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Multiple Antidepressants Make It Easier?


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#1 Bongchaaa

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Posted 24 November 2019 - 10:21 PM

My mom is on Lamictal, Namenda and Cymbalta.  Will it be easier for her to come off Cymbalta if she is on these other antidepressants?  


#2 fishinghat

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Posted 25 November 2019 - 09:40 AM

Lamictal is an anti-seizure medicine that is also used to treat bipolar depression. I has somewhat of a calming effect due to its role in controlling two neurotransmitters, glutamate and aspartate.

Memantine (Namenda) is a medication used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It is not approved by the FDA for any other purpose at this time. Severe side effects may include blood clots, psychosis, and heart failure. It is believed to work by blocking NMDA receptors. Due to the potential of severe side effects it is not recommended for other uses. It is also an antagonist (slows actions) of serotonin and acetylcholine receptors and an agonist (stimulates) of dopamine receptors.

Many members were using Lamictal when going into Cymbalta withdrawal and many others used it to treat the withdrawal as well. Both had little effect for most except it did help control any seizures that developed during the withdrawal.

If you need any other details in this subject or meds let me know.

#3 Bongchaaa

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Posted 25 November 2019 - 10:16 AM

Would it make withdrawal easier if she were switch to something that also increase serotonin levels?

#4 fishinghat

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Posted 25 November 2019 - 11:20 AM

A lot of members have switched to one of three ssri, Lexapro, Zoloft or Prozac. The problem we see most often is that there is a 50/50 chance that they work. Also it takes them 4 to 8 weeks to kick in and during that time you must com e off the Cymbalta. So you can suffer some serious withdrawal during that time period. The risk is that is they don't work to control the withdrawal you have to switch to another ssri and wait another 4 to 8 weeks for it to kick in. In my case I went to Prozac first and it did not help and wound up trying 4 antidepressants before I found one that worked. My case is unusual though. For about 50% of the members the first one will work.

There has been some research into switching antidepressants. It indicates the more types of antidepressants you have been on the more likely a new one will not work. If you het lucky and find one that does work it is usually easier to come off of than Cymbalta, especially if it is one of those I mentioned above.

#5 Bongchaaa

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Posted 25 November 2019 - 03:06 PM

Ok thank you!



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