[FearsomeAnna]

Hi all, long time no post!

I'm seeking advice for my boyfriend, who has been struggling with depression and sleep issues for quite some time. He's on Wellbutrin now, and will be seeing a psychiatrist specializing in sleep disorders in a couple of weeks.

We suspect that he has an undiagnosed anxiety component to his depression which is probably if not THE root, at least one of the root causes of his sleep issues as well.

I know that SSRI's are often prescribed to alleviate anxiety disorders (I took Paxil for some time and it was a godsend). However, he tried several SSRIs before hitting on Wellbutrin and the side effects he had were horrendous - for instance, Zoloft caused him to shoot straight into this paranoid dysphoric state where he was angry and suspicious to the point of being scary, and Lexapro scared him to death when he kept feeling paralyzed during the night. Unsurprisingly, he's not really keen to go anywhere near anymore SSRIs.

So here's the question: Is there anyone out there who has reacted badly to SSRIs in the past but found one they tolerated? And does anyone with any medical background know of anything that can be prescribed to relieve anxiety long-term (not the benzo's like Xanax) that isn't an SSRI?

Note: I'm not one for diagnosing someone since I don't have the training to do so (yet! working on that now). Also, I know that there's a wealth of stuff available in the psychiatric world, and that this new psychiatrist may see something totally different than what we do, but I just want to help my boyfriend have hope that something will be successful in treating these long-term issues. He's just so tired and worn out and losing hope.

Thanks all....any thoughts are much appreciated!

Anna

[bearhugs]

Hi I dont have a medical background but I have taken SSRI's in and the past and have not reacted to them well at all. I too have a high sensitivity to meds and it sounds like your boyfirend does too. Can i ask you has your boyfriend ever been severly traumatized, I am only asking beacuse being traumatized severly can cause high sensitivities to meds. I am concerenced about the side effects he does have on the meds though. He really needs to talk to a doctor about whats going on. THose reactions are really bad.
I have sever reactions myself. Has he talked to his doctor telling him or her whats going on when he takes the meds? If he has been severly traumatized then he has to see someone who knows how to dose someone who has been through any form of trauma.
DOes any of this make sense?
the main thing i say is have him talk to a really good psychaiatrist about whats going on.
Hope this helps. if you have any further questions please dont hesitate to post them on the board.
HOpe your boyfriend finds the care he needs. Bearhugs.

[DaveyJones]

Hi Anna--

Here's my 2 cents, from personal experience and research:

A reaction like the one you describe to Zoloft can be an indicator of bipolar disorder; that is, becoming manic after taking an antidepressant. It is quite common for people who are bipolar to be diagnosed and treated for depression, because that's how they are most of the time. Unfortunately, for most of us, that only makes things worse.

When you guys talk to a pdoc, make sure he/she understands the reaction you describe--they may decide that a mood stabilizer is appropriate, with or without an antidepressant.

I hope things go OK...sussing these things out can be difficult. Take care,

DJ

[Azalysa]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
FearsomeAnna said:

However, he tried several SSRIs before hitting on Wellbutrin and the side effects he had were horrendous -for instance, Zoloft caused him to shoot straight into this paranoid dysphoric state where he was angry and suspicious to the point of being scary, and Lexapro scared him to death when he kept feeling paralyzed during the night. Unsurprisingly, he's not really keen to go anywhere near anymore SSRIs.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Hi, Anna!

This is one of those "one med may be wonderful for one person and awful for another."

I've been on Zoloft (100 mg) for 15 years and have no problems with it whatsoever. But that one's out since your boyfriend already tried it.

I also had hideous side effects from Wellbutrin. Regardless, my pdoc had me stay on it to pull me out of a severe depression. Now I'm weaning off it and those side effects are rearing their ugly head again (just not as severe as when I went on it, thank God.)

I was on Prozac when I began taking psych meds and everyone I've personally known on Prozac has done ok. Zoloft is basically a Prozac twin (I read an article recently where the other SSRI's developed soon after Prozac should really have been named Prozac 2, Prozac 3, etc.

I know this hasn't been much help, but my encouragement is for your boyfriend to work closely with his pdoc (assuming he gets one he feels comfortable with) and know there is a wide range of SSRI's now to try.

Wishing you both success with this.

[ozzie]

I had problems for years taking SSRI's until I was put on Lexapro about 2 years ago. It has really helped me.