Going to take 75mg Dosulepin for anxiety - Experiences?

Hi just noticed ur post and am in a similar position being that am addicted to benzos an am on mirtazapine and my friend give me dosulepin av not tried dem yet but was thinking of asking my doctor to change my meds to dosulepin from mirtazapine an diazpam i am concerned more about stopping benzos do you think it would be o.k

Hi ya

I'm a recovery worker for addictions. Benzos can be lethal to just stop taking. If you wean yourself off with a plan you will be fine but to stop taking them could cause epileptic reaction and hallucinations and fatal consequence. Depending on how

Much you are taking of course but if u have a cut down plan you wil be ok. 😊

I have been taking mirtaz for more than a year and still have anxiety. Tried ssri s and cannot tolerate them. Interested in dosulepin, anybadvice

Hi.  I have had a total meds change around since I wrote my last post and feel like my life is moving ahead although I still experience anxiety.  I have been on Lexapro 10mg mornings for three years now and my psychiatrist switched me from Xanax, as it has a short half life and I was having interdosal withdrawal anxiety, to Valium about a year and a half ago.  I feel much better but still have bad days.  I don't cope well with too much alone time so force myself to go out and be around people and friends which helps.  When there are no friends around I sometimes chat with strangers if we find a commom talking point.  I also try to structure my days so that I don't drift aimlessly which is when the anxiety creeps in, it helps to have a purpose, be it ever so small, even shopping for groceries.  I found that the dosulepin worked quite well for me before the age of 50 but it didn't help with the hot flushes and night sweats and anxiety of menopause, so that's why I was forced to change to Lexapro which actually stops the hot flushes (I can't take HRT due to a blood disorder).  Would be nice to be drug free one day but at the moment I can't see it happening.  So, yes, give the dosulepin a try but give it time and build up the dose slowly, it's really great for sleeping!  

I am very interested in your post.  I have had no success on ssris and mirtazapine hasnt helped.  Coming off it now.  Psych has tried many but not dosulepin and i know its old school but it did seem to sork for lots of people,  im finding it difficult to get experiences of anyone still on it.  Looking for help as to side effects etc.

Me too as this drug has been suggested to me but very little info available

I have been taking Dosulepin for 21 years.  It has been life changing for me.  I will need to take it for the rest of my life.  My Doctor says it is like a diabetic needing to take insulin.

It makes you drowsy - so I take it ((125mg) only at night before bed.  This works well for me as I need help with getting to sleep.  

It took about 4-6 weeks to work for me.  I had a higher dose to start with and brought it down to 125mg per day after a year.

It can make you put on weight so I always have a good walk each day and watch my diet.  

Do you ever drink alcohol while on it? And does excercise keep the weight off 

I do not drink alcohol.

By itself my exercise does not keep the weight off.  I do eat anything but it has to be in moderation. 

Hi, could you please tell me what first effects of Dosulepin were on you. What did you feel after 4 to 6 weeks?

Hi, after 4-6 weeks I felt calm, I felt like my usual self. The depression had “lifted”.

What a great feeling it must be :-)

I have had no success with any ssri meds and have depression and anxiety.  Suggestion now is dosulepin and i wondered if you could advise if it may help. I understand it is an old school one but willing to try anything to help.  Starting on 25 Mg

I have found Doselupin to be excellent.  It helps me with depression (no more), anxiety (effectively gone but I have to manage my diet - no alcohol, no caffeine), it calms me and helps me to get a good nights sleep as it makes me feel drowsy.  I am now 57 (have taken it for 21 years) and have not had any problems.

I started with a high dose (225 mg at night) and am now on 125 mg.  It does give me an appetite so I have to always watch the calories and exercise every day (walking - I try to walk over 10,000 steps a day on average).   

I am scared to take this as some people say they have tremors on it and others say they are very tired and have urinary problems.  You seem very positive and i hope that will help.

I take the medication each night at 10pm and by midnight I am feeling drowsy and fall asleep easily.  If you took the medication during the day it might make you tired during the day.  For me taking it once a day at night suits me very well.  I am still a little tired at 7am but a shower wakes me up and by the time I have ended a brisk walk to the office I am fine. I have not had issues with tremors or urinary retention.  

I am feeling desperate as i knowimmstarting to have black thoughts and only using diazepam, no antidepressant.  After failures of ssris in past i have tried to contact mh team but they just saynits anxiety, i wake at 4am feeling i cant go on.  Will the small dose of dosulepin help me, i can start it tonight with gp advice but cant get hold of psych to confirm.  I have had anxiety for so long now i dont know if anything will work.  You have had success over a long periodmof time, was it initially helpful for agitation and anxiety depression as thats where im at.

have you started the dosulepin and if somhow is it, i am in your position and need advice.  Did theyngive it tomyou for anxiety and depression?

 

After I started taking it I began to feel a bit better each day and after 6-8 weeks much better.  They were small steps, brick by brick one foot in front of the other.  They were small steps but I could feel they were slowly slowly making a difference and it gave me hope. Later those bricks became a wall and then a house.

I was in the same position as you at that time and it is important to get a better nights sleep - which Dosulepin helped me do.

All that is terrifically helpful. I am hoping to try to get the sleep, anxiety and depression under control and dearly wish this med will help.  A lot of people say it is good, especiallyf tou cannot use ssris.  I just hope i can wait the six weeks as i am desperate.

I was on a SSRI which was not helping and after stopping and once I took Dosulepin the long gradual path to recovery began.  I did not feel very chipper for some time but I eventually made it - my body was more resilient than I thought.  I did get there.

I was started on 75mg, then upped to 150, then finally to 225 - which worked for me.  

Oh dear i have only been given 25mg so thats not going to work well

 

You should ask your Doctor about when the dosage will be increased and why it is low at the moment (I suspect the Doctor is easing you in to check your tolerance).  This seems to be the first step.

It is normal for your doctor to start you on 25mg dose, partly to ensure there are no adverse side effects and partly because with this medicine you have to increase the dose slowly until you reach the therapeutic dosage, which for me was 150mg.   At the time I used it, it helped to lift me out of severe depression and I took Dosulepin (used to be called Prothiaden) for 14 years from 1999 to 2013.  In 2013 I became menopausal and my doctor switched me to Lexapro (after I consulted with my psychiatrist) as this SSRI helps to reduce the hot flushes and night sweats  which the Dosulepin was not addressing, as well as treating depression and some of the anxiety.  I didn't like having to stop the Dosulepin because I felt safe on it but in the end I have adjusted to Lexapro for depression, anxiety and menopausal symptoms.  I must add though that I also take Valium every day otherwise I simply don't sleep and also have anxiety.  I have never found an anti depressant which fully treats anxiety and have always had to use a benzodiazapine as well, which my psychiatrist prescribes.  I have never had to increase the dose of Valium I am on so although I am dependent upon it, it doesn't cause rampant, uncontrollable addiction as many people believe.  My psychiatrist says that it is normal for some patients to need a tranquiliser as well (however many doctors disapprove of benzos, are judgmental and aren't as specialised as psychiatrists) so I don't worry about their judgmental attitude any more. I manage to hold down a permanent job as a specialised legal assistant, stay fit and live a healthy, balanced life.  Menopause, on top of depression/anxiety, is a game changer so hopefully you either are too young to have to deal with this yet or have already been through it. Good luck with your journey of survival and to a happier, healthier more balanced and fulfilling life.     

I just want to add that I was diagnosed with agitated depression, major depression and GAD in my 20's and am now 54.  Thirty years ago people didn't talk about it as openly as these days which made it harder to get help.  Keep up all of your doctor appointments and ask about a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist if you feel the need.  Talking (to friends and family) really helps as does the specialised advice of a psychiatrist which I have found more helpful than any psychologist or doctor.  Depression is extremely complex and can be caused by life stresses and/or chemical imbalance so it is important to get the right kind of help.  

Well i took one last night and have woken moaning and very upset in my head.  Feels like ive had a chemical cosh and i just feel i cannot go on like this.  The depression yesterday was bad thats why i took it.  Feel a bit sick and was up five times in night to loo, just kept waking up then back to sleep.  Dont know if i should carry on with this or if its going to be trouble.  After taking it i coughed for an hour but that went away.  I have itchy spots today too.  When you say start up effects are difficcult what were they?  I amstill having to take diazepam at night as it cannot be reduced quickly.

Yes my diagnosis is agitated depression.  Its been with me for four years, tried several ssris but nomhelp. Ended up on mirtazapine but coulnt get dose up so finallynstopped.  Psych has not been able to get me stable.  GP given me dosulepin to see how i get on. Have to say i still need diazepam but woke after first 25mg dosulepin distressed and felt ill.  Will this go away in time?   I feel a bit spacey and just down, cant face being up cant clean, or cook just now either.  All,used to be nirmal but this condition is really debilitating.

Hi Nellyy and Ann55375

I thought I would just update you on my mental health. It's 9 years since I posted on this thread.

It took a long while to get me stable, but with the help of my Gp we found a way to get me through the day semi normal.

I take 150mg of Dosulepin every night and 40mg of Citalopram in the morning and have done for about 7 years. I still need diazapan but only rarely now. I don't notice the side effects at all now. I'm also very pleased I kept on taking the dosulepin even when the side effects were awful.

I will always be up and down with my depression and anxiety and it only takes a little thing to set me off.

Any questions I'm happy to answer.

Lizy

So delighted to hear from someone who found this site helpful so long ago.

it comes fortuitously for me as i am just starting the dosulepin route as i had no success with others,   You are a ray of hope.   I still need diazepam but have never used more than a five at night or four in day.  Hoping to get it down when the dosulepin kicks in.

any helpful advice on dosulepin would be great.  Its new for me and it seems to have given me loose bowel today.   Hoping it will do its job as i really need a decent anti dep to aid my anxiety and low days.

so glad you found your regime

I am only on 25 and the last couple of days have felt very sick and depressed when waking.  Agitation not good either.  Do you think i should ask psych if this drug is causing extra anxiety and see if he wants to change it?   Cant get hold of him so its hard to know.  Agitation has increased on every a.d hes tried.

You should speak to your psychiatrist (“psych”)and describe your symptoms.  He should know all of the medication you are prescribed and be able to advise you what he thinks is the cause of the problems.  I was on a small cocktail of medication when I began with Dosulepin and my pysch was able to advise me what was causing what, what to stop and what to perseve with continuing and or increase.  It was important I had his advice to steer me through this.  I found that Ambien and Ativan really helped (for a short period only) for sleeping (including on air flights) and informed my pysch of that.  But that was good for me and what is good for you is a matter for you and your psych.  What I can say is that taking Dosulepin over the last 21 years has been good for me. I am on no other medication for anxiety and depression.  But have to manage my life and my diet.   

Hi Lizy

It has taken years of trial and error to reach ''mostly stable'' with the help of my psychiatrist.  Most days are good but, like you, a traumatic incident however small, can destabilise me.  I just have to remember that I will be back to my level of normal soon if I keep taking the meds and keep moving forward with life.  A recent death in the family really shook me so am giving myself time to get back to normal.  If I feel anxious I slow right down with whatever I am doing, be it work or walking along the street and remember to breathe calmly.  It just takes me time to recalibrate my nerves.  

Cheers 

Hi Ann

Give yourself at least six weeks to get used to the dosulepin.  It is quite a strong medicine which is why you build up the dosage slowly.  The side effects do go away in time.  You feel down because the medicine hasn't kicked in and you are not on the therapeutic dosage yet, and depression can make you feel nauseous, it is one of the symptoms.  My psych told me the therapeutic dosage for agitated depression is 150mg but this can vary from person to person.  This is one of the great things about this medicine, you can easily tailor the dosage by 25mg increments to suit the individual.  Feeling spacey can be a depression/anxiety sympton too, they call it depersonalisation.  Don't worry.  You are on the road to recovery, it just takes time.  Keep asking your GP questions and try and spend time with people who are accepting of you while you are going through this temporary phase.  You can do it.

Best regards

Hi Nelly, this is my experience too. Hi  Ann - you are going to be fine.  It will take some time - but you can do it, just as I did.  

Dear Ann,

DO u take dosulepin only or add other meds also?

any side effects like, impotency 

Hi Lize,

DO u take dosulepin only or add other meds also?

any side effects like, impotency 

Hello! I am new here. I am new here . I have tried many SSRI within my life with 17 years in panic disorder and depression. My dr just put me on 25 mg of Dosulepin. I took it at 11:30pm and could be asleep by 12:30am. However, I wake up at 6 am

In the morning which is a trouble to me as I don’t get enough sleep. I am hoping to receive some advice from people who are taking the same meds. I am also on seroquel 200 mg and diazapam 

How long are you taking it? 

Thanks for the reply. I have taken for five days so far. 

I would give it a good month even two to see re the side effects, I remember when I started it and Id take it at night, id be asleep before my head hit pillow. But that wore off pretty quickly was on 25mg then 50mg for about 2 years or so now 25mg again. I think its a good drug

How many hours could you sleep with 25 mg and also for 50 mg ? 

Full nights sleep so 8 hours approx starting off or more

Thank you dear

I have had such problems have had to,stop,dosulepin.  Another failed anti depressant for me. So many now.  Psychnhas given up onme says he has tried one from every group and my body can't take them.  He says imhave anxiety and hes right but hes left me with only diazepam and ilate, go to bed early. Have horrendous nightmares.  In between i can shop, walk and speak to one or two friends but not back to normal.  I have been told my system will eventually corect itself but doesnt feel like it at moment.

Hi anne55375

I have been on dosulepin for 18 yrs. the last 8 years have been hell with menopause. I have tried alot of different hormones without much help. it's interesting doc hasn't suggested going up on this med. currently on 100mg. maybe I should try. I feel all my life force is going. how was your menopause. did u have to go up on dose. I am 59

Hi eleonora0422

I used to take dosulepin for about 14 years and it did help with depression but I still had to take a benzodiazapine for anxiety which was my initial problem, and then it evolved into depression over the years. But my current diagnosis is anxiety, depression and panic disorder. Seems to get worse during menopause and heatwaves.

Just wanted to mention that I read somewhere the tricyclic antidepressants such as dosulepin are no help during menopause. From what I read SSRIs work on your hippocampus area of the brain thus stopping those maddening night sweats which prevent sleep. The doctor tried me on hormone replacement therapy but after 10 days I developed a DVT in my calf, it was the worst, especially when I was then diagnosed with genetic thrombophilia. I was 50. I then was switched to an SSRI, namely escitalopram known as Lexapro which greatly reduced the hot flushes and night sweats causing me the insomnia which drove me nuts for over a year. I have been on 10mg Lexapro since December 2013 and still on it. I still have 'struggle' or 'low' days but at least I get a good night's sleep. Even during this Sydney heatwave! I also have diazepam for the anxiety as the Lexapro doesn't fully address that and I take 25 to 50mg Seroquel (a tiny dose) at night which makes me sleep. Everything is working most of the time at the moment so I don't want to change the delicate balance. I am now 55. Good luck surviving menopause. Trust in the powers of the universe, medication and time. And talk to your menopausal friends. It's something no one talks about as if it's taboo or something.