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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rachel2 on March 11, 2003, at 2:55:51
Hi everyone,
I've been taking meds for years now and nothing's helped. The last couple of months I've tried lexapro, geodon and pindolol. The geodon and pindolol sedated me so much I couldn't function very well, and the lexapro took away my sexuality. When I stopped taking it the withdrawal was so bad I started thinking about suicide. Now the doctor wants me to try strattera and I'm afraid. I'm so tired of going through all the shit with the meds. I feel like nothing's going to help anyways. The doctor also wants me to check out the possiblity of ECT. I just don't know what to do...
Posted by justyourlaugh on March 11, 2003, at 13:45:11
In reply to questioning meds in general, posted by Rachel2 on March 11, 2003, at 2:55:51
oh my
was about to post something really inappropriate,
sorry ,
i have it all,,,yet
i can see how better off "all"would be ..
and how silent a night ..
part of me worries about pergitory and reliving sins for ..wow...
do you feel the meds are confusing you ,,
mabe ,,making poor choices...
before meds..would you hav even concidered ect?
..
Posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 14:11:10
In reply to questioning meds in general, posted by Rachel2 on March 11, 2003, at 2:55:51
Hi there,
Maybe ask your pdoc to lower your dosages of those meds???? I haven't been on strattera, but I have done ECT. Also, I know it is a pain in the @ss going through the med routine, but if you try to hang in, be patient, and persist, you may and will be preasantly surprised-I was.
Give it a try and if you want any experience of mine concerning ECT, let me know. I did ECT as a LAST resort-good and bad effects...
Let me know and hang in,
Kristen:-)
==================================================================================================> Hi everyone,
>
> I've been taking meds for years now and nothing's helped. The last couple of months I've tried lexapro, geodon and pindolol. The geodon and pindolol sedated me so much I couldn't function very well, and the lexapro took away my sexuality. When I stopped taking it the withdrawal was so bad I started thinking about suicide. Now the doctor wants me to try strattera and I'm afraid. I'm so tired of going through all the shit with the meds. I feel like nothing's going to help anyways. The doctor also wants me to check out the possiblity of ECT. I just don't know what to do...
Posted by Rachel2 on March 11, 2003, at 15:08:13
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Rachel2, posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 14:11:10
Kristen,
What medication finally helped you? I think I've been trying various meds for 6 years straight now. If anything they make me worse. What was your experience with ECT?
Thanks,
Rachel
Posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 15:25:57
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general, posted by Rachel2 on March 11, 2003, at 15:08:13
Hi, I am on Effexor 75mg, Seroquel 100mg, Lamictal 75mg, and Klonopin 2mg all at night. This combo works wonders for me, but I just started back on the Effexor and Lamictal after going off which was a BIG mistake(going off the meds)Do you have a diagnosis?-I have 3 I know of.
If someone paid me $1000 every day to undergo ECT again- I wouldn't do it. It only helped a little, I believe anyway, and I lost all prior memory of the 2 years before. It was very stressful, going under every other day, and being poked and prodded, and having severe headaches afterwards. I agreed to do 10 and stopped at 9-couldn't take it anymore.
BUT, It has worked wonders for some, I know someone who it did work for-her mania-but not her depression. ECT is a very last resort kind of treatment and should be very well thought out between you, your doc, and the doc performing it.
Anything else feel free to ask me:-)
All the best,
Kristen
==================================================================================================> Kristen,
>
> What medication finally helped you? I think I've been trying various meds for 6 years straight now. If anything they make me worse. What was your experience with ECT?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rachel
Posted by Ilene on March 11, 2003, at 18:24:26
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Rachel2, posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 15:25:57
> Hi, I am on Effexor 75mg, Seroquel 100mg, Lamictal 75mg, and Klonopin 2mg all at night.
How did you develop this combination? 75 mg. of Lamictal isn't very much--I'm at 200, which the pdoc says is the lowest effective dose. I think that is a low dose of Effexor, too.
--I.
Posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 18:37:51
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Krissy P, posted by Ilene on March 11, 2003, at 18:24:26
Hi, I know. The therapeutic dose of Effexor can range from 75mg-250mg. I was on 37.5 of Effexor and 2mg of Ativan at one point and that's all I needed-but I was also in therapy and in a 12-step program (another story lol
It took me a long time to develop this combo. Trial and error, etc. A previous pdoc said the same thing. That Lamictal at 75mg even 100mg was not a theurapeutic dose, so my goal now is to eventually up it- around how I feel. I just increased it to 75mg last night. I gotta keep on the ball with it! Wish me luck:-)please
Kristen
==================================================================================================
How did you develop this combination? 75 mg. of Lamictal isn't very much--I'm at 200, which the pdoc says is the lowest effective dose. I think that is a low dose of Effexor, too.
--I.
Posted by Ilene on March 11, 2003, at 19:35:04
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Ilene, posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 18:37:51
> Hi, I know. The therapeutic dose of Effexor can range from 75mg-250mg. I was on 37.5 of Effexor and 2mg of Ativan at one point and that's all I needed-but I was also in therapy and in a 12-step program (another story lol
> It took me a long time to develop this combo. Trial and error, etc. A previous pdoc said the same thing. That Lamictal at 75mg even 100mg was not a theurapeutic dose, so my goal now is to eventually up it- around how I feel. I just increased it to 75mg last night. I gotta keep on the ball with it! Wish me luck:-)please
> Kristen
> ==================================================================================================
I haven't had any problems w/ Lamictal. It's a matter of titrating up slowly and paying attention if you get a rash. I went up 25 mg. every week.--I.
Posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 20:15:48
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Krissy P, posted by Ilene on March 11, 2003, at 19:35:04
Hiya, Yes, I heard about the rash. The highest I got on Lamcital was 75mg-and no rash so *crossing my fingers* I can at least get to 100mg. So, last night, I went up to 75mg, how long, from your experience, until you waited to go up to 100mg? You said a week, so I guess I will start 100mg next Monday night? I would be appreciative to hear your opinion. Also, you said that you didn't have any problems with it, how did it affect you? Did you feel normal? better? Would you say it helped you more with mania or depression? Both?
Thanks so much, look forward to hearing from you again:-)
Kristen
==================================================================================================I haven't had any problems w/ Lamictal. It's a matter of titrating up slowly and paying attention if you get a rash. I went up 25 mg. every week.
--I.
Posted by Rachel2 on March 12, 2003, at 3:10:03
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general » Ilene, posted by Krissy P on March 11, 2003, at 18:37:51
I can't imagine how you'd ever come up with such a combination. The way I've been working is I try one medication, it doesn't work, then I try combining it with various other meds, they don't work, then I go off it and move on. Did some of these help some symptoms but not others? I'm just dealing with depression. I tried effexor and coming off it was such hell I think I'd try ECT before I'd try it again.
By the way, do you think the ECT could have helped the meds work? I've heard that sometimes meds that don't work before ECT work better after.
Posted by Krissy P on March 12, 2003, at 8:56:20
In reply to Re: questioning meds in general, posted by Rachel2 on March 12, 2003, at 3:10:03
Hi, I was just thinking.....I have read so many posts here about the experiences others face when they withdrawl of Effexor, it seems way worse than the side effects that some experience ON it. Effexor has always helped my depression, and I've done so well on it. I did what you did too. I tried one medication, if it didn't work, then I tried combining it with various other meds, if they don't work, then I'd go off it and move on.
(all with the help of some pretty good docs)
PROZAC-helped my depression, but I gained a lot of weight
PAXIL-sent me to the hospital-manic as heck, chills, rash, and sweats
LUVOX-didn't work all that well: aches, pains, and bloating, gained a little weight
ZOLOFT-didn't give it a chance
ATIVAN-worked in conjunction with therapy and Effexor, Lorazepam doesn't really work anymore for me
EFFEXOR-my wonder med:) but makes me manic (that's why I added Lamictal this time around)
SEROQUEL-great for insomnia-gained a little, at higher doses, but at 100mg now, and losing (but remember I just added Lamictal)
ZYPREXA-weight gainer!!!didn't do squat for me(that's all I have to say about that)lol
REMERON-aches,pains,joints,couldn't walk-didn't help at all!
SERZONE-didn't give it a real chanceI think that's about it.
As far as the ECT, Effexor worked for me before I did the ECT, so I don't think that the med results worked any better or any less after doing ECT (for me)
Remember too, that everyone is different, they have different chemistrys, and different meds work for them, and ECT definately has different results for everyone. It took me several years (1995-1999 to be exact) to get my medications somewhat "right" in addition, I went through some pretty intense therapy, learned a lot about myself, and my reactions, did CBT, journaled, group therapy, and basically did a lot of "growing up" I am still trying to improve. I wish I could say I was "cured" but I am not. lol
Hope this helped??? Let me know k? :-)
All the best, Kristen
==================================================================================================I can't imagine how you'd ever come up with such a combination. The way I've been working is I try one medication, it doesn't work, then I try combining it with various other meds, they don't work, then I go off it and move on. Did some of these help some symptoms but not others? I'm just dealing with depression. I tried effexor and coming off it was such hell I think I'd try ECT before I'd try it again.
By the way, do you think the ECT could have helped the meds work? I've heard that sometimes meds that don't work before ECT work better after.
This is the end of the thread.
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