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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nathan on June 14, 2001, at 9:19:12
I am going to start Prozac soon and would like to know your experiences with Zyprexa/Remeron for combating Prozac induced insomnia, over-stimulation/anxiety and sexual problems. I have been on Prozac in the past and experienced those side effects. Would Buspar be something to consider? Should I start one of these drugs at the same time as Prozac or wait a couple of weeks? Any insights would be much appreciated.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 14, 2001, at 12:09:27
In reply to Zyprexa vs Remeron for Prozac Augmentation, posted by Nathan on June 14, 2001, at 9:19:12
Here is a look at Remeron:
--It can be used for all types of depression, anxiety, OCD, and insomnia.
--It is convienient because it is taken only once at bedtime.
--It may improve libido and sexual performance (its the only medication that improves mine). Dr. Bob Hsieung's fellow doctors recommend it for sexual dysfunction.
--You can take Remeron with most antidepressants except MAOIs.
--It has none of the anticholinergic effects of SSRIs.
--It has gained recognition as a very useful medication from psychiatrists in only four years of FDA approval. I myself started Remeron at 60 mg right away and had no side-effects. I had no weight gain or sedation during the day. http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Mirtazapine-for-SSRI-ADRs.html
www.remeron.com http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/mirtaz.htmHere are the advantages of Zyprexa, as opposed to most antipsychotics and antidepressants:
--It will calm you down all day; when I took it, I thought it was better than a benzo.
--It has no anticholinergic effects.
--It has no sexual side-effects .
--It will definitely help you sleep.
--Zyprexa is convienient because it is taken only once at night.
--It is covered by insurance, generally.
--It augments antidepressants.
--Despite what rumors go around, Tardive Dyskinesia on Zyprexa is rare.
Posted by JohnL on June 16, 2001, at 5:23:31
In reply to Zyprexa vs Remeron for Prozac Augmentation, posted by Nathan on June 14, 2001, at 9:19:12
> I am going to start Prozac soon and would like to know your experiences with Zyprexa/Remeron for combating Prozac induced insomnia, over-stimulation/anxiety and sexual problems. I have been on Prozac in the past and experienced those side effects. Would Buspar be something to consider? Should I start one of these drugs at the same time as Prozac or wait a couple of weeks? Any insights would be much appreciated.
Forget the Buspar. Hardly anyone finds much benefit with that one. It looks good on paper, but that's about all.
I would put Zyprexa at the top of the list to combine with Prozac. I also commented more on this on a previous post of yours, farther up the page, so you might want to check that out also.
In your shoes I would start low and slow. For example, you could dump a capsule of Prozac into a glass of juice or water, stir it well, and drink 1/4 of it each day for a few days. Prozac is cool because you can customize your doses with the juice trick. Store the leftover mix in the fridge. Stir well each time before drinking, since the Prozac will settle to the bottom. Then you could up the dose to two 1/4 glasses a day, then three, and so on until you get up to 20mg. Anywhere along the way you could add 2.5mg Zyprexa, with a goal of working up to 5mg. Take Prozac with breakfast. Take Zyprexa after dinner or a couple hours before bedtime. For me Zyprexa completely eliminates Prozac insomnia and anxiety, though I must admit the anxiety actually increased for about a week and a half before it disappeared.
John
Posted by lawrence s. on June 17, 2001, at 23:07:21
In reply to Re: Zyprexa vs Remeron for Prozac Augmentation, posted by JohnL on June 16, 2001, at 5:23:31
> > I am going to start Prozac soon and would like to know your experiences with Zyprexa/Remeron for combating Prozac induced insomnia, over-stimulation/anxiety and sexual problems. I have been on Prozac in the past and experienced those side effects. Would Buspar be something to consider? Should I start one of these drugs at the same time as Prozac or wait a couple of weeks? Any insights would be much appreciated.
>
> Forget the Buspar. Hardly anyone finds much benefit with that one. It looks good on paper, but that's about all.
>
> I would put Zyprexa at the top of the list to combine with Prozac. I also commented more on this on a previous post of yours, farther up the page, so you might want to check that out also.
>
> In your shoes I would start low and slow. For example, you could dump a capsule of Prozac into a glass of juice or water, stir it well, and drink 1/4 of it each day for a few days. Prozac is cool because you can customize your doses with the juice trick. Store the leftover mix in the fridge. Stir well each time before drinking, since the Prozac will settle to the bottom. Then you could up the dose to two 1/4 glasses a day, then three, and so on until you get up to 20mg. Anywhere along the way you could add 2.5mg Zyprexa, with a goal of working up to 5mg. Take Prozac with breakfast. Take Zyprexa after dinner or a couple hours before bedtime. For me Zyprexa completely eliminates Prozac insomnia and anxiety, though I must admit the anxiety actually increased for about a week and a half before it disappeared.
> JohnI decided to give Zyprexa a try for augmenting Prozac and was greatly dissapionted. The first day it calmed me down and helped me sleep, but later in the week I started getting this scary,spaced out feeling which increased my self conciousness and social anxiety. Felt like I was wearing a chemical sraightjacket! Needless to say I stopped it right away and had to go back on benzodiazepines after that experience.
Posted by Bill L on June 18, 2001, at 8:51:21
In reply to Zyprexa vs Remeron for Prozac Augmentation, posted by Nathan on June 14, 2001, at 9:19:12
I never tried those 2 drugs. When Itook Prozac, I felt too agitated. For the past 15 months I have been on Celexa which is more calming (except for the first few weeks on it). So no agitation problems. In the first few weeks I took Kava which helped with the jittery feeling. For sexual effects, I take 120 mg Ginkgo twice a day (240 total) which works for me. But discontinue it if you have bleeding problems.
> I am going to start Prozac soon and would like to know your experiences with Zyprexa/Remeron for combating Prozac induced insomnia, over-stimulation/anxiety and sexual problems. I have been on Prozac in the past and experienced those side effects. Would Buspar be something to consider? Should I start one of these drugs at the same time as Prozac or wait a couple of weeks? Any insights would be much appreciated.
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