Posted by OldSchool on February 4, 2002, at 22:01:56
In reply to Looking for advice for TRD / anergia (long), posted by A0102 on February 1, 2002, at 5:08:57
> Hi,
> I have had problems with depression for about 7 years. Most antidepressants seem to work somewhat for me, but not enough to allow me to be able to function like a normal person would. ADs are basically enough to get rid of my suicidal ideations but don't help at all with the desire or drive to do anything productive. Even on ADs, I have a hard time just getting up in the morning and going to class. One of the biggest problems is that I have no energy to do anything most of the time. I still have really great friends and still enjoy things occasionally, but good times are hard to come by.
> My experiences with ADs are like this:
>
> Paxil - made me apathetic, slightly effective
>
> Imipramine - ineffective
>
> Doxepin - ineffective
>
> Remeron - helped with sleep and appetite, very slightly effective for depression
>
> Celexa - very effective for the first couple weeks and after each dose increase. made me apathetic at higher doses. overall only moderately effective.
>
> Wellbutrin - caused migraines, irritability, and lots of weight loss. slightly effective for depression
>
> Prozac - ineffective (in all truth, I did not give this one a fair trial. I tried this one at a very bad time and only stuck with it for a few weeks)
>
> Desipramine - caused all over achy flu-like feelings and very blurry vision. was not effective
>
> Effexor - currently taking this one (on my 2nd week), seems similar to other SSRIs so far but too early to tell yet although I have been very sleepy
>
> That is the current run down. I have also taken various combinations (Celexa + Remeron, Celexa + Provigil, Wellbutrin + Celexa, Wellbutrin + Provigil, Wellbutrin + Desipramine) and these have not done much more than give me 2 sets of side effects. go figure!
>
> My next plan is to try to get my pdoc to prescribe Effexor + Remeron (very small dose!) + Dexedrine. With this combo, I hope that the Dexedrine will give me the energy to get my work done and get to class and also augment the Effexor. Remeron will combat the weight loss and insomnia that could result from Dexedrine. I particularly do not want to become addicted to stimulants, so I will encourage my doctor to be extra cautious (as if he won't be already). I'm happy to hear any advice! Thanks in advance and sorry for such a long post,
> AdamI dont know, youve tried a lot of drugs like me. I think its rather unlikely any drug will fix you. Maybe an MAOI would be worth a shot if you havent tried that. I am of the opinion that if youve been thru the medicine merry go round with depression and nothing works, its unlikely that more SSRIs and tricyclics and similar conventional meds is going to fix you. The only med I have any confidence in for TRD is MAOIs. And many do not want to take those for obvious reasons.
The other possibility is ECT. ECT is effective for TRD. Basically thats my opinion about TRD. The only things really effective for TRD is MAOIs and old fashioned ECT. What a choice huh?
The medicine merry go round sucks, it gets old and it rarely works after youve been on so many psych meds.
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:92489
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92901.html