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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Aija on April 9, 2003, at 1:20:09
Hi everyone,
I was prescribed Cipramil 20mg about 3 months ago to treat depression and social anxiety. I've had a pretty terrible time on it. I've continued to be depressed and anxious, but now I am always incredibly tired and hungry too.
I've been depressed for about 7 years and was always too scared to go to the doctor, so I self-medicated myself with drugs, mainly ecstasy. Recently I've had the opportunity to get my hands on some ecstasy but I'm worried about the possible side effects it could have with my SSRI.
Please - I don't want to hear your ethical concerns, and I already know the dangers of taking ecstasy on its own. I realise that it is dangerous to take ecstasy with MAOIs, but what about with my SSRI Cipramil?
Posted by Mats on April 9, 2003, at 1:26:48
In reply to Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by Aija on April 9, 2003, at 1:20:09
Posted by Questionmark on April 9, 2003, at 1:36:08
In reply to Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by Aija on April 9, 2003, at 1:20:09
> Hi everyone,
>
> I was prescribed Cipramil 20mg about 3 months ago to treat depression and social anxiety. I've had a pretty terrible time on it. I've continued to be depressed and anxious, but now I am always incredibly tired and hungry too.
>
> I've been depressed for about 7 years and was always too scared to go to the doctor, so I self-medicated myself with drugs, mainly ecstasy. Recently I've had the opportunity to get my hands on some ecstasy but I'm worried about the possible side effects it could have with my SSRI.
>
> Please - I don't want to hear your ethical concerns, and I already know the dangers of taking ecstasy on its own. I realise that it is dangerous to take ecstasy with MAOIs, but what about with my SSRI Cipramil?It doesn't matter. Ecstacy doesn't work when you're on an SSRI. Apparently it prevents prevents the E from going into the neuron and exerting its actions (through the reuptake transporter i take it). Of course, this is probably good anyway because if it could work as it normally does you could probably get a bad (fatal?) case of serotonin syndrome. Trust me though, you'll just be wasting your E (of course, maybe you should get rid of it anyway, i dont know). Good luck with everything though.
Posted by Caleb462 on April 9, 2003, at 2:55:40
In reply to SSRIs and E., posted by Questionmark on April 9, 2003, at 1:36:08
>Apparently it prevents prevents the E from going >into the neuron and exerting its actions (through the reuptake transporter i take it).
My understanding, though it may be wrong, is that mdma reverses the action of serotonin and dopamine reuptake pumps. Thus rather than sucking up serotonin and dopamine, the pumps spit it out. SSRIs, since they block the reuptake transporter, prevent the serotonin from being released ("spit out"). MDMA also has some affinity for 5-HT receptors (5-HT2a for instance), but this effect will also be reduced. I assume because SSRIs cause excess serotonin to appear in the synapse, therefore filling up available receptors. This would explain why the effects of LSD and other serotonergic hallucinogens are blocked by SSRIs also.
Anyway, you may still get some effect from the E, as the dopamine release will still occur... but it certainly will not be a typical ecstasy experience.
Posted by daizy on April 9, 2003, at 7:32:14
In reply to Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by Aija on April 9, 2003, at 1:20:09
Hi!
I wouldnt reccomend using E and SSRI's together, I have, and had some pretty nasty effects, have you heard of seratonin syndrome? You had anxiety before using the ecstacy right? I can understand how it will have made you feel better, but it isnt safe to use long term, honestly, It just made things much worse for me after using it, infact Im pretty sure my depression is because of using E. Im not trying preach here, but who knows what damage Ecstacy causes to our brains? and mixing drugs is never a good thing to do. (I have done it, and know what a mess it makes!)
Ive also been to scared to go to the docs, infact Im known fot it! But if you really want to help yourself then its what you have to do (sorry I know thats probably not what you want to hear!)
SSRI's didnt work for me either, infact they reminded me of being on E, but without the euphoria, just a speedy type feeling, which actually made me more anxious. If you've been on them that long and they havnt worked, I would have thought they arent likely to. Im now taking a TCA. But really I dont know what meds you've tried but you should go see your doctor again, and explain your situation,a pdoc, they can help find a med that should work.
I know exactly the kind of good feelings you get from taking Ecstacy, and other illegal drugs, but they wont last forever and you really need to be looking towards a long term solutions! Please keep us updated, Good luck!
ps: therapy also helps!
Posted by linkadge on April 9, 2003, at 12:11:11
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by daizy on April 9, 2003, at 7:32:14
You're going to have a hard time recovering from depression when using ecstacy. Ecsacy selectivly destroys serotonin receptors.
There are many more things you can do for
your depression. You need to talk to your
doctor or psychiatrist. If all you've tried
is Cip, you may have luck with others.
Serotonin syndrome is devastating and lethal.
Definately not something you want.
I wish you the best of luck
Linkadge
Posted by janejj on April 9, 2003, at 13:25:45
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by linkadge on April 9, 2003, at 12:11:11
Apparently E doesn't work when you are on SSRI's, though perhaps if you missed a dose it might. I have heard of people taking Prozac after ectasy as it is supposed to protect the brain or something.
I have self medicated with E too and I actually blame it for my depression and would not touch it now. I think some people are unscathed by it, but I am sure it aggravated my situation somewhat.
Janejj, good luck though !
Posted by baracuda on April 9, 2003, at 14:22:35
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by janejj on April 9, 2003, at 13:25:45
e and ad's dont mix. period. you will be SO mad that you wont roll if you drop it. believe me- i tried. it takes about a month for your ad's to get out of your system before you can really feel the roll again, but its never 'as good as the first time'
i havent done any particular research, im just telling you my personal experience.
e never really worked again, which was depressing enough for me...so now i dont have any choice but to hope for the right med.
Posted by Caleb462 on April 9, 2003, at 16:59:25
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by janejj on April 9, 2003, at 13:25:45
> Apparently E doesn't work when you are on SSRI's, though perhaps if you missed a dose it might. I have heard of people taking Prozac after ectasy as it is supposed to protect the brain or something.
The deal is, taking Prozac (or any SRRI, really) 6 hours after using ecstasy, will block dopamine from being sucked up by serotonergic reuptake pumps and thus prevent the conversion of dopamine to hydrogen peroxide by MAO-A. So, any damage that would have hypothetically occured from the result of hydrogen peroxide in the brain, doesn't occur.
Posted by Niall on May 29, 2003, at 9:17:09
In reply to Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by Aija on April 9, 2003, at 1:20:09
>I realise that it is dangerous to take ecstasy
>with MAOIs, but what about with my SSRI
>Cipramil?From personal experience, I can say that it's
a bad idea;- the experience at the time is reduced to the
point of making it not worthwhile, if that's
an issue to you- I noticed various side-effects afterwards
for about 2-3 days; anxiety, irritation,
sleep disturbance, generally feeling
quite depressed again.Simplest way of saying it: don't ;-)
Try sticking with the Cipramil, but if it
isn't working out for you, get back to
your doctor and say so; there's plenty
of other stuff out there for you that will
do you a lot more good than MDMA.Lates,
Niall
Posted by fanni on May 30, 2003, at 16:40:45
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by Niall on May 29, 2003, at 9:17:09
ive caned pills along with lexapro and effexor,and been fine,but of course i was curious myself to the exact physiological consequences doing this would have on my head,more so afterwards comedown wise,so i asked my shrink.hes pretty cool with stuff like that,its drink,according to him,thats the really bad thing cos its a cns depressant and something like 70 pr cnt of suicides occur after drinking.he said he was at some big drug conference and there was some leading specialist on addictions who was telling them really theres not all that much wrong with yokes(thats e in the uk),so there you go.i dont know the contraindictions of e andcipramil,its probably not the best thing to be doing,but in moderation its alright,or else we might as well go and live in egg cartons or something to be safe.
Posted by Juice on August 19, 2003, at 8:01:14
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by fanni on May 30, 2003, at 16:40:45
Hey
I've been on anti-depressants which have helped me nothing. Effexor nearly killed me I am sure, and prothiadin just made me really relaxed and hungry. I am also sure E did something to contribute to my depressive, non-cognitive state, by destroying valuable little receptors that caused and controlled functions in my brain. just a personal theory, but really it makes a lot of sense. I scoffed at it when i was younger and invulnerable, but now its the only thing i can think of that caused whatever it is I got, esp since it started from the time when I started taking E. I know plenty people who haven't been affected like i was. I am willing to try another anti-depressant, specifically Cipramil. I have also noticed that E doesn't have the same effect on me these days as in the good old days. Personally I don't think i should touch it at all again.
Posted by El on August 21, 2003, at 19:03:21
In reply to Re: Cipramil and Ecstasy?, posted by fanni on May 30, 2003, at 16:40:45
i don't know about these two drugs together, but i have the same feeling about e. i believe it caused my depression and anxiety disorder after a bad pill that probably had me near overdosing over 5 years ago. i feel like it ruined my life. and truthfully as good as it made me feel wasn't worth how sad and upset and depressed i felt when i realized i was coming down from my high, and of course how bad i feel now.
sorry i couldn't help either.
This is the end of the thread.
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