Posted by Chris O on March 25, 2005, at 1:49:38
In reply to Re: Sisyphus--Excellent analogy for this disease! » Chris O, posted by Sarah T. on March 24, 2005, at 21:31:31
Sarah:
Well, let's see. I took Celexa (20mg) five years ago, but for the most part, it was combined with Wellbutrin (150mg). But...yes, for the month I was on Celexa alone, it was very fatiguing. That's why the psychiatrist added the Wellbutrin. However, even with the Wellbutrin, I had no ability to have an orgasm on those meds. The Celexa just gave me anorgasmia full-on. (Sorry if this is too much information!) Anyway, the Lexapro did not affect me that way, or as extremely. I had no anorgasmia on the Lexapro; however, I was fatigued, just not as much as I was on Celexa. I also felt like Lexapro was "weak," even at 40mg. It just didn't seem to be knocking out my anxiety.
Also, I don't seem to be losing my 10 pound SSRI weight gain from the Lexapro. I was a pretty skinny, lightweight dude before taking SSRIs (I'm 6"1', weighed about 170lbs for many, many years before taking the SSRIs). After the year of Celexa/Wellbutrin year, I was up to the mid-190s; after I quit, I took it down to the mid-180s, been hovering from the mid-180s to low-190s for several years, then on the Lexapro last year, shot up over 200lbs. I'm still hovering there and I have been exercising. I guess if SSRIs really worked for me completely, I wouldn't care, but they...annoy me.
I only take them when I'm desparate, and I'm getting there again. I don't seem to be able to feel at ease, to guide my life in any direction with my normal brain chemistry.Believe it or not, even when riding my bike 50 miles a day, my anxiety level was still high. I guess we're all different. My GAD is pretty hardcore. It's like, I feel like I'm covered in a layer of fear when interacting with the world. It's not conscious...it's just there. I can trace its origins biologically and environmentally to my mom, dad, and other immediate family members. But that has never made it go away. Anyway, blah, blah, blah, I won't babble on about this.
It's great that exercise benefits you so much. I guess whatever you do, it boosts your brain chemistry enough to make a difference. I hope you find the "magic bullet" for taking the edge off your depression and anxiety, whatever that may be.
Thanks for the feedback,
Chris
poster:Chris O
thread:472304
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050323/msgs/475275.html