Posted by brussell on December 9, 2003, at 22:31:31
In reply to Any antidepressants that don't make you drugged??, posted by John2222 on December 8, 2003, at 9:40:28
> Are there any anti-depressants that don't make you feel drugged/foggy?
>
> I took Effexor XR for the last year and half and while it lifted the depression/anxiety, I slept a lot, took naps a lot. I didn't seem to care or have the anxiety, so I guess it cured that.
>
> I have over long time tapered off that, and now I'm taking Wellbutrin 150XL. While I don't feel drugged or foggy or spacy, I am feeling kind of sad and lonely again.
>
> I tried Zoloft about 10 years ago which helped, but felt an "emotional blunting" with it too.
>
> Is the only answer "feel the emotions and depression" or don't feel anything???
>
> Any AD's that arent so much one or the other?
>
> *john*
>
I can really relate to your dilemma. I am an artist and have had to quit AD's numerous times because they made me foggy or emotionally numb. The SSRI's are well known to have this effect. I also had bad results with Remeron (horrible) and Effexor.Welbutrin is the only current generation drug that helps with depression and doesn't make me feel impaired. You should definitely try 300mg a day. That is considered a normal theraputic dose. Since welbutrin tends not to blunt emotions, you will definitely feel sad and lonely sometimes. Hopefully you will be able to relieve these emotions like most non-depressed persons can (spending time with friends, favorite hobbies, etc.)
If, like me, you find that Welbutrin doesn't do enough to control the depression you might want to consider a MAOI like Parnate or Nardil. I have just started Parnate a few days ago, so it's too early to tell how much AD effect it will have. I am excited, though, since it is the first AD I've tried since Welbutrin that doesn't impair my creativity or make me feel drugged or *unable* to feel miserable. (Feeling miserable sometimes is part of being human--the key word being *sometimes*) :-)
As a previous poster mentioned, everyone responds slightly (or very) differently to these drugs. You might have great results from another current generation combo. If nothing seems to be working start thinking about a MAOI. Many pdocs are scared of them because of the dietary restrictions (which have not been a problem for me) but they have been lifesavers for many.
Best Wishes
poster:brussell
thread:287651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/288197.html