Posted by AlexCanada on November 2, 2012, at 9:17:29
In reply to I give up, posted by ChicagoKat on October 25, 2012, at 19:26:26
> I have now been on Nardil for 3 1/2 weeks, and feel as terrible as I did before I started it. That never happened the first time I took it. I just know in my gut that it's not gonna work. Oh, and I've been on Nortriptyline too, and that's doing squat for me.
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> I've tried everything there is. I remember before I started Nardil this time that I told my husband that if it didn't work it was gonna be either suicide or heroin addiction for me. I was only half-joking. I just can't face a life of feeling so awful all the time. Of course, my pdoc will probably put me back on Ritalin, and I will have to fight with it (tolerance builds up to it really quickly in me) for the rest of my miserable existence.
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> If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them, but I just don't think anything's gonna work anymore.Rhodiola Rosea. It was the first thing that allowed me to actually function and work for a bit and I have been dealing with severe melancholic depression + anxiety for over a decade.
It is worth a shot because it isn't just one option. You can think of it as two or three. The herb (and I have tried many, most with very little relief) functions differently depending on dosage. Low doses of about 250mg-500mg a day can be activating/stimulating yet ironically calming. Moderate doses of 500mg-1000mg can be less activating yet cognitively quite enhancing. High doses of 1000mg+ can be sedating (if you need it for sleep), far less activating, yet maintain a good level of motivation and productivity.
From the dozens of meds I have tried in my treatment resistant depression + anxiety there have been almost none which have allowed me to be as productive as I have been on Rhodiola Rosea. It really does something for motivation and to some extent a partial restoration of interest.
It functions as an herbal MAOI, but of course without any diet restrictions.
Of course it effects everyone differently. My mother felt a lot more lively and less aggressive. For me it sometimes causes aggression but it's been a small price to pay for the ability to get my life slightly back on track.
Unfortunately after 1 and a half years Rhodiola has built up tolerance within me. It doesn't help as much as it used to but I was at least able to get much done in the mean time.
If you do choose to try it please consider 2 brands since branding can make a huge difference. NOW brand caused a lot of cognitive improvement for me, allowed me to feel even a bit intellectual, such as how I was when I was very young and healthy but it caused fair amount of aggression.
Mind Body and Spirit brand is a bit more calming and feels less potent in it's pro-motivation and pro-cognitive effects.
It can feel quite different depending on formulation.
poster:AlexCanada
thread:1029778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20121029/msgs/1030511.html