Perimenopause symptoms are getting worse. I decided to wean off paxil because of sexual side effects. i am sown to 5 mg. i started taking remeron and i am taking 60 mg. i sleep well and my concentrations is good but i either feel sort of flat or anxious or angry or nervous or overwhelmed or obsessive. i don seem to feel optimistic and hopeful as i used to feel. i am afraid to go back to paxil because i have worked so hard to get out of it. should i stay on remeron? are my expectations to feel more hopeful unrealistic? shall i try another AD? i dont know what to do. can anyone relate. can anyone give me some perspecive?

Hi,
I don't know anything about Remeron, but if it's not working for you, it seems worth talking with your doctor about trying something different. But then, how long have you been on the Remeron? Have you given it a good chance to make a difference?

I'm on Lexapro, which my doctor has said has the least side-effects of the SSRI's. It's similar to Paxil in how it works. The med works fine for me.

So sorry you're contending with this - it's so challenging to have those difficult, blah days! Hope you find an answer soon.

(((HUGS)))

JJ

Praia...

I've copied you a bit of research here:



Wellbutrin, the brand name of bupropion, had the lowest overall rate of sexual dysfunction. It was associated with a rate of 22% of the overall population. The sustained release formulation fared almost as well with a rate of 25%. In contrast, the SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa), venlafaxine (Effexor) and mirtazapine (Remeron) averaged about 40%. When subjects were removed who had other probable causes of sexual dysfunction, the results were even better. Wellbutrin's rate dropped to 7% with the other medications dropping to between 23-30%. Even, the Remeron your taking is in the same range 40%.

Remember hearing someone talk about Wellbutrin helping with the sexual dysfunction.
So...I looked it up for you.

Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI).

Might be time to talk with your doctor. I have heard other's say...Wellbutrin was added
to the original AD...to help with the sexual dysfunction.

Like JJ...I also take the Lexapro...thank-goodness...it's been a life saver.

Plus...your more than likely...feeling the side effects of the Remeron.



They will lessen with time...just like your Paxil.

Also, copied this for you....

Take a "Drug Holiday"
With the drugs sertraline and paroxetine (brand names Zoloft and Paxil) it may be possible to schedule a two day drug holiday each week in order to restore sexual function without losing the efficacy of the antidepressant.

Switch to an Antidepressant That Causes Fewer Side-Effects
Nefazodone and bupropion (brand names Serzone and Wellbutrin) have been shown in double-blind studies to have less effect on sexual function than SSRIs. If either of these have an adequate antidepressant effect for an individual patient they may be a viable treatment alternative to reduce sexual side effects.

I would really talk to a doctor...who knows about these drugs.
They write RX's for these everyday.

Best wishes to you....

Yep