Experiences with NaSSAs / tetracyclics or tricyclics?

BeeGee · ‎08-04-2015

I posted earlier that I was coming off my SNRI - I'm happy to report that I now feel like me again instead of an emotionless robot.

I was reading a systematic review of studies comparing the efficacy and tolerability of a NaSSA (starts with "m") with SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs this morning. According to this review it seems that there is a statistically significant improvement in "m" over SSRIs and SNRIs (although worse tolerability than SSRIs), and comparable efficacy and tolerability to TCAs.

I've only been able to find one post on BB about NaSSAs by Girl_Anachronism, and she was not doing well at the time. Has anyone else tried NaSSAs and can share their experiences? I'm also interested in how people have found TCAs after unsuccessfully trying other first-line drugs? I know everyone can respond differently to any given drug, but it would be good to hear those experiences anyway.

Doolhof · ‎11-04-2015

Hi Bee Gee,

You have certainly been doing some research into medications and their different effects.

I'm one of those people who just accepts what the Dr suggests I take, if it doesn't work then after a while I return and ask for something different.

Hopefully someone will come up with some worthwhile information to share with you.

Cheers. from Mrs. Dools

geoff · ‎12-04-2015

dear BeeGee, I have been given a couple of AD's that are classified in the NASSA department and also take a TCA which was given to me for epilepsy and my depression.

With this TCA I have to take a heavy dose, maybe because of my build, but they do make me very tired, as I take my last lot at afternoon tea time, and that's when I log off from this site.

With the NASSA I tried about of these, if I remember correctly, but with me they did nothing, you maybe different because everybody has a different affect to each AD.

I did start taking TCA after one of my suicide attempts, but I also take a SSRI which I am on the maximum dose at 50 mg, while the daily dose for my TCA is 1200 mg so I believe, however I take 2400 mg a day, twice the daily dosage, plus I take another SSRI for my epilepsy but is used for mental disorder, which I also take over the daily dosage.

So it's a bit confusing, so I take a TCA 2400 mg a day and take 2 SSRI one mainly for depression and the other for epilepsy, 50 mg and 560 mg respectively, so all of these make me tired. Geoff.

BeeGee · ‎17-04-2015

Thanks Geoff - not surprising you're tired with such doses! At least though it sounds like for you the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of the fatigue.

I'm actually going to have a drug holiday for a while - I need to get back to my "normal" for a while after my current disastrous withdrawal experience (still having withdrawal symptoms 10 days after ceasing, with taper).

My doc suggested the new melatonergic AD as a possibility for the next try, since it has a completely different mechanism of action. The downside is that it's not on the PBS so it would be $50-60 a month. If I think about that as $2/day it doesn't seem so bad, but still!!

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and experiences. I don't think I could manage the fatigue; I'm studying a pretty full-on course and really need my mind functioning as well as possible.

BeeGee · ‎17-04-2015

Hi Mrs D,

I know what you mean - that is what you pay them for after all, why not take their advice?!

However, as I plan on being the doctor in the not too distant future it's good for me to do some research myself - not just to improve my own outcomes but so that I'm better informed when I'm looking after my own patients. Some things you just can't get from research papers though - people's experiences don't make it into scientific journals and that's an important part of the picture in this field. By hearing the stories of others I hope to gain more insight into the lived experience of the people dealing with these issues beyond just numbers in a report.

Doolhof · ‎19-04-2015

Hi BeeGee,

So you are planning on becoming a Doctor? Well done to you! I was thinking of being a nurse once but did not have the money for the study and I faint at the sight of other people's blood and their wounds! Ha. Ha.

I have certainly experienced terrible withdrawal symptoms while coming off some meds. Even after following my Drs orders I ended up in hospital with dehydration which required me to be on a drip for 4 days as I had been unable to keep down even a sip of water.

My vertigo was so bad I couldn't stand up in the end. I had asked my husband to take me to the Dr but he thought I should be able to just pull my socks up and get on with it.

It was only when my sister and her family came for dinner and I tried to get out of bed and continued vomiting, that I was taken seriously and my sister took me to the hospital where I was admitted straight away.

The on call Dr said I could not possibly be reacting from drug withdrawal and that it had to be something else. As I had experienced much the same thing coming off a different antidepressant years before, I didn't quite believe her and nor did my own GP. I guess she had not seen such severe reactions before. I don't know.

One of the problems I find with the meds is that you sometimes have to be on them for a significant amount of time to give them an opportunity to work properly. Then if they are not functioning or being effective, you have to withdraw off that medication, wait a while and then try another if you are not able to function well without some type of medication.

It can be so disruptive to your life and your work situation! Not to mention your relationships with family and friends when your emotions are going nuts!

Thankfully I have a Dr who really seems to care and I do so appreciate that.

Wishing you all the best with your research and future plans.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools