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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
Do they ever actually help with increasing pleasurable feelngs for anyone?
I know they can be calming. Or numbing. But do they ever help someone with feeling pleasure?
Posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:58:53
In reply to SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
> Do they ever actually help with increasing pleasurable feelngs for anyone?
> I know they can be calming. Or numbing. But do they ever help someone with feeling pleasure?
I'm talking about pleasure such as music sounding better. They may increase sex drive for some, but this could be due to being less nervous.
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2013, at 14:46:29
In reply to SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
poser many in real life that I personally know neighbors and what do very well on them and feel like themselves. So yes some and I think many do. You usually don't hear from those just out living their lives. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:03:09
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings » poser938, posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2013, at 14:46:29
As Phillipa said, many do well on them, its the dregs, people with anhedonia or severe endrogenous depression might do better on welbutrin or welbutrin + an ssri, but for many people with milder neurotic or reactive or anxious depressions, ssri's can be wonder drugs
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:14:23
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:03:09
Nortriptyline would be another good option
Posted by baseball55 on January 13, 2013, at 18:31:45
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:14:23
When I first started lexapro, I felt much better and within just a couple of weeks. But I don't know how much was the lexapro and how much was getting sober, starting therapy, going to AA. It all happened at once. I certainly never had any negative effects - blunting, loss of libido, etc. I mean, I was pretty much destroyed when I started, so really things could only get better.
Posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 21:00:04
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:14:23
> Nortriptyline would be another good option
No, I'm not planning on taking an ssri again. And I think
I've figured out I don't do well with an NRI. I was just really curious about if ssri's ever help with anhedonia-
Posted by jane d on January 13, 2013, at 23:41:39
In reply to SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
> Do they ever actually help with increasing pleasurable feelngs for anyone?
> I know they can be calming. Or numbing. But
do they ever help someone with feeling pleasure?Absolutely. They can.
Posted by jane d on January 13, 2013, at 23:44:32
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 13, 2013, at 17:03:09
> but for many people with milder neurotic or reactive or anxious depressions, ssri's can be wonder drugs
Wow. This is a bit condescending. It's also wrong. Or at least incomplete. I know firsthand that they do sometimes work for severe depression. They are certainly worth trying for anyone.
Posted by bleauberry on January 14, 2013, at 5:27:02
In reply to SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
I think they do, but rarely. The only two likely to have any shot at that at all, in my opinion, are prozac and zoloft. More than likely though, numbness is usually the outcome. That's because there isn't a counter-balance for norepinephrine. That's why I like Savella so much. It does everything ssri's do and then a lot more. I've been on it two months now and have zero numbness, feeling significantly improved. Seemed worthless for 8 weeks and then kicked in nice in week 9. Straight up ssris? I think that's a bad idea. Two things will avoid the numbness. First, the dose has to be low enough, which means it will take longer to kick in. Second, there has to be a NE and/or DA component. Serotonin alone will not do the job and can actually make things worse.
Posted by SLS on January 14, 2013, at 6:50:40
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by bleauberry on January 14, 2013, at 5:27:02
Hi BB.
> I think they do, but rarely. The only two likely to have any shot at that at all, in my opinion, are prozac and zoloft. More than likely though, numbness is usually the outcome. That's because there isn't a counter-balance for norepinephrine. That's why I like Savella so much. It does everything ssri's do and then a lot more. I've been on it two months now and have zero numbness, feeling significantly improved. Seemed worthless for 8 weeks and then kicked in nice in week 9. Straight up ssris? I think that's a bad idea. Two things will avoid the numbness. First, the dose has to be low enough, which means it will take longer to kick in. Second, there has to be a NE and/or DA component. Serotonin alone will not do the job and can actually make things worse.
I still contend that Effexor is more effective than Savella when treating depression and anxiety disorders. At therapeutic dosages, Effexor is a balanced reuptake inhibitor of both SERT and NET. In vitro work with synaptosomes does not tell the whole story of the pharmacodynamics in vivo.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23090625
- Scott
Posted by Deneb on January 14, 2013, at 17:25:02
In reply to SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by poser938 on January 13, 2013, at 12:44:31
SSRI's (Zoloft and Prozac are the only ones I've ever taken) don't seem to really increase feelings of pleasure for me, but they do seem to numb my negative feelings a bit.
It's hard to tell because I'm one of those persons who doesn't really get any side effects or is aware of how I feel.
Now that I'm off all SSRI's and meds I'm finding there is a bit of a difference. I'm way more sensitive when it comes to reading tragic stories. I cry very easy, and sometimes I don't even know what triggers it. It's not a problem though because it doesn't affect me much.
For example, I just read about that Swartz guy, the young man who killed himself recently and I just find the whole story so tragic that I can't help but cry every time I think of it. But, I don't cry when crying would be inappropriate, like at work. It's kind of weird.
When I was still on SSRI's, that type of crying didn't happen often. I was more numb.
Pdoc doesn't think this is a problem because it probably just means I'm a bit sensitive. It's not affecting my life negatively. It's normal, just a part of the human condition.
Posted by poser938 on January 14, 2013, at 17:34:12
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by Deneb on January 14, 2013, at 17:25:02
>
Yeah full emotions are much better. We are supposed to cry. This might sound funny but I love crying ever once in a while. It maked you feel alive.SSRI's (Zoloft and Prozac are the only ones I've ever taken) don't seem to really increase feelings of pleasure for me, but they do seem to numb my negative feelings a bit.
>
> It's hard to tell because I'm one of those persons who doesn't really get any side effects or is aware of how I feel.
>
> Now that I'm off all SSRI's and meds I'm finding there is a bit of a difference. I'm way more sensitive when it comes to reading tragic stories. I cry very easy, and sometimes I don't even know what triggers it. It's not a problem though because it doesn't affect me much.
>
> For example, I just read about that Swartz guy, the young man who killed himself recently and I just find the whole story so tragic that I can't help but cry every time I think of it. But, I don't cry when crying would be inappropriate, like at work. It's kind of weird.
>
> When I was still on SSRI's, that type of crying didn't happen often. I was more numb.
>
> Pdoc doesn't think this is a problem because it probably just means I'm a bit sensitive. It's not affecting my life negatively. It's normal, just a part of the human condition.
>
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 14, 2013, at 18:55:03
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings » jono_in_adelaide, posted by jane d on January 13, 2013, at 23:44:32
It wasnt meant to be condescending, its just that there is a school of thought which I think is right, that the more endrogenous/biological features you have to your deopression, the more likely you are to need a drug that hits noradrenalin, or seretonin and noradrenalin together 9hence such combos as Welbutrin or nortriptyline with an SSRI, or the use of drugs such as Effexor or Remeron
> > but for many people with milder neurotic or reactive or anxious depressions, ssri's can be wonder drugs
>
> Wow. This is a bit condescending. It's also wrong. Or at least incomplete. I know firsthand that they do sometimes work for severe depression. They are certainly worth trying for anyone.
>
>
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 22, 2013, at 8:56:10
In reply to Re: SSRI's and pleasure feelings, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 14, 2013, at 18:55:03
As you see, there is little agreement on this matter. During my first round on Lexapro my I was wide open to pleasure--enjoyed listening to music, laughed long and hard, good sex, social skills decent(that would be a 200% increase).
Because our brain chemistries are distinct messes it's difficult to say what might get you there.stages when i experience no pleasure or have no reward system are brutal for me. I can only advise that you pamper yourself--warm baths, dim lights, beautiful music, favorite aromas/scents, maybe listen to a book to love on CD.
Something will find its way in.
Hang in there
This is the end of the thread.
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