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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on September 10, 2002, at 12:33:03
I've always been a bit unclear on what are SSRI side effects, and what are primary effects that have both good and bad aspects to them.
Obviously sexual side effects are not part of how an SSRI works, and can be classified as a side effect. But my understanding from psycharvard was that sexual side effects result from 5HTP (?) activity, so a more selective SSRI wouldn't help much with that.
It's my admittedly imperfect understanding that sleepiness might be caused by histamine receptor activity and might be improved by a more selective SSRI. (Have I got that right?)
But some of the troublesome effects of an SSRI are hard for me to separate from their mode of operation.
SSRI's work to reduce obsessive thinking. They also cause apathy and memory problems. But I often suspected that they helped my OCD by making me apathetic to the possibility of causing harm, and making it difficult to remember what I might have done wrong.
SSRI's, as I recall from "Listening to Prozac" and from my own experience, reduce rejection sensitivity and provide an emotional floor to keep you from dropping too far down. SSRI's also caused emotional flattening, and made it difficult for me to feel intense love or happiness. Is the "good" aspect of this really any different from the "bad" aspect?
Is it possible to build a better SSRI without losing the effectiveness? SSRI's have never been happy pills. There are times when I need a bit of blunting, apathy, etc. and SSRI's work very well for me at those times. But eventually I get tired of the down side.
Posted by Tabitha Ðòñë ƒ£îþþëÐ on September 11, 2002, at 14:52:40
In reply to Side efffects or primary effects?, posted by Dinah on September 10, 2002, at 12:33:03
I read a long article by an MD suggesting that the blunting was the mode of operation, since it kills the guilt and rumination that creates depression.
I don't know though, there's something besides blunting going on for me. When really really depressed, my brain just feels dry and dead and horribly empty, and when the SSRIs kick in, it feels somehow full and fed and satisfied. Like a drink of water when you've been dehydrated. Maybe it's different for OCD though.
Posted by Dinah on September 11, 2002, at 17:45:16
In reply to Re: Side efffects or primary effects?, posted by Tabitha Ðòñë ƒ£îþþëÐ on September 11, 2002, at 14:52:40
An SSRI has never ever had that effect on me. The most positive thing it did was to calm my overstimulation. And pretty much eliminated my OCD thoughts. But it never made me feel good.
Dinah
This is the end of the thread.
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