Posted by tonyz on May 23, 2009, at 13:22:31
My doc thinks the best way for me to get better is to combine Seroquel and Nortriptyline. This combination has worked well for me in the past. I was in a very bad state a year ago and went into a hospital as an outpatient. I was barely functional; couldn't do anything. The combination of meds that they gave me vastly improved my condition.
However, as mentioned before in other threads I have a tremendous fear of taking any neuroleptic. My doctor has admitted that some of his patients who take Seroquel have lost some of their creative abilities while on the drug. I don't know the dosage or time period.
When I was in the hospital I think they started me with 400mg. During the past year I have had several recurrent episodes. They were treated with Seroquel and Notriptyline and a benzo (either diazepam or clonazepam).
I don't think I have an alternative to taking the Seroquel at this point I have gone into serious relapse - I don't think I will have to take it the Seroquel for more than a few months. For the past 6 months my sleep pattern has been a mess and I've accomplished very little, also having a lot of memory problems.
I can't objectively evaluate whether it is the meds, the lack of sleep or the depression - I suspect a combination of all three.
What would really encourage me right now is to hear some positive responses about Seroquel used as an adjunct for major depression. I worry that this drug may have permanent cognitive side effects. I was on it for a few months last year - didn't have any problems tapering off and as far as I knew I was fine, but then an event in my life occurred which caused me to relapse into a deep depression.
Similar combination of meds was used but when I tapered off I relapsed. Went back on the drugs got better, tapered off and relapsed. In the past the relapses have never been this quick. I don't like staying on the drugs for the long term because of side effects.
So if someone has some postive stories they can share about their temporary use of Seroquel in combination with an AD and how they got back to normal and were fully functional in their career that would be great to hear. And also if you wouldn't mind telling me what dosage you were on. It is not to self medicate. I am following docs instructions -- it is just to gain some additional assurance. Thank you.
poster:tonyz
thread:897255
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090515/msgs/897255.html