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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 20:33:33
I started a low dose of imipramine last week ... haven't felt anything yet but I am scared of weight gain.
I don't know why I keep trying meds when nothing works.
Maxime
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 25, 2007, at 20:57:06
In reply to Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 20:33:33
Maxime,
I'm just glad you keep trying.
Hugs,
MidnightBlue
Posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 21:04:20
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by MidnightBlue on May 25, 2007, at 20:57:06
Maxime just keep trying one of them will work for you. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 21:18:44
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by MidnightBlue on May 25, 2007, at 20:57:06
> Maxime,
>
> I'm just glad you keep trying.
>
> Hugs,
> MidnightBlueThanks. :)
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 21:21:22
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 21:04:20
> Maxime just keep trying one of them will work for you. Love Phillipa
I don't know Phillipa, I really seem to be treatment-resistent. Nothing left to try. No one every wanted me to be on imipramine because it can make your heart do funky things. My psychiatrist can tell I am desperate so he is willing to let me try it.
Maxime
Posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 21:33:37
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 21:21:22
Is Scott can do it so can you get better and I will keep you in my prayers. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:02:49
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 21:33:37
> Is Scott can do it so can you get better and I will keep you in my prayers. Love Phillipa
Thank you. I hope God is listening.
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:21:26
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 21:33:37
> Is Scott can do it so can you get better and I will keep you in my prayers. Love Phillipa
Scott's doing better?
maxime
Posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2007, at 22:26:36
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:21:26
Last he wrote he was in remission that would take quite a while to complete as his depression has lasted so long. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:43:40
In reply to Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 20:33:33
I am suppose to be taking the Nortriptaline with the imipramine but I am stockpiling them which is what I will probably do with the imipramine eventually.
I can't deal.
Maxime
Posted by Jesus is Savior on May 25, 2007, at 23:12:52
In reply to Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 20:33:33
> I started a low dose of imipramine last week ... haven't felt anything yet but I am scared of weight gain.
>
> I don't know why I keep trying meds when nothing works.
>
> Maxime
>
> I was on imipramine in the 80's and didn't gain an ounce...so weight gain may not be a problem for you.-MJ
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 16:45:18
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:43:40
Hi Maxie
After many years of illness, Scott is doing better. I emailed him a while back, he said his symptoms improved a lot once he found the right treatment. I think he is taking Nardil + high-dose nortriptyline.
You must find the right treatment too Maxie. Don't stockpile your meds, take them. Your doc can monitor your ECG while you're on imipramine. I hope he is doing this.
Love
K
Posted by Phillipa on May 26, 2007, at 18:50:08
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 16:45:18
Isn't Scott on abilfy too? Love PJ O
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 19:09:47
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » kaleidoscope, posted by Phillipa on May 26, 2007, at 18:50:08
Yes, AFAIK. I think Nardil and nortriptyline are the main meds which helped him though.
xx
Posted by Racer on May 27, 2007, at 15:54:00
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 22:43:40
> I am suppose to be taking the Nortriptaline with the imipramine but I am stockpiling them which is what I will probably do with the imipramine eventually.
>I know you know this, Maxie, but if you don't take them, they can't help you...
Nortriptyline isn't a drug I think is great for you. It does tend to cause weight gain -- and you know I know how that affects you, right? ;-) Have you tried desipramine? That's supposed to cause a lot less weight gain...
As for why you keep trying drugs when they haven't helped in the past, I think it's for two reasons: reason one is that some of them *have* helped you in the past, which kinda suggests that it's possible for others to help in the future.
And the real reason I think you keep trying is that *you want to go on living, and you want to feel better while you do.* I can't emphasize that enough -- especially because right now I'm feeling better, too, so I can look back and see that I kept trying because no matter how discouraged I got, I still *wanted* to live. I didn't want the alternative.
For what it's worth, my own improvement came with the addition of a dietary supplement "prescribed" by my pdoc -- SAMe. He said that it shouldn't be taken without something to control homocysteine levels. He is prescribing Metanx to me, to do that. Adding the SAMe to the other drugs I'm on seems to have done the trick. That's only me, though, so I'm not suggesting you try it. It might be worth discussing with your pdoc, though. If you're desperate, and it has a chance at helping, it might be worth a try, no?
Good luck, and let me know how you're doing, 'K?
Posted by Maxime on May 27, 2007, at 19:44:10
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 16:45:18
Hi Dimples. :)
No, my pdoc isn't monitoring my heart. I am taking the imipramine for now.
I am happy for Scott ... he deserves to feel better.
xx
Maxie
> Hi Maxie
>
> After many years of illness, Scott is doing better. I emailed him a while back, he said his symptoms improved a lot once he found the right treatment. I think he is taking Nardil + high-dose nortriptyline.
>
> You must find the right treatment too Maxie. Don't stockpile your meds, take them. Your doc can monitor your ECG while you're on imipramine. I hope he is doing this.
>
> Love
>
> K
Posted by Maxime on May 27, 2007, at 19:45:11
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by Jesus is Savior on May 25, 2007, at 23:12:52
Thanks MJ, that's good to hear. :)
Maxime
> >
> > I was on imipramine in the 80's and didn't gain an ounce...so weight gain may not be a problem for you.
>
> -MJ
>
>
Posted by Maxime on May 27, 2007, at 19:51:45
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by Racer on May 27, 2007, at 15:54:00
I know Racer, but it's hard. I didn't feel any affect from the Nortriptyline after several weeks, but my appetite DID increase. I am still taking the imipramine for now.
I have heard of SAMe, and I have thought about taking it. But the problem with natural remedies is you don't know how much of the stuff you are really getting.
I tried Desipramine and it made me lactate and the urinary retention was VERY bad.
Two meds have helped my mood: Parnate and Prozac. Out of EVERYTHING I have tried. The Adderall XR helps by giving me energy, but it doesn't enhance my mood.
What are the other meds you take?
Maxie
> I know you know this, Maxie, but if you don't take them, they can't help you...
>
> Nortriptyline isn't a drug I think is great for you. It does tend to cause weight gain -- and you know I know how that affects you, right? ;-) Have you tried desipramine? That's supposed to cause a lot less weight gain...
>
> As for why you keep trying drugs when they haven't helped in the past, I think it's for two reasons: reason one is that some of them *have* helped you in the past, which kinda suggests that it's possible for others to help in the future.
>
> And the real reason I think you keep trying is that *you want to go on living, and you want to feel better while you do.* I can't emphasize that enough -- especially because right now I'm feeling better, too, so I can look back and see that I kept trying because no matter how discouraged I got, I still *wanted* to live. I didn't want the alternative.
>
> For what it's worth, my own improvement came with the addition of a dietary supplement "prescribed" by my pdoc -- SAMe. He said that it shouldn't be taken without something to control homocysteine levels. He is prescribing Metanx to me, to do that. Adding the SAMe to the other drugs I'm on seems to have done the trick. That's only me, though, so I'm not suggesting you try it. It might be worth discussing with your pdoc, though. If you're desperate, and it has a chance at helping, it might be worth a try, no?
>
> Good luck, and let me know how you're doing, 'K?
>
>
Posted by sophia04 on May 30, 2007, at 0:41:21
In reply to Now imipramine, posted by Maxime on May 25, 2007, at 20:33:33
Imipramine was the *one* drug that blasted away 5 years of treatment resistant depression. and I tried everything prior. It worked well for me for about 3 years. Good luck, it is kind of a hard drug to take. i ended up w/ a dose of 275 mg.
Posted by Maxime on June 2, 2007, at 23:45:56
In reply to Re: Now imipramine, posted by sophia04 on May 30, 2007, at 0:41:21
That's a high dosage you were on. What do you mean by "it's a hard drug to take"? Were there certain side effects you had trouble tolerating.
I'm only on 25 mg and feeling nothing.
Maxime
> Imipramine was the *one* drug that blasted away 5 years of treatment resistant depression. and I tried everything prior. It worked well for me for about 3 years. Good luck, it is kind of a hard drug to take. i ended up w/ a dose of 275 mg.
Posted by sophia04 on June 4, 2007, at 23:53:25
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » sophia04, posted by Maxime on June 2, 2007, at 23:45:56
I eventually got up to 275mgs after about 6 months. I believe I started feeling antidepressant effects within the first month on about 100 mgs. It was the first TCA I tried so it seemed to be harder to take than the ssris. The side effects were dry mouth - some say your dose isn't high enough unless you have dry mouth (mine eventually went away), chronic constipation, dizziness when standing up, difficulty waking in the morning - no prob sleeping though!! Beware, it is pure hell the next day if you miss your dose!
However, I've been on parnate for about 8 weeks and nothing compares to the difficulities of taking this drug. It has been surreal w/ WAY too many side effects to even list.
Good luck!
Posted by Maxime on June 9, 2007, at 20:17:21
In reply to Re: Now imipramine » Maxime, posted by sophia04 on June 4, 2007, at 23:53:25
Thanks for your response.
I'm up to 50 mg a day now. Still no effects really.
I was on Parnate for a long time and then it stopped working for me. I had limited side effects with it as well. I hope it works for you.
Maxime
> I eventually got up to 275mgs after about 6 months. I believe I started feeling antidepressant effects within the first month on about 100 mgs. It was the first TCA I tried so it seemed to be harder to take than the ssris. The side effects were dry mouth - some say your dose isn't high enough unless you have dry mouth (mine eventually went away), chronic constipation, dizziness when standing up, difficulty waking in the morning - no prob sleeping though!! Beware, it is pure hell the next day if you miss your dose!
>
> However, I've been on parnate for about 8 weeks and nothing compares to the difficulities of taking this drug. It has been surreal w/ WAY too many side effects to even list.
>
> Good luck!
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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