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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rxexploration on September 21, 2003, at 10:29:55
Has anyone had any luck combining Strattera with an SSRI for the management of depression and anxiety? Specifically, has anyone who enjoyed the mood brightening and anxiolytic effects of Effexor but couldn't tolerate its side effects found relief from such a combination?
I have tried several drug combinations over the past 10 years and have only experienced remission with Effexor. It made me feel like nothing had ever made me feel before. Effexor made me gain about 20 pounds, however, so I discontinued it about six months ago and am feeling miserable again (but did lose the weight). I really wish Cymbalta were available.
Posted by Kacy on September 21, 2003, at 17:37:48
In reply to Strattera + SSRI Experiences?, posted by rxexploration on September 21, 2003, at 10:29:55
Rxexploration: I take Effexor and Strattera. My experience may not help, though, because Effexor only did one thing for me. It has helped with what my psychiatrist calls "excessive ruminating". I went up to 225 mg and never got any additional benefits, just more side effects. I never had any mood brightening or anxiolytic effect.
I finally settled in at 112.5 mg of Effexor after considering the tradeoffs in side-effects and benefit. When I went on Strattera, I was able to drop to 75 mg of Effexor and get at least the benefit of 112.5 mg of Effexor. Strattera is a great anti-anxiety drug for me. I'm pretty classicly add/inattentive. The depression I have is related to anxiety or the life effects of add. When I started taking Strattera at night and lost its affects, anxiety set in and a stronger, anxiety-controlling depression came with it. (That's how I've come to understand it to be, anyway.)
Strattera works pretty quickly. You could try it.
On the weight note: I'm with you there. I didn't gain weight on Effexor but I found out I couldn't lose weight on it. Unfortunately, I had twenty extra pounds on when I started it. Actually, I did go up ten pounds a year into taking Effexor, but I'm not blaming that on the drug. (I wouldn't have still had the first twenty, though, that it added to. I lost that ten pounds.) I dieted well and couldn't lose until five weeks ago when, on a hopeful whim after reading one anecdotal report of weight loss with Tonalin CLA., I started taking it. So far, I've lost 4.5 pounds. I'm happy with that as a start. Fifteen and a half to go. However, after starting (See CLA thread in Alternative Psychobabble) I read an advisory about using it. I'm going to continue it, I think.
This is the end of the thread.
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