Irritability during antidepressant trials

What does it mean when someone has a negative reaction to antidepressants? Most people put on antidepressants do well. They have minimal to no side effects and have a gradual improvement in their mood/anxiety. For some people, a trial of an antidepressant is a nightmare. Any time an antidepressant is initiated, you can experience irritability, . . . → Read More: Irritability during antidepressant trials

High Blood Pressure with Effexor

The following comment/question brings up a number of issues that are important. I reprint the following without editing . . .

I have been on effexor xr for a long time. it’s the only thing that works.

I recently spiked a high BP. I thought I might be going through perimenpausal symtoms. I think . . . → Read More: High Blood Pressure with Effexor

Which requires a higher dose of medicine, anxiety or depression?

A therapist writes in with the following question:

I had a disagreement with a psychiatrist. I’d thought that in using SSRI’s to treat anxiety–social phobias, social anxiety, etc.–LOW doses are usually given. (5-10mg of Celexa/day). Treating depression usually requires HIGHER doses, (20-60mg Celexa/day). She maintained that higher doses of SSRI’s are required to treat . . . → Read More: Which requires a higher dose of medicine, anxiety or depression?

More side effects than help for anxiety

C. writes in about the difficulty he has getting the right medicine to help his anxiety:

I have tried 3 different meds for anxiety – effexor (37.5) , lexapro (10mg) and toprol all have given me severe headaches and I haven’t taken any meds in six weeks and I continue to have severe headaches . . . → Read More: More side effects than help for anxiety

Tapering Lamictal

Patricia writes in the following question:

I need advice on how to taper off of Lamictal. I am taking 100 mg a day. I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Lamictal is an easy medication to get off of, as long as you don’t need it! Any time you stop a medication, you must . . . → Read More: Tapering Lamictal

Depression during Interferon Treatment for Hepatitis C

Most of you who regular readers of this blog do not have to worry about this issue. But psychiatric patients are at greater risk of having Hep C. While 2% of the general population has Hep C, 20 % of persons with severe mental illness have Hep C. Regardless, any patient who faces treatment for . . . → Read More: Depression during Interferon Treatment for Hepatitis C

Combining Lamictal with Birth Control Pills

Well, well . . . you learn something everyday . . .

I had a question posed to me about whether there are interactions between Lamictal and birth control pills. Lamictal, as you may know, is the only medication approved by the FDA for use in Bipolar Depression. It is a great medicine and . . . → Read More: Combining Lamictal with Birth Control Pills