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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 6:50:11
I have a question for people with long term depression. Do you think its possible to ever get rid of it? I have been on all kinds of meds and combos and mood stabilizers. I don't feel its normal to spend the whole weekend in bed. But I go to work everyday. Maybe its because I have to. I am single and have no one else to depend on. Currently, I am taking Effexor XR, Prozac and Trileptal. I am 47 and don't look my age and really don't want to waste my life away but have no motivation to socialize with people. I have been divorced for 14 years and feel my life is over. I have felt happy a few times in my life. But its been a long time. I can't really sleep I just lay in bed with my eyes closed. Please give me advice on what to do. Thanks.
Posted by rvanson on June 9, 2004, at 7:12:25
In reply to Need some advice on long term depression, posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 6:50:11
> I have a question for people with long term depression. Do you think its possible to ever get rid of it? I have been on all kinds of meds and combos and mood stabilizers. I don't feel its normal to spend the whole weekend in bed. But I go to work everyday. Maybe its because I have to. I am single and have no one else to depend on. Currently, I am taking Effexor XR, Prozac and Trileptal. I am 47 and don't look my age and really don't want to waste my life away but have no motivation to socialize with people. I have been divorced for 14 years and feel my life is over. I have felt happy a few times in my life. But its been a long time. I can't really sleep I just lay in bed with my eyes closed. Please give me advice on what to do. Thanks.<<
You sound much like myself. I dont look my age, but I feel it, and I was quite active until the Depression hit me hard and fast back in 1980 when I was 25.Now I still am able to work full time, as its either that or starve, but I have little energy left over for recreational time at the end of my work week.
No, I dont think that LT depression ever goes away for most people. There are excptions I suppose, but not many.
At best you can get some relief from the right combo of meds, but I myself never expect that I will ever be like my old self again.
But then again its been 24 years, so I would have changed just like "normals" do with the passage of time.
IMO, you really do need to address the issue of your sleep problems, perhaps with your doctor, as this doesnt help your mood, no matter if you are a Depressive or just a "normal" person.
Posted by linkadge on June 9, 2004, at 7:36:35
In reply to Need some advice on long term depression, posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 6:50:11
Effexor and prozac together is probably asking for insomnia, even with the trileptal added on.
See if the doctor can work on the insomnia issues. Resolving these will probably help the depression, and perhaps give you more energy for the weekend.
Linkadge
Posted by cubic_me on June 9, 2004, at 8:31:43
In reply to Re: Need some advice on long term depression, posted by linkadge on June 9, 2004, at 7:36:35
I'm 21 and can't really remember ever not being depressed, although it took me until I was 19 to get any help. I've tried quite a few med combos and none have had any effect other than a zombie-like state of remeron. I think that with therapy I am very slowly getting better, but its hard to change when you don't know anything but depression, and the world outside it seems scarey. I think I'll always have periods of depression, but I'm hoping they'll get milder as I find the right med and learn how to deal with them more effectively.
Posted by Keith Talent on June 9, 2004, at 8:40:47
In reply to Re: Need some advice on long term depression, posted by cubic_me on June 9, 2004, at 8:31:43
Do you, by any chance, have one of the bipolar disorders? Trileptal could lower your mood/slow you down, especially if you don't have a bipolar disorder. Effexor is very weak at serotonin reuptake inhibition (compared to Paxil, Anafranil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac - in descending order of potency). I found Effexor pretty useless, even at very high doses. I would not bother taking it and Prozac - just take one at a high enough dose (really high if necessary - I've heard of 200 mg a day of Prozac and 600 mg a day of Effexor). What doses are you taking currently?
Posted by MGOLDW on June 9, 2004, at 10:04:08
In reply to Re: Need some advice on long term depression, posted by Keith Talent on June 9, 2004, at 8:40:47
You HAVE to address your insomnia problem with your doctor FIRST. You cannot feel good unless you have better sleep patterns.
good luck!
Posted by Bill LL on June 9, 2004, at 11:18:29
In reply to Need some advice on long term depression, posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 6:50:11
I would consider adding Ambien for sleep. It's very safe and effective for long term use.
There is also Provigil (Modafinil) which is very safe and effective to give energy without jitteriness.
As for long term depression, I personally have had major anxiety and depression since I was a little kid. I know that mine will not be manageable without drugs.
The 2 psychotropic drugs that I take are Lexapro (30 mg) and Strattera (120 mg). I have almost no depression due to Lexapro.
Strattera has significantly helped me so far with anxiety and concentration. It also gives me more energy. But I have only been on Strattera for a month so I have to see if it keeps working.
> I have a question for people with long term depression. Do you think its possible to ever get rid of it? I have been on all kinds of meds and combos and mood stabilizers. I don't feel its normal to spend the whole weekend in bed. But I go to work everyday. Maybe its because I have to. I am single and have no one else to depend on. Currently, I am taking Effexor XR, Prozac and Trileptal. I am 47 and don't look my age and really don't want to waste my life away but have no motivation to socialize with people. I have been divorced for 14 years and feel my life is over. I have felt happy a few times in my life. But its been a long time. I can't really sleep I just lay in bed with my eyes closed. Please give me advice on what to do. Thanks.
Posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 18:14:20
In reply to Re: Need some advice on long term depression, posted by Keith Talent on June 9, 2004, at 8:40:47
> Do you, by any chance, have one of the bipolar disorders? Trileptal could lower your mood/slow you down, especially if you don't have a bipolar disorder. Effexor is very weak at serotonin reuptake inhibition (compared to Paxil, Anafranil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac - in descending order of potency). I found Effexor pretty useless, even at very high doses. I would not bother taking it and Prozac - just take one at a high enough dose (really high if necessary - I've heard of 200 mg a day of Prozac and 600 mg a day of Effexor). What doses are you taking currently?
I think I have biopolar tendencies if there is such a thing. My mind won't quit so I can relax. I am trying to get off Effexor because it has never took my depression totally away. I have been taking 2 of the once a week Prozac per week and 75 of Effexor and 600-900 Trileptal. For a while the Trileptal controlled my mood swings. It seems that sometimes if I combine it with Effexor it makes me kinda sleepy. But doesn't last long. Sometimes I can't sleep at all and stay awake for days at a time but still go to work anyway. I am going to be seeing a new psych doctor in a few weeks. Maybe she has some new ideas for me.
>
Posted by Bluegirl7 on June 9, 2004, at 18:19:47
In reply to Re: Need some advice on long term depression, posted by linkadge on June 9, 2004, at 7:36:35
> Effexor and prozac together is probably asking for insomnia, even with the trileptal added on.
>
> See if the doctor can work on the insomnia issues. Resolving these will probably help the depression, and perhaps give you more energy for the weekend.
>
> LinkadgeIt seems like nothing makes me sleep. I have an addictive personality and my doctor doesn't like to prescribe any addictive meds for me. One night I had 30 Ambien and took 23 without realizing what I was doing. I could see myself taking them but like I was in another world. I remember thinking I can't sleep, I can't sleep. So I'm kind of afraid of a lot of meds (not that they would give them to me anyway)
This is the end of the thread.
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