I've been taking an the old tricyclic antidepressant desipramine for over 3 months now. I was started on 25 mg and slowly titrated up to 75 mg. Each time my dose was increased, I experienced irritability and agitation. After being on 75 mg, I started to have some really good days, and some bad ones. It really feels like the dose is working, but my pdoc just increased my dosage to 100 mg to "lessen the bad days" and try to get me over the top. I've been taking it for about 5 days now and have some anxiety and agitation again. I was told to keep taking this dose for at least 2 to 3 weeks, but lately when the agitation starts (out of nowhere), I get nervous and want to give up and go back to 75 mg where I'm more comfortable with the dose. Has anybody had any experience with desipramine that could tell me if the agitation should subside or give me some tips on whether to drop the dose or tough it out? I'm afraid that if I drop back down on the dose, I'll feel better but then I'll never know if 100 mg is the dose that could truly break me out of this depression for good. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hi, I’m on the tricyclic antidepressants too, was on 75mg for 9 weeks then doctor increased dosage to 150mg, after 6 weeks, suffering from really bad agitated symptoms, waking up at, 4am, 5am, I went back to doctors and I’m now on 75mg every other morning and 75mg every night, I still get a bit of those symptoms, but not has bad.. it’s only been 3 weeks on new dosage for me.. you will get symptoms at upped dosage..
Hi Gaynor,
Which tricyclic are you taking? I took Elavil for around 12 years and it worked great, but then, out of nowhere, could no longer tolerate it. so far desipramine seems to be doing a great job, but not consistently at such a low dose. From what I’ve read, irritability and agitation can occur from noradrenergic activity, but after chronic administration, your brain sends signals to “downregulate” the adrenoceptors and the anxiety/agitation dissipates and the depression improves.
Hi I have know idea about your antidepressants, but I’m in doselupin.