Posted by Jim Bob on August 31, 2002, at 19:16:26
Hey people,
I'm just really frustrated tonight and in need of support regarding my treatment. I've been on Prozac 20 mg. for 4 weeks, and my pdoc has just increased it to 30 mg. on my 5th week, with plans to increase to 40 mg. on my 7th. I'm also on Risperdal 0.5 mg PRN for agitation and anxiety.
I'm upset because the treatment isn't helping. I've noticed no difference whatsoever since starting the Prozac, and the Risperdal really doesn't do much of anything for my anxiety. Part of the problem is that I've been labeled a drug-abuser, and so my pdoc is being very cautious with what he prescribes. Also, I've been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, Elavil, and Paxil all in the past, with none of them helping. The problem is that the depression has been so bad that I've switched meds. around alot, so my pdoc isn't sure that anything's been given a fair chance. My symptoms are major depression with lethargy, difficulty concentrating or focusing, and anxiety with irritability and agitation.
So my question is: what is a fair chance? I'm almost to the point that I want to switch pdocs, but I'm afraid to, and don't even know how -- e.g. I don't want to have to wait a month to get in with someone else, etc. It's just that every time I see my doctor I tell him that I'm not feeling any better, and all he does is up the dose on my prozac. I've read about things like augmenting SSRI therapy with Pindolol, and when I mentioned this to my doctor, he looked at me like I was crazy (imagine that), and said, "well, I don't think that will be necessary."
I'm feeling so terrible that I'm looking for something drastic to be done, and I guess my question is, short of hospitalization (which I've done in the past with no success) and ECT, what drastic medical treatment is there that *can* be done? What experience have you all had with failed treatments - i.e. how many meds. and how many months did it take to get something that worked?
Thanks,
Jim Bob
poster:Jim Bob
thread:118383
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118383.html