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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tomatosoup on February 1, 2002, at 7:21:46
I have been taking desipramine for 2 weeks for ADD symptoms. I have not been able to sleep since I began. I have been waking up after a couple of hours sleep and can't go back.
My doctor says that it has nothing to do with the med. Is that possible? I have also been very teary, anxious, and I think a little paranoid. No help with ADD either.
My mouth tastes like a sewer, I have gained 5 pounds, and I feel dull.
All this at only 20mg in the morning. I couldn't handle 30mg.
Are my symptoms from sleep deprivation?
I used to take Adderall and it was mostly good. This doc does not want to prescribe it to me.
Posted by Ritch on February 1, 2002, at 10:11:26
In reply to I can't sleep on desipramine...HELP, posted by tomatosoup on February 1, 2002, at 7:21:46
> I have been taking desipramine for 2 weeks for ADD symptoms. I have not been able to sleep since I began. I have been waking up after a couple of hours sleep and can't go back.
>
> My doctor says that it has nothing to do with the med. Is that possible? I have also been very teary, anxious, and I think a little paranoid. No help with ADD either.
>
> My mouth tastes like a sewer, I have gained 5 pounds, and I feel dull.
>
> All this at only 20mg in the morning. I couldn't handle 30mg.
>
> Are my symptoms from sleep deprivation?
>
> I used to take Adderall and it was mostly good. This doc does not want to prescribe it to me.
Hi,Desipramine made me real jittery and argumentative (I have bipolar and ADHD probs.) and that was just 10mg/day after a couple of weeks. The sleep deprivation can aggravate all of that-absolutely. You need to tell your doctor about all of this-it sounds like desipramine isn't helping you much. If you are stuck with this doctor and he/she insists on using a TCA for your ADD, you might consider nortriptyline. It helped me and I could tolerate up to 30mg/day and I slept ok on it.
Mitch
Posted by TSA West on February 2, 2002, at 4:04:29
In reply to Re: I can't sleep on desipramine...HELP » tomatosoup, posted by Ritch on February 1, 2002, at 10:11:26
I second the nortriptyline idea--should the desipramine remain intolerable.
Posted by Elizabeth on February 2, 2002, at 12:27:54
In reply to I can't sleep on desipramine...HELP, posted by tomatosoup on February 1, 2002, at 7:21:46
Desipramine made my sleep problems much worse. (I didn't think it was that great for ADD symptoms, BTW.) One thing that can help with middle-of-the-night awakenings is taking some Ambien or Sonata to get back to sleep. They're short-acting (Sonata more so), so you probably won't have problems with morning drowsiness.
Another thing you might consider is getting your serum desipramine level tested. Some people don't metabolize TCAs normally, and it might explain why you're having so many side effects on such a low dose.
> My doctor says that it has nothing to do with the med. Is that possible?
It's *possible* -- but it's also possible that the desipramine is causing the problem (or making it worse). I think it sounds like your doctor isn't being very open-minded. Desipramine definitely can disrupt sleep.
> I have also been very teary, anxious, and I think a little paranoid. No help with ADD either.
>
> My mouth tastes like a sewer, I have gained 5 pounds, and I feel dull.You should make a point of telling your doctor all this.
> Are my symptoms from sleep deprivation?
Not the dry mouth or the weight gain (common TCA side effects). The other stuff might well be.
> I used to take Adderall and it was mostly good. This doc does not want to prescribe it to me.
Oh jeez. I'd think about finding a doctor who has more experience treating ADD (maybe a specialist). TCAs don't work for a lot of people. Wellbutrin can help sometimes, but stimulants really are the treatment of choice.
-elizabeth
Posted by Scheherizade on February 6, 2002, at 11:28:28
In reply to I can't sleep on desipramine...HELP, posted by tomatosoup on February 1, 2002, at 7:21:46
I've been on desip for almost 10 years and am finally getting weened off of it. Before that it was elavil (been on anti's since age 17, over 20+ years). Both for chronic headache. I'm hoping that my sleep will improve. I strongly believe desip buggered my sleep big time. I'd have some REALLY bizarre dreams and never felt like I got any actual rest. I'm down to 75mg (was at 150mg). I really hope you find something to help you sleep. Without a decent night's sleep the day is such a struggle to get through! GOOD LUCK!!!
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