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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Seeking SNRI/antidepressant advice

R

replicant

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
80
Location
US
I have extreme depression and without medication I have a very low level of functionality. However, I have been medicated effectively for the past 5 years and been able to function on a rather normal level.

I have two issues with antidepressants. First, SNRIs are the only type of antidepressants that I have been prescribed that actually worked. SSRIs did absolutely nothing for me and I tried a few prior to trying SNRIs.

Second, over time my pills don't work as well and as such have to up the dose and eventually change medications completely.

I took Effexor XR for a little longer than a year before I had to change medications (this was after attempting a raised dosage). I then took Cymbalta for about 2 years before the same problem arose. I have now taken Pristiq (50mg) for the past 2 years and I am beginning to experience the same medication failure. I will be speaking with my doctor about this and will more than likely be raised to the 100mg tablets.

If my doctor chooses to raise my dosage I fear it will just add a minute amount of time before the inevitable.

Here is where the big issue arises. To my knowledge there are no SNRIs that I have not been on that I can change to. If this is true, would it be possible to cycle back through the SNRIs I took priorly and actually have them work? Should I ask about adding Abilify to my Pristiq?

I would appreciate any advice and while I realize these are questions for my doctor, I am hoping someone might have insight into the situation. Maybe someone else on bluelight has experienced the same situation and can share what they did. Thanks.
 
Abilify, from what i've heard from people who have been on it with their antdepressant, kinda zombifies you for a while and causes "numb" emotions.

so while it may get rid of depression, it gets rid of your other emotions as well. it should be noted that Abilify is an antipsychotic(not a strong one though) and antipsychotics are known to make people feel "empty" or "zombified".

however this is really a conversation you should be having with your doctor.
 
replicant said:
I have extreme depression and without medication I have a very low level of functionality. However, I have been medicated effectively for the past 5 years and been able to function on a rather normal level.

I have two issues with antidepressants. First, SNRIs are the only type of antidepressants that I have been prescribed that actually worked. SSRIs did absolutely nothing for me and I tried a few prior to trying SNRIs.

Second, over time my pills don't work as well and as such have to up the dose and eventually change medications completely.

I took Effexor XR for a little longer than a year before I had to change medications (this was after attempting a raised dosage). I then took Cymbalta for about 2 years before the same problem arose. I have now taken Pristiq (50mg) for the past 2 years and I am beginning to experience the same medication failure. I will be speaking with my doctor about this and will more than likely be raised to the 100mg tablets.

If my doctor chooses to raise my dosage I fear it will just add a minute amount of time before the inevitable.

Here is where the big issue arises. To my knowledge there are no SNRIs that I have not been on that I can change to. If this is true, would it be possible to cycle back through the SNRIs I took priorly and actually have them work? Should I ask about adding Abilify to my Pristiq?

I would appreciate any advice and while I realize these are questions for my doctor, I am hoping someone might have insight into the situation. Maybe someone else on bluelight has experienced the same situation and can share what they did. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have switched from Effexor to Cymbalta and back to Effexor. I'm not sure if the effects start working again by switching. I only switched back onto Effexor because the Cymbalta wasn't working anymore and I don't know if I'm getting better. I take them for anxiety more so than depression.

I tried Abilify and it was horrible. I couldn't stay awake and I got incredibly moody. I went off it after just a few days. Its an anti-psychotic you know?
 
StaySedated said:
however this is really a conversation you should be having with your doctor.
Click to expand...

I am aware of this hence the line in my post indicating such. I plan on discussing this with my doctor but I would also like to know if others have had the same problem with antidepressant failure and if they were able to do anything about it.
 
how does an antidepressant make one feel/what is it like to be on one?

are there significant differences between SSRIs like Prozac and SNRIs like Effexor(in terms of emotional benefits)?

my doc keeps trying to have me put on one because he says it will help my anxiety and depressed moods but i'm not so sure about them.
 
StaySedated said:
how does an antidepressant make one feel/what is it like to be on one?

are there significant differences between SSRIs like Prozac and SNRIs like Effexor(in terms of emotional benefits)?

my doc keeps trying to have me put on one because he says it will help my anxiety and depressed moods but i'm not so sure about them.
Click to expand...

Personally, antidepressants make me feel even. Without them I am constantly in a depressed state, have no energy, can't make effort or complete tasks, and generally don't want to get out of bed. With them I am neither happy nor depressed I am just neutral. It puts me in a position to feel emotions when they are warranted. I can be happy if there is a reason to be happy and I can be sad if there is a reason to be sad but I'm not depressed all the time (and no I don't feel like a zombie at all).

It's by no means a fix all.

Now the difference between SSRIs and SNRIs in emotional terms is probably a subjective thing. Personally, SSRIs did nothing for my mood at all. Since SNRIs work both on serotonin and norepinephrine versus just serotonin it would seem that I needed something working on both types of receptors. I do recall reading that SNRIs were more effective than SSRIs in treating depression but I don't have the study to back that up.
 
I was on Effexor for 8 years (225mg/day) and it just stopped working at some point. My psych. switched me to Zoloft 4 months ago (currently 200mg/day) and I'm feeling better now.
 
K'd-OUT-in-AZ said:
I think about my parents "some day their going to die".
Click to expand...

i'm actually looking foward to that day(with my parents).

my mom seriously fucked me(and my sister) up in the head and my dad is just a complete asshole. i'm sure my parents have something to do with my lifelong addiction to drugs.

plus when they die i'll get a nice multi-million dollar inheritance. :D
 
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