Going Back to an A/D that stopped working before

[Canuck]

Does anyone have any experience with switching back to an antidepressant that stopped working for you previously.

I took cipralex before and after about a year it stopped working for me. Now I am on Effexor XR. If my doc switched me back to cipralex would it work for me again?

Thanks for your feedback.

[tailspin]

Hi Canuck. Welcome to the site! I have previously switched back to a couple of different anti-depressants that had stopped working for me. The first was Prozac. Strangely, when I went on Prozac the second time it sent my anxiety through the roof and I had to discontinue it (it had not made my anxiety worse first time around). The second AD was Zoloft. I've actually been on this drug a total of 3 times. Each time it helps me a bit at first, but then it reaches a point where it doesn't do much for me anymore.

What condition are you treating? Depression or anxiety or both? Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about trying a different medication altogether?

[Canuck]

Thanks for your reply tailspin. I am being treated for both anxiety and depression. I think the doc was trying to avoid some a/d's because they cause weight gain. I was on Remeron (mirtazapine), cipralex and now EffexorXR

[tailspin]

Hi again Canuck. I have depression and anxiety too. I was actually thinking of trying Remeron because I've been on almost all the SSRI's and SNRI's over the years with only limited results. But I've heard from others that Remeron can cause massive carb cravings and subsequent weight gain, which scares me. Did you have that experience on Remeron?

[Canuck]

Yes I did. Not only just carbs but it gives you an appatite for almost any food. Remeron's reputation is well deserved.

[tailspin]

Yes I did. Not only just carbs but it gives you an appatite for almost any food. Remeron's reputation is well deserved.

That's too bad!!! That would definitely be a problem for me since I already have sugar cravings! I'm not sure what to try next either. I am currently on Lexapro (which is another name for Cipralex). It does help a bit, but not as much as I would like.

Did Effexor help you at all? I tried that for a while too. It's frustrating when these medications help somewhat, but not enough!

I hope that Cipralex works for you second time around if you decide to try it again!

[Canuck]

Yes Effexor helped when I got my dose up to 300mg. Wasn't bothered with anxiety or depression for about a year and a half. But I don't think the doc will increase it beyond 300mg

[tailspin]

Yes Effexor helped when I got my dose up to 300mg. Wasn't bothered with anxiety or depression for about a year and a half. But I don't think the doc will increase it beyond 300mg

That's good it worked so well for you. But I'm sorry it stopped helping. Do you feel as bad as you did before you started taking it? Or does it still help a bit? Are you doing any other things to help, for example, any type of therapy? I'm beginning to think that I'm going to have to find alternative measures for myself since medication only does so much for me it seems.

[Canuck]

This time around it seems to be predominantly anxiety with some depression symptoms. Last time it was mostly depression so the Effexor may still be helping to some degree on the depression side. I was doing brief therapy for a while and that helped but I found that I was feeling pretty good and really didn't need to go anymore so I discontinued it.

[Canuck]

I have to go for now. Will be back later

[tailspin]

Good talking to you, Canuck! And glad to hear that the Effexor does seem to be helping with your depression. Perhaps you could add something for anxiety? Say, a benzo, as needed?? I know a lot of people do that and they seem to get on fine. Also, since therapy helped in the past, it sounds like it would be worth trying that again too?

Wishing you the best!