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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 Bryn B. on May 20, 2012, at 17:14:02
Hi all-
I've battled depression since my early teens (I'm 37 now) and have been on SSRIs since my early 20s. I've tried many other drugs as add-ons, from TCAs, to stims to anti-psychotics, but for the most part, using just an SSRI (which has been 20 mg of Lexapro for the past six/seven years) seems to be tried and true for me.
EXCEPT, it starts to poop-out on me, as is what's happening now. I used benzos for over 10 years on a daily basis, but I became dependent and addicted to them and finally got off of them for good last year (I tried for a long time to do this and the withdrawal was pure hell, so I'm very happy to be done with them). I've also used Neurontin off and on with Leaxpro, and it definitely helps boosts my mood, but it makes me manic (which I don't usually feel unless irritability is considered hypomania). It also makes me gain weight & look kind of puffy. (Not acceptable!) Stims help "wake me up", and reverse the lethargy I feel from Lexapro, but I raise my dose daily on them, get addicted (fast), and end up crashing and burning. Not an option...
SO, does anyone have experience w/ SSRI poop out, and possible med-induced mania? (Does med-induced mania/irritabilty suggest I may be Bipolar 2?) I've been going through a major depressive episode lately (about 2 weeks now) and I'm at a loss as to what to do...
Thoughts?
Posted by alchemy on May 20, 2012, at 20:45:44
In reply to SSRI Poop Out + Med-induced Mania, posted by Bryn B. on May 20, 2012, at 17:14:02
Not an expert on ur issue but having someone just respond helps. I sympathize and identify with depression since being a young teenager and now im 39. It is a popular idea in psychiatry that not only can ssris and other antidepressants induce mania,in bipolar 1or 2, and that prolonged use of an ssri without a stabilizer in some pre-disposed people can induce bipolar 2. Too bad neurontin was more of an anti-stabilizer for you. (I personally hate n).
Posted by CaffeinePoet on May 20, 2012, at 21:07:22
In reply to SSRI Poop Out + Med-induced Mania, posted by Bryn B. on May 20, 2012, at 17:14:02
first of all, congratulations for getting off of the benzos! they are tough.
How bad of a depression are you talking? I have been there recently. I am trying to keep a regular schedule, sleep well, and exercise. Are you managing any of that? Or are you having more serious dark thoughts?
For poop-out, in terms of medication I have heard of MD's adding Wellbutrin or Buspar to undo poop-out. I am not familiar with their profiles re: mania.
For how you're doing in general -- it might sound odd, but I wonder if you might actually have some kind of nutritional deficiency. Did you make any recent changes to your diet, ie, go vegetarian, go low carb, or any of that?
Do you have access to a doctor, and would they be open in testing you for the most obvious vitamin deficiencies? A lot of North Americans are deficient in Vitamin D, for example. B12 and Iron deficiencies come to mind to. And I myself found that I sprung to life by adding magnesium daily, many of use are deficient.
Posted by Bryn B. on May 21, 2012, at 14:57:45
In reply to Re: SSRI Poop Out + Med-induced Mania » Bryn B., posted by CaffeinePoet on May 20, 2012, at 21:07:22
Thanks for both responses. The depression isn't too bad (not compared to a typical episode, anyway). I'm sleeping a lot and feeling anxious and I'm just really lethargic and unmotivated. That said, it's bad enough.
I work part-time, and I've been going to work (I don't have a choice, really). I've been a vegetarian for awhile, so it's not new, but have been told by my doctor that my vitamin D is low. In addition to Lexapro, I take Omega 3 supplements, CDP Choline, and L-tyrosine (sp?).
Posted by CaffeinePoet on May 21, 2012, at 15:30:04
In reply to Re: SSRI Poop Out + Med-induced Mania, posted by Bryn B. on May 21, 2012, at 14:57:45
>I've been a vegetarian for awhile, so it's not new, but have been told by my doctor that my vitamin D is low. In addition to Lexapro, I take Omega 3 supplements, CDP Choline, and L-tyrosine (sp?).
You might want to look into vitamin D supplementation! The D in Omega 3 is often too low to bring you up to normal. They say you've gotta get it tested regularly, though, to be sure you don't overdose. My MD put me on prescription Vitamin D when mine was low.
Sounds like you've got a nice raft of natural and prescribed antidepressants.
Hmm -- the one thing that can snap me out of this kind of depression -- even though I hate it -- is regular aerobic exercise. Not that I've been getting any lately, haha! But when I'm starting to snowball downwards, that's what I do. First thing in the morning, a relatively short and ill-conditioned run/walk for about 30 minutes.
This week I am working on a tight deadline and indoors for numerous hours of the day, with books and a computer for company. Real upper, right? I can feel the lack of activity bringing me down. I'm putting myself on the exercise train as soon as I have this project finished!
If you feel yourself getting lower, definitely get in to the doctor to put a halt to it. And maybe try one of those other things too.
Posted by Bryn B. on May 21, 2012, at 19:10:55
In reply to Re: SSRI Poop Out + Med-induced Mania, posted by CaffeinePoet on May 21, 2012, at 15:30:04
Thanks, Caffeine Poet! I know I really need to add exercise into the mix. It's a catch 22--I'm so tired and feel lazy, which worsens the depression, but I know running will help with all of that...it's just starting, ugh...
This is the end of the thread.
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