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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Just a Girl on January 30, 2002, at 0:30:03
I am not sure if this is the right place for this but...
Not sure where to start – this is my first post here although I have been here from time to time to read.
A few years ago I was put on Paxil for what I was told was manic-depression. I would stay awake for days at a time, not care about anything, go on spending sprees, etc.
Someone else (counselor) diagnosed me with psyclothymic disorder – I was told that was like manic-depression – but on a smaller scale.
I took the Paxil for about a month, didn’t like it & quit. I got rid of my hubby and things seemed to be okay. I had a lot of energy all the time – my house was spotless – I could get by on very little sleep. This all started about 4 years ago. (January/February of 1998)
In July of 1999 – my sister committed suicide. I only mention this because it seems to have a bearing & reference point on when things seemed to go downhill again for me.
After than I would get very moody, didn’t want to go to work, didn’t really care about anything at all. I moved a short time later & since then I can’t get my house straight even though I have been here for 2 ˝ years. That in itself is depressing believe me. But I can’t seem to DO anything about it, it is very overwhelming.I have lost a few jobs since then, due to the fact that everything seems to go fine, till the day I can’t make myself go to work. I can pull this off occasionally, but eventually I AM expected to go back. Sometimes I can…sometimes I can’t. This even happened to a job a love after I found out that I would be out of a job within 6 months due to the market of the industry I was working in. Within 2 weeks I could no longer go, it all seemed quite pointless. I was basically ‘scared’ to go to work – I just could NOT go. Hence I lost a great job that I loved. This was in Feb of 2001.
My Mom *forced* me to the doctor (family doc – not head doc) who put me on Zoloft, since I had no insurance the Doc gave me samples, I never went back for a follow up (no money) and quit taking it – I didn’t see where it was doing any good anyways.
In December 2001 I went back to the Doc (I had insurance again) and she wanted to try me on Wellbutrin SR – 300 mg a day total. Well – when I remembered to take it, it still doesn’t seem to do any good; I still stay up days at a time, or sleep hours & hours on end. My temper is awful at times and I cannot make myself do anything.
Last week I had a follow up with the Doc again, told her I didn’t think it was working – she added Celexa 20 mg to the mix. So 300 mg of WB & 20 mg of Celexa.
Of course there is the issue of remembering to take it. I am finding I forget things – A LOT. I am wondering if this is a side effect & can I hope that this helps? So far I see no improvement. I still can’t make myself do anything and today did not go to work. This is the third time in 3 weeks and I am ‘afraid’ of confrontation so I didn’t even call in. I am pretty sure that because of that, I will not go in tomorrow & the cycle will start all over again.
Anybody else been in a similar position and if so – how the heck did you get out of it?
Is there anything that can be added to this mix to make it work?
I just want to be normal is all.
Posted by TSA West on January 30, 2002, at 1:44:33
In reply to Wellbutrin SR Celexa, posted by Just a Girl on January 30, 2002, at 0:30:03
----------------TSA West-------------------------
I read all you had to say with interest, and I'm glad you posted your thoughts so that others may help you with their input:
a. Wellbutrin is the best medication for those with cycling (you mentioned you had cyclothymia or even mild manic-depression): http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Possible-indications-of-bi.html
b. Your Wellbutrin dose is highly in the therapeutic range but your doctor may wish to raise your dose to 400 or 450 mg in order to maximize the antidepressant effect and give you more motivation.
c. 20 mg of Celexa is the dose Dr. Preskorn insists is the usually effective dose for depression. But he goes on in one of his columns to say: "A case was made using this meta-analysis that 20 mg/day of citalopram is the usually effective dose in patients who do not have severe and/or melancholic major depression. However, the published results of the 1 fixed-dose study with citalopram showed that 40 mg/day was statistically superior to placebo at weeks 3, 4 and 6 and superior to 20 mg/day at weeks 4 and 6." --------Thus you may need 40 mg of Celexa
I am confident that one of these "clean" and sofisticated medications will provide the emotional wellness that you deserve. I'm rooting for you....
Your friend on Babble,
TSA West: Blood and Fire
Posted by Raga on January 30, 2002, at 7:09:01
In reply to Wellbutrin SR Celexa, posted by Just a Girl on January 30, 2002, at 0:30:03
Thought I should mention it, but there were -several- things in your post that reminded me of ADHD. Please be sure to rule it out with your p-doc or otherwise knowledgable doc before proceeding.
Often ADHD goes undiagnosed for decades (I should know, I was diagnosed at age 36), and I'd hate for you to have needless suffering because you were looking in the wrong place for answers...
Posted by Bill L on January 30, 2002, at 7:41:52
In reply to Wellbutrin SR Celexa, posted by Just a Girl on January 30, 2002, at 0:30:03
Give the Celexa more time. One week is not long enough for it to really start working. It could take 4 to 6 weeks. I have been on Celexa for over 2 years and it works very well for me. I started with 20 mg and eventually went up to 40 mg.
Also, your doctor can apply to the drug companies to get free antidepressants for patients that cannot afford them.
> I am not sure if this is the right place for this but...
> Not sure where to start – this is my first post here although I have been here from time to time to read.
> A few years ago I was put on Paxil for what I was told was manic-depression. I would stay awake for days at a time, not care about anything, go on spending sprees, etc.
> Someone else (counselor) diagnosed me with psyclothymic disorder – I was told that was like manic-depression – but on a smaller scale.
> I took the Paxil for about a month, didn’t like it & quit. I got rid of my hubby and things seemed to be okay. I had a lot of energy all the time – my house was spotless – I could get by on very little sleep. This all started about 4 years ago. (January/February of 1998)
> In July of 1999 – my sister committed suicide. I only mention this because it seems to have a bearing & reference point on when things seemed to go downhill again for me.
> After than I would get very moody, didn’t want to go to work, didn’t really care about anything at all. I moved a short time later & since then I can’t get my house straight even though I have been here for 2 ˝ years. That in itself is depressing believe me. But I can’t seem to DO anything about it, it is very overwhelming.
>
> I have lost a few jobs since then, due to the fact that everything seems to go fine, till the day I can’t make myself go to work. I can pull this off occasionally, but eventually I AM expected to go back. Sometimes I can…sometimes I can’t. This even happened to a job a love after I found out that I would be out of a job within 6 months due to the market of the industry I was working in. Within 2 weeks I could no longer go, it all seemed quite pointless. I was basically ‘scared’ to go to work – I just could NOT go. Hence I lost a great job that I loved. This was in Feb of 2001.
>
> My Mom *forced* me to the doctor (family doc – not head doc) who put me on Zoloft, since I had no insurance the Doc gave me samples, I never went back for a follow up (no money) and quit taking it – I didn’t see where it was doing any good anyways.
>
> In December 2001 I went back to the Doc (I had insurance again) and she wanted to try me on Wellbutrin SR – 300 mg a day total. Well – when I remembered to take it, it still doesn’t seem to do any good; I still stay up days at a time, or sleep hours & hours on end. My temper is awful at times and I cannot make myself do anything.
>
> Last week I had a follow up with the Doc again, told her I didn’t think it was working – she added Celexa 20 mg to the mix. So 300 mg of WB & 20 mg of Celexa.
> Of course there is the issue of remembering to take it. I am finding I forget things – A LOT. I am wondering if this is a side effect & can I hope that this helps? So far I see no improvement. I still can’t make myself do anything and today did not go to work. This is the third time in 3 weeks and I am ‘afraid’ of confrontation so I didn’t even call in. I am pretty sure that because of that, I will not go in tomorrow & the cycle will start all over again.
> Anybody else been in a similar position and if so – how the heck did you get out of it?
> Is there anything that can be added to this mix to make it work?
> I just want to be normal is all.
Posted by ST on January 30, 2002, at 19:57:54
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR Celexa, posted by Bill L on January 30, 2002, at 7:41:52
Hi,
I feel for you - you've been through so much. Have you ever been on a mood stabilizer like Depakote or Topomax? From what you describe, you sound a bit like I was before I was diagnosed as manic depressive. If you're getting very little sleep, that's a big tip off. The spending sprees, etc. To me, it doesn't sound like you have a "small scale" cyclothymic disorder (but I'm no doctor!). Ask your doctor about his diagnosis of you and if he thinks you could possibly be bipolar. With a mood stabilizer, you might find you sleep better, your anger has subsided a bit and your mood swings aren't as major. And please give the Wellbutrin and Celexa time to really kick in.
I was on Celexa, Wellbutrin (300 mg) and Depakote, a mood stabilizer, for about a year and it was a great combo. It produced some side effects for me, so now I'm on Effexor instead of the Celexa. But overall, I think Celexa is great!
Good luck!
Sarah
> Give the Celexa more time. One week is not long enough for it to really start working. It could take 4 to 6 weeks. I have been on Celexa for over 2 years and it works very well for me. I started with 20 mg and eventually went up to 40 mg.
>
> Also, your doctor can apply to the drug companies to get free antidepressants for patients that cannot afford them.
>
> > I am not sure if this is the right place for this but...
> > Not sure where to start – this is my first post here although I have been here from time to time to read.
> > A few years ago I was put on Paxil for what I was told was manic-depression. I would stay awake for days at a time, not care about anything, go on spending sprees, etc.
> > Someone else (counselor) diagnosed me with psyclothymic disorder – I was told that was like manic-depression – but on a smaller scale.
> > I took the Paxil for about a month, didn’t like it & quit. I got rid of my hubby and things seemed to be okay. I had a lot of energy all the time – my house was spotless – I could get by on very little sleep. This all started about 4 years ago. (January/February of 1998)
> > In July of 1999 – my sister committed suicide. I only mention this because it seems to have a bearing & reference point on when things seemed to go downhill again for me.
> > After than I would get very moody, didn’t want to go to work, didn’t really care about anything at all. I moved a short time later & since then I can’t get my house straight even though I have been here for 2 ˝ years. That in itself is depressing believe me. But I can’t seem to DO anything about it, it is very overwhelming.
> >
> > I have lost a few jobs since then, due to the fact that everything seems to go fine, till the day I can’t make myself go to work. I can pull this off occasionally, but eventually I AM expected to go back. Sometimes I can…sometimes I can’t. This even happened to a job a love after I found out that I would be out of a job within 6 months due to the market of the industry I was working in. Within 2 weeks I could no longer go, it all seemed quite pointless. I was basically ‘scared’ to go to work – I just could NOT go. Hence I lost a great job that I loved. This was in Feb of 2001.
> >
> > My Mom *forced* me to the doctor (family doc – not head doc) who put me on Zoloft, since I had no insurance the Doc gave me samples, I never went back for a follow up (no money) and quit taking it – I didn’t see where it was doing any good anyways.
> >
> > In December 2001 I went back to the Doc (I had insurance again) and she wanted to try me on Wellbutrin SR – 300 mg a day total. Well – when I remembered to take it, it still doesn’t seem to do any good; I still stay up days at a time, or sleep hours & hours on end. My temper is awful at times and I cannot make myself do anything.
> >
> > Last week I had a follow up with the Doc again, told her I didn’t think it was working – she added Celexa 20 mg to the mix. So 300 mg of WB & 20 mg of Celexa.
> > Of course there is the issue of remembering to take it. I am finding I forget things – A LOT. I am wondering if this is a side effect & can I hope that this helps? So far I see no improvement. I still can’t make myself do anything and today did not go to work. This is the third time in 3 weeks and I am ‘afraid’ of confrontation so I didn’t even call in. I am pretty sure that because of that, I will not go in tomorrow & the cycle will start all over again.
> > Anybody else been in a similar position and if so – how the heck did you get out of it?
> > Is there anything that can be added to this mix to make it work?
> > I just want to be normal is all.
Posted by happy on January 31, 2002, at 1:31:13
In reply to Wellbutrin SR Celexa, posted by Just a Girl on January 30, 2002, at 0:30:03
Hi,
Has your doctor mentioned Lithium? I've known individuals that took Lithium in combination with an antidepressent like Prozac with good success. I understand the depression, but from what I've seen and heard, maybe a regular antidepressant isn't really addressing the problem.
This is the end of the thread.
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