Posted by azalea on September 23, 2008, at 15:48:33
In reply to Reboxetine vs Effexor, Cymbalta, posted by Tony P on September 23, 2008, at 14:24:59
I don't think Reboxetine would be a good substitute for Cymbalta. Cymbalta inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake, while reboxetine inhibits norepinephrine reuptake only. Perhaps combining Lexapro + Reboxetine would be a good solution. Kind of like making your own Cymbalta.
Also, are you taking both Seroquel and Remeron at night? This could cause hypersomnia.
Have you tried Wellbutrin (buproprion)? It is generally an energizing anti-depressant, best taken in the morning.
> Does anyone have any experience in substituting Reboxetine for Effexor or Cymbalta, e.g. relative dose/ potency?
>
> I have been on Cymbalta 60 mg/day + Remeron 30 mg/night for several months & became concerned both re continuing weight gain and (I thought) liver pain one night. As I am between pdocs and am having trouble getting in to see my MD, I tapered the Cymbalta to 30 mg./day & started to cut it out altogether (but didn't in the end, just skipped a few days).
>
> To substitute for the lower Cymbalta I tried various meds & supplements, including Reboxetine (Ne agonist) 8 mg/day, SAMe oral .4 - 1.2/day, 5-HTP 100 mg/day, Selegeline 5-10 mg (only on days I took no Cymbalta).
>
> The most consistent one I kept up was the Reboxetine @ 8 mg/day. However, I got progressively more depressed over about 2-3 weeks, started isolating, sleeping a lot, missing commitments etc.
>
> Does anyone have experience with coming off Cymbalta (or Effexor which I presume would be similar) and substituting Reboxetine? The latter is not an ideal solution if I do have to stop the Cymbalta as it's not available in Canada so I'd have to import -- expensive & chancy.
>
> However, apart from the supplements, and Selegeline which is risky in combination, about the only other possibilities are Effexor, which I found gave me very high mid-day anxiety (fairly short trial -- 3 months?), and Cipralex/Lexapro, which was very low in S/E but didn't give me the boost in energy that Cymbalta did.
>
> I'm also wondering if my depression/apathy/hypersomnia in the past week or so might be because I'm taking Seroquel every night (25-50 mg) instead of just occasionally.
>
> Any suggestions?? I see my MD Thursday, if I can force myself out of bed....
>
> Tony P
poster:azalea
thread:853657
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080915/msgs/853665.html