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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Donna Louise on September 10, 2003, at 8:47:53
Dear fellow psycho sufferers,
I am getting a little comfort knowing I am not alone on this board. i am not doing so well right now. I was on 150mg zoloft, and am still on 10mg buspar BID, and 200-300 provigil. I was having such extreme apathy from the zoloft that I gained some weight from lack of activity. With pdoc help, I lowered to 50mg and felt alot better but then decided to quit the zolot and see how I did on just the buspar and provigil. I guess I just have run of the mill depression and anxiety. I can't get any futher off the zoloft than 25 mg without all the withdrawal symptoms but that was far enough for return of mental illness, I guess. I would rather feel all this pain than not feel anything though. My pdoc wants me to go back on the zoloft until my next appt at the end of the month and then she wants to try lamictil. I have wondered if a mood stabilizer would allow me to get off this deadening SSRI (I have tried them all, I guess paxil works the best). I have tried many times to quit the SSRI's with no success. I had just hoped that this time the buspar and provigil would be enough. And it is better than without it. Maybe I should just roll with the bad times. I am not suicidal. But as you can see, not thinking too well. I do endurance riding, horseback for 100 miles at a time, and have to be able to haul horses and such and the anxiety has to be kept at bay. I am a recovering drug addict for 18 years and not sure any of the benzos would be an option as I self medicated heavily with them. And they seem to have a rebound depression effect on me anyway. I will stop now. I am embarrased by all this rambling. Suggestions welcome. Thanks.Donna
Posted by Sabina on September 11, 2003, at 13:56:48
In reply to please, suggestions needed, meltdown in progress, posted by Donna Louise on September 10, 2003, at 8:47:53
donna,
i'm so sorry that you're having a bad time right now. i'm especially impressed by your success as a recovering drug addict and the good sense to stay away from benzos considering your history.
i am completely intolerant of any ssri's myself, having experienced various unpleasant se's with them. i have only just recently had some relief with an atypical antipsychotic, which i thought sounded so extreme at first, but it's made a world of difference to my life.
i think that what we're all looking for is the drug (or combination) that will suit us best. i am constantly amazed how widely varied all our reactions can be to the same drugs. i understand your wish to be able to stay on just buspar and provigil.
i also know how hard it is to keep trying new drugs without success. still, i would suggest that you keep trying until you get it right for you, whether that means adding a mood stabilizer, and atypical antipsychotic, trying yoga, or whatever.
i'm sorry that i have no experience with lamictal to share with you. perhaps you could do a search of the archives here for some input on that drug in particular.
try to stay positive and keep hope that you will find the right combination soon. i know that i was to my wit's end when i finally found the right thing for me...for now, anyway. good luck to you, and let us know how you're doing.
sabina
Posted by loolot on September 11, 2003, at 14:14:43
In reply to please, suggestions needed, meltdown in progress, posted by Donna Louise on September 10, 2003, at 8:47:53
You poor thing. We all know what you are going through, and you can get through it.
As I was reading your post I was wondering if you had ever gotten a more specific depression diagnosis from your Pdoc? I have just learned that I myself fall into the "atypical depression" category, which is characterized by more sleeping, eating, and feelings of rejection when you are depressed rather than staying up all night not eating, etc
Anyway, many doctors are now discovering that different meds work better for this type of depression. I am reading a lot about this because I have not done well on any SSRIs or effexor, serzone, and my wellbutrin has pooped out.
I think some doctors are are having more success with MAOi type drugs like Parnate, or Nardil (which is the less stimulating of the two). Plus there is a new one that I am particularly interested in, selegiline (sp??), which comes in a patch so you dont have to deal with any dietary restrictions which accompany most MAOis.
Maybe you could ask your doc about some different options besides the zoloft.At least try and get a more specific diagnosis for the depression, which will help
Posted by Donna Louise on September 12, 2003, at 11:49:30
In reply to Re: please, suggestions needed, meltdown in progre, posted by loolot on September 11, 2003, at 14:14:43
> You poor thing. We all know what you are going through, and you can get through it.
> As I was reading your post I was wondering if you had ever gotten a more specific depression diagnosis from your Pdoc? I have just learned that I myself fall into the "atypical depression" category, which is characterized by more sleeping, eating, and feelings of rejection when you are depressed rather than staying up all night not eating, etc
> Anyway, many doctors are now discovering that different meds work better for this type of depression. I am reading a lot about this because I have not done well on any SSRIs or effexor, serzone, and my wellbutrin has pooped out.
> I think some doctors are are having more success with MAOi type drugs like Parnate, or Nardil (which is the less stimulating of the two). Plus there is a new one that I am particularly interested in, selegiline (sp??), which comes in a patch so you dont have to deal with any dietary restrictions which accompany most MAOis.
> Maybe you could ask your doc about some different options besides the zoloft.At least try and get a more specific diagnosis for the depression, which will help
Thank you Sabina and loolot, I appreciate your taking the time to respond. It is so helpful to know I am not alone and that others care!!
I suggested (why am I making the suggestions???) and my pdoc agreed, that I take10 mg of prozac so I can get off this zoloft without getting sick. Then I can quit the prozac, hopefully without getting sick. I have in the past anyway, I guess that long half like saves me. The others make me so sick for about 2 weeks.
I know, I have suggessed (!) an MAOI, the segelin patch in particular. She says they never came out with the patch and I said well, I am willing to try it orally, she is reluctant because of side effects. Well, I don't like the ones I am having now!!
I have been afraid of the neuroleptics, even the atypical ones, that I will get some EPS of some kind. agh. Wouldn't it be great if the 10mg of prozac would be just right!
Again, thanks for your support and suggestions.Donna
Posted by loolot on September 12, 2003, at 13:14:54
In reply to Re: please, suggestions needed, meltdown in progre, posted by Donna Louise on September 12, 2003, at 11:49:30
Sheesh. Why are these doctor so difficult??
I think your suggestion about seligine was very logical, and I havent heard of any extroardinarily terrible side effects associated with this med. Also, I thought the patch was out now??
Your doctor sounds too cautious, which is a sign of an uneducated doctor, IMO.
Maybe you should get a second opinion. There is a site called Depressioncentral.com (I think that is it) which is run by a doc in NYC, who calls himself Dr Ivan, by his first name. I think there may even be a link to it somewhere on this site.
Anyway, there are some names of docs in different cities who specialize in mood disorders. You may want to check those names out and call one of them.
You could also suggest Parnate, which is another stimulating MAOi.
Unfortunately many of us are having to make the suggestions to our doctors.
If you try everything and still want to try the seligiline you could order it online, but it is much better to have a doc supervising, of course, esp. bc at doese higher than 10mg there are the dietary restrictions. Those are better than no libido and sleeping all day, though, in my case!!!
I guess if you got it onlone you would have to do blood tests, etc on your own...
Posted by Donna Louise on September 12, 2003, at 14:43:04
In reply to Re: please, suggestions needed, meltdown in progre, posted by loolot on September 12, 2003, at 13:14:54
I am going to take your suggestion and see if there is a recommended pdoc in my area. Several people now have suggested i get another opinion, it is time to act on it, sounds like to me. And yes, I can sacrifice cheese to have a life again and I don't drink anymore anyway. Does tofu have to go?
Well, how about it out there anyone. Is the patch out or not? I am in the US, near Orlando, Fla.Donna
This is the end of the thread.
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