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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gloria on April 20, 2000, at 20:26:19
Does anyone augument their antidepressant with Pindolol? Was taking Propanol (sp?) for anxiety which worked really well. Have done some reading and finding out that Pindolol has more antidepressant effects than Propalanol. That Propalanol can acutally cause more depression. Would like to hear from anyone that uses the Pindolol and how it effects them and what else they take with it for anxiety and depression. Thanks Gloria
Posted by JohnL on April 21, 2000, at 3:14:26
In reply to Pindolol For Anxiety and Depression, posted by gloria on April 20, 2000, at 20:26:19
> Does anyone augument their antidepressant with Pindolol? Was taking Propanol (sp?) for anxiety which worked really well. Have done some reading and finding out that Pindolol has more antidepressant effects than Propalanol. That Propalanol can acutally cause more depression. Would like to hear from anyone that uses the Pindolol and how it effects them and what else they take with it for anxiety and depression. Thanks Gloria
Pindolol's results in depression seem very contradictory. For example, in one controlled study it was combined with Serzone for a success rate of 90% in just a couple weeks! That's pretty amazing. Similar astounding results were achieved when combined with Buspar. There have also been larger studies showing its effectiveness at potentiating and accelerating antidepressants. However, there have since been even larger studies that failed to produce results any better than placebo. So who really knows?
My doctor is one who tries all kinds of meds for his psychiatric patients, and he has tried Pindolol many times. But he claims he has not yet seen it helpful with anyone in depression, though it has been helpful sometimes for symptoms of anxiety. In literature, and in the real world, results of Pindolol's use in depression are fairly spotty it seems. When I tried it, I actually got profoundly worse--almost suicidal--very very quickly.
Posted by Mark H. on April 21, 2000, at 3:21:23
In reply to Pindolol For Anxiety and Depression, posted by gloria on April 20, 2000, at 20:26:19
> Does anyone augument their antidepressant with Pindolol?
Hi Gloria,
I do. One component of my depression seems to be an over-production of adrenalin. I take Pindolol to combat the effects of adrenalin and to potentiate Effexor (make less of it work like more). Please note, however, that my latest drug book recommends against using this combination for that reason. (See: Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs 2000, by Rybacki and James.)
I thought Pindolol might be contributing to my oversleeping and weight gain, so I stopped taking it for a couple of weeks. I simply got more agitated and the Effexor worked less well as an anti-depressant. I didn't lose any appetite or sleep less, so I went back on it.
It's great not to be whip-sawed by every emotional blip on the screen that used to dump an ounce of adrenalin into my bloodstream, keeping me awake half the night and throwing my back muscles into spasms.
I don't know if Pindolol changes blood flow for women in a way that affects sexual function, but Pindolol pretty effectively keeps me from getting or maintaining an erection. Add to that the erection and ejaculation inhibiting qualities of Effexor, and the combination is unpleasant in that way. Fortunately, taking a drug holiday (for half a day) and using Viagra restores capability and enjoyment for me (and my wife).
Beta blockers also limit your aerobic capacity, so it's not much fun to take them and go for a hike at high altitudes or a long bike ride. I've pooped out and had to lie down on the side of the freeway, which tends to freak people out even though I'm just trying to get my breath.
In the beginning, when my doc had me taking a whole tablet, I would get fairly severe arrithmias at night (too tired to look up the correct spelling, sorry). Cutting it in half cured that problem.
Pindolol, like all beta blockers, can contribute to depression in some people. Happily for me, a small amount counters the anxiety and depression-increasing effects of adrenalin while boosting the effectiveness of my anti-depressant.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by michael on April 21, 2000, at 9:04:02
In reply to Pindolol For Anxiety and Depression, posted by gloria on April 20, 2000, at 20:26:19
> Does anyone augument their antidepressant with Pindolol? Was taking Propanol (sp?) for anxiety which worked really well. Have done some reading and finding out that Pindolol has more antidepressant effects than Propalanol. That Propalanol can acutally cause more depression. Would like to hear from anyone that uses the Pindolol and how it effects them and what else they take with it for anxiety and depression. Thanks Gloria
If you haven't tried it yet, check out the tips section - it's been a while, but if I recall correctly, there was some discussion of pindolol as an augmenter...
Posted by Rick on April 23, 2000, at 19:18:48
In reply to Pindolol For Anxiety and Depression, posted by gloria on April 20, 2000, at 20:26:19
> Does anyone augument their antidepressant with Pindolol? Was taking Propanol (sp?) for anxiety which worked really well. Have done some reading and finding out that Pindolol has more antidepressant effects than Propalanol. That Propalanol can acutally cause more depression. Would like to hear from anyone that uses the Pindolol and how it effects them and what else they take with it for anxiety and depression. Thanks Gloria
--------------------
Gloria --I really like Pindolol. I have Social Anxiety without depression. Just 2.5 mg. of Pindolol every morning along with my Klonopin (paired at various times with low-dose BuSpar, selegiline, or Celexa) added a nice, calming effect (once I got past the aggravation of trying to split that tiny, crumble-prone scored pill!). Despite its intriguing serotonergic properties, I can't compare Pindolol to Propranolol, because I've never tried the latter. By the way, the notion that ANY beta blockers can lead to depression has been heavily disputed lately, and in fact there are indications that the opposite is true.
I had virtually no side effects with Pindolol. It certainly didn't hurt my dieting, which ironically relates to why I had to stop taking it, at least for now: With the successful weight loss (and perhaps Klonopin's calming effect), my previously high blood pressure took a dive to a point where taking just that tiny dose Pindolol makes me hypotensive! I'm doing well without it, although I do miss it.
Rick
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