Posted by KarenB on June 20, 2000, at 23:46:36
In reply to Medication confusion, help » KarenB, posted by Angela5 on June 20, 2000, at 21:12:44
Angela,
If SSRIs have not worked in the past, tell your new pdoc and ask to try a med of a different class, like Wellbutrin. Be sure to WRITE DOWN all the ADs you have tried and what they did (made you sleepy, caused anxiety, etc.)so you won't forget when you're in your appt. Wellbutrin is definitely worth a try and would be one suggestion I would make, even if you hadn't mentioned it. I don't know about MAO inhibitors but I have heard they are effective in cases of atypical depression. There are dietary restrictions, though, which seem pretty difficult to follow. I guess if they work, it would be worth it.
It would be a good idea to also write down all the symptoms you have had (back to childhood) that sound like ADD and share this with him/her. Ask, "is ADD a possibility?" There is a test you can take that is like a very slow video game, to evaluate your attentiveness, called TOVA (don't ask me what it stands for). I have not taken it myself (yet) but would like to soon.
If they decide to start you on an ADD stimulant, Adderall is a good one - but everyone is different. I didn't like Ritalin, but others say they prefer it. I am (hopefully) going to try Provigil this week, following my doctors appt. on Thursday. Even Adderall leaves me a little bit edgy in the afternoon and Provigil reportedly increases energy without those side effects. It is used for Narcolepsy but is currently being (successfully) tested for ADD. I want to give it a try but we'll see what my doc says about that.
Hey, don't settle for something just "taking the edge off" your depression. A good version of normal is what you're shooting for. Why be just "functional" when you can actually feel good?
Have a good appt. and let us know what happens, OK?
Karen
poster:KarenB
thread:37846
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/37953.html