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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stargazer on March 19, 2007, at 21:12:23
What is it good for? My pdoc wants me to combine it with the Emsam I've been on since November. I wanted to switch to Nardil right away but somehow I always end up agreeing to what he suggests, I'm such a pushover.
Last November I wanted to try Nardil after Cymbalta tanked, but I agreed to trying Emsam first. Now here I am 5 months later, on Emsam without great improvement. My stress level is very high, I'm irritable, angry at the world and especially my pdoc for not being able to get me back to a functional life.
I don't think I feel comfortable with deciding what medications will work but I think I know more than my pdoc sometimes.
Although it was my choice last week to try Provigil, that has proven to be a disaster for me.
Lots of dizziness, less attention spanHeres what my plan going in was today.
1. Try Nardil
2. Go back on Wellbutrin perhaps with Adderall.His plan is:
1. Add Abilify to Emsam, he wanted 10 mg, I agreed to 5 mg.
2. Add Depakote, perhaps next.I will try Abilfy but I don't want to waste another 5 months trying stuff that doesn't work!
Who likes Abilify, what should it do for me? I have TRD, not bipolar, some ADD features. My depression takes away any buffers which allow a normal person to filter meaningless stuff from entering their brain. My brain gets overoaded with minutiae and I have no ability to deflect the everyday stuff that should be ignored so that attention can be focused on important things.
Does anyone else have this type of depression? I don't know what to call it except I have been told I have dysthymia with major depression which has had some response to MAOs, Wellbutrin, Adderall, but never SSRI's alone.
Stargazer
Posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 22:00:12
In reply to New plan...Add Abilify to Emsam/ Anyone love it?, posted by stargazer on March 19, 2007, at 21:12:23
Stargazer did he give a reason for an antipsychotic? I know SLS is in some stage of remission and he's on it with nardil and a TCA. Something else too. Love Phillipa write. Love you
Posted by stargazer on March 20, 2007, at 21:15:54
In reply to Re: New plan...Add Abilify to Emsam/ Anyone love it? » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 22:00:12
Phillipa, of course there's never a reason for why an AP is used other than "it works for some people with TRD like yours". But so far, of the AP's I've tried, Risperdal, seroquel, Zyprexa and Geodon haven't worked, so I figure it won't work.
Why did I agree to try it, I asked myself after I got home? I have no confidence in my ability to predict what might work for me. He is the pdoc right, so he should know what will work, right?
I'm not sure what they know, but lots of things used here he is not familiar with like Ultram or Lyrica for depression. Or Amulsipride, tienepine DL-phenylalanine, so there is so much more on this site than the conventional pdocs have experience with.
Stargazer
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 21:54:48
In reply to Re: New plan...Add Abilify to Emsam/ Anyone love it?, posted by stargazer on March 20, 2007, at 21:15:54
Stargazer and that should be a warning sign that maybe he doesn't know what he's doing? Love Phillipa ps My new pdoc says I'm not depressed just crippling anxiety. I went job hunting near here on the way home from the Mall and the grocery store. Can you believe they only use techs for meds in Nursing homes here? I asked someone in the kitchen couldn't find anyone and she said no no RN's or LPN's that is scarey to me. Love Phillipa ps he thinks this crippling anxiety is due to a physical condition as my thyroid has an auto antigen to both Graves and Hasimotos.
Posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 8:56:54
In reply to Re: New plan...Add Abilify to Emsam/ Anyone love it? » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 21:54:48
Phillipa,
Job hunting? Are you thinking of working again? That is a good sign for you!
And there has to be an RN or LPN else I would report them. Is that the wave of the future, lay people handing out meds? I always felt the elderly got the worst care of all, no one values life above a certain age. Even when I worked in Geri Psychiatry at you know where, the attitude was so different for older patients. Unless family is there to monitor things, there is very poor care and very risky/negligent treatment. Medicare picks up the bill though without question or concern about length of stay. All other insurors monitor very closely and patients get next to no treatment as an inptiant which is not right either.
What does that mean an auto antigen to Graves and Hashimotos'? Explain this to me.
Stargazer
Posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 9:09:39
In reply to Emsam and Abilify/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 8:56:54
I came across two studies being done for both treatment resistent depresion and anxiety which show promise. For more info you can read about the study for your own interest, at clinicaltrials.gov
FYI, my 2nd day of Abilify 5 mg shows some improvement in my brain disorganization and static. I have heard even 2.5 mg can help and we all know the lowest effective dose should be use. My pdoc said start with 10 mg, I suggested 5 mg. Today I may take 2.5 mg.
No one wants TD or some other SE to mess them up if unnecessary. Why are the pdocs so reluctant to try lower doses initially?
SG
Posted by Phillipa on March 22, 2007, at 20:20:04
In reply to Emsam and Abilify/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 8:56:54
Stargazer that's the problem I don't know what the auto antigen that can cause both is. And they do not by law have to have an RN or LPN present it's all med techs down here even the docs offices use them instead in most areas. Some use nurses in peds. Love Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on March 23, 2007, at 3:39:22
In reply to Abilify for TRD(depression) and TRA(anxiety), posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 9:09:39
I dont know what the deal is with docs not going low-dose w/ abilify and other new meds...I guess they want the full neuroleptic action (which I think hits around 10mgs/day),but that kind of ignores that fact that abilify and pretty much all neuroleptics can be used at low doses for other indications.
On the plus side..if you have a doc who's hell bent on using 10mgs+, you can always pill-splice into quarters. Saves money on pharmacy bills.
Posted by CrimsonVik on April 23, 2007, at 21:06:43
In reply to New plan...Add Abilify to Emsam/ Anyone love it?, posted by stargazer on March 19, 2007, at 21:12:23
> What is it good for? My pdoc wants me to combine it with the Emsam I've been on since November. I wanted to switch to Nardil right away but somehow I always end up agreeing to what he suggests, I'm such a pushover.
>
> Last November I wanted to try Nardil after Cymbalta tanked, but I agreed to trying Emsam first. Now here I am 5 months later, on Emsam without great improvement. My stress level is very high, I'm irritable, angry at the world and especially my pdoc for not being able to get me back to a functional life.
>
> I don't think I feel comfortable with deciding what medications will work but I think I know more than my pdoc sometimes.
>
> Although it was my choice last week to try Provigil, that has proven to be a disaster for me.
> Lots of dizziness, less attention span
>
> Heres what my plan going in was today.
> 1. Try Nardil
> 2. Go back on Wellbutrin perhaps with Adderall.
>
> His plan is:
> 1. Add Abilify to Emsam, he wanted 10 mg, I agreed to 5 mg.
> 2. Add Depakote, perhaps next.
>
> I will try Abilfy but I don't want to waste another 5 months trying stuff that doesn't work!
>
> Who likes Abilify, what should it do for me? I have TRD, not bipolar, some ADD features. My depression takes away any buffers which allow a normal person to filter meaningless stuff from entering their brain. My brain gets overoaded with minutiae and I have no ability to deflect the everyday stuff that should be ignored so that attention can be focused on important things.
>
> Does anyone else have this type of depression? I don't know what to call it except I have been told I have dysthymia with major depression which has had some response to MAOs, Wellbutrin, Adderall, but never SSRI's alone.
>
> Stargazer__________________________________________________
I tried Emsam last year/early this year...have been on Cymbalta with Abilify for a month, but I'm going to try Emsam again with Abilify bc I had a weight loss on Emsam.
I like Abilify!
Vicki
Posted by Phillipa on April 23, 2007, at 21:14:35
In reply to Emsam and Abilify/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on March 22, 2007, at 8:56:54
Stargazer in simple terms it is just autoimmune thyroid disorder. No not job hunting at this point. I need to be stable myself first. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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