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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
Hi all!
I'm on Efexor but I couldn't take Risperdal with it because it caused tension and agitation. I'm gonna try Seroquel but if that doesn't work either I have to do something about Efexor. I was thinking that tricyclics might be the only other choice for me as SSRI's failed. Are tricyclics really dangerous? Are they safer than atypical anti-psychotics? I kind of have the impression that they have similar properties as atypicals. Is this true? Can they cause sleep disturbances (vivid dreams etc.) and make you not feel anything like Efexor does for me? Thanks for any information
Tiina
Posted by daizy on May 1, 2003, at 6:58:53
In reply to Need info about tricyclics, posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
> Hi all!
> I'm on Efexor but I couldn't take Risperdal with it because it caused tension and agitation. I'm gonna try Seroquel but if that doesn't work either I have to do something about Efexor. I was thinking that tricyclics might be the only other choice for me as SSRI's failed. Are tricyclics really dangerous? Are they safer than atypical anti-psychotics? I kind of have the impression that they have similar properties as atypicals. Is this true? Can they cause sleep disturbances (vivid dreams etc.) and make you not feel anything like Efexor does for me? Thanks for any information
> Tiina
Hey! Im on TCA's and I dont think they have anything like the type of side effects that Effexor, or AP's do. They aid sleep, and, touch wood, Ive not had any vivid dreams like I did when I was on effexor. I think that they are only dangerous at very high doses, or maybe Im just not clued up! I dont think its fair to compare them to AP's which have many more risks than TCA's do.
Posted by Paulie on May 1, 2003, at 9:28:56
In reply to Need info about tricyclics, posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
Hi Tina,
I have been on almost every tricyclic. Never had any major problem with them. Some are sedating and others have very little sedative effects. The more sedating ones are also great for insomnia. They made me drowsy in the morning but a cup of coffee would solve the problem in my case. Dry mouth is another problem I had with them but chewing gum can help with that. I have never been on SSRI's or Effexor so I cannot make a comparison. Elavil, the first one that I took, worked great for a while but then lost effectiveness after about a year. Since they all work by basically the same mechanism, it seemed that I had also built up a tolerance to the others. Another choice besides TCA's would be the MAOI's Nardil or Parnate. They often work when TCA's don't. You have to follow a low tyramine diet when on them. I have tried both Nardil and Parnate but had to discontinue them because of insomnia. Eveyone is different so this may not be problem for you.
Antipsychotics had a numbing effect on my brain.
TCA's had the opposite effect.Hope you find what your looking for-
Paul
Posted by stjames on May 1, 2003, at 17:51:26
In reply to Need info about tricyclics, posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
Are they safer than atypical anti-psychotics? I kind of have the impression that they have similar properties as atypicals. Is this true?
All psyco meds are safer than any AP.
Posted by Angel1 on May 2, 2003, at 5:38:28
In reply to Need info about tricyclics, posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
Hi Tina,
I take Desipramine or Norpramin(brand name) which
is a tricyclic. The side effects are minimal, maybe some dry mouth and mild constipation at first, but they have subsided. It is non-sedating and I actually lost weight on the generic form, Desipramine. It did raise my heart rate a little until I switched to the brand name-Norpramin. Norpramin is expensive, but worth it to me. I take 150mg, which is slightly on the low side. I know everyone reacts differently.....this is my experience. I've been on this medication for about a year now. Hope this helps in some way and good luck in finding something that works for you!
Posted by michael73 on May 4, 2003, at 1:34:40
In reply to Need info about tricyclics, posted by Tiina on May 1, 2003, at 2:16:51
I've tried all the SSRI's + Effexor, but onl Anafranil works for me. It has nothing like the Effexor electric shocks. It results in no dreams unless you have good results at a low dose. I do well on only 25mg a day. If you have bad results with a higher dose you might try a lower dose. Michael 73
Posted by Tiina on May 6, 2003, at 3:21:55
In reply to Re: Need info about tricyclics » Tiina, posted by Paulie on May 1, 2003, at 9:28:56
Hi Paulie and everyone else!
Paulie you said TCA's had a stimulating effect on your brain. What do you mean by that? Do they make you hyper? I don't like the way Efexor makes me not even get sleepy because it stimulates so much. I feel like I can't get any rest because it keeps my brain going so much even at night. I'm looking for something that wouldn't do that and could be taken with anti-psychotics. Can somebody help me with this?
Posted by Paulie on May 7, 2003, at 6:02:04
In reply to Re: How did TCA's make you feel?, posted by Tiina on May 6, 2003, at 3:21:55
Hi Tiina,
The TCA's didn't make me hyper. They just made me feel more alive and less depressed. If you have trouble sleeping the more sedating TCA's would be a good choice. All or most of the dose is usually given at bedtime. With me the sedative lasted about 7 or 8 hrs. I started Elavil at 25mg 3x during the day plus 100mg at bedtime. 25mg doesn't have much sedative effect but 50mg or more made me very drowsy within 11/2 - 2 hrs. The sedative effect is independent of the antidepressant effect. Elavil and Sinequan (a modified tricyclic) are the most sedating. Tofranil and Anafranil are moderately sedating but seem to have less side effects. Norpramin has very little or no sedative effect and probably the least amount of side effects.
If I were to start using a tricyclic again it would probably be Anafranil-it appears to be a stronger antidepressant than the others. I saw a psychopharmacologist in NYC over 20 yrs. ago and he recommended for me a combination of Anafranil and Ludiomil (a tetracyclic). He said that Anafranil targets serotonin very effectively and Ludiomil targets norepinephrine very effectively.
As far as I know the TCA's can be used in combination with almost all APs.Hope this answers some of your questions-
Paul
Posted by Questionmark on May 7, 2003, at 23:20:47
In reply to Re: How did TCA's make you feel?, posted by Tiina on May 6, 2003, at 3:21:55
> Hi Paulie and everyone else!
> Paulie you said TCA's had a stimulating effect on your brain. What do you mean by that? Do they make you hyper? I don't like the way Efexor makes me not even get sleepy because it stimulates so much. I feel like I can't get any rest because it keeps my brain going so much even at night. I'm looking for something that wouldn't do that and could be taken with anti-psychotics. Can somebody help me with this?You might want to lower your Effexor dose to some extent. It should be less stimulating the lower you go, yet still retain good SRI effects.
This is the end of the thread.
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