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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChrisK on February 28, 2000, at 6:29:03
Noa,
I saw your note to me above but decided to move it down here so that it didn't get lost in that thread.
Anyway my cocktail goes as follows
Morning: 150mg Wellbutrin SR, 20 mg Adderall
Noon: 10mg Adderall
Night: 100 mg Nortriptyline, 50 mg Naltrexone, 7.5 mg Zyprexa.
It's taken quite awhile to get to this point but now it seems it's been worth it. I'mm currently 36 and my mother says that she noticed the first signs of my depression when I was in Elementary School. May father suffered from this too and did well most of his life taking Elavil and Valium.When I got out of college I went to pdocs sporadically and never really got the depression under control. I am also alcoholic and was drinking during most of this time.
I've never been able to stay at one job for any period of time so I've moved 5 or 6 times over the years. Each job change meant a new location and new insurance. Often I would not seek a shrink until it was too late and I was bottoming out. Since I also have a seasonal aspect it meant that I would get fed up with everything in Oct. or Nov. and need a change.
I can't really say that I gave most of these pdocs a fair chance to help me. Twice I was hospitalized by one doc in NC. That was my first experience with a hospital and I didn't really understand what I was supposed to get out of it. After losing my last job in NC I moved home to upstate NY. Since then I haven't been able to work at anything professional. ( I am an engineer with a B.S.)
Three years ago I almost died from Alcoholic Hepatitis. I was in the hospital for two weeks and laid up in bed for another four weeks. During that time I was taken of the Imiprimine and Xanax I had been taking at the time. After a few months I was allowed back on Paxil but not a Benzo to go with it.
It was about one year later that I couldn't do anything. I was emotionally cripled by the Depression and tried to OD on alcohol and every prescription I had left over from previous med attempts. I did this twice in a 3 month period and ended up in ICU both times and then to the Psych Hospital for a stay.
During my last stay there I was assigned to my current pdoc and have been with him ever since. It's been a long time struggle including a trip to a 28 day rehab for the alcohol problems. I went through the usual Paxil, Effexor, Remeron tries before switching back to Nortriptyline.
I was doing better but still obsessed on suicide so we tried Zyprexa. That helped a great deal. I then asked him for Naltrexone to cut down on the alcohol cravings and it had the extra benefit of having some good ad qualities. After a couple of months of being safe but apathetic I asked him for something that may be stimulating to get me out of the boredom. I suggested Adderall which was fine with him but then I asked if Wellbutrin would help augment the Nortrip too. That's how I ended up where I am today.
Sorry this is so long but I've been through a lot of meds and doctors. I Hope this might help someone who may see themselves in my story.
Chris
P.S I also use a light box in the mornings to get me through the SAD assosciated with Winter.
Posted by Cam W. on February 28, 2000, at 7:24:35
In reply to Noa -re:My Meds, posted by ChrisK on February 28, 2000, at 6:29:03
Chris - To comment on your drug regimen. I think it's neat that you can keep on the lower doses of everything and still control your depressive symptoms. Too often docs will keep raising doses and then change drugs, when little effect is seen. Do you experience less side effects at this combination; as opposed to the side effects of fewer drugs at higher doses?
Posted by ChrisK on February 28, 2000, at 7:36:58
In reply to Re: Noa -re:My Meds, posted by Cam W. on February 28, 2000, at 7:24:35
Cam,
I seem to be resistant to most side effects even when I've been on higher doses. At times in the past I have been on relatively high doses of Paxil, Imiprimine and Effexor without really feeling the side effects listed. Right now the only things that bother me are the dry mouth and some of the sexual effects. I can perform OK but I'm pretty apathetic about it.
My pdoc and I have discussed if there is a need to up my Nortrip since it was the first one I reacted to but as long as I am where I am today we will leave that alone. I still think that the one med that cleared up my mind the most was the Zyprexa. I really noticed a diference within a few days.
Chris
Posted by Noa on February 28, 2000, at 8:27:52
In reply to Re: Noa -re:My Meds, posted by ChrisK on February 28, 2000, at 7:36:58
Thanks Chris. I am also on a big cocktail. Actually I have started using the word "soup" instead of "cocktail", since there are so many ingredients.
I wonder if JohnL can comment on the zyprexa being the thing you find most helpful, and whether it is related at all to your having been drawn toward alcohol. Is there a connection?
I am glad, after the horrendous, extended ordeal you have been through, that you have found some stability. To me, stability is the key right now. Then, once that feels secure, there is room to start working on the next step (developing a career, relationships, etc etc). But first it is so important to just getting some control over the major episodes and getting stability.
This is the end of the thread.
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