Posted by Conundrum on January 17, 2011, at 15:08:17
In reply to Depression still in remission on cetirizine, posted by sukarno on January 15, 2011, at 23:20:02
I think the only way to stop the anhedonia, would be to stop taking the drugs, or maybe add a stimulant. Xanax can cause anhedonia, as can strong D2 receptor blockade.
> I thought I would report back now (over a month later) that my depression is in remission on cetirizine. I began taking it in early December for allergies.
>
> I haven't used my light box ever since I began taking cetirizine (Zyrtec / Reactine).
>
> I told my pdoc about this and his opinion was that it was not the cetirizine itself, but rather that the cetirizine is potentiating the effects of alprazolam (Xanax).
>
> He could be wrong, but do you think he is right?
>
> The downside is that I feel some anhedonia, a general sense of boredom and dramatically lowered libido.
>
> Maybe Xanax is causing cetirizine to cross the blood brain barrier? Hydroxyzine, the parent drug, is a dopamine D2 antagonist and I think it also blocks some type of 5-HT (serotonin) receptor.
>
> I have no idea what is going on in terms of drug interactions, but cetirizine is working, even if that is only because it is potentiating the effects of alprazolam.
>
> I just wish I had some interest in things. I feel like sitting around and doing nothing. I don't feel particularly happy or sad about anything.
Complaints: post-SSRI problems: anhedonia, memory and concentration problems, sexual anhedonia. )
Country:USA
Currently taking 2.5 mg prozac, Multi B vitamin
poster:Conundrum
thread:952158
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110115/msgs/977180.html