Posted by SLS on May 4, 2001, at 22:30:29
In reply to Geodon for depression/last ditch effort, posted by longsfrng on May 2, 2001, at 12:29:17
Hi again, LongSfrng
1. > Don't give up..
2. > The world of combinations is endless.
3. > Maybe find another doctor though.
I agree with #1 and #3, and pray for #2.Certainly, if your list is inclusive, there are plenty of things you haven't tried yet. Plenty. I don't seen any MAO-inhibitors. Shame on you.
:-)
I am considering adding either Effexor or Nardil to the nortriptyline + Lamictal I am currently taking. I am also taking Parnate, but I plan to discontinue it.
Did you fine-tune your dosage of nortriptyline using the rigid therapeutic window established for each individual determined by using blood tests? It is just as easy to take too much nortriptyline and get no results as it is to take too little.
One of the most common reasons for treatment failure is medication under-dosing. Both doctors and patients alike are reluctant to push the dosage of drugs high enough and give them enough time to work. Someone in your position no longer has the luxury of 2-4 week drug trials constrained by the PDR recommended dosages. My doctor will not consider Effexor fully explored until dosages of 600mg and higher are tried. Have you tried 300mg of imipramine or 300mg of desipramine?
Effexor 150mg might be too low to optimize your chances of establishing an effective treatment.
Have you tried combining Parnate + desipramine + Dexedrine + thyroid?
No?
> I have a very unsympathetic doctor who told me I've tried everything,
I guess your doctor was wrong, wouldn't you say?
I would.
The one thing I am in no position to give you advice on is whether or not you should return immediately to a drug that works for you but produces side effects that you are intolerant of - Elavil. How do you measure pain and tolerance? How does one predict the onset of helplessness, hopelessness and despair? How close to the edge are you? If you still have the energy and tolerance for pain to continue exploring alternatives, perhaps you should. I will say this though, once you find something that works, stay with it and don't risk diminishing your odds of recapturing an antidepressant response each time you stop and restart it. Relax and take your time working through this stuff. You don't have to make a decision tomorrow, even though it is imperative that you get well yesterday.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:61398
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010424/msgs/61658.html