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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by olysi79 on July 10, 2005, at 2:43:05
Hi Scott,
I thought I'd ask you this because you always have had insightful good info for me.
I'm taking Paxil 40 MGS for my OCD/depression/anxiety. Heres my dilema... with 40 MGS of Paxil my anxiety and depression is under control, but I feel like a slug, and I've gained weight. I have a lack of energy and am hungry more often. 30 MGS doesn't help me, I still feel depressed and anxious often with only 30 MGS. Where do I go from here? Could I perhaps drop down to 35 MGS (a 30 MG and 1/2 a 10 MG tab) or try something different? I've been on Paxil for quite awhile and it really works very well for me, better than any other SSRI for my anxiety and depression, but this weight gain is and sluggish feeling is driving me nuts!
Posted by linkadge on July 10, 2005, at 2:49:46
In reply to FOR SLS (or anyone) Paxil question, posted by olysi79 on July 10, 2005, at 2:43:05
Thats a tough one. I had the same experince with SSRI's. It seemed the dose needed to supress the anxiety sapped my energy.
You could try wellbutrin (which would help energy but might increase anxiety)
Make sure your folic acid levels are high. Folic acid supplemetns have been shown to enhance the effectivness of SSRI's. This might allow you to decrease your dose and still maintain a benefit.
1mg of folic acid should help if you are not taking any already.
Anyone have other suggestions ?
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk on July 10, 2005, at 7:57:37
In reply to FOR SLS (or anyone) Paxil question, posted by olysi79 on July 10, 2005, at 2:43:05
Hi Chris,
>Heres my dilema... with 40 MGS of Paxil my anxiety and depression is under control, but I feel like a slug, and I've gained weight. I have a lack of energy and am hungry more often. 30 MGS doesn't help me, I still feel depressed and anxious often with only 30 MGS.
That's exactly what happened when I took Paxil. 35mg sounds like a good idea.
Kind regards
~Ed
Posted by SLS on July 10, 2005, at 8:49:35
In reply to Re: FOR SLS (or anyone) Paxil question, posted by linkadge on July 10, 2005, at 2:49:46
> > I'm taking Paxil 40 MGS for my OCD/depression/anxiety. Heres my dilema... with 40 MGS of Paxil my anxiety and depression is under control, but I feel like a slug, and I've gained weight. I have a lack of energy and am hungry more often. 30 MGS doesn't help me, I still feel depressed and anxious often with only 30 MGS. Where do I go from here? Could I perhaps drop down to 35 MGS (a 30 MG and 1/2 a 10 MG tab) or try something different? I've been on Paxil for quite awhile and it really works very well for me, better than any other SSRI for my anxiety and depression, but this weight gain is and sluggish feeling is driving me nuts
> Thats a tough one. I had the same experince with SSRI's. It seemed the dose needed to supress the anxiety sapped my energy.
>
> You could try wellbutrin (which would help energy but might increase anxiety)That would probably be my first choice too. You might find that your depression remits further.
I had also thought to try Adderall or amantadine, or even thyroid T4.
Amantadine seems to work for Zyprexa-induced weight gain. I have never heard of its use with SSRIs, but it would be an interesting thing to try.
- Scott
Posted by olysi79 on July 10, 2005, at 11:53:58
In reply to Re: FOR SLS (or anyone) Paxil question, posted by SLS on July 10, 2005, at 8:49:35
Hey Scott,
I've tried Wellbutrin before, it sent my anxiety through the roof. I think I'm going to try the 35 MGS. I'll do a slow taper of 2.5 mgs every few days so I don't get the zaps and see if it helps with my energy levels and weight without bringing my depression and anxiety back. What do you think of this?BTW everyone- don't try metabolife to counter the weight gain (even the caffeine free stuff)... right now I'm sitting feeling jittery with nasty diarrhea... how anyone could take this stuff long term is beyond me.
> > > I'm taking Paxil 40 MGS for my OCD/depression/anxiety. Heres my dilema... with 40 MGS of Paxil my anxiety and depression is under control, but I feel like a slug, and I've gained weight. I have a lack of energy and am hungry more often. 30 MGS doesn't help me, I still feel depressed and anxious often with only 30 MGS. Where do I go from here? Could I perhaps drop down to 35 MGS (a 30 MG and 1/2 a 10 MG tab) or try something different? I've been on Paxil for quite awhile and it really works very well for me, better than any other SSRI for my anxiety and depression, but this weight gain is and sluggish feeling is driving me nuts
>
> > Thats a tough one. I had the same experince with SSRI's. It seemed the dose needed to supress the anxiety sapped my energy.
> >
> > You could try wellbutrin (which would help energy but might increase anxiety)
>
> That would probably be my first choice too. You might find that your depression remits further.
>
> I had also thought to try Adderall or amantadine, or even thyroid T4.
>
> Amantadine seems to work for Zyprexa-induced weight gain. I have never heard of its use with SSRIs, but it would be an interesting thing to try.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2005, at 20:43:51
In reply to Re: FOR SLS (or anyone) Paxil question » SLS, posted by olysi79 on July 10, 2005, at 11:53:58
I too took paxil but only l0mg as my anxiety was so bad the pdoc said it would overstimulate me. Then he had me on xanax too. I lost wt on the paxil. Was working and eating well. Heck we snacked on cheese and crackers all evening. I also had a lot of energy and loved my job. This is one of the reasons that makes me question whether happiness and fullment in life work better than meds. Thinking a lot lately. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by TamaraJ on July 10, 2005, at 21:01:30
In reply to So Strange, posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2005, at 20:43:51
Phillipa,
I had the same type of response as you to Paxil. It was a great AD for me, and I regret that I stopped taking it. I should have stayed on a small maintenance dose to prevent a relapse. When I was on Paxil, I did not suffer fatigue or apathy, and the only weight I gained was the weight from finally starting to eat like a normal person again. I even took my 20mg first thing in the morning. I wish it had worked for me when I tried it a second time.
Tamara
> I too took paxil but only l0mg as my anxiety was so bad the pdoc said it would overstimulate me. Then he had me on xanax too. I lost wt on the paxil. Was working and eating well. Heck we snacked on cheese and crackers all evening. I also had a lot of energy and loved my job. This is one of the reasons that makes me question whether happiness and fullment in life work better than meds. Thinking a lot lately. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on July 11, 2005, at 8:37:25
In reply to Re: So Strange » Phillipa, posted by TamaraJ on July 10, 2005, at 21:01:30
Hi.
> I wish it had worked for me when I tried it a second time.
Me too. I hate when that happens.
Perhaps you can recapture the antidepressant response by adding a second drug. Unless you have had a negative experience with lithium previously, you might opt to try it first. You would know within 10 days whether it is going to help. You use a dosage substantially lower that what is used to treat bipolar disorder: 300-600mg. Many people notice a significant difference within 72 hours.
I bet you'll find something that will eventually work well for you again. To a great degree, it is trial and error.
- Scott
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