Adding an SSRI questions?

[Tomlehmann]

Hi everyone, so I feel like my life has been transformed thanks to the Vyvanse. However my anxiety has increased and today my doc prescribed Lexapro 10 mg. I have been taking St. Johns Wort and it has helped with mood and depression but not at all with anxiety. My Doc says that is normal, it's more of an anti-depressant than anti-anxiety. Anyways I'm going to start it tomorrow.

Does anyone else take an SSRI with their stim? Does it change the way the stim works? Also, is it safe to take both? What can I expect if anyone takes Lexapro? Also I'm worried I'm going to become depressed again because I will be no longer on the SJW and it takes a while for the Lex to start working. Already thanks, hope everyone is doing well.

Tom

[btdt]

I do not know much about other drugs but I know about ssris and they are bad drugs. Side effects include long term ssri induced sexual disfunction. Some people still have no sex 10 years after quitting this drug not to mention horrid adverse reactions and withdrawal. So not worth it do a search on ssri/snri sexual dysfunction if you don't beleive me. There are websites and blogs all over the net from folks that have learned the hard way to mention just a few paxilprogress.org effexoractivist.org be sure u search dot org not dot com as the dot com has two completely different sites. Seems doctors are missing a page out of the pill book where these drugs are concerned. Don't be surprised to find people in the honely moon stage of taking these pills to rave about how great they are I was once one of them but they have a down side that is so much worse than any benefit you could possibly get from them. One post on paxilprogress called antidepressantfacts.com/pineal suggests they work in the beginning by raping you adrenal glands but once these glands are depleted you are a mess untill they rejuvinate which takes years. There are new things for depression so many new therapies that do not include drugs I suggest you try ALL of them the drugs suck.

[CptNemo]

Originally Posted by btdt

I do not know much about other drugs but I know about ssris and they are bad drugs.

All drugs have side effects.
They affect everyone a little differently.
I feel bad for people that have really bad consequences.
That said,I strongly disagree with such a blanket statement.

I would guess that a large majority of people on this forum take some form of ssri.
Also,lexapro does work to reduce anxiety.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexapro
I would strongly suggest you take the advice of your doc,after you let him know your concerns.
Best of luck,and do a search for more info.

[meadd823]

To the member who wrote the initial post many people take stimulants with antidepressants with good effect. But no matter what any one else experiences you will never know how the combination of medications will effect you until you try them. Medications are rarely the sole answer for long term successful treatment of ADD or depression – Life style changes must accompany medication use for the best possible treatment outcome in both conditions

Originally Posted by btdt

I do not know much about other drugs but I know about ssris and they are bad drugs. Side effects include long term ssri induced sexual disfunction. Some people still have no sex 10 years after quitting this drug not to mention horrid adverse reactions and withdrawal. So not worth it do a search on ssri/snri sexual dysfunction if you don't beleive me. There are websites and blogs all over the net from folks that have learned the hard way to mention just a few paxilprogress.org effexoractivist.org be sure u search dot org not dot com as the dot com has two completely different sites. Seems doctors are missing a page out of the pill book where these drugs are concerned. Don't be surprised to find people in the honely moon stage of taking these pills to rave about how great they are I was once one of them but they have a down side that is so much worse than any benefit you could possibly get from them. One post on paxilprogress called antidepressantfacts.com/pineal suggests they work in the beginning by raping you adrenal glands but once these glands are depleted you are a mess untill they rejuvinate which takes years. There are new things for depression so many new therapies that do not include drugs I suggest you try ALL of them the drugs suck.

It is a tradition of sorts around here that when some one makes claims that seem a bit "extreme" we ask that they provide their source of information

The following please preferably from reputable scientific peer reviewed publications.

1) anti-depressants paxil specifically causes libido loss for a decade preferably on humans but I will entertain studies on primates or rats

2) Effects of paxil on adrenal glands

3) Regarding adrenal glad effects connected specifically to use of medication as opposed to adrenal gland being part of problem that caused symptoms medication was prescribed to address


4) studies evidencing that side effects out weight the benefit of medication

5) Physiological causes behind the need to use scare tactics on Internet forums.


As far as doctors missing a page I have never known a doctor to yank some one of long term antidepressant therapy without a step down titration process. Even busy family practitioners know better. The medical community has been advocating diet and exercise for so long it is a clique. The medical community openly stated for several years now that medications are never the only answer to long term treatment for depression {or ADD for that matter} Getting follow up with the entire ball of wax can be over whelming for both patient and doctor which is why therapist or a life coach may also be of assistance.

Depression Treatment

back to btdt -

Paxil progress dot org think you mentioned that in your other post too so I looked it up it is owned by a Darcy Baston who has a book on the market "paxil withdraw guide" as well this on-line community you speak of.

Seeing as you are on here promoting her site do you think she would mind if I popped over to her community so I can promote this one. Turn about is fair play is it not.

[Barliman]

I'm with meadd on this.
SSRIs have their specific uses- and the biggest one in mybooks is "stuckness" or obsessional- opppositional type behaviour. They play a direct role in down regulating the anteiror cingulate gyrus- and reduce the significance or urgency of many pressing concerns. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing- depends on you. Sometimes that anxiety that "this house is on fire and I need to get out now" feeling is good for you-but sometimes it overwhelms your judgement.
The drugs are short acting though- other than Prozac, and there is no biochemical reason why there should be ongoing effects. St. John's wort is an SSRI- and I really do not know that it has been proven that the drug company offferings are much better than it. SSRIs also have a lesser effect on the pathways that mediate depression- but an SSRI/SNRI combination may be better for some in this situation.

This article provides some very worthwhile commentary on the issue- so far as I am aware no medical paper has had the nerve to publish it:
http://www.simonsobo.com/pursuing-tr...evidence-based

[Tomlehmann]

I must admit, the first poster did scare me quite a bit. However I went ahead and took the lexapro. 2 days now, granted a very small starting dose 5 mg. I haven't noticed any side effects at all though. Nothing, no sexual, no hunger, no head ache. It's pretty weird. I took Zoloft and it turned me into a zombie who wanted to eat all the time.

Is it possible that since I have been taking St. Johns my serotonin levels are already high that's why I have no side effects. Also, I feel less anxious. It's weird but I have a theory that the St. Johns and the vyvanse were interacting. They are not sure how St. Johns works but I don't have that feeling of panic or racing thoughts anymore.

Strange, I'm going to keep taking the Lex and see if I notice anything different in 2-3 weeks. Thanks a lot for your kind words everyone.

Tom

[CptNemo]

Originally Posted by Tomlehmann

I must admit, the first poster did scare me quite a bit. However I went ahead and took the lexapro. 2 days now, granted a very small starting dose 5 mg. I haven't noticed any side effects at all though. Nothing, no sexual, no hunger, no head ache. It's pretty weird. I took Zoloft and it turned me into a zombie who wanted to eat all the time.

Glad things are going well!
Please re-read the response of the Moderator (Mead823),to the first poster,if their comments seem unbiased or are still worrying you!

It usually takes me longer than 4 weeks to really get the full effect from ssri's and I do tend to gain a little weight.
Everyone is different with the side effects,but you might not want to eat donuts before bedtime.

[meadd823]

I must admit, the first poster did scare me quite a bit.

This is why scare tactics bother me so much. Life is stressful enough even with the best of information People asking questions need genuine information and some people take advantage of that need.

Using ominous wording while making extreme claims is a sigh of some one looking to frighten people to fulfill a personal agenda - A behavior I find rather inconsiderate.

People have bad effects from antidepressants, hell people have bad effects from foods, particles in the air ect This is because any thing that has an effect on the body can have a bad one.

Honestly is encouraged, even if it is negative truth but I think the first response was promoting another community in a not so ethical manner, so it would seem at this moment in time.

Is it possible that since I have been taking St. Johns my serotonin levels are already high that's why I have no side effects. Also, I feel less anxious

Combining antidepressant medications with this herbal supplement may not be a good idea I would definitely ask a pharmacist or doctor before using these two in combination - below is a hyperlink from the University of Maryland about st Johns wort and list of medication it might interact with.

Possible Interactions with: St. John's Wort

.......

[Tomlehmann]

Yes well, I stopped taking the st. Johns the day I started taking the Lex. The web is full of scary stories about SSRIs but I have noticed nothing. I read all about them and got my anxiety level sky high only to feel the same as I always do.

I guess I was afraid the Lexapro was going to change the way I think or turn me into a monster or something. I still feel exactly the same and have no noticeable side effects. I feel like these drugs are blown way out of proportion especially if someone starts at a low dose and works their way up. It would be crazy to start at 20 mg or something. The only thing I've noticed is I went out for drinks tonight and felt really drunk after 3 beers. I stopped then so it was strange, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Also in the morning before I take my medication I feel weird, like kind of out of it, in a dream. I have a feeling that's the Vyvanse though and not Lexapro.

The question with the St. Johns is that since I have been on it for about 6 months, maybe my serotonin levels were already high and that's why I have no side effects. I don't know, I have had side effects with every drug I have ever taken but not Lexapro. Also, it may be in my head but my anxiety is definatly down since I have stopped taking St. John's Wort. Maybe St. Johns and Vyvanse interacted on certain brain chemicals in my mind to make me more anxious. Who knows? anyways doing well so far, hopefully this is the start of me getting my life on track.