![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 GIANA on April 7, 2004, at 16:36:26
I am fairly new here and really need some direction and help.
I had started with fatigue 8 yrs. ago. so I started drinking coffee and taking mahung/guarana supplement, (which has Ephedrine alkoids)it
My energy increased dramically.
I was the equivilant of 100 mg daily of Ephendrine + Guarana + drinking alot of coffee.
I continued it for 3 yrs., I thought it was like an enegy multivitamin. I started to have bouts of severe anxiety appox. two years after starting the combination. I didn't make the conection between the two, that maybe the supplement was causing the anxiety. I sought treatment but never told the Pyschiatrist what I was taking, I didn't think it mattered, back then I really didn't know what any of the ingrediants in the bottle or what they really did phamaceutically anyway. (just said energy on the bottle so I took it because I just thought they were vitamins in it, back then you didn't hear anything about those ingrediants, unlike today)
The Pyschiatrist pescribed some medication called Melleril 50mg, I din't know what it was, what it was for only that he said it would help my conditon this was when I was 21.
My parents thought it was an Anti-depressant.
I looked it up and it said it was a tranquilizer to treat Sczophrenia? I didn't even know what that was. I only knew that this med. was making me shake, my hand and legs were shaking & had spasms in my neck. The doc. told me it was side effect and would go away, I still didn't know why I was taking a medication, I didn't have hallucinations, or paranoia or any other indication for the illness.
I was then given Zyprexa 5mg 2x's daily with Zoloft up to 200mg.
At this point I went from having severe anxiety to being depressed, with absolutely no energy.
I think I slept for 4 days straight and said I had enough, and started my old routine again with the Ephedrine & Coffee, just wanted to be able to get a shower & get dressed.
This time the coffee and ephdrine weren't given me anxiety they were acting like anti-depressants.
I told the Doctor how it now helped my mood, only this time when I took it I my hands & legs would shake.
Now the doctor was telling me I neeeded an Anti-depressant.
I told the doctor about the supplements an how they now helped my mood, they insisted I now needed an anti-depressant.
I was given alot of of anti-depressants (Paxil, Luvox, Amoxapine, Amoxapine with Wellbutrin, Amoxapine + Wellbutrin + Seroqual another tranquilizer, Wellbutrin + Risperdal, Risperdal, Seroqual, Imipramine, Effexor, Effexor with Depakote, Wellbutrin, Effexor and Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin + Effexor + Depakote, Wellbutrin + Lamitical, Wellbutrin + Effexor & Phentermine.
I was put on a combination that helped after 2 yrs. Wellbutrin & Selegiline 10mg although at first I was taking the Wellbutrin with Ephedrine + Selegiline 20mg daily, no anxiety.
I decided, ok the anti-depressant are working I can stop the using the Guarna/ Mahund Ephedrine
Combination. I did and let the anti-depressants
continue to do their thing.
I still was sleeping alot but depression was better.
I had a sleep study done that showed I had severe hypersolemnce (execessive
sleepiness) and was prcribed Ritalin with the combination. Now I was taking Ritalin + Wellbutrin
Selegiline 10mg.
I was still sleeping to 3 pm in the afternoon and still drinking alot of coffee to have energy.
I was switched to Wellbutrin 450mg + Selegiline 10mg + Adderall
Then switched to Wellbutrin, Selegiline 10mg, + Provigil. Provigil seemed to help better than the Adderall and Rtalin don't know why.
I stayed on the combination for a couple yrs., depression only occured
once a month (probably PMS).
Pyschiatrist switched meds. to Parnate 20mg + Selegiline 10mg, worse. I had severe hypothermia, unbeliveable drowsiness. I added the Wellbutrin to the Parnate & Selegiline, no effects, although the coldness & hypothermia went away. I didn't want to tell my doctor, in fear that he would freak out. I figured I was really bad and that no matter what I took it was a risk. So I took Wellbutrin + Parnate + Selegiline 10mg + Provigil.
The Provigil wasn't a good combo with the parnate for some reason, the combination made my
Blood Preasure fall thru the floor.
I went back had another sleep study done taking the Wellbutrin + Selegiline + Provigil.
This time my sleepiness went from Severe to Moderate hypersolemence.
The Nuerologist told me I could take up to 400mg daily of the provigil, at the time I was taking
200mg.
400mg was just too much for me, just felt was over medicated.
I played with my meds. for a while and cut back on the Wellbutrin from 450mg to 200mg and got it down to 100mg. I felt somewhat better only taking the Selgiline 10mg + provigil 200mg + Wellbutrin 100mg. No more headaches & fullness in my head.
I had several EEG's to make sure I wasn't having seizures, MRI's, and so forth.
I was then put on Wellbutrin + Selegiline + Provigil + Strattera.
The strattera in the combination increase my heart rate & bllod pressure alittle with the Wellbutrin, had alittle more energy but with the combinations I didn't know when I would fall alseep or be awake and I couldn't take alot of the Strattera becuase it made me dizzy & nauseated, so the most I could handle was 25mg
Anthing more than that I couldn't stand up and would be extremly ill and sick.
They told me the Wellbutrin might be interacting with the Strattera to stop the wellbutrin,
But the meds only worked together.
They then changed them to Wellbutrin + Selegiline 10mg + Provigil 100mg + Ritalin 10mg.
For some season, I got depressed now when I took the Selegiline + Provigil + Wellbutrin + Ritalin.
so I started adding back the Strattera and started to take Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Selegiline + Strattera + Provigil. I had some peroids of Nervousness, most likely expected.
At one point to counteract the nervousness I took Reboxetine 4mg which made the nervousness go away, don't know why. So I started taking Reboxetine 4mg, Wellbutrin 100mg, Selgiline 10mg + Provigil 50mg + Srattera 25mg + Ritalin 5mg
Went back to my Pyschiatrist, and at the time was weaning off the reboxetine and had alittle Nervousness, and he stated he wanted to take me off the Ritalin becuase off the Nervousness.
I had to tell him the truth that I started on the Strattera again & Reboxetine. He was not happy and was a little disgusted & concerned becuase Reboxetine is not FDA approved, and said I could of had a stroke taking the combination and that I was becoming like a drug addict.
It's not that I was becoming like a drug addict or that I wanted to be high or have super energy.
I just wanted to function on a daily basis like everyone else. Ok my emotions are stable,
I can get a shower, get dressed, take care of my house, and that's just about it, I was working from home because with a regular job it would never work.At one point I decided I had had enough,
I didn't want to take any meds. any more, that I was normal before and functioning
and that I could be that way again without
medications.
All I had to do was eat alot protein and good foods to build up my system. Thinking that Protein builds neurotranmitters and that if I increased my daily intake I could be possibly better on my own.
My Pyschiatrist thought it might be a good idea, and helped me wean off the meds.
I think my brain did a flip side, because I have no clue what happened to me.
The depression didn't come back.
I wasn't depressed after stopping the meds.
Although the sleep got worse.
After one week, I had severe anger, and actually needed to drink coffee to stop the anger. I would drink coofee and all of a sudden I wasn't angry and couldn't even remember why I was angry to begin with and was totally calm. This went on for weeks. I went to my family doctor told him what was going on, about the anger and cursing at people when I got angry
Explained to him that I have never been like this before, not even on medications and wasn't on medications. He prescribed Strattera.
As soon as I took the Strattera I had energy.
After a few weeks, the energy went away and I started to sleep all day, have stiffness in all of
my joints.
The Starttera was stopped and I became severly ill with the flu and I don't know whether it was a co incident
or not but everything had gotten worse within a week. It had been 3 months since I was on medications, and now I became totally incapasitated. I would wake up eat breakfat and have some coffee and sit at the table and stare, I couldn't think at at , and I would do nothing at all but lay in bed, just either sleeping or staring, I couldn't think to even move.
Other times I would feel so scared in side that I would start crying & not be able to talk.
Usually I am the time of person that talks all the time.
I tried taking the Wellbutrin again, but it wasn't working, I would just cry evertime I took it. Before when I took it I noticed a difference right away. I went back to my family doctor and asked him what was wrong with me. I told him I was extremely drowsy and can't think, that sometimes I can't even think to move at all.
I asked him if I was schzophrenic, I think I spelled it wrong. He told me that he thought I had anxiety, that that could cause a person not to be able to think and move. I thought I was scared I might have Negative Szchophrenia, in the past when I was put on paxil, or Luvox I ended up in the hopspital because I couldn't think or move and they thought I was catatonic.
My family docotor prescribed Effexor.
I took it, it completely knocked me out.
I was taking 37 mg a day.
It completely knocked me out.
I was extremly weak, freezing cold, and would sleep all day, I tried to drink at least 3 cups of coffee afterwards to counteract the sleep effect, didn't work. I would sleep & dream the whole time I was sleeping.
Everytime I took it it would have the same effect.
After a week, now I didn't have any emotions, was sleeping all day, was depressed inside, and didn't talk at all, I was like a zombie.
I decided to take Provigil with it.
I took 50mg and within an hour I was awake and having a conversation with my husband.
The followig day I decided to take Wellbutrin with it, my emotions came back, and I didn't fall asleep this time taking the Effexor, only I was nervous, and emotionally depressed.
It's almost like the Effexor suppressed my depressed emotions but they were still there inside, and sedated me, the Wellbutrin brought out the inside emotion and I was severly depressed, I drank two cups of coffee and the crying and depression went away. I can't figure it out. The doctors say I have anxiety but when I am given anything with Serotonin in it It completely knocks me out where I can't keep my eyes open & I become emotionless and mute like a zombie.
I tried takng my medications I was taking before, the Wellbutrin + Provigil + Selegiline + Strattera and still I can't think, I don't have any energy at all, I don't do anything but lay on the couch, I can't go anywhere.
I get stiffness in my joints, hav problems moving my right eye (feels like it's stuck in position)
If I don't take anything except coffee I sleep,
and can't think at all, all of my joints are stiff with extreme muscle weakness, where I look like I am wasting away or anorexic but I eat the same as I used to if not more now.
So in order to function somewhat, I started taking everything again. It has been over 6wks. and now I am really scared that there is something wrong with me. I have been taking the Wellbutrin + Strattera + Provigil + Ephedrine
The Ephedrine & Coffee are the only two things that actly make me get up and get a shower.
The others I'll take and lay or sleep on the couch. I have absolutley no modivatation anymore,
no interest, no sexual desire, it's almost like everything is stimlauting me but there is something missing or something is not there.
Even when I am awake it feels like I'm not, and I wish I could just wake up, even with the meds. I feel this way, that they are making me awake but I am really not attentive or alert like my brain is still sleeping, almost like a zombie.
Sometimes I can't even blink, I just stare.
I really don't know what to do about it or who can help me with is, I was going to go into the
hospital,since my function level is not at all there, but I am so scared of those hopsitals because of past experiences.Is it possible that a person could have Catatonia or Negative Schzophrenia with Postive Symptoms?
I have all the symptoms of Depression (Increased apetite, sleeping all day, can't think, poor memory, concentration, no interest, no drive, no modivation, it's almost like I am brain dead)
I can't make decisions, can't handle any stress, I just cry.
But I also have the symptoms of Negative Schzophrenia lack of modivation, fatigue, not moving, Catatonic.
Coffee does help control my emotions,
as does the Provigil, and Strattera, & Ephedrine
but they are not helping anything else.So what is wrong with me?
Am I depressed, am I schzophrenic? If someone reading this has any insight on what they think
I would really like to know.I'd also like to know why
my old medications that I used to take are
not working now. Before when I took them I had drive, modivation, interest, and could think and now they don't work, why?
I just wanted to note also that my mother is manic depressive, but my Pyschiatrist doesn't seem to think I ever was manic-depressive.
Posted by snapper on April 7, 2004, at 21:37:31
In reply to Need Help! Alot of Meds Nothing Helps Depress/Slee, posted by GIANA on April 7, 2004, at 16:36:26
Dear Gianna, I am so sorry for your gut wrenching and horrid experiences.
I personally don't have a lot of answers for you other than the following!!
1. has anybody ever done a full blood chemisty profile , including thyroid, liver, cbc, etc.
2. It possibly sounds like severe depression and anxiety and the periods of catatonia and motionless and not being able to feel are def.symptoms of schizo type illness and other mood disorders.
3.It also sounds like the docs have been making severe stabs in the dark in trying to *medicate* you out of your condition.
4. if your mother has a history of BP Ilness it is possible that it may well be affecting you too, but in a different way.
5.There are many, many, many people here on this board that can help you sort out your symptoms of a real mood disorder and what are medication complications.
6. I would highly reccomend you also look into possibility of ruling out all possible mimickers of emotional illnesses. Not easy but can be done.
7. You are still in there-I can tell for sure -because of the way you were able to exactly and precisely remember all the events , sequences, meds, med combos,etc.
8. ANXIETY is a destroyer to the brain! I hope that you can find a combination of a highly qualified neurologist, endocrinologist, and a very competent psycho-phramacologist.
9. No one person on this board has the answers to ea others mental symptoms, but can definitely tell you this every body here is VERY supportive and I am sure that if enough people read your post
then you will definitley get some very good feedback!
Good Luck and again I am very sorry for your Current state. I am sure others will help you glean positive information into you condition so you may work towards getting *well* !My Best
Snapper
Posted by PsychoSage on April 7, 2004, at 23:36:10
In reply to Need Help! Alot of Meds Nothing Helps Depress/Slee, posted by GIANA on April 7, 2004, at 16:36:26
> I am fairly new here and really need some direction and help.
> I had started with fatigue 8 yrs. ago. so I started drinking coffee and taking mahung/guarana supplement, (which has Ephedrine alkoids)it
> My energy increased dramically.what kind of energy do you like? Do you like to have consciously speedy energy? Or do you like energy in the background while you are calm and alert?
> I was the equivilant of 100 mg daily of Ephendrine + Guarana + drinking alot of coffee.
> I continued it for 3 yrs., I thought it was like an enegy multivitamin. I started to have bouts of severe anxiety appox. two years after starting the combination. I didn't make the conection between the two, that maybe the supplement was causing the anxiety. I sought treatment but never told the Pyschiatrist what I was taking, I didn't think it mattered, back then I really didn't know what any of the ingrediants in the bottle or what they really did phamaceutically anyway. (just said energy on the bottle so I took it because I just thought they were vitamins in it, back then you didn't hear anything about those ingrediants, unlike today)
> The Pyschiatrist pescribed some medication called Melleril 50mg, I din't know what it was, what it was for only that he said it would help my conditon this was when I was 21.
> My parents thought it was an Anti-depressant.
> I looked it up and it said it was a tranquilizer to treat Sczophrenia? I didn't even know what that was. I only knew that this med. was making me shake, my hand and legs were shaking & had spasms in my neck. The doc. told me it was side effect and would go away, I still didn't know why I was taking a medication, I didn't have hallucinations, or paranoia or any other indication for the illness.Drugs are often prescribed for conditions they originally were not yet approved for. Obviously, the doctor was going after your anxiety, but I have no experience with that drug at all.
I wonder why he chose that myself.> I was then given Zyprexa 5mg 2x's daily with Zoloft up to 200mg.
> At this point I went from having severe anxiety to being depressed, with absolutely no energy.This is understandable. Both have antianxiety effects. Both cause extra sleeping. i was on the same combo.
> I think I slept for 4 days straight and said I had enough, and started my old routine again with the Ephedrine & Coffee, just wanted to be able to get a shower & get dressed.
> This time the coffee and ephdrine weren't given me anxiety they were acting like anti-depressants.I see what you mean, but don't always expect an antidepressant to lift you up with some pep. That is not what all antidepressants do or their purpose even. They are supposed to alleviate symptoms, and that is not always done with stimulation.
> I told the Doctor how it now helped my mood, only this time when I took it I my hands & legs would shake.
I am not surprised. Perhaps after years of this combo you are now sensitized. It is the opposite of tolerance and it happens with stimulating substances. That's my poke in the dark.
Anyhow, that stuff is strong, so sensitized or not those symptoms obviously mean you take too much.> Now the doctor was telling me I neeeded an Anti-depressant.
> I told the doctor about the supplements an how they now helped my mood, they insisted I now needed an anti-depressant.what about zoloft?
> I was given alot of of anti-depressants (Paxil, Luvox, Amoxapine, Amoxapine with Wellbutrin, Amoxapine + Wellbutrin + Seroqual another tranquilizer, Wellbutrin + Risperdal, Risperdal, Seroqual, Imipramine, Effexor, Effexor with Depakote, Wellbutrin, Effexor and Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin + Effexor + Depakote, Wellbutrin + Lamitical, Wellbutrin + Effexor & Phentermine.
> I was put on a combination that helped after 2 yrs. Wellbutrin & Selegiline 10mg although at first I was taking the Wellbutrin with Ephedrine + Selegiline 20mg daily, no anxiety.
> I decided, ok the anti-depressant are working I can stop the using the Guarna/ Mahund Ephedrine
> Combination. I did and let the anti-depressants
> continue to do their thing.
> I still was sleeping alot but depression was better.
> I had a sleep study done that showed I had severe hypersolemnce (execessive
> sleepiness) and was prcribed Ritalin with the combination. Now I was taking Ritalin + Wellbutrin
> Selegiline 10mg.
> I was still sleeping to 3 pm in the afternoon and still drinking alot of coffee to have energy.
> I was switched to Wellbutrin 450mg + Selegiline 10mg + Adderall
> Then switched to Wellbutrin, Selegiline 10mg, + Provigil. Provigil seemed to help better than the Adderall and Rtalin don't know why.
> I stayed on the combination for a couple yrs., depression only occured
> once a month (probably PMS).
> Pyschiatrist switched meds. to Parnate 20mg + Selegiline 10mg, worse. I had severe hypothermia, unbeliveable drowsiness. I added the Wellbutrin to the Parnate & Selegiline, no effects, although the coldness & hypothermia went away. I didn't want to tell my doctor, in fear that he would freak out. I figured I was really bad and that no matter what I took it was a risk. So I took Wellbutrin + Parnate + Selegiline 10mg + Provigil.
> The Provigil wasn't a good combo with the parnate for some reason, the combination made my
> Blood Preasure fall thru the floor.
> I went back had another sleep study done taking the Wellbutrin + Selegiline + Provigil.
> This time my sleepiness went from Severe to Moderate hypersolemence.
> The Nuerologist told me I could take up to 400mg daily of the provigil, at the time I was taking
> 200mg.
> 400mg was just too much for me, just felt was over medicated.
> I played with my meds. for a while and cut back on the Wellbutrin from 450mg to 200mg and got it down to 100mg. I felt somewhat better only taking the Selgiline 10mg + provigil 200mg + Wellbutrin 100mg. No more headaches & fullness in my head.
> I had several EEG's to make sure I wasn't having seizures, MRI's, and so forth.
> I was then put on Wellbutrin + Selegiline + Provigil + Strattera.
> The strattera in the combination increase my heart rate & bllod pressure alittle with the Wellbutrin, had alittle more energy but with the combinations I didn't know when I would fall alseep or be awake and I couldn't take alot of the Strattera becuase it made me dizzy & nauseated, so the most I could handle was 25mg
> Anthing more than that I couldn't stand up and would be extremly ill and sick.
> They told me the Wellbutrin might be interacting with the Strattera to stop the wellbutrin,
> But the meds only worked together.
> They then changed them to Wellbutrin + Selegiline 10mg + Provigil 100mg + Ritalin 10mg.
> For some season, I got depressed now when I took the Selegiline + Provigil + Wellbutrin + Ritalin.
> so I started adding back the Strattera and started to take Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Selegiline + Strattera + Provigil. I had some peroids of Nervousness, most likely expected.
> At one point to counteract the nervousness I took Reboxetine 4mg which made the nervousness go away, don't know why. So I started taking Reboxetine 4mg, Wellbutrin 100mg, Selgiline 10mg + Provigil 50mg + Srattera 25mg + Ritalin 5mg
> Went back to my Pyschiatrist, and at the time was weaning off the reboxetine and had alittle Nervousness, and he stated he wanted to take me off the Ritalin becuase off the Nervousness.
> I had to tell him the truth that I started on the Strattera again & Reboxetine. He was not happy and was a little disgusted & concerned becuase Reboxetine is not FDA approved, and said I could of had a stroke taking the combination and that I was becoming like a drug addict.
> It's not that I was becoming like a drug addict or that I wanted to be high or have super energy.
> I just wanted to function on a daily basis like everyone else. Ok my emotions are stable,
> I can get a shower, get dressed, take care of my house, and that's just about it, I was working from home because with a regular job it would never work.
>
> At one point I decided I had had enough,
> I didn't want to take any meds. any more, that I was normal before and functioning
> and that I could be that way again without
> medications.
> All I had to do was eat alot protein and good foods to build up my system. Thinking that Protein builds neurotranmitters and that if I increased my daily intake I could be possibly better on my own.
> My Pyschiatrist thought it might be a good idea, and helped me wean off the meds.
> I think my brain did a flip side, because I have no clue what happened to me.
> The depression didn't come back.
> I wasn't depressed after stopping the meds.
> Although the sleep got worse.
> After one week, I had severe anger, and actually needed to drink coffee to stop the anger. I would drink coofee and all of a sudden I wasn't angry and couldn't even remember why I was angry to begin with and was totally calm. This went on for weeks. I went to my family doctor told him what was going on, about the anger and cursing at people when I got angry
> Explained to him that I have never been like this before, not even on medications and wasn't on medications. He prescribed Strattera.
> As soon as I took the Strattera I had energy.
> After a few weeks, the energy went away and I started to sleep all day, have stiffness in all of
> my joints.
> The Starttera was stopped and I became severly ill with the flu and I don't know whether it was a co incident
> or not but everything had gotten worse within a week. It had been 3 months since I was on medications, and now I became totally incapasitated. I would wake up eat breakfat and have some coffee and sit at the table and stare, I couldn't think at at , and I would do nothing at all but lay in bed, just either sleeping or staring, I couldn't think to even move.
> Other times I would feel so scared in side that I would start crying & not be able to talk.
> Usually I am the time of person that talks all the time.
> I tried taking the Wellbutrin again, but it wasn't working, I would just cry evertime I took it. Before when I took it I noticed a difference right away. I went back to my family doctor and asked him what was wrong with me. I told him I was extremely drowsy and can't think, that sometimes I can't even think to move at all.
> I asked him if I was schzophrenic, I think I spelled it wrong. He told me that he thought I had anxiety, that that could cause a person not to be able to think and move. I thought I was scared I might have Negative Szchophrenia, in the past when I was put on paxil, or Luvox I ended up in the hopspital because I couldn't think or move and they thought I was catatonic.
> My family docotor prescribed Effexor.
> I took it, it completely knocked me out.
> I was taking 37 mg a day.
> It completely knocked me out.
> I was extremly weak, freezing cold, and would sleep all day, I tried to drink at least 3 cups of coffee afterwards to counteract the sleep effect, didn't work. I would sleep & dream the whole time I was sleeping.
> Everytime I took it it would have the same effect.
> After a week, now I didn't have any emotions, was sleeping all day, was depressed inside, and didn't talk at all, I was like a zombie.
> I decided to take Provigil with it.
> I took 50mg and within an hour I was awake and having a conversation with my husband.
> The followig day I decided to take Wellbutrin with it, my emotions came back, and I didn't fall asleep this time taking the Effexor, only I was nervous, and emotionally depressed.
> It's almost like the Effexor suppressed my depressed emotions but they were still there inside, and sedated me, the Wellbutrin brought out the inside emotion and I was severly depressed, I drank two cups of coffee and the crying and depression went away. I can't figure it out. The doctors say I have anxiety but when I am given anything with Serotonin in it It completely knocks me out where I can't keep my eyes open & I become emotionless and mute like a zombie.
> I tried takng my medications I was taking before, the Wellbutrin + Provigil + Selegiline + Strattera and still I can't think, I don't have any energy at all, I don't do anything but lay on the couch, I can't go anywhere.
> I get stiffness in my joints, hav problems moving my right eye (feels like it's stuck in position)
> If I don't take anything except coffee I sleep,
> and can't think at all, all of my joints are stiff with extreme muscle weakness, where I look like I am wasting away or anorexic but I eat the same as I used to if not more now.
> So in order to function somewhat, I started taking everything again. It has been over 6wks. and now I am really scared that there is something wrong with me. I have been taking the Wellbutrin + Strattera + Provigil + Ephedrine
> The Ephedrine & Coffee are the only two things that actly make me get up and get a shower.
> The others I'll take and lay or sleep on the couch. I have absolutley no modivatation anymore,
> no interest, no sexual desire, it's almost like everything is stimlauting me but there is something missing or something is not there.
> Even when I am awake it feels like I'm not, and I wish I could just wake up, even with the meds. I feel this way, that they are making me awake but I am really not attentive or alert like my brain is still sleeping, almost like a zombie.
> Sometimes I can't even blink, I just stare.
> I really don't know what to do about it or who can help me with is, I was going to go into the
> hospital,since my function level is not at all there, but I am so scared of those hopsitals because of past experiences.
>
> Is it possible that a person could have Catatonia or Negative Schzophrenia with Postive Symptoms?
> I have all the symptoms of Depression (Increased apetite, sleeping all day, can't think, poor memory, concentration, no interest, no drive, no modivation, it's almost like I am brain dead)
> I can't make decisions, can't handle any stress, I just cry.
> But I also have the symptoms of Negative Schzophrenia lack of modivation, fatigue, not moving, Catatonic.
> Coffee does help control my emotions,
> as does the Provigil, and Strattera, & Ephedrine
> but they are not helping anything else.
>
> So what is wrong with me?
> Am I depressed, am I schzophrenic? If someone reading this has any insight on what they think
> I would really like to know.
>
> I'd also like to know why
> my old medications that I used to take are
> not working now. Before when I took them I had drive, modivation, interest, and could think and now they don't work, why?
> I just wanted to note also that my mother is manic depressive, but my Pyschiatrist doesn't seem to think I ever was manic-depressive.
>
>
>
>
>
>thanks for all the info and sharing. It takes a lot to pour your history out like that.
I was curious as to what are your other issues? Do you have a weight issue? What were you doing on phentermine?
Do you have narcolepsy? You sound like you might have ADD. Have you thought about that? You sound like you were self-medicating at first when you were 21.
In any case, you really need to not be your own doctor, and add and subtract as you wish. If side effects or lack of action are bothering you then call the doctor immediately. It's one thing to drop a med on your own, but it's entirely different to be throwing in more of ones you used to be on.
It seems like you are looking for some rush. I hope you know that you aren't supposed to be feeling the initial kind of speedy effects of soe of these all the time. You should be on the calm side and have normal energy and not the kind of energy that makes you feel driven.
Do you see a therapist? Your mental health is not only approachable from the meds standpoint. Working on changing thoughts/lifestyle/better nutrition/some exercise/some meditation will change your body and brain too.
Of course this is all stuff everyone knows, but I like to throw it out there because sometimes we forget that there is something new we havn't tried but did not have the time to or there is something we did before but kind of lost the habit.
I am sorry you are so dissatisfied and frustrated. You've said nothing that suggests schizophrenia yet.
You may not reach the perfect mood, and even if you have a good combo, as you know, you may have to tinker more so don't give up. We all do this.
Perhaps you have dysphoric hypomanias. I mean do you have any energy ever? Do you understand the difference between hypomania and mania. Perhaps Bipolar 2 is something you should look into. You've done the mood stabilizers I see.
Summary: My ideas: Look at Bipolar 2/ADD/ better compliance/ cognitive therapy.
Keep searching and good luck!!! I hope you get the energy you need to function and be happier.
Posted by chemist on April 9, 2004, at 1:27:48
In reply to Re: Need Help! Alot of Meds Nothing Helps Depress/Slee, posted by PsychoSage on April 7, 2004, at 23:36:10
hi there....ephedra is bad news, wellbutrin has litle effect of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine reuptake, and provigil is pretty light-weight. reboxetine most likely raised the ire of your doctor in that you are illegally bringing it into the US (i am assuming you are a US citizen, pardon me if you are in europe). strattera will do the job of keeping your synapses flooded with a moderate amount of norepinephrine, but it is not scheduled and is in fact a reformulation by lilly of a failed anti-depressant. trust me, i am in the pharmaceutical biz. caffeine is wonderful, but the real stimulants you are getting are theophylline and theobromine, which are _way_ more potent than caffeine, which itself has a long half-life for elimination (>12 hours) so you are not doing your self any favors by hitting the java all day. the other posters to your query are on target: you are over-medicated, and, most importantly, incorrectly medicated. i think any schizoaffective disorder is unlikely, and the problem with sluggishness is a result of the less-than-effective wellbutrin coupled with the questionable efficacy of straterra and concommitant ups and downs with ephedra and caffeine. in my opinion, a stronger morning dose than provigil is called for, perhaps ritalin or adderall; with adderall, the targets are very well defined and the elimination is 12 hours (half-life). if te depression persists, look into the next generation of mutli-targeted SSRIs, such as effexor, serzone, or lexapro (the S-enantiomer of the drug Celexa, with fewer side effects but anecdotal evidence suggest activation if taken late in the day). all the best, chemist
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