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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Violet4EVR on August 12, 2004, at 15:35:26
Hey Everyone,
I was just curoius if anyone ever developed a feeling of apathy after being on SSRI's, SNRI's or any other medications.
I have been on Effexor XR for three months, and lost ten pounds (I'm very body/weight concious). However, I find in the recent weeks I have developed a feeling of apathy, about at lot of things including the relationship with my boyfriend and my weight. I have gained back about 4-5 pounds since my apathy started...and it bothers me that I don't care...
Has anyone felt this way?
Thanks so much for any replies...Best Wishes,
V
Posted by mike lynch on August 12, 2004, at 15:45:31
In reply to Apathy and Meds....., posted by Violet4EVR on August 12, 2004, at 15:35:26
> Hey Everyone,
>
> I was just curoius if anyone ever developed a feeling of apathy after being on SSRI's, SNRI's or any other medications.
>
> I have been on Effexor XR for three months, and lost ten pounds (I'm very body/weight concious). However, I find in the recent weeks I have developed a feeling of apathy, about at lot of things including the relationship with my boyfriend and my weight. I have gained back about 4-5 pounds since my apathy started...and it bothers me that I don't care...
>
> Has anyone felt this way?
> Thanks so much for any replies...
>
> Best Wishes,
> V
This is probbly one of the most common complaint when it comes to ssri's...if you look around there are about 4 threads started dealing with this one issue...many people try and counter-act it with wellbutrin..or stimulants such as adderall and ritalin..
Posted by King Vultan on August 12, 2004, at 17:20:38
In reply to Apathy and Meds....., posted by Violet4EVR on August 12, 2004, at 15:35:26
Yes, many people experience this on drugs that work strongly on serotonin. It is one of the bigger drawbacks to these types of drugs, along with the blasted sexual side effects many also suffer. I found the tricyclic desipramine to be far superior on this issue of apathy, and I also experienced a considerable loss of appetite, with some weight loss--not that I was really overweight to begin with. Effexor also curtailed my appetite, but not as much as desipramine, which works on norepinephrine much more strongly than does Effexor. Perhaps the desipramine might be worth considering in your situation; it remains one of my two favorites out of the ten or so ADs I've tried. As mentioned, Wellbutrin might also be worth adding or substituting, but I found Wellbutrin to work better by itself than in combination with Effexor. YMMV.
Todd
Posted by caraher on August 13, 2004, at 12:43:04
In reply to Apathy and Meds....., posted by Violet4EVR on August 12, 2004, at 15:35:26
Yup, it's why I quit Paxil
Posted by leos on August 13, 2004, at 14:47:34
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds....., posted by King Vultan on August 12, 2004, at 17:20:38
Todd, what's the other "favorite" AD you've been on? I'm kind of AD shopping right now for anxiety/panic disorder. I've tried Paxil, Lexapro & Prozac. Pax made me psychotic, Lex pooped out & Proz exacerbated the anxiety/panic. Thanks.
Posted by King Vultan on August 13, 2004, at 16:17:37
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds..... » King Vultan, posted by leos on August 13, 2004, at 14:47:34
> Todd, what's the other "favorite" AD you've been on? I'm kind of AD shopping right now for anxiety/panic disorder. I've tried Paxil, Lexapro & Prozac. Pax made me psychotic, Lex pooped out & Proz exacerbated the anxiety/panic. Thanks.
The other one would be the drug I just tapered off of, Nardil. All things considered, it is skewed too much towards serotonin for my particular situation, but I did find it to be very beneficial and constructive, probably because it also strongly works on norepinephrine as desipramine does. Nardil also showed the greatest efficacy of any drug I have taken for my social phobia. Nardil is considered to be an excellent drug for anxiety, as it does have a strong effect on serotonin and also works on GABA in a manner somewhat like the benzos do. The big drawback is that it's an MAOI and has the associated dietary and OTC drug restrictions. Many patients and doctors are scared of the MAOIs, but they really aren't that big of a deal if one does a little research to learn what the true no-no's are and then acts prudently while on them.
Todd
Posted by KaraS on August 13, 2004, at 17:04:02
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds..... » leos, posted by King Vultan on August 13, 2004, at 16:17:37
I've come to the conclusion that SSRIs are only good as adjunctive treatments in combination with something else that works on NE and/or dopamine. Why they continue to be prescribed as monotherapy, when it is known that they will have this emotional blunting effect, is beyond me.
Posted by starlight on August 14, 2004, at 10:30:43
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds....., posted by KaraS on August 13, 2004, at 17:04:02
I feel like I have some apathy towards things, but also feel like over the past 5 years I have been running at full pace - getting my band up and successful, working full time, doing Bikram Yoga (which is very intense) and everything else I can squeeze into my life. I think that my slowing down is a good thing, I'm getting a chance to feel more normal and don't have a problem with it. I've lost weight, but it's mainly due to loss of some muscle mass, which is probably good for me too at this point.
Any of you experience the reducton of hypomania?
starlight
Posted by KaraS on August 14, 2004, at 12:58:45
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds....., posted by starlight on August 14, 2004, at 10:30:43
> I feel like I have some apathy towards things, but also feel like over the past 5 years I have been running at full pace - getting my band up and successful, working full time, doing Bikram Yoga (which is very intense) and everything else I can squeeze into my life. I think that my slowing down is a good thing, I'm getting a chance to feel more normal and don't have a problem with it. I've lost weight, but it's mainly due to loss of some muscle mass, which is probably good for me too at this point.
>
> Any of you experience the reducton of hypomania?
> starlight
What medications are you currently taking? You don't feel the need to address the apathy at all?
Posted by Starlight on August 16, 2004, at 12:34:48
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds....., posted by KaraS on August 14, 2004, at 12:58:45
I take trileptal 1800, Lamictal 300 and effexor 75. I don't feel like I need to address the apathy, but don't get me wrong, I'm still active. I think the difference is I'm not running at the crazy pace that I was keeping up before. In some ways I don't get as much done, but the pace I was at was draining, and I feel more like I'm at a more normal pace where I can get more rest. If it got to be too bad I would address it, but for now it feels pretty good.
starlight
Posted by KaraS on August 17, 2004, at 0:50:19
In reply to Re: Apathy and Meds....., posted by Starlight on August 16, 2004, at 12:34:48
> I take trileptal 1800, Lamictal 300 and effexor 75. I don't feel like I need to address the apathy, but don't get me wrong, I'm still active. I think the difference is I'm not running at the crazy pace that I was keeping up before. In some ways I don't get as much done, but the pace I was at was draining, and I feel more like I'm at a more normal pace where I can get more rest. If it got to be too bad I would address it, but for now it feels pretty good.
> starlight
Sounds like maybe what you consider apathy for yourself is what someone else would consider normal. But as you say, as long as you're content, that's all that matters.
This is the end of the thread.
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