Posted by glenn on June 2, 2000, at 12:48:43
In reply to Same side effect to everything I try - agitation, posted by Barker on June 1, 2000, at 17:44:05
> Hi - I very suddenly started experiencing depression along with other menopausal symptoms 3 year ago. It has since varied from mild to quite intense. Problem has been that everything I try has the same side effect within days to a couple of weeks - agitation, sometimes intense, often accompanied by a feeling of being extremely hot/feverish (quite different from hot flashes) and frequently with baseless mental/emotional anxiety. Estrogen does this - more intense in direct relationship to the dosage. St. John's Wort resulted in agitation, Zoloft in severe agitation and heat sensation (of course I was also taking St John's Wort and Estrogen when I tried it - with my then Doctor's knowledge). Phenylalanine also caused a similar reaction. I am fearful of trying new things. I have even weaned off estrogen with the result that the anxiety has decreased markedly -- however the depression has become more intense as I weaned off and is now essentially constant. Not to mention that other menopausal symptoms have returned, including night sweats. What does one do when antidepressant substances result in intolerable agitation? Is this common? It seems to point out to me that the cause of my depression is not related to a lack of serotonin, and that antidepressant substances, even estrogen (which I have read does potentiate the effect of anti-depressants) are over-increasing serotonin action in my brain?
>
> Barker
-i have a very similar response, even to same which i am currently trying, the only meds which didnt do this for me were remeron and dothiepin, however they didnt do anything else either, i think johnl may be right and a gaba med might be worth a try, if you are not kenn on benzos then gabitril and topamax may be worth trying, seems like i may have to go this way after i try amisulpride
good luck , i like john ls approach, as he says it gives hope!
all the best
glenn
poster:glenn
thread:35580
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000526/msgs/35678.html