Misc Ciprolax/Lexapro and Other Drugs

[bryan21]

Just got prescribed 10mg daily of ciprolax. I started taking today and am supposed to see the doctor in 2 weeks to see if this is right for me. I definitely plan on staying clean off everything at least until then and maybe a bit after just to make sure these SSRIs are working.

I really dont want to stop taking drugs altogether, so my question is if I just use occasionally like on weekends or something, will this have an effect on the progress of the SSRI? I really do want to get better and am not willing to risk progress just to get high, but with that being said, I still love getting high.

I like to use weed, alcohol, benzos, heroin, coke, kratom, mdma, ketamine, shrooms, lsd, and theres still alot of psychedelics id like to try some day.

Which would be okay to use just like once in a while like I said and not wreck my depression treatment?

My eternal grattitude goes to anyone who provides helpful answers.

 

[amapola]

Hi bryan!

Enjoy the thunderstorm that wasn't that just rolled through?

Basically being on an SSRI is going to be a big deal for any drugs that also release, inhibit the uptake of, or otherwise cause serotonin levels to increase. You would be at risk for serotonin storm which is not pretty. How SSRIs interact with other types of drugs can vary and also differ somewhat for each individual so I won't give an overview of everything here (not because I just don't know ). You can try rxlist.com to get a good initial idea of an interactions as well.

I think I'll focus on the overall idea of drug use while treating depression. I've been reading up a little on it and I feel any drug used to escape reality is not going to be that helpful. Yes a psychedelic trip might clear your mind and let you focus on what you want to accomplish, but all the downers and uppers which result in short improvement followed by hangovers and/or lowered dopamine etc. really aren't going to help you get where you want to be. Even for a sporadic user with no prexisting issues, the day after any binge can be very gloomy, painful, anxiety ridden, and it can be hard to get motivated for anything.

SSRIs aren't a permanent nor even long term solution really, but they can help for a while and letting them try and do their thing is a good option. I'm unsure if you have been honest with your doc that has you on them about your history of drug usage, but I would bet they would have you try staying sober for a few months and seeing how that worked before trying the ciprolax.

Okay I drone on and really am a bit out of my depth here. To answer your specific question the occasional casual use of certain drugs while on SSRIs will not magically "ruin the SSRIs" effects, but reaching your overall goals of improvement in mood could easily be set back.

 

[bryan21]

Thanks man.

Im completely honest with my doc, been seeing him since I was a baby so hes kinda become a family friend; a person to trust.

I was kinda hoping for a benzo too for anxiety, but after I told him about this weeks' klonopin binge (roughly 25mg this week), he was hesitant to prescribe any sort of benzo. And for a good reason haha. He said the cipralex would have similar effects so I wouldnt crave benzos and is non addicting... hope so.

I think what Im most concerned about is weed. I love it and its so readily available, but I often get depressed and paranoid on it. Does anyone have an answer as to whether it would mess with the SSRI, or if the SSRI would in fact improve the trip? just interested.

THanks

 

[amapola]

Im completely honest with my doc, been seeing him since I was a baby so hes kinda become a family friend; a person to trust.

Very fortunate.

[MEGA]Combinations of cannabis with other drugs

Cannabis combined with SSRIs or MAOIs is not known to present any dangers.

You can search it for SSRI as well and a few posts come up.

Again though if you often get depressed and paranoid on pot, it might not be the best habit to continue while trying to overcome depression. I do think it is the best choice out of all the drugs you listed though besides maybe kratom.

 

[rollinstoner]

I stay away from SSRI's.

I don't care what people say, I've had depression soo bad almost to the point of suicide and SSRI's just make shit worse.

Took me over a year to even feel anything from them, and now I'm weening myself off because of the terrible side-effects that aren't worth it over-all.

And I wouldn't take any of those drugs while on an SSRI, except pot. Trust me.

 

[cire113]

lexapro rules IMO... has helped me a bunch with anxiety and depression.. everyone is different...

 

[anterrabae]

SSRIs have had terrible effects for me as well. But everyone's different, and I know that they can indeed have a beneficial effect on depression, whether placebo or not.

I wouldn't recommend taking all the drugs you've listed while under the treatment of this drug. How are you to know if the drug is working at all if you are taking other psychoactive substances on top of it?

 

[bryan21]

For all of you bashing SSRI's, I dont know if this is going to work or will be worth it at all, this is my first time ever receiving mental help and I thought it would be worth a shot. Im not doing any drugs until I can confirm if this is the right SSRI for me, and even then it will only be on the odd night out with friends. I dont think I would risk daily use of anything nowadays.

I guess my life is beginning to get back on track

 

[amapola]

That's good bryan21!

Remember from a scientific point of view, cleaning up your life of drugs and going on an SSRI at the same time means there are two variables changing. So if you start feeling better and better it could just be you kicking ass as opposed to the SSRI helping as well.

 

[anterrabae]

That was part of my point, of which I didn't elaborate enough on, you have to be in an unchanging state of mind before taking the SSRI to be sure that its effects are indeed what you are feeling.

When very depressed without recreational use, I have noticed changes as soon as a few days. But the duration it takes for the drug to take effect is different for everyone.

Best of luck, I'm sure you will find success.

 

[Pwninator]

I stared on Lexapro about five months ago. Switched to generic Citalopram 2-3 months ago 'cause it's a lot cheaper. It has definitely helped to alleviate some of the anxiety and depression I have experienced but I sort of miss how I used to feel. It has flattened out the highs and lows and I notice a diminished emotional response. On one hand this effect has been beneficial as I don't get overly depressed and obsessive about things but it seems to also dull down some of the very "up" kind of moods I used to experience. I would feel energized, and my thoughts would flow very fast and my imagination was very active - I don't seem to get this way quite as much. I feel less motivated to pursue my hobbies like creating music. Smoking weed daily certainly isn't helping but that's so hard to quit for me, unfortunately.

It really does a number on your sex drive as well. It's rather depressing.

 

[anterrabae]

^^ Quite typical for most antidepressants unfortunately. That is why they should only be used on a short term basis in my opinion. Once you're out of your "hole", your deepest depression, it is really up to you and you only to improve your mood and state of mind. A pill won't do it for you.

You're right about the weed, it isn't helping any, especially if it's on a very regular basis.

 

[thurston]

I have taken Lexapro and Zoloft. I switched to Zoloft because Lexapro left me with the inability to orgasm. It took a year and a half to taper from the Zoloft. Ssri withdraw is no joke I would say worse than any opiate wd i have gone through. Also since i got off the ssri's i cum in about 1-2 minutes which sucks because Ive been off them for over 2 yrs i believe it is something that has become permanent.

 

[TheLostBoys]

I wouldnt be taking any psychedelics while on SSRI's ever......psychedelics can change the doors of perception & when you are at the moments of trying to fix your mind with SSRI's, everything becomes clusterf**ked. Actually I wouldnt be taking any drug with SSRI's because of the battle they have against each other in your head.

 

[debaser]

Clusterf**ked, lol...

But you're right, of course.

 

[mu.]

I had a bad reaction with lexapro combined to homemade ghb. 24h of panic attacks. I was vulnerable to hypomaniac epsiode and anxiety though. Lexapro or homemade ghb alone was ok.
But I know other person who did this combo and had not this bad readtion. IME kratom was safe. Be careful

 

[flippinhippies]

Cipralex is doing great for me after 3 weeks. I haven't smoked any weed since ive been on it but ive used methadone, codeine, methylphenadate recreationally with no problems. Others I use on it too but not recreationally. Drinking however is not as fun, I get drunk alot faster than I have before. Ciggies give me more of a rush when i first started Cipralex but ive become accustomed to it now, damn nicotine. Hopefully the drug helps you and give me some feedback on how weed goes with your antidepressant because I would also like to know what it does for the sake of harm reduction.

 

[ChronicHD]

I don't agree with some of what's being said here. I've been on Lexapro for over a year and still enjoy many recreational substances pretty often. I would have o say though that you might want to stay from a lot of the harder stuff (psychedelics and extreme uppers, downers, etc.) until you know exactly how the Lexapro makes you feel. Wait at least a month until you are used to the new drug in your system before you mess with others. (Obviously weed is ok).

 

[tannypack101]

I've been on celexa for 3 months and it has definitely helped with my anxiety, along with starting to work out. Those 2 in combo made me feel 100% better, more confident, all that jazz. But about an ssri with other drugs...

opiates-same amazing feeling
dxm- low doses are therapeutic to me 150-200mg. not enough to where i see spectral zebras before celexa
alcohol- 2 beers max or im throwing up my intestines
amphetamines- same buzz as before
weed- actually noticed less psychedelic by a lot when smoking. other than that same feeling

overall dxm and alcohol are the shittiest of the list and can live without em, so my favorites opiates and marijuana are unaffected.

 

[opiatekrzy]

i noticed when i was on Paxil, i could not achieve a buzz from lortabs, to a degree i did, for 45mins, and poof buzz disappeared. was so disappointed with that. paxill made me feell like crawling out my skin, even tho every1 says they saw a huge difference in me i felt horrible inside, i HATE SSRI with a passion, when i tried an SNRI, EXTREME ANXIETY (worser then coming down from crack)