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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on December 21, 2005, at 1:24:39
OK, I have to admit it. I'm depressed. I'm starting to shut down, and I can feel anxiety dripping off me. I think I gotta do something.
I'm firing Dr CattleProd -- in part because I'm too afraid to call and ask for any help with this. Being too afraid of your doctor to be honest with him is Not A Good Sign. So, I have an appointment with a new doctor, a woman this time, in the new year.
In the meantime, though, I'm starting to go into my regular shut down mode regarding antidepressants. I'm miserable, depressed, anxious -- but there isn't a drug that won't make it even worse. That sort of hopelessness, you know? Even thinking about trying some of the drugs I've had some success with in the past sets me back to "It'sNotWorthItVille" -- "Sure, the depression itself might be at bay, but the constipation/sedation/etc would keep me from functioning..." So about the time I think, "maybe I could get past the weight gain..." stuff, and think about trying another med, I lose hope that things will improve and shut down.
So, here are my questions:
Has anyone ever had success with Wellbutrin as monotherapy? That's all I'm on now, at 300mg per day of the XL, and it's obviously not enough. But if 450mg did the trick, that would be ideal, since the side effect profile is so good for me. The problem is, I have never seen anyone on this board or any other that used WB alone, rather than as part of a cocktail. So, anyone?
And then anxiolytics... I know, I've asked before, but still haven't got a solution for my problem. I don't do well with benzos, for various reasons, so they're not my first choice. They're not even in the top ten, really. But I don't know what other options there are? Propranalol was a miracle, until I stopped functioning at all, unable to get the initiative to get off the sofa. (And I mean i couldn't sit up on the sofa even...) Now, though, I wonder if htat was the propranalol or the Cymbalta, which I have finally canned because I wasn't functional enough.
So any ideas?
By the way, the complicating factor is Clomid -- a fertility drug. According to my ex, with whom I spoke today, I am now "an E Attraction." Dates us, huh? lol But I am riding one hell of an homonecoaster, and that's making all of this much worse. And that also means that I'm looking for Catagory B drugs, if at all possible. Anything in Catagory X is right out.
Thanks!
Posted by Phillipa on December 21, 2005, at 18:52:52
In reply to ?? re Wellbutrin monotherapy and anxiolytics, posted by Racer on December 21, 2005, at 1:24:39
Racer I'm so sorry. And it seems a lot of us are going throught the same thing now. Why do think this is happening? Me too if it's a comfort to you. New pdoc tomorrow. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on December 22, 2005, at 5:29:33
In reply to ?? re Wellbutrin monotherapy and anxiolytics, posted by Racer on December 21, 2005, at 1:24:39
Yeah, I'm in the same boat you are. Meds not helping and frequently making things worse. Hopelessness of what to do next.
My doc said it's time to think outside the box. That surprised me, because up to now she has been totally protocol and inside the box.
What really surprised me was she said for me to get a book called The Mood Cure and read it before our appointment next week. It is written by a treatment center in California that primarily uses amino acids, thyroid treatments, and hormone treatments, either alone or in conjunction with antidepressants. Not just joe-blo theorists, but experienced practioners who specialize in real patients. The book supports antidepressants, but also describes in detail why they often provide incomplete results or make things worse, and how to boost their effectiveness and be able to reduce doses at the same time.
Anyway, I can definitely relate to where you are. Not sure where either of us go from here, but anything that can give hope is a good thing.
If you might do the reading, there are ways to pinpoint your type of depression and pinpoint how to boost the wellbutrin in terms of both depression and anxiety.
This is the end of the thread.
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