crazymeds, posts by tag: depression - LiveJournal

I wanted to thank everyone who offered advice to my last post about options for depression that wasn't adequately being treated. As much as I hated to do it, I made the decision with my psychiatrist to discontinue my Cymbalta because even if it was relieving pain, it wasn't safe to remain on it when it ruled out any other adjunct therapies that I hadn't currently tried.

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Since SSRIs and SNRIs aren't really an option anymore since none of them have been particularly effective in the past, I was give instructions for a rapid taper off the Cymbalta and a prescription for Lithium with the hope that it will help "boost" the effectiveness of the generic Wellbutrin I've been on. She doesn't want to prescribe a TCA due to side effects without me trying the Lithium first. I also requested a prescription of the brand name Wellbutrin rather than the generic I've been taking, but I'm waiting to see if even with a prior authorization it will be covered by my health insurance. If not, I don't have a choice but to stay with the generic for now. I'm also supposed to hopefully start Lyrica to help with pain, but am having an issue getting a provider to prescribe it since the rheumatologist I saw doesn't feel a need to follow up with me since the additional tests she ran came back negative and said my psychiatrist can prescribe it, my primary care doctor is on vacation and the covering doctor said there's a note in my file from the rheumatologist that I should get it from behavioral health, my psychiatrist doesn't want to prescribe it because it's outside her treatment area and by the time I figured out that my primary care doctor was on vacation, since the first time I left a message they neglected to tell me, my pain clinic doctor had left for the weekend.

Does anyone have any experience using Lithium as an adjunct for unipolar depression? I was prescribed Lamictal about a year and a half ago for the same reason, but had to discontinue it immediately after I developed a rash after the dose was increased. I'm supposed to start it at 300 mg twice a day.

Dear Team Crazy Meds,

I am a lady with PTSD, OCD, and major depression taking Celexa and the occasional Xanax or Ativan as needed for flashbacks and panic attacks.  Celexa is the only medication that I have tried that works for my symptoms (and I have tried all of the obvious ones).  It is great!  But the problem is, it completely saps my sex drive, and when I do have some libido, I absolutely can't have an orgasm.  It really super sucks.  I have heard from lots of folks anecdotally that adding Wellbutrin helps mitigate sexual side effects of SSRIs.  I would like to try this very much!  The problem is, my doctor insists that the reason I can't have orgasms is because of my sexual trauma history, and refuses to consider letting me try Wellbutrin.  I know that this isn't true because every now and then I go off my meds and have delightful sexual experiences before I become suicidal, crash, and have to get back on my meds... so, I'm asking for your help: Have any of you tried this regimen, and did it work for you?  Are there any reasons why I shouldn't be allowed to try this?  And most importantly, can you point me to any peer-reviewed medical journal articles that back this up?  I'll be seeing my doc tomorrow and would like to arm myself with some data to try to convince her.  And before anyone suggests trading in for a better doctor, I can't. I only have access to a shitty community clinic and this is the only medical provider there.

Thanks in advance!  I will add an update after my appointment if anyone is curious how it went!

Update 8/7/2013 6:00PM Pacific time: The doctor appointment went well at first. I came prepared with notes and argued my case and the doc readily agreed to adding a small dose of Wellbutrin to my meds.  However, after she handed me the prescription, I noticed it was Zyprexa. I asked her if that was another name for Wellbutrin and she said she decided that Zyprexa was a better option for me as I struggle with anorexia and Zyprexa might help me gain some weight while helping with the sexual dysfunction.  I was so flabbergasted that she said one thing and did another that I forgot how to advocate for myself and just left.  Now that I'm home, I looked up Zyprexa and I'm not seeing any off-label uses for sexual dysfunction.  Anyone here have any experience with this med?  Could it possibly help me?

I do have a pdoc appointment coming up in the far future (since scheduling sucks), but I've been doing some research on my own, trying to figure out what might work for me, and at least have some pertinent questions to ask rather than just sitting there like a lump while he tries to pull solutions out of thin air.

I'm a rapid-cycling Bipolar II.

Meds currently taking and why:

Keppra    (anti-seizure, I'm epileptic)
Klonopin  (PTSD and anxiety)
Lamictal  (bipolar)
Multivitamin
Fish Oil (for the Omega-3's)

In the past there was also the occasional Ambien CR which doesn't do much other than put me to sleep for 4 hours and stop working (I'm a chronic insomniac).

I *was* also on Cymbalta (an anti-depressant) in addition to the Lamictal, but anti-depressants are by-and-large contraindicated for bipolar treatment as tests have shown them to be only as effective as placebo in preventing depressive episodes in bipolars, and as agents that can cause rapid cycling and mixed episodes in bipolar patients, so I'm (thankfully) off that now, and can truthfully say, apart from no more mixed episodes, I haven't noticed any difference.

Been on Abilify before -- it is pure evil.

I've tried 5-HTP, now that I'm not on the SSRI's anymore but found that in the long term, it can cause problems not only with serotonin, but can deplete dopamine and norepinephrine. (see link below)

Here's the whole quote since I'll reference it again later: (from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar…)
To make things more confusing, I've now read that not all depression is caused by faults with the serotonin or its receptors -- some catecholamine neurotransmitter levels influence depression.  Well that's spiffy. (Page 4 of above link)  Here's the quote:

...believe that depression is due to serotonin dysfunction, depression may also be associated with catecholamine dysfunction, including dopamine and/or norepinephrine, or a combination of serotonin and catecholamine dysfunction.

How the hell can you tell if your catecholamine/dopamine/norepinephrine might be a problem instead-of or as-well-as the hallowed serotonin?  ARGH!  Any specialists on here willing to add their insights to that little gem? Seems like depression's just getting more complicated all the time. Grrr. (pouts)

... Moving on...
The problem I'm experiencing at the moment is that while the wild up and downs are well controlled with the Lamictal, I'm still getting the depressive side of things, which is no fun at all.  Lots of people take something else along with their Lamictal, and have had great success, so I was wondering that if that sounds like you, what worked for kicking out the rest of the depressive symptoms?  I've heard Seroquel might be the way to go, and any feedback for that or on any possible treatment would be great!

And yes, I'll talk it over with my pdoc before I do anything or make any changes; and no, I won't take it as medical advice (even if you are a medical professional), or sue you or anything heinous.  It's really sad we need these disclaimers isn't it?  I also promise not to cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope.

I've been on 20mg Prozac for about 5 years now except a 6mo period in the begining where I tried to go off the meds because I thought I was "cured" (didn't work :-/ ). Anyways recently the depression has gotten much worse or the Prozac has seemed to stop working. Can that happen after taking the medication for so long? I was wondering what would work best, talking with my doctor to increase the dose (since I think 20mg is a relatively low dose) or switching to a different medication? Any experiences would be appreciated.

-Ren

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if any of you has been on Zoloft before? I'm fairly sure others have been...

One of my friends just told me she didnt like it..

I'm on it mostly for anxiety.

I'm also taking 350mg Seroquel at night and 36mg Concerta

X-posted to a few comms

Anxiety, PTSD, Depression
150mg Effexor, 20mg of Buspar 3x a day, 15mg of Saphris, 1mg of Klonopin as needed.

I started taking 75mg of Effexor for my depression. After a few weeks I still felt suicidal and depressed so we bumped up the dose to 150mg. The past month or so I've noticed that the suicidal thoughts have stopped, I don't have mood fluctuations anymore, and my anxiety is actually minimal. But over the past month or so I've noticed a change in my behavior around my friends. I notice I talk less and feel like my mind is blank and I have nothing to say. I went on a car ride with a friend and talked for two hours but after that I was silent the rest of the day. Just completely blank. Am I turning into a zombie? Suffering from social anxiety? Has anyone else experienced something like this?

I talked to my doctor and she wanted to switch me back to Zoloft. But when I took the lower dose of Zoloft it didn't do anything, and when I took the higher dose it had the same effect as the effexor. I just couldn't talk. So now I'm back on the Effexor and feeling much better but just having no clue as to what to do.

I've tried so many different medications. I think 23 different ones at this point. I don't know if I should just put up with this side effect or if I should try to find a new anti depressant.

Any help or advice would be wonderful.

Dx: Major Depressive Disorder 
Rx: .100mg 3x Day Bupropion 
Tx: Talk Therapy every 2 weeks
Hx: In Elementary school I was Dx with ADHD and then in Middle school with Attention seizures I haven't taken medication for either of them since middle school. I was not Dx with Major Depressive Disorder till last year when I sought help on my own after giving birth a few years before and my depression got to unbearable levels, I've suffered in silence since my teens. Was put on Paxil and it worked till I moved and ended up going cold turkey off of it because I didn't know where to go for meds. Ended up at the county clinic was on Paxil 10mg again for a month. Continued to gain weight rapidly, doc ordered blood tests she said nothing pertinent showed up she switched me to Celexa. Worked enough to get rid of the bad thoughts but still no motivation to speak of. Tried to get the Rx refilled weeks before it ran out Dr then proceeded to not return my gazillion calls, ended up with 3 month supply from an after hours doctor for the clinic. Effectiveness faded, switched Doctors because I was not happy with her. Started talk therapy at the same place the week before seeing new doctor. New doctor put me on Wellbutrin (I'm taking generic) because I wanted to see if it would work to help with my weight issues as well as the MDD. 
Doc suspects: Hyperthyroidism, blood test shows I'm bordering on it apparently and could explain the over 30lbs of weight I gained in the last 6 months if not a major reason why since I gave birth I have had a much harder time losing weight.

Started the Bupropion today, already taken the first pill not really sure when to take the second one or for that matter when to take the pills when it goes up to three a day in a few days. I'm really hoping this helps me ditch this depressive episode and god I hope it helps with the weight. What have your experiences with this med been? When do I take the pills during the day. 

I also really wanted to let folks know about Needymeds.org They were the ONLY way I could afford my medication today. It was going to be 80 for the generic and then with my cards it came down to 55. I came home to see if there was a way to make it cheaper than that for a months supply and remembered I had looked that site up for a friend of mine previously. I printed their card out and took it with me when I got the Rx transferred and filled. I originally thought she said 25 when telling me the price, I was happy because that was more manageable but she corrected me and told me it was 5 dollars not 25! So yeah for anyone having a hard time affording meds definitely check out the website. 

Hello everyone. 

I've been diagnosed with OCD, Major Depression Disorder, GAD, Panic Disorder, and social phobia. I've been taking Zoloft for a couple months and previous to that I was taking Celexa (60 mgs I think) for about 4-5 along with Seroquel (200 xr). I'm at 150 mgs of Zoloft now and for the past few weeks I've been breaking into irrational crying spells out of the blue. When I'm feeling too upbeat, when I'm feeling down, when something mildly or vaguely sentimental happens, whenever. Previous to taking the Zoloft, it probably had been years since I cried more than once or twice per year, so this is very uncharacteristic and extremely disturbing for me. It seems to be off and on, but a couple weeks ago I was crying so frequently and erratically that I was taking a walk and I just burst into tears and had to hurry home to hide because I couldn't control what was going on. If this is a side-effect of the Zoloft, it's the only side-effect I am experiencing. Besides this, the intensity all of my disorders have been reduced, I don't feel as severely depressed, in fact, I've felt a huge reduction in depression and anxiety. So, at this point, I really don't know what to think or do.

Any thoughts or experiences with crying and Zoloft? Thanks for reading.

In the beginning of March I got off of Cymbalta after taking 60mg a day for over 6 years.  I was taking it for both my Fibromyalgia and my anxiety/depression.  My current meds (Lyrica 225mg 2x a day and Ultram ER 100mg 2x a day) seem to be doing fine as far as the Fibro is concerned but I need to get back on a psych drug for the anxiety and depression (I may also have bipolar 2).  In the past I've taken Lexapro and Wellbutrin but I don't remember the dosage for either one.  The Lexapro worked fairly well and the Wellbutrin not so much (although I seem to remember being on a very low dose?).  

The main reason I stopped the Cymbalta was to see how much it was really helping me. I'd been taking it since 2005 and wasn't sure anymore what or if it was helping.  I knew it wasn't managing my anxiety and depression and I was already debating adding something else for that.  Turns out it wasn't doing much for the pain either (no change after I finished withdrawal).  I do feel that it was helping some with the anxiety/depression as I feel worse without it but as I was already at 60mg increasing the dosage would not have helped and I am looking for something else.

In general I tend not to experience side-effects with meds (and I didn't have any others with the Cymbalta as long as I kept taking it).  I had a nasty withdrawal process with Cymbalta (although not as bad as I've heard elsewhere) and while I was taking it daily I would start experiencing withdrawal symptoms after missing a dose by a couple of hours (which sucked big time).  

tl;dr Why I am posting: I'm looking for positive recommendations of what people have taken for anxiety and depression particularly if you also have ADHD and/or Bipolar 2.  I know people and meds will vary and I will be discussing the pros/cons of different ones with my doctor.  Oh and I have insomnia (and chronic fatigue, yes it's possible!) so anything that increases insomnia is probably not a good idea.

So yeah, tell me your antidepressant stories!

Hello! I am here to share my experience. For my Manic Depression I used to take Zoloft, but when it had no real effect on me other than making me feel tired, they put me on Paxil. Since I'm an ex anorexic, I'm still very, very worried about how much weight I gain and Paxil isn't helping. I started getting really fat and got from 90 lbs to maybe 114 lbs. I'm off the meds for a month, but will continue the treatment since January. I was thinking to talk to to my psychiatrist about this matter maybe they could give me something that has less fattening side effects. 

BTW, sorry about my poor English.