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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 Gabbi-x-2 on June 22, 2005, at 15:31:17
In reply to Re: What about Stimulant Tolerance? » Sarah T., posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 21, 2005, at 15:12:01
Hi Sara, I thought I'd start a new thread, because I've been guilty of hijacking too many of them and am starting to feel pangs of conscience.
Ah, very interesting. How long have you been on Celexa? I assume you were on Dexedrine first, because you said you'd been on it for eight years, and I think Celexa hasn't even been available for a full eight years.
***I've been on Celexa for a year. And yes, I was on dexedrine before that, it was crucial to my complete remission when I was on Prozac, but eventually the Prozac stopped working for me.
Do you take Celexa at night? If so, how does it affect your sleep? When I was on it, I took it at night, but I'd always wake up at the same time each night.***I take it in the morning, and don't have any trouble with it now, it was a hellish startup though, just awful. I can't quite believe it's ended up so good for me. I actually wound up in the hospital I was so out of my mind, but they kept me on it, and within two weeks it started working.
Have you ever tried Lexapro?
***No, I'm in Canada, and Lexapro was just approved here. If Celexa stops working for me, I may try Lexapro.
When I was on Dexedrine, I also preferred the tablets to the spansules, unfortunately. I really wanted the spansules to work, but the manufacturer hasn't "upgraded" the release mechanism. I found the spansules unpredictable and inconsistent.
***I found that too, exactly. My former P.Doc had no problem giving me the tablets, he knew the spansules were inconsistant. When I moved I had to switch Doctors though, and she put me on the spansules. It's so frustrating, I asked to switch and she said "No the spansules are better for you because they are released throughout the day" GRRRRR... Yeah that's how they are theoretically supposed to work, I'm the on taking them!
She finally said,"Okay, you can have a 10 mg tablet and a 5 mg" Because I'd asked for three 5 mgs and she couldn't just GIVE me what I wanted. It's like begging, and what the hell is the difference, I'd been on a measly 15 mgs for seven years! It's not like I was asking to triple the dose.
Turns out they don't come in 10 mg tablets so I got what I wanted anyway. NYAH!
Sorry, just have to get into a rant about my Pdoc when I can..
Glaxo Smith Kline really should make a Dexedrine Spansule similar to Concerta or, at the very least, Adderall XR.***I haven't tried either of those, they have a different mechanism?
Are you on an A.D?
Posted by Sarah T. on June 23, 2005, at 0:05:24
In reply to Celexa -Sarah T., posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 22, 2005, at 15:31:17
Hi, Gabbi,
Thanks so much for your very helpful reply.
I was interested to hear that you take Celexa during the day. Do you take it all at once, and do you take it at the same time as the Dexedrine?
I'm sorry to hear that you had such a difficult start-up on Celexa. Did you experience agitation or sleepiness or worse? If you don't want to talk about it, that's OK. Lately I haven't been on anything. I've tried a few things, but I've had a terrible time getting past the horrific start-up period. I just started going to a new endocrinologist. I have to have a lot of blood work done, and then we'll decide how to proceed from there.
Your pdoc does seem very frustrating. I always like to get my medicines in the lowest possible strength. It's easier to control and adjust dosing that way, and I can't stand cutting pills and ending up with crumbs.
Regarding the release mechanism for Adderall XR and Concerta. . .Adderall XR releases half of the dose right away and half four hours later, I believe. Concerta has a "high-tech" delivery mechanism that consists of the unfolding of several layers at different times throughout the day. I think they coined the term "Oros" technology for that particular release system. If you log onto the Concerta website, I'm pretty sure they discuss it at length.
Sarah T.
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 1:31:42
In reply to Re: Celexa -Gabbix2, posted by Sarah T. on June 23, 2005, at 0:05:24
> Hi, Gabbi,
>
> Thanks so much for your very helpful reply.Oh, Gosh, I'm glad you found it helpful.
>
> I was interested to hear that you take Celexa during the day. Do you take it all at once, and do you take it at the same time as the Dexedrine?***Yes, I take it all at once, upon waking and take 5gms of dexedrine with it, the two five mgs tablets of dexedrine I have left I space throughout the day.
> I'm sorry to hear that you had such a difficult start-up on Celexa. Did you experience agitation or sleepiness or worse?**Oh my God, it was indescribably awful. The only other thing that has been worse for me was when I'd been taking 6mgs ativan for months (back in the day when benzos were considered okay) I'd naively stopped taking them when the script ran out, I didn't know any better. cold Actually the symptoms to the Celexa start up were similar.
Pure Terror, depression with a ghoulish edge to it, there was nothing sane or comforting anywhere. I just paced and shook and cried, and threw up from anxiety. I never ever would I have stayed on it if things hadn't gotten so bad that I went to the E.R.
I was given 4mgs ativan to take daily for two weeks, and sent to the short stay facility we have here which is for people who don't need the psychiatric ward, but need help.
I thought for sure they'd take me off it there, but they did not, and about 10 days later, one afternoon I just felt okay. It was amazing.
I could remember the good things again, it was like coming home, figuratively speaking.
I've tried a few things, but I've had a terrible time getting past the horrific start-up period.
***No kidding! I just never would have done it on my own, I would not have believed that it could end up being so good for me either. When the literature says agitation, or anxiety, it sounds so innocuous, but if you have are sensitve to the drug, it just can't be described like that.
The ativan was a blessing for the initial period.I would recommend that to anyone who's having a gruesome time, starting an SSRI.
***Good luck with your blood work, and finding something that works. I almost feel guilty finally finding the right combination, because I remember clearly how soul wearing it is to be struggling to find something.
Take Care Sarah.
Posted by Sarah T. on June 25, 2005, at 18:25:25
In reply to Re: Celexa -Gabbix2 » Sarah T., posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 1:31:42
Hi Gabbi!
Thanks so much again!
Sarah T.
This is the end of the thread.
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