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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rani on November 20, 2006, at 16:11:18
Ive been diagnosed with a mood disorder (mixed) and have been taking SSRI Lexapro 15mg for about 1 year after having an episode of panic disorder (now controlled). After commencing the SSRI I have noticed that my mood swings are worse. It really tipped me into a high (hypomania not extreme) at first and I have a sense of agitation/high without the good feelings attached alot of the time. I agree with the mood disorder diagnosis but do feel the Lexapro exacerbates it. At my last psych visit he suggested I take some lithium but yesterday I asked if I could wean the Lexapro to see if I can manage without meds. I know this sounds like your typical psych person not wanting to take meds but when I look back the times when I have been on an SSRI are when I am at my worst.
So I am weaning from 15mg daily by 5mg for 3 weeks. I have weaned SSRIs before and know it is tricky but can manage it.
Does anyone else with a mood disoder feel the SSRI makes them worse?
IF this doesn't work and I am thrown into a terrible depression then I will recommence and happily take a low dose of lithium with the SSRI.
I just feel I need this chance to see what I am like without SSRI before I head into the lithium zone.
Posted by blueberry on November 20, 2006, at 18:36:54
In reply to Lexapro exacerbating mood swings/weaning Lexapro, posted by Rani on November 20, 2006, at 16:11:18
It is just an opinion, but I think I would try adding the lithium first. It might work wonderfully and save you a whole bunch of trouble. If it doesn't work out in say 2 weeks, then go ahead with you plans. Often people get good responses from lithium at doses that are fairly low. I tried it once and it had immediate antidepressant, antianxiety, and stimulant properties all at the same. It is high on my list to try again. The only reason I stopped it was because I was on zyprexa also, and the two combined gave me really bad hypotension.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 23:11:38
In reply to Re: Lexapro exacerbating mood swings/weaning Lexapro, posted by blueberry on November 20, 2006, at 18:36:54
Blueberry how much lithium did you take? love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on November 21, 2006, at 7:11:11
In reply to Re: Lexapro exacerbating mood swings/weaning Lexapro » blueberry, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 23:11:38
> Blueberry how much lithium did you take? love Phillipa
I only took 100mg for 2 days. It was a very good immediate effect. I was shooting for a dose of 300mg to 600mg. Obviously dosage increases and further changes would have happened with more time. But in combo with zyprexa the hypotension was frieking my heart out. With a lower dose of zyprexa, or with it removed altogether, lithium is at the top of my list to retry. I like that it has the most solid track record of any psychiatric med out there, it usually has the most bang for the buck in terms of mood improvement as long as the dose isn't too high, and it is natural. It's just a salt. I like natural.
But I think it deserves this statement...mileage varies.
On the opposite side of the argument, some docs say lithium works best by itself and that antidepressants can create cycling that even lithium can't completely control.
Posted by MoparFan91 on November 24, 2006, at 13:37:50
In reply to Lexapro exacerbating mood swings/weaning Lexapro, posted by Rani on November 20, 2006, at 16:11:18
> Ive been diagnosed with a mood disorder (mixed) and have been taking SSRI Lexapro 15mg for about 1 year after having an episode of panic disorder (now controlled). After commencing the SSRI I have noticed that my mood swings are worse. It really tipped me into a high (hypomania not extreme) at first and I have a sense of agitation/high without the good feelings attached alot of the time. I agree with the mood disorder diagnosis but do feel the Lexapro exacerbates it. At my last psych visit he suggested I take some lithium but yesterday I asked if I could wean the Lexapro to see if I can manage without meds. I know this sounds like your typical psych person not wanting to take meds but when I look back the times when I have been on an SSRI are when I am at my worst.
> So I am weaning from 15mg daily by 5mg for 3 weeks. I have weaned SSRIs before and know it is tricky but can manage it.
> Does anyone else with a mood disoder feel the SSRI makes them worse?
> IF this doesn't work and I am thrown into a terrible depression then I will recommence and happily take a low dose of lithium with the SSRI.
> I just feel I need this chance to see what I am like without SSRI before I head into the lithium zone.suggestion..
taper ssri lexapro to 5mg and hold that dose. and then add the low dose lithium.
lithium is a really good augmentor (booster) to anti-depressants anyway, and with an ssri/lithium combo, you don't need quite as high doses of ssri's to get a lift from depression.
keeping the lithium dose low will help avoid side effects.
This is the end of the thread.
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