Posted by CK1 on April 7, 2005, at 11:43:15
In reply to Re: AD Survey - please contribute your exp., posted by cache-monkey on April 7, 2005, at 1:16:40
ANTIDEPRESSANT SURVEY:
BabbleName:
Diagnosis and Symptoms: Originally treated for mild social anxiety (wanted to decrease my inhibitions) and also mild depression. I am now being treated for soft bipolar disorder with mixed states of agitation, irritability, insomnia, and depression (dysphoric hypomania). Diagnosed based on non-responsiveness to SSRI's after Paxil pooped out after two years.Name of Med: Paxil
Dose: 10 mg Year: 2002-January 2005
Rating (1-10)* 10
*1=terrible, 10=wonderful
Comments: Felt great on this drug for 3 years. It significantly decreased my social anxiety. I was able to give speeches and become the center of attention and critisizms were not taken sooo literally like before. For panic/anxiety - there is no SSRI better than Paxil, in my opinion. It did, however, make me feel "too cocky" and hypomanic. I started thinking I was better than people, got EXTREMELY confidant, and felt almost "too" good, in retrospect. Totally quit working in January leaving me very irritable, depressed, anxious, etc. Haven't been able to tolerate SSRI's since!Name of Med: Effexor
Dose: Year: 37.5 January 2005
Rating (1-10)* 1
Comments: Threw me in a constant state of panic for two weeks - what I now consider to be mixed states. Panic city!
Name of Med: Zoloft
Dose: 25 mg Year: February 2005
Rating (1-10)* 4
Comments: Tried for 5 weeks, but couldn't get above 25mg, due to EXTREME insomnia (never had before), neck pain, muscle aches, increased anxiety, etc. Milder than Effexor.
Name of Med: Lamictal + Paxil
Dose: 25mg Year: March 2005
Rating (1-10)* 5
Comments: After my reactions to the previous two AD's, my doctor prescribed this. I have 3 family members with bipolar and intolerability of SSRI's usually signifies a change in strategy(if 2 SSRI's don't work, there is very little chance that the 3rd will be any different). Lamictal is very activating for me and I'm now only sleeping 8 hours a night and have lots of energy (positive). When I up the dose to 50mg, I get extremely angry, irritable, depressed, frustrated (mixed state hell), but 25mg seems to be fine with no side effects.Name of Med: Lamictal + Lithium
Dose: 25 mg and 300mg Year: April 2005
Rating (1-10)* n/a
Comments: Haven't taken the lithium yet! This is supposed to be "the" combo for Bipolar II (soft bipolar) Lamictal increases energy and provides and acts as the main AD, while Lithium controls the anxiety and anger caused by the Lamictal (BELEIVE ME, LAMICTAL ALONE SUCKS FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS). Lithium is being used to "calm me down" and prevent hypomania (not the good kind!)So, what started out as mild social anxiety 3 years ago has seemed to have progressed to Bipolar II. SSRI's worked great (then), but don't do a thing (now). To all of you that experience SSRI poop out and can't seem to get "that feeling back" with other SSRI's you try, it might be worthwhile to change the medication approach, even if you "think" you are "simply" depressed/anxious. I NEVER thought I'd be on Lamictal much less LITHIUM (which, in my previous understanding, was for "those people" and schizohrenics). Well, now I am and I'm more confidant than ever that I'll get better. Trying 2 SSRI's and having them not work is more depressing for me than getting on mood stabilizers.
poster:CK1
thread:480962
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050404/msgs/481151.html