![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 24, 2005, at 17:33:12
Today I finally had to admit that this isn't the best medication combo for me after all. Although I'm not depressed in the sense that I was, and my anxiety is way down to easily tolerated levels, I can hardly force myself to move! As for actually getting anything done? Forget about it!
Honestly -- today, I was about to lie down for a while when I realized that I wasn't in the least tired, that I actually had energy that I wanted to use -- but that I couldn't actually imagine *doing* anything at all. The lack of impetus is upsetting me enough to qualify as just as bad as the depression itself was.
Of course, once I start admitting that, I get kinda teary, because it's so hard to have much hope for a medication that actually improves the quality of my life over what it is when I'm depressed! Grrr!
OK. Back to meds. I really am afraid of trying anything else, and I'm actually afraid to call my doctor about this. I just want to climb back into bed -- it would be so much easier...
Anyway, I'm on Cymbalta 60mg, Wellbutrin XL 300mg, and Provigil 100mg. The Provigil actually works better as an augmenting agent for the anti-depressants than it does for wakefulness or energy.
Dr CattleProd has mentioned meds like Lithium, Lamictal, Luvox, and I think there may have been one or two that didn't start with the letter "L"... He said that, while the anti-depressants didn't seem to work all that well for me, there were some options that didn't include anti-depressants per se. I'm not sure I'm feeling all that up for experimentation...
Dx: Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent; Anxiety Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified; and Anorexia Nervosa.
So, if anyone can offer any ideas....
Also, I was wondering if maybe a stimulant of some sort might help? Anyone have any wisdom on that subject to offer?
Thanks!
Posted by partlycloudy on July 24, 2005, at 17:53:25
In reply to Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again, posted by Racer on July 24, 2005, at 17:33:12
I'm not feeling too clever myself, Racer... I can't offer any med suggestions but wanted to offer a gentle hug.
I've been napping every afternoon and utterly immobilised with depression. Going out the door is an unbearable chore most days.
Yours in glumness,
pc
Posted by Phillipa on July 24, 2005, at 20:38:08
In reply to Re: Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again » Racer, posted by partlycloudy on July 24, 2005, at 17:53:25
Then it must be an epidemic! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on July 24, 2005, at 21:29:33
In reply to Re: Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again » partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on July 24, 2005, at 20:38:08
Sweetie, didn't you have some apathy/lack of motivation from Cymbalta before? Could it be dose-related?
On another note, Lamictal seems to be helping me, although before the akathisia kicked in, 75 mg was better than 50 mg. Hmmm, wonder if I could try to go back up with half-tabs?
I hope you feel better soon. When do you see pdoc again? (reminds me to reschedule my appt.)
gg
Posted by 4WD on July 24, 2005, at 23:04:04
In reply to Re: Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again, posted by gardenergirl on July 24, 2005, at 21:29:33
Racer,
When I was on Wellbutrin, I had a fair amount of physical energy but absolutely no motivation to do anything at all with it. I was on Wellbutrin only.
I kind of felt the same way on Cymbalta. More energy, but no internal inspiration. Complete lack of enthusiasm.
I think imipramine helped me most with motivation.
( Well, actually Lortab helped me most with motivation but that's a whole other story.)Hope your doc has an answer.
Marsha
Posted by fairywings on July 25, 2005, at 0:00:19
In reply to Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again, posted by Racer on July 24, 2005, at 17:33:12
> I can hardly force myself to move! As for actually getting anything done? Forget about it!
>
> Anyway, I'm on Cymbalta 60mg, Wellbutrin XL 300mg, and Provigil 100mg. The Provigil actually works better as an augmenting agent for the anti-depressants than it does for wakefulness or energy.
>
I don't know anything about the Cymbalta or Wellbutrin, but before adding anything else, can you try lowering the Provigil just a bit at a time to see how you feel? Is that a pretty high dose, I don't know. I had this same experience when my Adderall was too high. I got to the point where I had no motivation, and didn't want to do anything. Now it's lower and I am doing better than ever. Of course, I'm no doc, so take it for what it's worth!FW
Posted by tizza on July 25, 2005, at 18:50:28
In reply to Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again, posted by Racer on July 24, 2005, at 17:33:12
Hey Racer, just be wary of Luvox. It worked well for me for a while but coming off it was hell. I posted a couple of messages about it down a bit lower in the forum.
Posted by MidnightBlue on July 26, 2005, at 11:55:43
In reply to Oh, crumbs! Feeling less-than-stellar again, posted by Racer on July 24, 2005, at 17:33:12
Racer,
Except for the eating disorder (and I probably have that, too, I just medicate myself with sugary, starchy, food instead of restricting) you and I probably have the same dx. I was thinking about asking a pdoc about Cymbalta, and Wellbutrin is the ONLY drug I really ever responded to though it no longer works.
Have you found doctors trying to shove mood stabilizers on you? I took depakote for 10 years because of migraines and all the dpocs kept saying oh you can't quit that you need it for mood! WHY it made me feel worse! One pdoc who acknowledged I was NOT bipolar upped my depakote and said don't you feel better now? NO I almost screamed I feel WORSE! Like DUH!
Just the other day my internist say OH you aren't on a mood stabilizer you probably need one. NO I don't. If zero is normal and not happy, the BEST I have EVER been is 1. That is not manic or even hypomanic.
They have wanted me to take Lithium too. On TOP of the depakote, ambien, wellbutrin, etc. All they want to do it ADD things.
I will share this bit of wisdom. I don't know if you have tried an MAOI, but a research doc did suggest that as a possibility. He wasn't in position to prescribe it and no one else has offered. I don't know if I would take one or not. I'm getting pretty used to being miserable.
MB
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.