Is and SSRI like Zoloft safe to take with apnea?

I was under the impression that the generics for SSRIs are identical. Is that not the case?

I've been lurking here for a while, but happen to have researched this topic and thought I might be able to actually add something.

Sorry to hear about your loss. I can't even begin to imagine what that might be like.

I do take an SSRI, and have reduced the dosage quite a bit in the last few months (been on CPAP for almost two years). I am doing better with my sleep, but I've also changed a few other things, so I can't be sure whether the reduced dosage has helped.

I researched the effect of SSRIs on sleep a few weeks ago. I found many studies that said that SSRIs tend to suppress REM sleep. From what I've read on this forum and elsewhere, that's not a good thing.

I would research this if I were you, before I started taking the meds. I found the SSRIs very helpful, but now realize some of the risks that I wasn't aware of before. Still, I wouldn't have done anything any differently.

So sorry for your loss, I take Lexapro 20 mg, also my pain management Dr. put me also on cyambalta 30 mg in morning and 60 mg at night.
So far I'm doing ok.

tattooyu wrote:I was under the impression that the generics for SSRIs are identical. Is that not the case?

Nope, they're not. The "drug" part of the pill may or may not be the same, but the "delivery method" (how your body absorbs it) and how the pill is made can be totally different. However, sometimes the generics will work better for you than the brand name. The generics aren't inferior. What happens is a company will patent a medication and once the patent runs out, other companies can make it. Sometimes their product is going to work better for you, sometimes not, and sometimes you won't even be able to tell.

I can tell you there is no real reason to justify rejecting a generic unless you are *sure* it doesn't work for you. There's no more chance of a generic not working than of a brand name not working. It's all about who got it out first. Most companies do both - a mixture of generics and brand name drugs. It's not like the generics are made by shadier companies with lax standards. They still had to do all the research and all of that - they just made it to the marketplace later.

Tattooyu, I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I can't imagine dealing with that and OSA at the same time.

Although I've had a good bit of experience with antidepressants, I'm not currently taking one so I didn't vote.

A few days ago, I stumbled onto a relevant video on YouTube. And then I read your thread. Synchronicity, eh? The video can be found on Dr. Barry Krakow's channel (sleeptreatment). Dr. Krakow has produced a lot of videos on a number of OSA-related topics.

Here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/sleeptreat ... uz2q0ZSusM

First, he's basically echoing what some have already said here: SSRIs can speed up brain waves, delay or suppress REM sleep, and thereby essentially create a sleep disturbance that decreases the quality of sleep. He then speculates that this deterioration in sleep quality is what causes some of the negative side effects of SSRIs. And he agrees, as others have said, that they always affect everyone differently. So, basically, it looks like it's a roll of the dice.

FWIW, Dr. Krakow's thinking seems to agree with my most recent experience with SSRIs. I started taking Celexa in October 2003. I'm sure I had OSA then, but was undiagnosed. The Celexa helped me feel better, but fizzled out after about four months. My doctor increased the dose, but it didn't help. She then had me try Prozac, Zoloft, and another AD I can't remember. None of them helped. In fact, they all made me feel worse . . . actually, about as miserable as I can remember feeling. I stopped taking all of them. Now that I know the reason for the symptoms I've had for the last ten+ years (my OSA), I believe Dr. Krakow's speculation explains why I felt worse on Prozac, etc. Certain SSRIs made my already poor quality sleep even worse.

Aside from CBT, here's another possibility for you: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Go to: http://www.emofree.com/.

Although I have the EFT DVDs, I have not had the discipline to go through them and learn the techniques. Chalk it up to the lethargy and fatigue of OSA. That said, EFT is supposed to work. You may even find a practitioner who could teach you the techniques. Wishing you success in finding relief.

wearysoul

tattooyu wrote:Please only answer the poll if you are currently taking an SSRI

I did a few searches on the board, but I couldn't find an answer, hence the new topic.

Fairly soon, I may be going on an SSRI for anxiety/Panic Disorder/possible PTSD (my baby boy, Andrew, passed last September; he was a preemie) and was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with taking an SSRI (Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac, etc.), and did it effect your AHI numbers and sleep architecture positively/negatively/neutrally?

My approach will pairing that up with cognitive therapy, as the combination of medication and therapy has a much more successful outcome. I'm also putting in a call to the sleep doctor this morning to get his opinion on it as well.

Hi, I was diagnosed with mild OA few months back. Was on CPAP for about 3 weeks and feeling better. Checked up with my sleep doc yesterday and she prescribed Fluoxetine on top of CPAP therapy. Fluoxetine is a generic version of Prozac, an anti-depressant. According to her, all of these types of anti-depressant can also improve airways breathing and benificial for OA. She prescribed it for my OA not for depression which I do not have. I did a check on the Net and found that yes that it is use for treating OA and there is a study on it. http://www.chestjournal.org/content/100 ... l.pdf+html
But what I find disturbing is that it also reduces REM sleep time which I feel is very important to have more and not less

Is anyone familiar with BuSpar (buspirone)? It is supposedly a non-addictive anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) med. I'm curious about possibly trying that for a short while, but I'm wondering if that has an affect on the airway

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

I took Buspar successfully, after my cousin recommended it, because of less sexual side effects than Prozac. I lost my insurance, went off it, and when I asked for something similar a couple of years later, was given Lexapro.

I weaned off Lexapro on the advice of Socknitster on this board, using generic 10 mg Prozac, and then couldn't manage to quit the Prozac. I would stop taking it, and feel my edginess creeping back up, and start taking it again. I'm seeing a new doc on 10/27/09 and will discuss it with him.

For my vote, BusPar was not a bad thing. I took it pre-CPAP, back in 1998-1999, however.

Best of luck, buddy!
B.

tattooyu wrote:Is anyone familiar with BuSpar (buspirone)? It is supposedly a non-addictive anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) med. I'm curious about possibly trying that for a short while, but I'm wondering if that has an affect on the airway

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

As with all medications, some have bad reactions and some have none. However, the common reactions that people have are some dizziness or wooziness, which is certainly not as bad as the reaction I had to Celexa.

I also found this one document that specifically claims it does not cause respiratory depression like a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Klonopin [which I take only during the day], etc.).

http://www.psychatlanta.com/documents/buspar.pdf


I would love to hear more personal experiences about BuSpar and if it caused any change to your sleep habits.

Simple Answer: Anyone, OSA or not, should work closely with a Psychiatrist when starting an SSRI. Particularly Zoloft!! Anybody having signs of irritability, insomnia or anything else indicating mood shift should talk to their Psychiatrist ASAP. The side effects are saying something about you and can help the Doctor give you the right Meds


Take care,

SG

tattooyu,

very sorry to hear about your loss. i can't imagine the pain.

i didn't vote, since i'm no longer on antidepressants, but i thought i would share my experience.

a few years ago, i went through what was without a doubt the darkest time in my life. i finally had to admit i was suffering from depression and it wasn't going away on it's own. i spoke to my doctor and was prescribed paxcil. I really didn't want to, but i was in such a bad way that i realized i needed to do something... and fast! i had sacrificed too much of my life 'not living'. the paxcil was the kick start i needed and it got me over the hump, but i didn't like the side-effects, lethargy, apathy, decreased libido, etc. my doc suggested we switch to wellbutrin, which was equally effective but without the side effects. nonetheless, seemed to me the anti-depressants were defintley interfereing with my sleep.

then i found out that i had severe OSA. understanding what effect that has the brain/mind i wondered if i could now discontinue the SSRI and see how much of my depression/anxiety was related to the OSA. i've been med-free for a few weeks now and I feel pretty good... so far. my AHI has actually gone up slightly, but that may also be because after 3 months on CPAP i've finally got it tuned. but, i'm sleeping and my moods are stable and my stress tolerance is improving.

sounds to me like you are taking this very seriously and doing your homework - good for you. i hope you find success in what path you choose.