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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cydnie on August 24, 2010, at 15:19:30
I've only been taking pristiq for a little over a week and this last weekend my husband told me he has never seen me like I was - so depressed. Suicidal ideation. Two days before that, I was so f-ing happy, I was crying while looking at my ten month old, euphoric! I then got a little scared at how happy I was and wondered if that was what manic felt like (scary happy, kinda out of control?) Then the night before my suicidal ideation, I was so angry at my husband I wanted to "pop his stupid head off" but I love him so much! The anger was so inappropriate for the disagreement! After my suicidal ideation on saturday, and I didn't get out of bed all day, and just cried and cried, by Sunday I was scared to be alone and when he walked out of the house with my baby for a walk (thinking I was sleeping) I threw on shoes and went with him though I've been very reclusive for awhile. I was so anxious that day, I couldn't shower without him in the room with me. He was so worried about going to work on Monday, but luckily I felt a little better (I stopped the pristiq saturday, then took it again sunday and stopped again monday - I don't know my logic behind that, don't look for it!) SO I left a message for my pdoc and he told me pristiq shouldn't have affected me that much just being in me for a week!?! Is that true? I read other people saying that in the beginning is tough, I have never been manic before, have rarely been suicidal and especially not since having my baby (10 months ago). I read one other person on here a year ago wrote and sounded like they had an experience just like mine, but there were no more posts so I am hoping to find out if anyone else has had an experience like this? I either want to get off this damn drug, or ride it out, but I'm so scared of how I'm feeling that if it takes much longer to settle in, I'm a new stay at home mom with an extremely active kid. I can't not know the night before if the next day I'll be happy or suicidal. I was bad enough without this med - but then the pdoc says it isn't the med. I just dont' believe him, I think it could have affected me already. I'm sitting here worrying I sound crazy, worrying about hitting submit. Luckily I got a babysitter for the first time in ten months and I can sit here and write on pscyhobabbble! Oh yeah, I do sound off. All I wanted to do was get out of my stupid reclusive post partem hole that I had gotten into and out into the world for my new baby, and now I feel I've spent most of his little life trying to get me sane! Poor little guy. If anyone has any pristiq stories, I would love to hear. My pdoc says he could change me to lamictal (I'm not bipolar, but he thinks after this week I need a mood stabilizer). I wish he had more experiences with pristiq to compare mine to. I feel nuts, like I'm climbing the walls one minute, desolate the next, and almost euphoric the next - i never felt that before. There are many in betweens, where I'm just sort of blandly depressed and normal kind of anxious. If anyone can relate, I would love to hear!
Posted by Tomatheus on August 24, 2010, at 16:22:01
In reply to Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by Cydnie on August 24, 2010, at 15:19:30
Cydnie,
In some patients, antidepressants -- particularly the SSRIs and SNRIs -- can induce rapid cycling. It happened to me to a certain extent with both Paxil (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine). It does seem unusual that you're experiencing such extreme mood shifts after being on Pristiq for only a week, but stranger things have happened. This is just my unprofessional opinion, but I doubt that you would just start experiencing such extreme shifts in mood out of nowhere unless you have a history of rapid cycling that's not induced by medications. In other words, I think it's probably the medication, but as I said, I'm not a medical professional by any means. I would continue to keep your pdoc advised of how you're feeling. In my experience, antidepressant-induced rapid cycling doesn't become any less severe until the offending medication is discontinued, but it's possible that others' experiences could be different. I would also advise you to consider checking yourself into a hospital if you experience any more serious suicidal thinking. With rapid cycling, history tends to repeat itself, so I would be prepared for your next depressive episode and make sure that you have a plan to keep yourself safe in case you become suicidal.
Tomatheus
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2010, at 17:17:23
In reply to Re: Major mood shifts on pristiq?? » Cydnie, posted by Tomatheus on August 24, 2010, at 16:22:01
I certainly agree with above and not having taken pristiq but effexor at one time I do belive personally that a week is enough time for the med to be in your system. What were you taking before. Assuming it didn't work hence change to pristiq. And did this start as post partum depression? If so could your hormones also be out of wack. Just a thought Phillipa
Posted by polarbear206 on August 24, 2010, at 18:07:18
In reply to Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by Cydnie on August 24, 2010, at 15:19:30
> I've only been taking pristiq for a little over a week and this last weekend my husband told me he has never seen me like I was - so depressed. Suicidal ideation. Two days before that, I was so f-ing happy, I was crying while looking at my ten month old, euphoric! I then got a little scared at how happy I was and wondered if that was what manic felt like (scary happy, kinda out of control?) Then the night before my suicidal ideation, I was so angry at my husband I wanted to "pop his stupid head off" but I love him so much! The anger was so inappropriate for the disagreement! After my suicidal ideation on saturday, and I didn't get out of bed all day, and just cried and cried, by Sunday I was scared to be alone and when he walked out of the house with my baby for a walk (thinking I was sleeping) I threw on shoes and went with him though I've been very reclusive for awhile. I was so anxious that day, I couldn't shower without him in the room with me. He was so worried about going to work on Monday, but luckily I felt a little better (I stopped the pristiq saturday, then took it again sunday and stopped again monday - I don't know my logic behind that, don't look for it!) SO I left a message for my pdoc and he told me pristiq shouldn't have affected me that much just being in me for a week!?! Is that true? I read other people saying that in the beginning is tough, I have never been manic before, have rarely been suicidal and especially not since having my baby (10 months ago). I read one other person on here a year ago wrote and sounded like they had an experience just like mine, but there were no more posts so I am hoping to find out if anyone else has had an experience like this? I either want to get off this damn drug, or ride it out, but I'm so scared of how I'm feeling that if it takes much longer to settle in, I'm a new stay at home mom with an extremely active kid. I can't not know the night before if the next day I'll be happy or suicidal. I was bad enough without this med - but then the pdoc says it isn't the med. I just dont' believe him, I think it could have affected me already. I'm sitting here worrying I sound crazy, worrying about hitting submit. Luckily I got a babysitter for the first time in ten months and I can sit here and write on pscyhobabbble! Oh yeah, I do sound off. All I wanted to do was get out of my stupid reclusive post partem hole that I had gotten into and out into the world for my new baby, and now I feel I've spent most of his little life trying to get me sane! Poor little guy. If anyone has any pristiq stories, I would love to hear. My pdoc says he could change me to lamictal (I'm not bipolar, but he thinks after this week I need a mood stabilizer). I wish he had more experiences with pristiq to compare mine to. I feel nuts, like I'm climbing the walls one minute, desolate the next, and almost euphoric the next - i never felt that before. There are many in betweens, where I'm just sort of blandly depressed and normal kind of anxious. If anyone can relate, I would love to hear!
Been there, done that!! PPD can be a red flag for an underlying bipolar spectrum to surface Mine started 4 months after my son was born. Same emotions. Was put on a tricyclic antidpressant and it caused mixed states, like what you are having. I was suicidal and went in the hospital for 4 days. Was placed on klonopin and that helped, but was still cycling. The worst was the second half of my monthly cycle. Finally went on Lamictal (mood stabilizer) and changed to Effexor. http://www.psycheducation.org/. Go to left side of page and click on links.
Posted by alchemy on August 25, 2010, at 20:10:09
In reply to Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by Cydnie on August 24, 2010, at 15:19:30
Question for you & polarbear:
Have you tried any other SSRI or SSNRI? If so, what was your reaction?
SSRIs & SSNRIs have helped me a little in the past, but they may be contributing to the rapid cycling. My mood is never really good. Just cycling between not-so-good and bad. Including being tired all day vs. energy, anxiousness, brain can't handle anything, etc. There is no pattern, but usually the same issues and/or mood are around 2-4 days. I can already feel that I'm going a little downwards.
My dr. thinks my next trial should be replacing my Celexa with Zoloft, Pristiq, or Effexor. I have already been on Zoloft & Effexor, but not with this combo. However, I have real doubts that this change will do much if anything.
My mix:
400 Lamictal
30 Celexa
300 Wellbutrin
2mg XanaxBut maybe the next trial should be to decrease the Celexa or Wellbutrin. But there are two issues.
1) Depression
2) Cycling
Decreasing the Celexa may likely lower my mood. And maybe the Wellbutrin. Plus, something in this mix does quiet my agitation. And maybe that is the Celexa? Agitated depression is no fun. Whenever I raised the Lamictal dose I did really notice and mood changes. I have tried to increase the Celexa & Wellbutrin, but all they did was give me side effects. The Celexa made me sweat more, and the Wellbutrin caused constipation.I'm glad you posted this as I am trying to figure out my next move. I may also post this on its own thread to hopefully get more responses.
Posted by polarbear206 on August 25, 2010, at 20:55:00
In reply to Re: Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by alchemy on August 25, 2010, at 20:10:09
> Question for you & polarbear:
>
> Have you tried any other SSRI or SSNRI? If so, what was your reaction?
>
> SSRIs & SSNRIs have helped me a little in the past, but they may be contributing to the rapid cycling. My mood is never really good. Just cycling between not-so-good and bad. Including being tired all day vs. energy, anxiousness, brain can't handle anything, etc. There is no pattern, but usually the same issues and/or mood are around 2-4 days. I can already feel that I'm going a little downwards.
>
> My dr. thinks my next trial should be replacing my Celexa with Zoloft, Pristiq, or Effexor. I have already been on Zoloft & Effexor, but not with this combo. However, I have real doubts that this change will do much if anything.
>
> My mix:
> 400 Lamictal
> 30 Celexa
> 300 Wellbutrin
> 2mg Xanax
>
> But maybe the next trial should be to decrease the Celexa or Wellbutrin. But there are two issues.
> 1) Depression
> 2) Cycling
> Decreasing the Celexa may likely lower my mood. And maybe the Wellbutrin. Plus, something in this mix does quiet my agitation. And maybe that is the Celexa? Agitated depression is no fun. Whenever I raised the Lamictal dose I did really notice and mood changes. I have tried to increase the Celexa & Wellbutrin, but all they did was give me side effects. The Celexa made me sweat more, and the Wellbutrin caused constipation.
>
> I'm glad you posted this as I am trying to figure out my next move. I may also post this on its own thread to hopefully get more responses.Why are you on such a high dose of lamictal? That has me a bit concerned. I would suggest to cut it back and eventually change to an SNRI. This would replace the need to be on both ad's. Don't change too many at the same time. take it slow.
past med combos as I can recall. There's been so many.....
Imipramine/klonopin
Imipramine/Prozac/klonopin
Imipramine/paxil/klonopin
Imipramine/paxil/depakote
paxil/depakote
Imipramine/paxil/lithium
Imipramine/paxil/Wellbutrin/klonopin
Effexor/wellbutrin/lithiumPresent-Lamictal 200mg/Effexor 300mg and klonopin as needed. I've been on this combo about 10 years and loving life :)
Posted by MaybeSo on August 25, 2010, at 21:29:34
In reply to Re: Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by polarbear206 on August 25, 2010, at 20:55:00
I have a terrible reaction to SNRIs. I become angry, paranoid, tearful, afraid. It only takes a few days for this pattern to begin.
If it helps, I am also very sensitive to any stimulant, even OTC pseudoephedrine.
Posted by Cydnie on August 26, 2010, at 9:35:20
In reply to Re: Major mood shifts on pristiq??, posted by alchemy on August 25, 2010, at 20:10:09
Oh, it's so hard because everyone's chemistry is so different! My doc's considering lamicatal, and your's is considering pristiq! I took celexa for awhile and gained weight and never felt any better. I also took wellbutrin and had a weird reaction: I got very angry on it (I wondered if it was in any way similar to pristiq because both are not ssris, and made me feel agitated). I have taken klonopin for years and have never had any problems, tried xanax (didn't do much) and attivan, left me too fast. I also tried other ssris and had no help over the years. It seems to be so related to (as polarbear wrote to me above) hormones, and individual chemistry which changes. My doc added vyvanse and a little adderral which has made me much more social and I am desperately trying to get him to add memantine which I read helps with OCD and with tolerance and rebound crashes. I don't know if that would help you or not. I feel motivated and happy as soon as they kick in, but I am unsure about the pristiq for me. I've read great things and horrible things about both pristiq and lamictal, we're so individual. But for me, klonopin has helped me tremendously through the years and just lately has vyvanse for motivation, and my depression feels so lifted. I think that is for a different board I need to search, but wanted to let you know what else I am currently taking. Agitated depression is no fun, and I would say that is exactly how I feel from the pristiq. But you may be different. There is some kind of coenzyme test being done through the mayo clinic I am trying to find out more about, and I think few places do it, and probably isn't covered by many insurances but is supposed to look at how we metabolize ssris (genetically, I think?) Sorry this may not be much help, this is my first time cycling and feel it is entirely from the pristiq am scared to take it today, but my doc wants me too. But you may have a good experience with it - the only thing I can say that has definitely helped me over the years medication wise was klonopin and lasts in my system for awhile. I wish you luck!
Posted by morgan miller on August 26, 2010, at 21:47:24
In reply to Re: Major mood shifts on pristiq?? » alchemy, posted by Cydnie on August 26, 2010, at 9:35:20
Just be aware of the possibility you may fall somewhere under the wide umbrella of bipolar. Hang in there, finding the right med is a difficult process.
Are you taking fish oil? How is your diet?
Are you going to therapy?
Morgan
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