SSRI poop out

For the many sleep apnea patients that have coexistent depression, I learned something new today about SSRI antidepressants. It's called SSRI "poop out". Basically, most SSRI's work for a period of time and then seems ineffective. Research has now shown that the reuptake inhibition gradually diminishes as time goes by on same SSRI. So you need to periodically rotate to a different SSRI when "poop out" appears to be the problem. The length of time to poop out is very individual. Some people can stay on same SSRI for several years without hitting it. Others may hit it within a year. My shrink told me about it today. She works part-time in clinical trials so I think she knows what she's talking about. She also says it is documented in medical literature.

So those of you on the same SSRI for a long time and feel your antidepressant no longer works very well--you may be at SSRI poop out on that drug. Time to gradually switch to new drug.

This is all too common for me. The problem is that there is only one real antidepressant that I get any response from and the response is only ok, it's not amazing. Right now I am on another antidepressant which is a maio I think that call it, has many dangerous side effects, but I had nothing else that I could do as everything else fails.
I do find some natural things to be a help, making sure I get B vitamins and get enough sleep. Some herbs have seemed to have a little bit of impact but usually don't last long. I have found ginko and other herbs used to help improve memory to be of some help, but can't back that us with science.
Most of what I heard is that only a small amout of people really respond very well to antidepressants, and the rest of us, it just helps us get by.

I can relate to this. Been on so many different ones over the past 8 years roughly. Always end up switching to another one after some time...

Just found this thread - and think this is part of my problem. I have been on Lexapro for several years - at least 4-5. For the last several months I have been thinking that it is just the stress at work and some other BS that is the problem. Maybe it is SSRI poop out. I went to my Dr today and we are increasing the dosage. I will go back to him in a few weeks to see how it is working. If no improvement, I will ask for something else.

I know we are all different, and meds effect each of us differently - but, any suggestions on what to try next if changing the dose doesn't work?

I don't want to continue to feel like I have for the last few months, and I know the folks around me want my meds adjusted. At work they are tired of walking on eggshells

I think I heard that some MS drugs work the same way. Yikes!
Every maintenance drug probably should be re-evaluated periodically.
Less is very often more when it comes to RX drugs
Often, interactions or side effects are discovered well down the road, but may be overlooked.

I just weaned off Lexapro 4 weeks ago after being on it for 7 years. The withdrawal symptoms are awful. I won't take any more anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds again for this reason. If I had known the withdrawal symptoms...............
I've had a fixed drug eruption on my feet on and off for the whole 7 years. If it can do this to my skin, imagine what it was doing to the rest of my body!

I don't know how much weight anyone here places on foot reflexology,
but the foot lesions would point to a whole bunch of complications-system-wide.
Folk medicine is surprising, to say the least.

VikingGnome wrote:It's called SSRI "poop out".

I could have used a "poop out" on Monday. I ended up in the ER, in serious pain, even after 4 IV pushes of Dilaudid (6-8 times more powerful than morphine). Problem? Colon blockage ... from "stem to stern" so to speak, fully blocked. THAT IS NOT FUN, and after a lot of work of docs and nurses and vast quantities of chemicals... resolved without surgery. WHEW !

(OK, too much information, but I left some for your imagination. I think they had to call maintenance to fix the other blockage down the hall after I was done with mine) LOL !!

Bad news... after I returned home and took a significant oral "flusher" to confirm and clear and NOTHING HAPPENED! I was still blocked !! More interventions, nurse calls, doctor consults, runs for many different chemicals again...

Sometimes "Poop Out" is a good thing

I return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

MaxDarkside wrote:

VikingGnome wrote:It's called SSRI "poop out".

I could have used a "poop out" on Monday. I ended up in the ER, in serious pain, even after 4 IV pushes of Dilaudid (6-8 times more powerful than morphine). Problem? Colon blockage ... from "stem to stern" so to speak, fully blocked. THAT IS NOT FUN, and after a lot of work of docs and nurses and vast quantities of chemicals... resolved without surgery. WHEW !

(OK, too much information, but I left some for your imagination. I think they had to call maintenance to fix the other blockage down the hall after I was done with mine) LOL !!

Bad news... after I returned home and took a significant oral "flusher" to confirm and clear and NOTHING HAPPENED! I was still blocked !! More interventions, nurse calls, doctor consults, runs for many different chemicals again...

Sometimes "Poop Out" is a good thing

I return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

Max,
Glad you are feeling better...but....ewwwwwww
-tino

Tino2You wrote:Max,
Glad you are feeling better...but....ewwwwwww
-tino

Thanks. Apologies for the gross diversion. It is interesting to note that I did not have any symptoms until WHAM... a world of hurt. Our bodies are very adaptive (SSRI's or other things) until, in this case, they hit a threshold.

MaxDarkside wrote: I could have used a "poop out" on Monday. I ended up in the ER, in serious pain, even after 4 IV pushes of Dilaudid (6-8 times more powerful than morphine). Problem? Colon blockage ... from "stem to stern" so to speak, fully blocked. THAT IS NOT FUN, and after a lot of work of docs and nurses and vast quantities of chemicals... resolved without surgery. WHEW !

There is a joke in here somewhere about Republicans being full of... something... but seriously, hope you are feeling better...

RandyJ wrote:There is a joke in here somewhere about Republicans being full of... something... but seriously, hope you are feeling better...

If I were Republican (which I'm not, I'm an Independent with a Libertarian bent, perhaps more of a "Classical Liberal"). Ya, plenty of "yer full of sh..." jokes going around here.

SSRIs are a fraud to start with.

Placebos work just as well with fewer side effects.

@ Max - glad things are moving again!

@ Therapist - If SSRI's are a fraud, what do you suggest? Therapy? After hearing some of the folks I know that have gone to therapist - I think some of them are frauds as well.