Posted by bleauberry on July 26, 2008, at 18:28:41
So, day 3 of Tianeptine. Have been on half dose t.i.d. instead of full dose t.i.d., in respect of how sensitive I am to meds. Even so, to start at half the recommended dose and get away with it is almost unheard of with me. That speaks well for the low side effect profile of tianeptine. I think a slightly dry mouth, increased dreaming and nightmares, and light sleep, that's about it for side effects so far.
The good: The longterm resistant heavy depression was 70% gone within 4 hours of the first dose. Amazing. Day 2 woke up very blue like I could cry at anything, but within a couple hours of a dose I was saved. Hardly any side effects.
The bad: Today, day 3, was filled with powerful physical anxiety like I haven't felt since withdrawing from xanax or zyprexa. But hardly any depression at all. Tianeptine is marketed as good for anxious depression. Wow. So far it has done a respectable job on mood but feels like 10 pots of coffee.
I think maybe I'll just do 1 or 2 half doses per day and go slow from there. My only other option is to reach for xanax, but I really don't want to start that. Even after just one dose of xanax, when it wears off things are worse than ever. Kind of have to go all the way or not at all.
Anyway, thought I would share my short experience with tianeptine thus far. I can't imagine living with this kind of anxiety, but it sure is nice to know something can lift those dark clouds real fast. The only other things I've tried that could do that, though they don't anymore, are Ritalin, Adrafinil, or Modafinil. Which leads me to think tianeptine's rapid effect must be in the dopamine department somehow. Would explain the anxiety too.
poster:bleauberry
thread:842171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080718/msgs/842171.html