Rx thoughts

[Hopalong]

Hi folks,
I know everybody's chemistry and needs are very very different so I am not looking for "medical advice"--but it did occur with so many smart people here, who have often done so much clever research (along with trial and error)--it might be nice to ask for thoughts people might share on what anti-depressants have worked well for them.

I was on Prozac once...Paxil...last round, a few years back, Effexor. I wanted to try Wellbutrin but it seemed not a good fit with the anxiety. At least at that time, it seemed to worsen it (though I did like the idea of not feeling sexually numbed, which I had noticed with the SSRIs).

What I really want to look into is a medication that would:
--serve as an antidepressant but ALSO be helpful with anxiety
--aid with sleep

Any thoughts? I tend to prefer to keep Rx at a minimum, but already take 200 mg Neurontin every night for restless legs, so I'm wary of mixing too much, especially with anything that could be a CNS depressant. But I've come to use Ambien way too often for sleep. In recent times since the back got so bad, I sometimes have to take pain meds. I don't like feeling like a pharmacy, which is one reason I quit the anitdeps before. But I think this is a good chapter for another round of them. Doctors just seem so rushed at times that I worry they're not really thinking through what combinations of medicines might be doing in my body. But I'm not always certain what's doing what.

Any Rx reflections would be very helpful. Thank you.

Hopalong

[Sallying Forth]

Hi Hopalong,
The one I am taking is a good fit for anxiety. It is doing wonders on mine. I've had horrible heart palpitations with my depression and they are now to a minimum.

I am taking Zoloft. I am at 75mg and might go to 100mg. My doc told me to adjust a week at a time and see what works for me. Of course everyone is different. So far the worst side effect of this AD is nausea. It is not a constant side effect and it could be linked to my anxiety and heart palpitations. Maybe 100mg will settle those both down. Only time will tell.

The literature on Zoloft says it is one of the SSRI's which is used for anxiety and depression. It also has the least sexual side affects. I wasn't sleeping at all before getting on Zoloft. Now I am making up for lost time.

You can check out AD's at:

www.rxlist.com

[Hopalong]

Thanks much, Sally. That goes right in the calculation, I'll read up.
Appreciate your sharing, very much.

Hops

[Brigid]

Hoppy,
When I originally sought help for my depression and anxiety, I called my OB/GYN (only because I had just recently seen him and he knew I was dealing with some serious issues in my life).  He put me on Paxil.  That caused a great deal of nausea early on and I did have the sexual side effects (that was while my x and I were in therapy and thus still living together).  He then switched me to Wellbutrin, which I turned out to be allergic to, but it didn't have the sexual side effects.  I finally went to a psych after my x left and she put me on Lexapro.  I did not have any nausea and it did really help the depression and anxiety once it started to work.  I did find out some time later that it also had the sexual side effect of making me inorgasmic, but at the time it didn't matter.

Good luck finding something that works well for you.  It really can be a Godsend (despite what that idiot Tom Cruise said  ).

Brigid

[Hopalong]

Thanks Brigid, I will read up on Lexapro too.

Somebody here once mentioned an antihistamine often used for anxiety that is also great as a sleep aid, but I forget the name...sorry, can you repost that?

Much much thanks folks, this is really helpful.

Hopalong

[Gail]

Hi Hopalong,

That might have been me.  I have taken a medication called doxepin (sinequin is another name for it) for years which works as an anti-histamine.  I've had trouble sleeping ever since I was a child and this medication really does the trick.  It's also an anti-depressant and good for anxiety.  It may be hard to get a psychiatrist to prescribe it as they say the new medications are so much better for treating depression, but I found it extremely effective.  I don't see a psychiatrist, but my GP is willing to prescribe it so that works for me.  It's also very inexpensive.

Gail

[Hopalong]

thanks Gail! It's on my look-up list...
really, really appreciate this.

Hopalong

[mimi]

Hello Sally
I just wanted to ask you if you get jittery or nervous on zoloft. I recently started taking it 6 months ago, but take half of 50mg a day. I am still depressed and anxious, but when I up my dose I get jittery. What do you think I should do? You seem to have great insight on many things.
And another question if you dont mind..... You had narsisstic parents I would guess? Do you speak to her or him often or do you keep your distance. I feel I am always being taken advantage of (with my time and giving heart), from my mother and am plain sick and tired of it. What would you do? I would write more but dont want to get carried away  .....Thank You soooo much and hope you have a great new year!
Mimi

[Sallying Forth]

Hi Hopalong,
The other antihistamine is Benadryl and it is quite often used as a sleep aid especially in hospitals.



Hi Mimi,
I have not noticed the jitteriness. I have to up my dose again now because my poor body has adjusted to 75mg! ugh! I am hoping 100mg does the trick. I hate to have to got to more than that but ... if my body needs it then I will do it. I had jitteriness before and could not sit still. That is a first for me with depression. Maybe as you age it affects you differently.

Both my parents and my oldest and possibly youngest brothers are N's. I have zero contact with any of them in person. My dad sent me an email which I have yet to answer. They want to know all about my family and what we did for Christmas even though there has been zip contact from them all year. If I do write something it will be very brief and to the point. We are F.I.N.E. Thank you.

I read something very interesting in the book An Adult's Guide to What's "Normal". It confirmed what I already sensed about my family. You can only have a relationship based on the level of intimacy that your parents are capable of sustaining. And my parents are not capable of having any kind of intimacy especially my mother. She is OCPD and NPD. What a lovely combination!

[write]

Atarax ( Hydroxyzine hydrochloride ) is what I use for sleep, just 25 mg, doesn't have side effects for me and is mild anti-anxiety.

[Hopalong]

Thanks Write.
Lots of people seem to be suggesting moderate-dose antihistamines for sleep.
Sounds like something to try instead of Ambien, which is too quicklly habit-forming.

I looked up your Rx and it's an OTC sleep aid, been around for decades.
So it's probably a nice safe alternative.

Thanks again,
Hops (hey! HOPS are sewn into pillows to help with sleep as a natural remedy...hmmmm!)

[write]

apparently there's another new drug on the market Lunesta which seems promising too
http://www.lunesta.com

[Artsy]

When I was in the first throws of having left the N and crying constantly, and the boss let me know that I'd better get my act together or find a new job, my elderly family practitioner listened to my sad story and prescribed a week's worth of Xanax and 3 months of Celexa.

I cut the Xanax dosage in half - took one pill every night at bedtime instead of two and was therefore able to have two weeks' worth until the Celexa kicked in.

Got off the Celexa before the 3 months was up.  My doc has also recommened Benadryl for occasional difficulty in falling to sleep.

Good luck to you.