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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ben on March 18, 2003, at 9:26:30
Hi
I take 225 mg Effexor XR, Neurontin 1200 mg and Lithium (last level 0.8 mmol). I was very stable on it for about 5 months and suddenly I am depressed again. I tried many ADs and combos and this was the best. But why it stopped working ? What should I do ? I am hopless again - please help me !Thanks
Posted by T_R_D on March 18, 2003, at 9:49:55
In reply to Help please - relapse ?!, posted by ben on March 18, 2003, at 9:26:30
Hey Ben, sounds like you have treatment resistant depression like me...I get breakthrough all the time and am in the process of switching meds...I was on Effexor augmented with a thyroid drug called Cytomel...maybe your Eff. needs to be ramped up a bit. I was on 375mg a day which is pretty high (the max.) but it was the only place where I could get some results. You've still got some room to elevate so maybe you should discuss that with your doctor. It sounds like you're on the right track with an augmentation strategy, though.
Good luck,
Karen> Hi
> I take 225 mg Effexor XR, Neurontin 1200 mg and Lithium (last level 0.8 mmol). I was very stable on it for about 5 months and suddenly I am depressed again. I tried many ADs and combos and this was the best. But why it stopped working ? What should I do ? I am hopless again - please help me !
>
> Thanks
Posted by ben on March 20, 2003, at 0:23:48
In reply to Re: Help please - relapse ?!, posted by T_R_D on March 18, 2003, at 9:49:55
Many Thanks TRD
What about uppering the Lithium or probably Lithium and Effexor (and Neurontin too because of strange feelings of pain in the arms - not fibromyalgia !).
> Hey Ben, sounds like you have treatment resistant depression like me...I get breakthrough all the time and am in the process of switching meds...I was on Effexor augmented with a thyroid drug called Cytomel...maybe your Eff. needs to be ramped up a bit. I was on 375mg a day which is pretty high (the max.) but it was the only place where I could get some results. You've still got some room to elevate so maybe you should discuss that with your doctor. It sounds like you're on the right track with an augmentation strategy, though.
> Good luck,
> Karen
>
> > Hi
> > I take 225 mg Effexor XR, Neurontin 1200 mg and Lithium (last level 0.8 mmol). I was very stable on it for about 5 months and suddenly I am depressed again. I tried many ADs and combos and this was the best. But why it stopped working ? What should I do ? I am hopless again - please help me !
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
Posted by T_R_D on March 20, 2003, at 11:53:38
In reply to Re: Help please - relapse ?! » T_R_D, posted by ben on March 20, 2003, at 0:23:48
You're welcome!
If you've got room to move with the dosage then I definitely suggest talking to yout doctor about upping it...and yes, it could mean both the AD and the augment. I think ideally you might want to try updding the AD first but your doc' should now for sure. I think the idea is to get the AD cranked up as it is the primary drug and then if that's not working, start rising the secondary/augmentation drug. I've heard of good things re: Lithium and Effexor...that was one of my options as well but we never got around to trying it. Good luck and keep me posted!
Karen
> Many Thanks TRD
>
> What about uppering the Lithium or probably Lithium and Effexor (and Neurontin too because of strange feelings of pain in the arms - not fibromyalgia !).
>
> > Hey Ben, sounds like you have treatment resistant depression like me...I get breakthrough all the time and am in the process of switching meds...I was on Effexor augmented with a thyroid drug called Cytomel...maybe your Eff. needs to be ramped up a bit. I was on 375mg a day which is pretty high (the max.) but it was the only place where I could get some results. You've still got some room to elevate so maybe you should discuss that with your doctor. It sounds like you're on the right track with an augmentation strategy, though.
> > Good luck,
> > Karen
> >
> > > Hi
> > > I take 225 mg Effexor XR, Neurontin 1200 mg and Lithium (last level 0.8 mmol). I was very stable on it for about 5 months and suddenly I am depressed again. I tried many ADs and combos and this was the best. But why it stopped working ? What should I do ? I am hopless again - please help me !
> > >
> > > Thanks
> >
> >
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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