression Phillipa
Posted by SLS on October 24, 2011, at 5:38:45
In reply to viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 23, 2011, at 17:22:59
> I'm bipolar 1 and I think ad's are too activating for me. I'm going to continue with viibryd for now but the anxiety just seems to get worse and worse. My pdoc wants to try adding lithium to the tegretol I am already on if the viibryd fails. Anyone with experience with this combination? My concern is I also have gad. I don't think either of these drugs help with anxiety, that is why I was hopeful viibryd would help. Any suggestions?
> MarkThat many people describe the appearance of significant anxiety when starting Viibryd makes it difficult to assess its long-term value as an anxiolytic. It is too bad that gepirone (a sister drug to buspirone with 5-HT1a receptor partial agonism devoid of DA blockade) never made it to market. I bet it would have exerted anxiolytic properties with few side effects.
This is a wacked-out idea, but using pindolol temporarily as a buffer to the startup anxiety of Viibryd might help. Pindolol does the opposite of Viibryd at subpopulations of 5-HT1a autoreceptors. Because of the intricacies of the serotonergic synapse, it is difficult to predict the net effect of adding pindolol. Low blood pressure might be an issue for some people taking pindolol, but it seems like a relatively benign drug.
- Scott
Posted by Chairman_MAO on October 24, 2011, at 21:29:39
In reply to viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 23, 2011, at 17:22:59
I am not bipolar. I absolutely could not handle this drug--I felt dysphoric and agitated. I was scared to go to 20mg. I have been up to 375mg/day of Effexor and on other SSRIs. Those didn't do much for me either, but at least I could handle starting them.
I was on 4mg/day of clonazepam and still was on the verge of having a panic attack.
At 40mg/day of Marplan now and it's kicking in nicely. Feels great to be back where I belong.
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2011, at 21:50:05
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » markwell, posted by Chairman_MAO on October 24, 2011, at 21:29:39
You took viibryd? Seriously that activating? If so not for the anxious person. Phillipa
Posted by Chairman_MAO on October 24, 2011, at 21:54:56
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » Chairman_MAO, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2011, at 21:50:05
> You took viibryd? Seriously that activating? If so not for the anxious person. Phillipa
It is possible that the anxiety would have dissipated after several weeks--there is a neuropsychopharmacological rationale for this.
Personally, I didn't care to stick around and find out, as I had my first ever bout of honest-to-goodness suicidal ideations induced by an antidepressant. What a nightmare! As MAOIs are the gold standard for social phobia and that was the primary reason I was starting the drug, I am now back on an MAOI. Dysthymia is secondary, and they also help. When I get the Dexedrine back on board, I'll be fine.
I'm done trying other classes antidepressants.
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2011, at 23:26:19
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » Phillipa, posted by Chairman_MAO on October 24, 2011, at 21:54:56
One I will stay away from. Glad you are on the up side. Phillipa
Posted by markwell on October 25, 2011, at 15:02:30
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » Chairman_MAO, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2011, at 23:26:19
I am so stressed out. I'm sleeping very little and I think I'm beginning to lose touch with reality. I was beginning to feel this way even before I started viibryd. My pdoc said if I'm not hearing voices or seeing things then I'm not psychotic. I'm just so stressed and it may be nothing more then that. I feel the most stress at my job. I work in a high speed manufacturing operation that is just too much for me. I'm staying with the viibryd hoping it has some anti anxiety features but so far it's making it much much worse.
Mark
Posted by floatingbridge on October 25, 2011, at 15:18:36
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 25, 2011, at 15:02:30
Mark, sleep deprivation and anxiety can really take a toll.
Does your doc know how high your anxiety level is and that you are not sleeping properly?
It has been about four weeks now, yes? I would think there would be a decrease in anxiety by now, but I do not know.
Posted by Phillipa on October 25, 2011, at 23:40:44
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 25, 2011, at 15:02:30
Not good as bipolar 2 also didn't you say? How do you manage to work with all this anxiety? Sounds like this med isn't a good match for you if making you worse. Phillipa
Posted by markwell on October 26, 2011, at 19:29:45
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me » markwell, posted by floatingbridge on October 25, 2011, at 15:18:36
Much of my anxiety has been there prior to viibryd.
It's been about 3 weeks since I started viibryd. My pdoc knows my anxiety and sleep issues, he thinks It's untreated depression and he wants me to stay with it as long as I can. I see him Monday.
Mark
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2011, at 21:01:04
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 26, 2011, at 19:29:45
So you will continue? Any suggestions from the doc of what to do for the anxiety? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on October 26, 2011, at 21:24:37
In reply to Re: viibryd might be too activating for me, posted by markwell on October 26, 2011, at 19:29:45
O.K. Mark, so you'll see him on Monday. That will be near four weeks.
What do you think about his belief in the unresolved depression?
Very best to you the rest of the week and through the weekend. I hope you can get some decent sleep.
This is the end of the thread.
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