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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 21:49:05
Was wondering about Anafranil. I've only tried SSRI's so I'm a little scared about side effects. Does it work for anxiety and as anti depressant?? Are there strick guidelines in taking this med??
Posted by SLS on August 3, 2003, at 21:56:09
In reply to Anafranil for anxiety, worth a try???, posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 21:49:05
> Was wondering about Anafranil. I've only tried SSRI's so I'm a little scared about side effects. Does it work for anxiety and as anti depressant?? Are there strick guidelines in taking this med??
Hi Theo.Anafranil is used most frequently for OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). It is used less often for depression because the side effects are more troublesome than the SSRIs or even other tricyclics. For many people, anxiety is actually part of their depressive disorder and will improve as the depression improves. If SSRIs and Effexor haven't helped with your depression, trying a tricyclic is a rational alternative.
Why was Anafranil chosen over the other tricyclics (desipramine, nortriptyline, imipramine)?
- Scott
Posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 23:54:41
In reply to Re: Anafranil for anxiety, worth a try???, posted by SLS on August 3, 2003, at 21:56:09
In many guides that doctors use in prescribing meds, Anafranil is the only one listed for "anxiety" related depression. All of the others you listed are only under catagory of depression, that is the only reason I was wondering about Anafranil. What about amitriptyline??
Posted by SLS on August 4, 2003, at 7:38:49
In reply to Re: Anafranil for anxiety, worth a try??? » SLS, posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 23:54:41
> In many guides that doctors use in prescribing meds, Anafranil is the only one listed for "anxiety" related depression. All of the others you listed are only under catagory of depression, that is the only reason I was wondering about Anafranil.
I didn't know that. I still don't like the choice of Anafranil for anxiety. Its side effects are more pronounced than those of the other tricyclics. Again, if the anxiety is actually a feature of the depressive disorder, which it many times is, it will disappear when the depression disappears. The anxiety does not have to be treated separately. Many people, including myself, experience a reduction in anxiety while taking desipramine as it begins to exert its antidepressant effect. Desipramine is a drug that is supposedly without anti-anxiety properties per se. It is probably useless for treating GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) or panic disorder.
> What about amitriptyline??Among the tricyclics, amitriptyline might reduce anxiety because it is very sedating. Another option would be doxepin (Sinequan). Its antihistaminergic properties make this drug sedating, but weight gain might be more of a problem.
Which antidepressants have you tried?
Unless you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, I think you and your doctor should choose an antidepressant based upon how well it would treat the depression with a minimum of side effects. You could use a separate drug to reduce anxiety in the until the antidepressant begins working.
Within the other drug categories, Paxil, Effexor, and Remeron are chosen for their anti-anxiety properties. Paxil and Effexor seem to target the anxiety disorders themselves as well as depression. Effexor was recently FDA approved to treat GAD, and Paxil has been approved for social anxiety disorder.
- Scott
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