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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jasmineneroli on September 22, 2004, at 17:17:32
Hey Everyone:
I have fairly severe GAD, that sometimes comes with depressive symptoms...directly relates to stress in my life etc.
I've been on 8 diff. meds over the past few years.
Klonopin has been the only med to take away the strong physical anxiety symptoms and most of the emotional ones. I love it.I've been on it for 14 months.For me, it's very *clean*. Currently, I'm down to .5mg per day, and 10 weeks ago added Celexa 10mg to the mix, cuz I was getting some sadness type depression and still had the incessant "thinking, worrying" that is a hallmark of GAD.
The Celexa has definitely improved that aspect and I'm feeling pretty good right now :).HOWEVER, I've been on Celexa before and had sexual SE's and, eventually, an increase in depression (lethargy/suicide ideation) - after about 9 months or so. The sexual SE's are here already. (I also still have the muscle stiffness/jaw clenching, from Celexa, but it's not intolerable. The GI SE's come & go).
My Pdoc and I anticipated this and he suggested I augment with Wellbutrin when & if, the sexual SE's started. I go to see him next week.
Please advise me what to expect when I add Wellbutrin to the mix. What form is best? Dosage? (I'm EXTREMELY sensitive to meds, but most particularly Serotonergics, so Wellb. might be OK). Anyone been on the combo I'm contemplating?
Will it make me more anxious? Irritable?
I've tried NADH before and found that to be mildly energizing and not anxiety promoting, so I was hoping Wellbutrin wouldn't exacerbate my anxiety.
Any alternate suggestions for a *cocktail*?For info in helping advise me, the mental/emotional part of my anxiety attacks tend to manifest as extreme irritabilty, sometimes rages, a complete inability to focus/very scattered, derealization, memory problems (especially with verbal-language) and perseveration.Eventually I just collapse and can't cope with anything!!!
I appreciate all feedback! Thanks.
Jas
Posted by SLS on September 22, 2004, at 18:35:07
In reply to Adding Wellbutrin to my mix.What to expect? Advice, posted by Jasmineneroli on September 22, 2004, at 17:17:32
Hi Jas.
How did you respond to Effexor?
Regarding the use of Wellbutrin for remedying the sexual side effects of antidepressants, I have no experience with it personally. It has become a very popular prescribing practice, but it doesn't seem to be a panacea. I would think it more effective to combat a loss of libido and enhance arousal than to treat anorgasmia, but I can't attest to that. It might be worth starting a new thread dealing with sexual side effects. Remeron has been reported to be helpful. Both Remeron and Wellbutrin often serve as augmentors to help other antidepressants work better. However, Wellbutrin can sometimes produce anxiety and irritability in vulnerable individuals. Either drug might offer an ideal combination of treating sexual side effects and enhancing the antidepressant action of Celexa. Hopefully, you'll get some detailed feedback from people who have used these medications.
- Scott
Posted by LynneDa on September 23, 2004, at 9:44:11
In reply to Adding Wellbutrin to my mix.What to expect? Advice, posted by Jasmineneroli on September 22, 2004, at 17:17:32
Hi!
My diagnosis is PMDD, so my depression is cyclical throughout the month, but I also have some anxiety issues. I was up to 20mg of Lex for about 8 months, but couldn't take the sleepiness and lethargy. So my doc put me on 300mg of Wellbutrin SR. He had me gradually go down on the Lex and up on the WB over a couple of weeks time, which was fine, no bad effects.Immediately the WB caused me to have energy, clarity and sexual interest again. The down-side is I was still depressed/anxious at certain times of the month (but not as bad as I was before I started taking Lex). I hung in there for 2 months on only WB and had to go back to Lex. I'm on my 2nd month of Lex 5mg and WB 300mg combo and I'm starting to feel so sleepy again. The 5mg of Lex is not enough to combat my depression/anxiety. I'm not sure what else I can take. I can't deal with my mental state, but I can't be sleepy all the time either!
Sorry I don't have a good answer for you, but thought I'd share my experiences! Take care!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hey Everyone:
> I have fairly severe GAD, that sometimes comes with depressive symptoms...directly relates to stress in my life etc.
> I've been on 8 diff. meds over the past few years.
> Klonopin has been the only med to take away the strong physical anxiety symptoms and most of the emotional ones. I love it.I've been on it for 14 months.For me, it's very *clean*. Currently, I'm down to .5mg per day, and 10 weeks ago added Celexa 10mg to the mix, cuz I was getting some sadness type depression and still had the incessant "thinking, worrying" that is a hallmark of GAD.
> The Celexa has definitely improved that aspect and I'm feeling pretty good right now :).
>
> HOWEVER, I've been on Celexa before and had sexual SE's and, eventually, an increase in depression (lethargy/suicide ideation) - after about 9 months or so. The sexual SE's are here already. (I also still have the muscle stiffness/jaw clenching, from Celexa, but it's not intolerable. The GI SE's come & go).
>
> My Pdoc and I anticipated this and he suggested I augment with Wellbutrin when & if, the sexual SE's started. I go to see him next week.
> Please advise me what to expect when I add Wellbutrin to the mix. What form is best? Dosage? (I'm EXTREMELY sensitive to meds, but most particularly Serotonergics, so Wellb. might be OK). Anyone been on the combo I'm contemplating?
> Will it make me more anxious? Irritable?
> I've tried NADH before and found that to be mildly energizing and not anxiety promoting, so I was hoping Wellbutrin wouldn't exacerbate my anxiety.
> Any alternate suggestions for a *cocktail*?
>
> For info in helping advise me, the mental/emotional part of my anxiety attacks tend to manifest as extreme irritabilty, sometimes rages, a complete inability to focus/very scattered, derealization, memory problems (especially with verbal-language) and perseveration.Eventually I just collapse and can't cope with anything!!!
>
> I appreciate all feedback! Thanks.
> Jas
Posted by Jasmineneroli on September 23, 2004, at 18:37:22
In reply to Re: Adding Wellbutrin to my mix.What to expect? Advice, posted by SLS on September 22, 2004, at 18:35:07
> Hi Jas.
>
> How did you respond to Effexor?***Ha! Well I took Effexor for 2 weeks only (titrated up to 300mg)...I stopped it cold, after reading the hundreds of horror stories of discontinuation. I was also working with an adolescent boy who was going through horrible withdrawal from Effexor at the same time!!! I was experiencing dizziness and light-headedness, & slight headache at the time. I just got scared to continue, in case it did not work-out. Having come off a 2 month trial on Remeron, with AWFUL side effects...see below :).
> Regarding the use of Wellbutrin for remedying the sexual side effects of antidepressants, I have no experience with it personally. It has become a very popular prescribing practice, but it doesn't seem to be a panacea. I would think it more effective to combat a loss of libido and enhance arousal than to treat anorgasmia, but I can't attest to that. It might be worth starting a new thread dealing with sexual side effects. Remeron has been reported to be helpful. Both Remeron and Wellbutrin often serve as augmentors to help other antidepressants work better.
*** My trial of Remeron was my worst ever drug experience!! I perservered for 2 months, going from 15mg-30mg-45mg over a 14 day period. I was sedated to the point of intoxication up to 30mg, all the time. I had slurred speech, extreme dizziness, drowsiness, couldn't walk straight, couldn't drive. It did not abate. I was always hungry and couldn't stop eating once I started. At 45mg, I was STILL sedated, but wasn't staggering around. My speech suffered somewhat, I did drive, only when I felt the effects lighten up for a few hours, ppl would stare at me when I spoke to them (so I know I was coming off as weird, in some way!!). I had no energy, poor cognitive skills....aaagh. Needless to say I couldn't work. It didn't change at all for a further 6 weeks. I really gave it a very good try :). I had awesome restful sleeps though!!
As to lifting anxiety/depression, I couldn't even tell, I was so "out of it". I also had bad physical symptoms, edema in ankles, knees and hands, headaches, tingling in limbs. My doctor wrote "is 'stoned' on Remeron" on his referral notes!!! This is when I changed from a GP to a Pdoc. The Pdoc put me on Effexor, and my scaredy-cat response was due to my experience with Remeron, because I anticipated having to stop it, and was afraid of the withdrawal, laying me up for another 2 months of not working.>However, Wellbutrin can sometimes produce anxiety and irritability in vulnerable individuals. Either drug might offer an ideal combination of treating sexual side effects and enhancing the antidepressant action of Celexa. Hopefully, you'll get some detailed feedback from people who have used these medications.
>
> - Scott****Yes, my problem is more anorgasmia than low libido currently, but I know that libido will be affected after a time of anorgasmia. So I'll start a thread on that. Thanks Scott.
Take care,
Jas
This is the end of the thread.
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