![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 11:21:55
I'm currently taking cymbalta (60mgs once a day) and inderal LA (60mgs once a day). I'm seeing a regular MD but considering going back to the community mental health clinic and seeing a pdoc for a change in meds, where he wanted to try an MAOI during my last visit.
I still sleep way too much. Basically I can't stand being conscious or upright for more than a few hours at a time. I really can't see living like this indefinitely. I don't really enjoy anything and consequently don't want to move my body or do anything.
I'm completely isolated and no longer drive due to anxiety and hypervigilence involved with driving. I've alienated the few friends I had with my borderline personality behavior (angry emails and phone calls) so I'm even more trapped at home. One friend used to drive us to the park for long hikes.
Getting out for me is filling the birdfeeders, changing the water in the birdbaths, or mowing the lawn. I'm afraid to walk in any direction, besides there's no reason to walk anywhere.
I still have a friend who takes me shopping which is no picnic since I have social anxiety about that too. We go early in the morning when I defy gravity best.
I've yet to give the cymbalta much of a chance at 60mgs per day but I'm so tired of living this way. I'm not actively suicidal but really don't want to wake up every time I put my head down.
On the bright side, I haven't drank in 70 days and I have a daughter. I would say "wonderful" and "loving" but she's mad at me too.
Anyway, any suggestions on meds. Provigil? Although I'm not sure my insurance would approve it. I tried wellbutrin but it caused too much agitation. Perhaps, Emsam is a possibilty if it ever hits the pharmacy shelf.
Verne
Posted by Declan on September 24, 2005, at 14:48:33
In reply to What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 11:21:55
Verne, you sound as if you could profitably take Parnate. You sleep too much, anyway. That's a start. What you've got sounds like typical atypical depression, which Parnate's supposed to be good for. It may not make you enjoy things enough to want to do them, but is certainly activating. It feels like a humane drug. Parnate makes some people a little nervous, but that might be dose related.
All the best, anyway
Declan
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2005, at 15:34:09
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression » verne, posted by Declan on September 24, 2005, at 14:48:33
Verne, you sound like my clone. Are you emotionless too? Can you concentrate? Are things that don't overwhelm other people overwhelming to you and make you really tired? If you answer yes to above we definitely need to compare notes. My Babblemail is open so you can Babblemail me. If your's isn't go to registration page and click on yes I want to receive Babblemail. That way people can talk like an E-mail. Privately. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on September 24, 2005, at 17:20:57
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2005, at 15:34:09
hey! MAOIs are the go-to drugs for atypical depression. I think the MAOI patch should be available in a few months...in the meantime, I think Parnate is probably a good call; if you want, you can ask your doc to augment it from the get-go with low-dose stimulants, a tricyclic, or a mood-stabilizer (or a combo of all those). Good luck!
Posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 22:13:35
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2005, at 15:34:09
Phillipa, I'm in a kind of constant, quiet emotional pain so I guess I'm emotional. I'm not crying much at all so in that sense I'm flat. Although I laugh a lot at comedies and tend to be a bit of a comic myself.
I find driving to be overwhelming. Riding a bike is worse. Finally, even walking can be overwhelming. Hypervigilence has been mentioned in my diagnosis. At times I feel like I'm swimming and even the air is palpable. I'm even trying to "see" the air.
My main problem is probably borderline personality disorder although the self-injury (cutting) ceased in my early 30's. I have no sense of self, so there's no one there to enjoy anything. Everything seems contrived, nothing spontaneous.
This emptiness leads to lack of motivation and extreme boredom. It doesn't help that I consider my life a failure, having wasted much of it drinking and talking about what I one day would accomplish. Avoidance, withdrawal, and escape are common themes in my past.
I also have PTSD and atypical depression. What is your condition called and are you taking anything for it? I may try parnate next.
Verne
Posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 22:19:22
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by med_empowered on September 24, 2005, at 17:20:57
Thanks for the imput.
I may try parnate next or wait for emsam. I doubt any doctors around here would prescribe a stimulant although I once had an Rx for dexedrine or dexyml (one or both, can't remember). But that was many years ago in a liberal Oregon college town.
Do you have any experience with Provigil? I've heard it's expensive and insurance doesn't always cover it.
Verne
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2005, at 23:34:11
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression » med_empowered, posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 22:19:22
Verne, at first it was anxiety and dysthymia. Then a dx of Ptsd from childhood verbal abuse and death of mother at an early age. Then it changed back to anxiety/depression. And one pdoc thought borderling tendencies. And another I believe may think bipolar but that was because I was given wellbutrin. Don't really know anymore. We'll see what the PA says this week after he rules out physical causes. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Laurie Beth on September 26, 2005, at 18:23:08
In reply to Re: What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by med_empowered on September 24, 2005, at 17:20:57
Tell me more! (Pdoc didn't seem encouraged last time I saw him.) Thanks!
Posted by Jedi on September 28, 2005, at 2:22:48
In reply to What to take for Atypical Depression, posted by verne on September 24, 2005, at 11:21:55
> I'm seeing a regular MD but considering going back to the community mental health clinic and seeing a pdoc for a change in meds, where he wanted to try an MAOI during my last visit.
> I still sleep way too much. Basically I can't stand being conscious or upright for more than a few hours at a time. I really can't see living like this indefinitely. I don't really enjoy anything and consequently don't want to move my body or do anything.
> I still have a friend who takes me shopping which is no picnic since I have social anxiety about that too. We go early in the morning when I defy gravity best.Verne,
I would head as fast as I could to a PDOC that is comfortable with MAOIs. I had similar symptoms to yours and nothing worked until five weeks of Nardil. For treatment resistant atypical depression and social anxiety, this drug has no equal. I'm showing my Nardil bias because Parnate did not work for me. I wish it had because I've gained a lot of weight on Nardil. For this type of misery though, side effects are a distant 2nd item to worry about. Don't wait for some new med to come out; Do It Now!
Good Luck,
Jedi
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.