Posted by JohnL on October 6, 2000, at 3:05:53
In reply to HELP!!!! I don't know what to do!!!, posted by Tawna Baier on October 5, 2000, at 2:26:36
Geez Tawna,
I can sure relate. And how. I'm so sorry you are going through this. But it does get better. Really!So what's going on? Well, first please understand that there are many brain chemical causes of depression. Low serotonin is just one of ten I think of. That's what things like Paxil or Prozac fix. It is the main cause of depression, but still, it's only one of ten possibilities. And statistically, only about 30% of people find total relief with one of them. So why do doctors focus so much on these meds? Good question. I don't know. I think they think it's because the side effect profile is better, or they look better statistically, or whatever. But what I'm saying is there are lots of other things in your brain that can cause depression besides low serotonin.
If low serotonin was the problem, then almost surely either Paxil or Prozac would have worked better than they did. Your serotonin is probably OK, and that's why those meds didn't do much except give you side effects. Wellbutrin was an obvious next choice, but I think most of what you are feeling right now is due to Wellbutrin being the wrong med also. The panic, the paranoia, agitation, getting mad over nothing, and all the rest...that's the Wellbutrin. Prozac leaves your system very slowly. It is half gone in a week and not completely gone for at least a month. It is not likely the problem. Wellbutrin is. Everything you described are classic Wellbutrin side effects lifted right off the pages of the Physician's Desk Reference book.
I have some doubts about your doctor's expertise in psychiatry. I say that because you were told to seek counseling. That's what they will commonly say as a way out, when they themselves are stumped but don't want to admit it. Good doctors don't take your poor responses to medications personally, and they don't allow them to cause confusion, but instead use them to guide their decisions in figuring out what chemistry is involved with your symptoms and what medications might work better. Antidepressants only increase neurotransmitter levels. There are plenty of other things that could be wrong. Your transmitter levels might be fine. It could be something else.
When antidepressants are disappointing (especially if you've tried 2 or 3 SSRIS like you have, and Wellbutrin) other psychiatric drugs often work better. Just thinking out loud, the antipsychotics Zyprexa or Risperdal make good sense, based on your description of how you responded to your medications. Your responses provide clues. One of my favorite approaches when antidepressants are disappointing is to use a small dose antipsychotic with a small dose stimulant. Something like Zyprexa at dinner, and Ritalin or Adderall during the day. They both work well on depression, when antidepressants didn't, and they counteract each other's side effects. Other avenues might be Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal, or Neurontin. These mood stabilizers can cure depression if chemical/electrical instability in the brain is the problem. You don't need to show any signs of bipolar or mania for these to be effective treatments.
Anyway, I'm rambling. If I were in your shoes, I would insist on trying other psychiatric medications besides antidepressants. It's time. Complete cure is possible if and when the right drug targets the real problem. For the time being though, you might find you actually do better without the Wellbutrin, and maybe just a little Prozac, until you decide what's next. Dissolve the powder from a Prozac capsule in juice, stir it, drink 1/4 or 1/2 of it, save the rest in the fridge for the next day. Sometimes just a little Prozac works a lot better. At least for now that might make the most sense, until you can see the doctor or get a different one.
Most people are either not knowledgable or comfortable with trying medications from other countries. But if you are open to that, I would suggest getting Amisulpride and Adrafinil. Either of these alone, or both combined, could likely work far better than anything your doctor has access to. I've tried everything. These two are my alltime favorites. If you are interested and would like guidance with these meds, myself and others here would be glad to help you out. Believe it or not, other countries have some safe depression medications that blow our FDA approved medications in the weeds, with far far fewer side effects, if any. Just an option to be aware of. The world is a big place. There are a lot of good things out there.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:45807
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000926/msgs/45858.html