Posted by barbaracat on March 24, 2005, at 13:21:23
In reply to Re: Lithium » barbaracat, posted by ed_uk on March 24, 2005, at 12:51:40
> >I was on sertraline for years and liked it better than most of the SSRI type meds.
>
> In what way did you prefer it to other SSRIs?**It was smoother. I started taking it in 1986. Started out with Prozac after having taken some TCA's and trazodone. Prozac switched me into a nasty mixed state mania. Sertraline was noticeably easier, although I had to start out with a very small dose (I think 25mg instead of the standard 50mg) and work up slowly. I went through some typical bipolar/SSRI upheaval for about 2 weeks and then it calmed down and provided a good AD response for a number of years.
During the 9 years I was on it, off and on, it fizzled out and the dose kept rising. At one point I was taking 300mg for almost 2 years, which is way too high. Kept getting panic attacks and typical mixed states symptoms, but didn't know that I was bipolar and pdoc kept raising the dose of sertraline to handle 'depressive disorder'. I tried most of the other SSRI/SNRI type meds (again not knowing I was bipolar) as well but kept coming back to sertraline because of it's relatively mild ride.
I am currently taking Cymbalta (duloxetine) and am very happy with it's AD response. Don't know if it's out in the UK yet, as it's very new here, although sometimes you get them first. It has a very strong immediate NE response and is purported to address pain syndromes (like my fibromyalgia condition). I think it targets different receptor sites than the usual SS meds. But I have to go extremely slowly with this one.
I believe I mentioned the bizarre psychedelic effects I got with 30mg. I took alot of bravery to even consider ramping down to a new starting dose of 3 pellets. I'm now up to 12 pellets out of a capsule of 30mg, probably less than .5mg.
A few others on this board are experiencing similar effects at miniscule dosing. So far, this is the best AD I've been on. Effective lifting of a severe depression, doesn't cause mania, no sx (not at this dose at least) - and talk about cost effective! One capsule has lasted over 2 weeks. Since it's such a new med (put out by Lilly) and being heavily marketed, there must be a way as a pharmacy student to obtain some if you wanted to give it a try. - Barbara
>
> >I hope you continue to feel good and that nasty depression doesn't return.
>
> Thank you :-) I hope you stay well too.
>
> /Ed
poster:barbaracat
thread:461961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050322/msgs/474997.html