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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:31:22
Well shoot. I was feeling good 3-4 weeks ago after a particiularly eye-opening family visit as well as some good therapy sessions.
Now I'm feeling depressed. I feel kind of emotionally flat, I'm sleeping way more, late to appts and work all the time again, procrastinating like crazy, not even doing work stuff I really like doing, and shopping online way too much.
Currently I am taking:
45 mg of Nardil, down from 60 mg (yes, about three weeks ago, darn it!) I have tolerated taking a maximum of 67.5 mg in the past. 75 mg gave me akathisia and insomnia pretty bad. I really would like to get down to a maintenance dose or maybe some day even go off of it, wanting to have kids and all. At the momment I am happy that at 45 mg I don't get the edema and severe sugar/carb cravings I did at 60 mg.50 mg of Lamictal. I tried 75 mg while I was still on 60 mg of Nardil, and I had some sleep problems and mild akathesia, so I went back down to 50 mg.
So, any thoughts on what to do? My next pdoc appt. is not for a couple more weeks. I know I can call her, but what do y'all recommend? Do I go back to 60 mg of Nardil til then? Or try Lamictal at 75 mg and stay at 45 mg Nardil? Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:50:24
In reply to Depressed again...advice?, posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:31:22
Posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:51:57
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice?...thyroid info (nm), posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:50:24
Oh, and strangely, my TSH shows I'm a bit hyperthyroid, but I don't really feel any effects from that. The doc covering for my current GP said if no symptoms, don't try to lower it. In fact, he thought my T4 could be increased some, which is odd to me. Wouldn't that make TSH even lower? I currently take 100 mcg of Synthroid.
It's weird to feel lethargic and sleepy and unmotivated at such a low TSH (> .25)
gg
Posted by spriggy on August 11, 2005, at 0:36:16
In reply to Now why did I hit that nm button? oops, posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:51:57
Have you changed your diet at all??
Do you exercise?I know exercise helps me- I just FORCE myself to hit the treadmill even when I would rather stay in bed.
Caffeine seems to perk me up as well. I don't know why but if I'm feeling a bit "down", I can drink a cup or two of coffee and suddenly life seems brighter.
I pray you feel better soon!
Posted by Bill LL on August 11, 2005, at 12:09:05
In reply to Depressed again...advice?, posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:31:22
It sounds like going back to 60 would be a good idea since you were feeling good.
If you need to increase one of the drugs in the future but get insomnia, I find Lunesta to be very helpful.
> Well shoot. I was feeling good 3-4 weeks ago after a particiularly eye-opening family visit as well as some good therapy sessions.
>
> Now I'm feeling depressed. I feel kind of emotionally flat, I'm sleeping way more, late to appts and work all the time again, procrastinating like crazy, not even doing work stuff I really like doing, and shopping online way too much.
>
> Currently I am taking:
> 45 mg of Nardil, down from 60 mg (yes, about three weeks ago, darn it!) I have tolerated taking a maximum of 67.5 mg in the past. 75 mg gave me akathisia and insomnia pretty bad. I really would like to get down to a maintenance dose or maybe some day even go off of it, wanting to have kids and all. At the momment I am happy that at 45 mg I don't get the edema and severe sugar/carb cravings I did at 60 mg.
>
> 50 mg of Lamictal. I tried 75 mg while I was still on 60 mg of Nardil, and I had some sleep problems and mild akathesia, so I went back down to 50 mg.
>
> So, any thoughts on what to do? My next pdoc appt. is not for a couple more weeks. I know I can call her, but what do y'all recommend? Do I go back to 60 mg of Nardil til then? Or try Lamictal at 75 mg and stay at 45 mg Nardil? Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> gg
Posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 15:40:18
In reply to Depressed again...advice?, posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:31:22
Hi gg,
Did you ever try Parnate? (Sorry, I can't remember)
~ed
Posted by gardenergirl on August 11, 2005, at 18:56:48
In reply to Re: Now why did I hit that nm button? oops, posted by spriggy on August 11, 2005, at 0:36:16
Hi Spriggy,
Thanks for your support and suggestions. I don't exercise much at all. You are right, I really would benefit from that. It's so hard, though. And I feel really undisciplined.I do drink caffeine...probably too much at times.
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on August 11, 2005, at 18:59:19
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice?, posted by Bill LL on August 11, 2005, at 12:09:05
Hi, I know it makes sense to go back to 60 mg, because I know I felt good at that dose. I'm sure that's what my pdoc will say. Sigh. I just want to be happy at 45 mg, darn it.
Thanks for you input.
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on August 11, 2005, at 19:01:48
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice? » gardenergirl, posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 15:40:18
Hi ed,
I never did try Parnate, but my pdoc and I did talk about it at one point. She was not opposed to it, but we agreed at that time it was not a good idea to make major changes. It might not be a bad idea to revisit it now.Does Parnate have edema as a side effect? That is probably the most annoying of the SE's I get from Nardil. The rest are all tolerable, and the hyperreflexia is actually amusing. Minutes of entertainment when I'm bored! ;)
gg
Posted by KaraS on August 11, 2005, at 19:50:21
In reply to Depressed again...advice?, posted by gardenergirl on August 10, 2005, at 22:31:22
Hi gg,
How much do you think that the Lamictal has helped you? I know you had some itching from it too. Do you think a higher dosage might make the itching or other side effects intolerable?
As for the sugar cravings on Nardil, have you read any of Chairman_MAO's posts on this. I think he found something that helped him with the cravings.
K
Posted by ed_uk on August 12, 2005, at 1:35:55
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice? » ed_uk, posted by gardenergirl on August 11, 2005, at 19:01:48
Hi gg,
>Does Parnate have edema as a side effect?
AFAIK, it can cause edema but I get the impression that it's considerably milder/less common than with Nardil.
~Ed
Posted by gardenergirl on August 12, 2005, at 9:02:27
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice? » gardenergirl, posted by KaraS on August 11, 2005, at 19:50:21
Hi Kara,
It's a bit hard to say about Lamictal. I never experienced a definitive "That's it!" feeling with it. But starting to feel better did not happen until after I had been on it for a bit. I'm not sure how long.And I'm not sure the itching is associated with the Lamictal. It may be just a summer thing with the heat, sweat, bugs, etc. And someone suggested dehydration, which may also be a factor. Or it could be Lamictal, which I assume would get worse if I go up in dose.
If only our toemails would change colors when something is working...
;-)
Thanks,
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on August 12, 2005, at 9:03:08
In reply to Re: Depressed again...advice? » gardenergirl, posted by ed_uk on August 12, 2005, at 1:35:55
Hmmmmm
Although that doesn't solve the pregnancy someday issue.
Hmmmmm
gg
This is the end of the thread.
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