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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 adamie on July 12, 2001, at 14:51:19
hi. I have recently been struck by a severe and at one point suicidal depression due to an acne drug called accutane. I was on it for 5 weeks and realized my mood was sliding. I stopped taking it but it was too late, the depression didn't go away and got worse as the drug was still in my system. And I am now on paxil for 17 days along with some sam-e. I have recently been getting a bit better but there's still an extremely long way to go.As depression goes away do loving emotions return? My fiance has always meant everything to me and before this depression I couldn't be any happier. But the depression severely limits my emotions and it's hard to feel for her just like it is hard to feel emotions towards anything. As people recover from depression do they have their loving feelings restored? Or is there a numbing effect as I have heard from ssri's? Is this numbing effect significant? Will I be able to feel very significant love again? Please reply.
Posted by Janelle on July 13, 2001, at 1:29:21
In reply to Depression and Loving Emotions, posted by adamie on July 12, 2001, at 14:51:19
YES, loving and other emotions WILL return when you are no longer feeling depressed.
>
> hi. I have recently been struck by a severe and at one point suicidal depression due to an acne drug called accutane. I was on it for 5 weeks and realized my mood was sliding. I stopped taking it but it was too late, the depression didn't go away and got worse as the drug was still in my system. And I am now on paxil for 17 days along with some sam-e. I have recently been getting a bit better but there's still an extremely long way to go.
>
> As depression goes away do loving emotions return? My fiance has always meant everything to me and before this depression I couldn't be any happier. But the depression severely limits my emotions and it's hard to feel for her just like it is hard to feel emotions towards anything. As people recover from depression do they have their loving feelings restored? Or is there a numbing effect as I have heard from ssri's? Is this numbing effect significant? Will I be able to feel very significant love again? Please reply.
Posted by pellmell on July 13, 2001, at 20:48:50
In reply to Depression and Loving Emotions, posted by adamie on July 12, 2001, at 14:51:19
adamie,
As the drug I'm taking (Effexor) has started to do its work, my relationship with my girlfriend has only gotten better. I can enjoy being with her now, with far fewer anxious thoughts and feelings of worthlessness. When I'm with her now I'm starting to be able to talk without thinking I'm dumb, and not panic and think I'm doing something wrong when we hold each other in silence. I can say "I love you," and really mean it.
I hope the same sort of thing happens in your life as Paxil starts to help.
Yes, SSRIs can cause emotional numbing, although I don't know how common this side-effect is. Either way, the numbness you're feeling right now is almost certainly a symptom of your depression rather than a side-effect of paroxetine. When you're feeling SSRI-induced emotional numbness, at least in my experience, you'll feel generally content or even happy, but rather apathetic about what's going on around you. You seem to lack the first quality. I've taken many serotonergic drugs (Zoloft, Serzone, Prozac, Remeron, and Effexor), and only felt that way on Prozac. As always, YMMV. Some maintain their full range of emotion on Prozac, though that wasn't my experience.
The Paxil should start working within another 17 days. I really hope it's the drug for you.
Good luck, and keep in touch.
-pm
>
> hi. I have recently been struck by a severe and at one point suicidal depression due to an acne drug called accutane. I was on it for 5 weeks and realized my mood was sliding. I stopped taking it but it was too late, the depression didn't go away and got worse as the drug was still in my system. And I am now on paxil for 17 days along with some sam-e. I have recently been getting a bit better but there's still an extremely long way to go.
>
> As depression goes away do loving emotions return? My fiance has always meant everything to me and before this depression I couldn't be any happier. But the depression severely limits my emotions and it's hard to feel for her just like it is hard to feel emotions towards anything. As people recover from depression do they have their loving feelings restored? Or is there a numbing effect as I have heard from ssri's? Is this numbing effect significant? Will I be able to feel very significant love again? Please reply.
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