![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 19:27:04
Hello to anyone who reads this. I have been getting some useful information from reading the posts but I'm still confused what to do and I don't think my pdoc is much help, at all.
I have major, unipolar depression (I believe) with severe anxiety d/o. I had been on zoloft 50mg. fpr approx 8 years. Worked pretty well, for the most part (for anxiety, mostly), but the side effects suddenly became too much and the apathy was just too great-I couldn't stand it anymore.
I tapered off zoloft slowly and tried some 'natural products'. Got a bad reaction, sick as a dog, anxiety through the roof, depression at a point so low it was worse than I can ever remember being. Then pdoc gave me celexa.At 10 mg I gave it a few weeks- got a glimmer of hope, some anxiety relief, but I also got a whole NEW kind of anxiety altogether(wierd!), and one really good day-then I crashed and felt worse than ever. I continued to take the celexa, but It was making me feel MORE depressed, also jittery, irritable, and confused. I tried upping the dose and it made me feel worse.
I went back down to 10mg. after talking to my pdoc
and continued to feel worse than ever. Crazy confused thinking- getting lost easily, forgetting the simplest things. More jumpiness and anxiety. Crying spells, endless crying spells. Despair, gloom, jumping out of my skin.
I was feeling like I was going crazy. Went to pdoc and said I can't take this, give me something else, but he says to give it more time and that celexa needs longer than the three/four? weeks I've given it. He gives me a seizure med to take with the celexa, to calm me down. The name escapes me- something like trileptal??Well I am afraid to take his seizure med after reading some of the posts on it, so I started taking low doses of zoloft again. I started feeling better right away.
I am only taking approx 6.5mg. zoloft right now and the crying spells are gone. It has been 5 days since I've had a celexa. But I feel extremely nauseaus- I have for days on end. I have apathy like you can't believe! I have no passion, feelings, thoughts on anything. I am a shell of a person just walking around.I don't know which is worse. Feeling dead on my feet-a zombie, like I am now. Or feeling exposed to the world and going out of my mind with emotions and sensations as I was on celexa
My question to you all is this: Plan A: Should I try mixing the two- I mean take small dose of zoloft in AM and small dose of celexa in PM? I remember reading a post a while back in which someone took only small dose celexa to add a 'spark'- what I need to make me feel like I'm alive. Will the celexa ever kick in with a/d effects and will the anxiety go away?
PLan B: Go back to prozac? I took prozac before I took zoloft. I remember feeling 'alive'. However, I discontinued and switched to zoloft because of the anxiety. I could try a lower dose of prozac than before.
Plan C: Take this trileptal, whatever it is! The seizure med prescribed by my pdoc. Wouldn't this make me more apathetic?Any Ideas?? Please respond- I don't expect a diagnosis, just opinions from those who know how frustrating this whole med mess is!!
Thanks,
HildiPS: As a 'recovering' alcoholic/addict, I cannot take anything like benzos, so I can't even consider that route.
Posted by linkadge on July 4, 2002, at 20:19:51
In reply to Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 19:27:04
I know I've said this a lot, but whatever
AD you take, take it with a B50 complex. It
can greatly reduce the time required for
the brain to respond to an AD. Personally
I would give Celexa more time. For me
it would do well but I would have an occasional
horrible day, usually preeceded by a bad sleep.I am also on 10 mg. I have found
Celexa to work BEST, with the following:Empty stomach, I.E right before a meal
not during. With a full glass of milk
at about 5:00pm. It makes be a little drowsy
So this is best for me. Also consider a good
dose fish oil supplement 3x per dayI have been off and on Celexa at various times
and have found that these things dramatically
reduce the time requred to feel better.
Posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 20:56:48
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by linkadge on July 4, 2002, at 20:19:51
Hi and thanks for the advice. Did you say to mean to say take with vitamin B complex? (you wrote "B50") . . .
I have seen on other posts there was mentioned to take your a/d's with B-12 and folic acid. All this vit B stuff really makes a difference, heh? OK, I'll give this a try. . .
Do you think the med might have stopped working because I went through a series of very stressful life changes ?(and still am right now).
So many unknowns.
Thanks for the reply,
Hildi
Posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 10:21:04
In reply to Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 19:27:04
Hildi,
It sounds like your doctor thinks you might be bipolar because of your reaction to the Celexa. However, there are people that are exceptionally med sensitive that *aren't* bipolar (if you are sensitive to a variety of medications not just antidepressants). You may need to take only very small doses to get the relief that you need. You might ask your pdoc on your next visit about the bipolar issue and get him/her to spell it all out instead of giving you other meds to take based on a suspicion. You need to have symptoms of hypomania or mania (*without* meds), BTW. Perhaps you need to talk with them about whether you have those *symptoms* or not.
good luck,
Mitch
Posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 12:47:04
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry » hildi, posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 10:21:04
> Hildi,
>
> It sounds like your doctor thinks you might be bipolar because of your reaction to the Celexa. However, there are people that are exceptionally med sensitive that *aren't* bipolar (if you are sensitive to a variety of medications not just antidepressants). You may need to take only very small doses to get the relief that you need. You might ask your pdoc on your next visit about the bipolar issue and get him/her to spell it all out instead of giving you other meds to take based on a suspicion. You need to have symptoms of hypomania or mania (*without* meds), BTW. Perhaps you need to talk with them about whether you have those *symptoms* or not.
>
> good luck,
>
> MitchHi Mitch. Although I don't know much about this, I didn't 'think' I was bipolar because I don't seem to have manic up swings, only low, and HUGE anxiety. Crying spells that go on and on, feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Major sensitivity to everything and anything.
My pdoc doesn't discuss things like this with me. He thinks I ask too many questions as it is. He has told me so. I stay with him because I don't have insurance, he is on a sliding scale throught the county health dept., and I try to get as much info on my own.
The SSRI's do help with anxiety. However this zoloft is creating great apathy, even at this very low dose I am on now. I must be super sensitive. The celexa I am also trying seems to agitate me, not relax me.
Years ago I was on prozac. It worked wonderfully for awhile. I discontinued and switched to zoloft because it pooped out and I started to have undesirable effects after being on it awhile. I'm thinking of trying it again at a much lower dosing interval.
I remember feeling 'alive' on this med,also focused and clear, while it was working for me and I want that again.
if the celexa is agitating me now, will that go away?
With my previous meds I could tell right away if they were going to work or not, I'm that med sensitive.
Could celexa Just be different?Hildi
Ps. What is difference between hypomania and mania? Mania is extreme mood swings, right? I do have cycling thoughts. . .Is that a symptom of bipolar? I don't have up and down swings in mood. Only down.
Posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 14:54:56
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch, posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 12:47:04
> Hi Mitch. Although I don't know much about this, I didn't 'think' I was bipolar because I don't seem to have manic up swings, only low, and HUGE anxiety. Crying spells that go on and on, feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Major sensitivity to everything and anything.>What is difference between hypomania and mania? Mania is extreme mood swings, right? I do have cycling thoughts. . .Is that a symptom of bipolar? I don't have up and down swings in mood. Only down.
> if the celexa is agitating me now, will that go away?
> With my previous meds I could tell right away if they were going to work or not, I'm that med sensitive.
> Could celexa Just be different?
>
> Hildi
>So, you are experiencing recurrent major depressions associated with a lot of anxiety/agitation.. How often do you go through these cycles of "down" and "normal"? If it is fairly frequently it sounds more suggestive of bipolar. Rejection sensitivity is also a common trait of bipolar. BUT, OTOH, there are people that have "neurotic" or "atypical" depressive spells that are "reactive" to what is going on in their lives. Also, people with generalized anxiety, panic, and other anxiety disorders often obsess a lot-which might explain the "cycling thoughts". Also, people that are in a hypomanic or manic state have tangential flights of ideas-one thought leading to thinly connected subsequent ones-not ruminative type things where the same thoughts are repeated (which is what you seem to be experiencing). It sounds like your pdoc is treating you for an anxiety disorder (with SSRI's), but many people who aren't bipolar and just have an anxiety disorder can't tolerate them very well. You mentioned previously that you can't take benzodiazepines due to past substance abuse. You may need to switch classes of antidepressants. If you do have a lot of anxiety, sensitivity, and your depressions tend to be reactive, and you are ruminating- an MAOI like Nardil (phenelzine), might be a good switch. I have found SSRI's to be very tough to tolerate (mainly due to gastrointestinal problems). SSRI's can have very different side-effect profiles for some people. I found Celexa to be quite "buzzy" myself. Agitation does generally subside some with continued use-but if it doesn't you may need to reduce the dose or switch. Talk to your pdoc about the Nardil.
Mitch
Posted by Zo on July 5, 2002, at 17:12:16
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch » hildi, posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 14:54:56
I do know of people in program who take benzos, because they are of medical help. It depends on the context. Can one be said to be maintaining sobriety and use psych drugs, non-addictively. Of course, if you mean they do cause you problems in that way, then they do. . .Zo
Posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 19:33:55
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch » Ritch, posted by Zo on July 5, 2002, at 17:12:16
>
> I do know of people in program who take benzos, because they are of medical help. It depends on the context. Can one be said to be maintaining sobriety and use psych drugs, non-addictively. Of course, if you mean they do cause you problems in that way, then they do. . .
>
> Zo
Hi Zo. I don't know if I could take a benzo without abusing it. I think I might start likeing it too much and get carried away. To maintain my sobriety and stay clean, I have avoided anything that makes me feel euphoric or too good. However, I did get in an auto accident and they gave me morphine- but that was different. My face was blew to bits and I was in tremendous pain. They say in situations such as those it is impossible to abuse the drug. However, if they have let me take some morphine home, that would be a whole other story . . .
Posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 20:17:06
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch » hildi, posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 14:54:56
> Hi Mitch. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.
How often do you go through these cycles of "down" and "normal"?The cycling I refer to is thoughts-obsessive words, something stupid that sticks in my head and repeats over and over again. My 'normal' state is a constant low of obsessive worrying, being socially anxious and anxious in general. Everything is just overwhelming for me. My depression is such that I don't know what to do or where to start. I easily want to hide from the world or drink/drug to feel calmer, in control.
I never have felt suicidal, just frightened, anxious, and overwhelmed by everything. A prisoner in my body. Also, I am obsessive about things, a perfectionist.If it is fairly frequently it sounds more suggestive of bipolar.
Yes, fairly frequent, but not down to normal. Just down and stuck that way.
Rejection sensitivity is also a common trait of bipolar.
Oh yes- without meds rejection just Floors me.
BUT, OTOH, there are people that have "neurotic" or "atypical" depressive spells that are "reactive" to what is going on in their lives.
What is neurotic or atypical depression? Are they the same? Neurotic sounds a lot like me!
Also, people with generalized anxiety, panic, and other anxiety disorders often obsess a lot-which might explain the "cycling thoughts".
Yep, That also sounds like me
Also, people that are in a hypomanic or manic state have tangential flights of ideas-one thought leading to thinly connected subsequent ones-not ruminative type things where the same thoughts are repeated (which is what you seem to be experiencing).Yes- mine are repeating. Nothing that even makes enough sense to link with another connecting thought.
It sounds like your pdoc is treating you for an anxiety disorder (with SSRI's), but many people who aren't bipolar and just have an anxiety disorder can't tolerate them very well.
I thought SSRI's were not right meds for bipolar?
They do help me with anxiety, and for a while on the prozac and also for a while on the zoloft they helped with depression, but now, all I feel is apathy, or more perfectionistic , obsessive tendencies. Another thing I've noticed, I have become somewhat dyslexic. When I write or talk, (or type!)things often come out backwards!! This is something new and not completely welcome!You mentioned previously that you can't take benzodiazepines due to past substance abuse. You may need to switch classes of antidepressants. If you do have a lot of anxiety, sensitivity, and your depressions tend to be reactive, and you are ruminating- an MAOI like Nardil (phenelzine), might be a good switch.
I'll check into this. I've been thinking about switching classes of meds. But also, I kind of
want to try the prozac again and see how I do this time around. The downside of this, though, is if it doesn't work I'll have to take a long time to rid my body of the prozac before I start the MAOI.I have found SSRI's to be very tough to tolerate (mainly due to gastrointestinal problems). SSRI's can have very different side-effect profiles for some people. I found Celexa to be quite "buzzy" myself. Agitation does generally subside some with continued use-but if it doesn't you may need to reduce the dose or switch. Talk to your pdoc about the Nardil.
>
Today I feel worse than ever. My body definately does not like this celexa. I am not going to keep giving it more time. This is supposed to be mild, but I find this very hard to take.
Mitch, do you think I'm better off not going the anti-seizure med route- I have the bottle of trileptal the dr gave me, untouched still.
Nardil you think a better choice than an SSRI and anti-seizure med??>
Thanks for the advice and information. I really appreciate it.
Hildi
Posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 22:39:39
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch, posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 20:17:06
Hildi,
I would consider phenelzine as monotherapy first. What is going on here is the big diagnosis question-is this bipolar disorder developing or is this simply a "neurotic" anxious, reactive, recurrent depression? I am bipolar and I found Trileptal to aggravate hypomania-just an FYI (also it hasn't been shown to be effective for mania just yet). If you can tolerate another class of antidepressant to treat a(n) anxiety disorder(s), and it works without taking a "mood stabilizer"-then you have the "acid test" to determine whether you are bipolar or not-IMO. I think people need to reassess the idea of becoming hypomanic as a result of medications as an intolerability issue rather than a certain flag for bipolar.
Mitch
Posted by Zo on July 6, 2002, at 3:32:36
In reply to Re: Zo's reply, posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 19:33:55
Posted by mouse on July 6, 2002, at 15:37:00
In reply to Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 19:27:04
> Hello to anyone who reads this. I have been getting some useful information from reading the posts but I'm still confused what to do and I don't think my pdoc is much help, at all.
Lots of people here who know their stuff. you'll be pleased with the information.
> I have major, unipolar depression (I believe) with severe anxiety d/o. I had been on zoloft 50mg. fpr approx 8 years. Worked pretty well, for the most part (for anxiety, mostly), but the side effects suddenly became too much and the apathy was just too great-I couldn't stand it anymore.
Sounds like me when I was on Effexor. It stopped working and all I had were the side-effects. Not too great. Changing meds can be a bummer but sometimes it is just necessary.
> I tapered off zoloft slowly and tried some 'natural products'. Got a bad reaction, sick as a dog, anxiety through the roof, depression at a point so low it was worse than I can ever remember being. Then pdoc gave me celexa.
>I tried celexa too. Increased the anxiety if I remember correctly. Sometimes I think these meds cause more problems than they are worth. I didn't like it at all. My pdoc told me to stick with it. I did for 3 months. Still felt like cr*p.
> At 10 mg I gave it a few weeks- got a glimmer of hope, some anxiety relief, but I also got a whole NEW kind of anxiety altogether(wierd!), and one really good day-then I crashed and felt worse than ever. I continued to take the celexa, but It was making me feel MORE depressed, also jittery, irritable, and confused. I tried upping the dose and it made me feel worse.
>Are you upping the dose on your own or with your pdoc's blessing? If with his/her blessing than it looks like you are going to have problems getting the med into a range where you get theraputic usage. That was my problem with the med as well.
> I went back down to 10mg. after talking to my pdoc
> and continued to feel worse than ever. Crazy confused thinking- getting lost easily, forgetting the simplest things. More jumpiness and anxiety. Crying spells, endless crying spells. Despair, gloom, jumping out of my skin.
> I was feeling like I was going crazy. Went to pdoc and said I can't take this, give me something else, but he says to give it more time and that celexa needs longer than the three/four? weeks I've given it. He gives me a seizure med to take with the celexa, to calm me down. The name escapes me- something like trileptal??
>hum? After the 3rd month for me I went in with a plan. I had originally suggested Parnate but he'd rejected it for the celexa, but this time I made the request again. He talked about the food and drug interactions and looked at what I was taking. I assured him I was up for it. Glad I did.
> Well I am afraid to take his seizure med after reading some of the posts on it, so I started taking low doses of zoloft again. I started feeling better right away.
> I am only taking approx 6.5mg. zoloft right now and the crying spells are gone. It has been 5 days since I've had a celexa. But I feel extremely nauseaus- I have for days on end. I have apathy like you can't believe! I have no passion, feelings, thoughts on anything. I am a shell of a person just walking around.
>Zoloft works in ways but in other ways you are not getting the "life" you need as well. Too bad. living in the state where you feel apathic is the pits.
> I don't know which is worse. Feeling dead on my feet-a zombie, like I am now. Or feeling exposed to the world and going out of my mind with emotions and sensations as I was on celexa
>This is really tough. I feel for you. Most of us have been where you are at and totally understand. But you don't have to settle for one or the other of these options. There are MAOI's. If you don't want to try them what about the old meds that are not SSRI's? Can't remember their class name. I'm not the smartest person when it comes to this stuff. Sorry. But I do understand how you feel when changing meds and not finding the right one. It takes so long and is very frustrating until you do find one that will work.
> My question to you all is this: Plan A: Should I try mixing the two- I mean take small dose of zoloft in AM and small dose of celexa in PM? I remember reading a post a while back in which someone took only small dose celexa to add a 'spark'- what I need to make me feel like I'm alive. Will the celexa ever kick in with a/d effects and will the anxiety go away?Talk with your pdoc. Can't suggest anything here.
> PLan B: Go back to prozac? I took prozac before I took zoloft. I remember feeling 'alive'. However, I discontinued and switched to zoloft because of the anxiety. I could try a lower dose of prozac than before.
> Plan C: Take this trileptal, whatever it is! The seizure med prescribed by my pdoc. Wouldn't this make me more apathetic?
>
I don't know about the bipolar stuff, nor do I know much about the classes of meds but do know that sometimes it is suggested to change classes. Your situation may be one that would get this suggestion. But for me I am taking an MAOI and it is working very well. I don't have the depression and the anxiety is much less. I still have some issues I'm trying to resolve but Parnate has been a god send for me.
> Any Ideas?? Please respond- I don't expect a diagnosis, just opinions from those who know how frustrating this whole med mess is!!
> Thanks,
> HildiGood luck!
>
> PS: As a 'recovering' alcoholic/addict, I cannot take anything like benzos, so I can't even consider that route.Recovering is a good thing. Sometimes people use because they are medicating. This way you are medicatiting with supervision and it isn't an addiction thing. Good luck on finding what works for you.
mouse
Posted by hildi on July 7, 2002, at 10:02:29
In reply to Re: Buspar too? (nm) » hildi, posted by Zo on July 6, 2002, at 3:32:36
Hi Zo. You know, I did try Buspar many years ago. I was on it alone before I finally went on A/D's. By itself it didn't do much, and I continued it while I started Prozac.
However, I had a bad reaction- the combo of buspar and prozac, for me, increased my depression. I have read that for some people,(especially ADD types) this combo makes it worse, not better.
This is what happened to me and my pdoc still thinks I'm nuts- says the combo is perfectly ok. I have two accounts I have read now that say this combo can be bad and I know how I felt. I wasn't making this up!
So anyway Zo, I don't know what ELSE to take with the buspar if I were to start it again. Should I try the zoloft again? Celexa again??
I am afraid of the agitation from the celexa and the apathy from the zoloft. Also, the zoloft has started making me really sick to my stomach. It never did that before, but when I retried recently, even at low does, apathy and nausea. Yuck!
Hildi
Posted by hildi on July 7, 2002, at 10:17:47
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? mitch » hildi, posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 22:39:39
Thank you both for taking the time to help me with this. Much appreciated!
You both have mentioned MAOI's.. Mitch, you mentioned Nardil and Mouse, you mentioned Parnate.
Either one especially better for nervious, anxious types?!
There was a time I thought I wouldn't consider an MAOI, the possibility of interactions and side effects scared me, but I have changed thoughts on this. I am sick of SSRI's and believe it is time for a change.
Should I stop taking anything right now? I don't know when I'll be able to see the doc. Doesn't an SSRI needs 3 weeks or so to leave my system before I start an MAOI?
Hildi
Posted by Ritch on July 7, 2002, at 10:58:37
In reply to Re: Question for all-Mitch and Mouse, posted by hildi on July 7, 2002, at 10:17:47
> Thank you both for taking the time to help me with this. Much appreciated!
> You both have mentioned MAOI's.. Mitch, you mentioned Nardil and Mouse, you mentioned Parnate.
> Either one especially better for nervious, anxious types?!
> There was a time I thought I wouldn't consider an MAOI, the possibility of interactions and side effects scared me, but I have changed thoughts on this. I am sick of SSRI's and believe it is time for a change.
> Should I stop taking anything right now? I don't know when I'll be able to see the doc. Doesn't an SSRI needs 3 weeks or so to leave my system before I start an MAOI?
> Hildi
Hi, glad to help. Parnate is supposed to be more "activating" than Nardil. Nardil probably would work better for anxiety (it is supposed to boost whole brain GABA)-but there are some folks with social phobia that find Parnate is superior for that particular type of anxiety. I would like to try them myself-but my pdoc just will not hear of it (concerned about safety). I wouldn't stop taking *anything* until you get a green light from your pdoc. It would be a bummer if you had some kind of med withdrawal now-and your pdoc won't write for MAOI's later! Follow your doc's advice on washing-out any meds that you currently take. I think that for Celexa a two-week washout is adequate.good luck,
Mitch
Posted by mouse on July 7, 2002, at 11:49:08
In reply to Re: Question for all-Mitch and Mouse, posted by hildi on July 7, 2002, at 10:17:47
> Thank you both for taking the time to help me with this. Much appreciated!
> You both have mentioned MAOI's.. Mitch, you mentioned Nardil and Mouse, you mentioned Parnate.
> Either one especially better for nervious, anxious types?!
> There was a time I thought I wouldn't consider an MAOI, the possibility of interactions and side effects scared me, but I have changed thoughts on this. I am sick of SSRI's and believe it is time for a change.
> Should I stop taking anything right now? I don't know when I'll be able to see the doc. Doesn't an SSRI needs 3 weeks or so to leave my system before I start an MAOI?
> HildiHildi,
Meds can be mean beasts, Hildi. You don't want to be playing with them without your pdoc's supervision. If mix them and have a worst reaction it would not be good. You may end up with problems you don't currently have. Please call your pdoc and get in to him/her.
I take parnate. I needed to be off my medications for 6 weeks. It was a very gradual taper, so it took about 3 months before I was on the parnate then it took another month for me to notice the effects. 3 months and I am feeling much better. No depression and very little anxiety. It is supposed to be good for social anxiety. I think I do feel better in public. I'm working now, if that says anything.
I was terrified of the possible interactions. It seems to have been a needless concern. I am very careful with my diet and the meds I take. But so far I havn't had any reactions. The doctor and you can find it on the net will tell you the sorts of things you can't eat. Mostly if you stay away from aged cheeses and sausages and meats that have been made to last too long is what I do. I don't eat leftovers that are older then 2 days old and probably shouldn't eat them at all. But so far no problems. You must eat small portions of iffy foods or you might get a reaction. I guess I can have about 2 oz of chocolate at a time (in a day). so if you love chocolate... get ready to give it up or find a different medication. Before suggesting this med to you pdoc get ready to commit to the diet. Othere than that minor aggravation I love parnate. I haven't felt this good in years!
I don't know much about the differences in parnate and nardil, but do know that parnate has less of a chance of making you gain weight that one other MAIO so I asked for it. (I'm a type 2 diabetic (very overweight) who controls my diabetes with diet and exercise).
mouse
Posted by fairnymph on July 7, 2002, at 12:25:37
In reply to Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by hildi on July 4, 2002, at 19:27:04
IMO it sounds like you should try another SSRI, perhaps prozac or paxil.
Wellbutrin might be helpful as well, or possibly cominbing a small dose of zoloft with a largish dose of wellbutrin.
Or how about Effexor?
~fairnymph
Posted by hildi on July 7, 2002, at 14:41:50
In reply to Re: Question for all-any advice please!!? long-sorry, posted by fairnymph on July 7, 2002, at 12:25:37
Hi everyone-thanks again for your help. I am in a total freak-out right now. I posted a panicky new link below.
Can I be bipolar-not unipolar? And if so, are SSRI's ok for bipolar, too? I am acting like a beast. I'm screaming at the kids and the animals- all my words are coming out backwards here on the keyboard. i keep retyping because I'm so perfectionistic- and it's just adding to an incredibly horrible mood. I'm jumping out of my skin and mythoughts are circling with obessive repeats of the things I have to do. Anything gets in my way-look out! Is this what mania feels like. When my head repeats my lists and I have trouble breathing due to irritablility to accomplish my 'head lists' is this mania- or just major depression?
I took one of the mood stabilizing drugs-trileptal-finally, a couple hours ago. No help. More irritability. I really feel like I could hurt someone. I hate the way I am acting.
I get this way sometimes, but this is extreme, even for me.
I have not really been continuously been taking any med lately. The celexa was getting me feeling like I was jumping out of my skin-increasing my anxiety d/o. The zoloft was making me feel like throwing up-plus turning me into a zombie. I took 20mg of prozac yesterday AM because I was at wits end. I didn't take anything today except for 75mg of that trileptal.
I called the county mental health dept. to contact my dr.They said I was acting impulsive, sounded manic, couldn't do anything for me, and call my dr. durin regular business hours. They said to lay down and rest. yeah, right! I am not sure what to do.
I am curious about trying MAOI because I haven't had much response that's good lately to SSRI's. I cannot live like this for weeks, though.
How about trycyclic? (sp?) SSRI's and MAOI's better?
I think that Prozac caused mania in me when I first started taking it about 9 years ago. I loved it. I felt great. I was obsessed with sex. Then it stopped working and I switched to zoloft. I've always had mild attacks of being too obsessive at times on the zoloft. I mean- the lists in my head of things that I keep repeating too myself- and everything had to get done, perfectly. But they mostly happened only a few times a month- By the time I decided to stop zoloft this obsessive thing/perfectionistic thing of mine was getting worse. And the irritability and lack of interest in things was getting worse.
This 'dyslexic' thing I am experiencing is somewhat new. When I say things at times, sentences will come out backwords. I will write things or type things backwards, too.
The celexa added confusion to my brain, couldn't remember how to spell things- where I was going or how to get there. It also made the 'dyslexia' worse.
Right now typing is a real chore. Every word is coming out backwards- going back over it again and again.
What Is my problem???
People are going to hate being around me if I cannot get this together. I need to get a grip and FAST.
Do any mood stabilizers have significant a/d effects? I thought I saw a post on PB about this.
Hildi
This is the end of the thread.
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