Posted by Ritch on April 25, 2002, at 12:43:18
In reply to Is Dysphoria an Actual Diagnosis? , posted by Leighwit on April 25, 2002, at 12:18:02
> Is dysphoria a diagnosis separate and distinct from major depression?
>
> In Wednesday's Chicago Tribune there was an article ("Depression Can Leave Blind Spot for Support") which states: "... but when it comes to suffering from depression and dysphoria (a combination of anxiety, depression and irritability), ...."
>
> I searched through past threads, but can find nothing that actually defines dysphoria ~ or addresses it as a particular condition.
>
> Anxiety, depression, and irritability, however, is so much more specific than "major" recurrent clinical depression.
>
> I have a hard time determining whether the anxiety and irritability are part of depression or entirely side effects of Wellbutrin. When I mention those symptoms, I'm always prescribed something to target them as side effects of the WB. Xanax, for example.
>
> It's a vicious cycle. If I mention the primary symptoms of despair and lethargy (as in can't take a shower or get off the couch without planning it for three hours) I get a script for an AD that has energizing characteristics. I can't gain any weight (due to Type 1 Juvenile-onset diabetes) and virtually every SSRI, particularly Celexa caused weight gain in my case, so I've been on Wellbutrin a lot (off and on with and without SSRIs, Serzone, Norpramin/Desiprimine, Effexor and Reboxetine) over the past ten years.
>
> If I mention irritability or anxiety to my current pDoc, she wants to prescribe Xanax on top of the WB.
>
> I think dysphoria sounds much more "specific" to what I've had for ten years than does major depression alone. I feel like saying to the Pdoc: "I have a dysphoria and can't gain any weight. I'd prefer not to loose my memory or my IQ in the treatment process. What do you prescribe for that?"
>
> Can anyone relate?
I have bipolar and sometimes I get "mixed" features which could be described as "dysphoric" whether you could say that I was "hypomanic" or "depressed". It is almost like I have five different states: Euthymic (rare!), Depressed (lethargic-anergic), Hypomanic (bubbly-friendly), Hypomanic-dysphoric (predom. anger-rage), Depressed-dysphoric (predom. agitation/anxiety). There isn't a separate "condition" called dysphoria all its own. If you check out the list of traits or features for major depression or mania you will see them listed in there. So, technically you could be unipolar depressive and have angry, anxious, agitated features that accompany the depression. Different antidepressants tend to have their own "profile" or ability to treat various traits. Some AD's are quite agitating. I found Wellbutrin and desipramine to be the most agitating AD's I have ever taken. Remeron and Effexor, while killing anxiety quite nicely, unfortunatley made me angry and hostile. A lot of your trouble could be too *high* of a dose of WB. Also, sometimes it works better to take lower doses of an energizing AD along with a low dose of a sedative AD (at bedtime, ie.) I found low dose combos of TCA's and SSRI's to work rather well. I would like to try reboxetine (low-dose), but hell will probably freeze over before its available here in the US.Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:104108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020425/msgs/104112.html