Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deniseuk on March 14, 2006, at 11:13:05
Hi,
How can you get a psychiatrist to do what you want him to do?
My psychiatrist wants me to take Zyprexa regularly and although it does help me, I don't want to be taking this drug forever, which I know I will end up having to do if I don't find an alternative treatment. I'm also really scared that if I took the Zyprexa regularly it will stop working as well and then I'll have absolutely nothing to fall back on.
I want to try ECT again in the hope that it will get the more normal meds for depression working again. I know there is no saying that it will but I want to try it anyway.
I only had two ECT treatments last time which I know is not enough but I was feeling to depressed to go in for the treatments and wanted to get back on Seroxat again. The unilateral ECT wasn't that bad, not as bad as I was expecting so I'm not scared of having it. I'm more scared of this horrible depression and living a life with no real joy.
I know there is no rationale for not taking something that helps but I just don't think it's ever going to be a cure for me.
I've been feeling worse lately, I know Seroxat isn't helping me much and I'm scared.
Next time I see the psychiatrist on 11th April I want to try and persuade him to let me try ECT again but don't know how to persuade him. Should I tell him that I've been taking Zyprexa regularly but when I take it regularly it is too much.I don't like lying to him but I just want to be cured for a couple of years if that's possible. I don't want to be taking what I consider to be me my only option and then for it to poop out on me.
This may sound ungrateful but I need to know I at least have Zyprexa as a fall back.
Please somebody advise me.
Denise
Posted by linkadge on March 14, 2006, at 11:29:46
In reply to I want to try ECT Again, posted by deniseuk on March 14, 2006, at 11:13:05
I think you should try a TCA again.
I would try a few different ones.
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on March 14, 2006, at 15:34:40
In reply to I want to try ECT Again, posted by deniseuk on March 14, 2006, at 11:13:05
For what it's worth, I don't think Zyprexa will poop-out on you if it has helped you for a month or more.
You do realize that if ECT does work, it is likely that you will need to go in for maintenance treatments on a monthly basis. It can help antidepressants to work, but which ones would you choose? Nortriptyline?
Which drugs have helped you the most? What have you combined Zyprexa with? If you haven't combined Zyprexa with Seroxat, you might want to consider it.
Just for the halibut, why don't you list the treatments for which you actually completed a valid trial = minimum of 3 weeks at maximum dosage. Include combinations.
For instance, have you tried paroxetine 40mg with Wellbutrin 300mg for 4 weeks?
If I remember correctly, you really haven't completed a great many drug trials. Is this true?
What is the minimum number of ECT treatments that you would agree to commit to, regardless of outcome?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2006, at 20:36:40
In reply to Re: I want to try ECT Again » deniseuk, posted by SLS on March 14, 2006, at 15:34:40
Denise you have a great team working with you. Fondly,Phillipa
Posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 5:34:45
In reply to Re: I want to try ECT Again » deniseuk, posted by SLS on March 14, 2006, at 15:34:40
Hi Scott,
I'm sure people on this board must get sick of me whining on about how bad I feel and yet I won't take a drug that helps me. I guess I can't be that bad. I just get so scared that one day I'll be in that awful depressed state and there will be nothing to cling on to. I'm more scared of depression now than death itself.
Anyway, this is what I've been on so far:-
Aged 17 – 23 Low grade depression with a lot of physical symptoms. No Medication
Aged 24 - 28 Started taking Dothiapen 75mg (Tryciclic), worked wonderfully and after 24 hours of first ever taking it.
28 - 31 Dothiapin seemed to stop working so switched to 20mg of Seroxat, again worked great within about 3 days. Felt like a very strong drug. Came off it although it was still working really well when I stopped taking it.
31 - 35 Depression free and medication free.
35 Depression came back this time with more agitation and with a lot of suicidal feelings.
35 to present day:-
Seroxat 20mg – approx 4 weeks
Response – Suicidal. Severe agitation, felt awful, felt like I was outside myself, initially pacing up and down. No lifting of depression.
Remeron 15mg – Approx 4 weeks.
Response – Suicidal. As above, but this time with an appetite and better sleep. Very agitated at times. No lifting of depression.
Prothaiden (Pushed dose right up to max dose) and added Prozac. (Over a month)
Response – after pushing the dose of prothaiden and prozac to max, had a seizure.Prozac and lithium (Over 1 month) No response.
April 20th to June 25th 2002 -100mg of Effexor.
Response – Not so agitated, eat more and sleep more but still depressed.50mg Sertraline plus 50Mg Lamictal.
Response – Not so agitated but still feel depressed.
June 14th to to November 14th November
50 mg of Lamictal.
Response – No side effects. No response that I am aware of. Crying more.
14th November to 29th November
100 mg of Lamictal.
Response – As above.
29th November to 13 December
150 mg of Lamictal
Response – As above.
13th December to around February 2003
200 mg of Lamictal.
Response – As above.
Worse always around the time of my period.
Also tried tegretol for a short period of time.
February 2003
Tried phenelzine for about a month. Felt like I was in a trance on it.
March 2003
40mg of Seroxat after about 4 days on it felt my depression start to lift a bit, started going out again, socialising and performing better at work. Even went on holiday to Goa.
December 2004 - Current Day
Seroxat seemed to stop working around Christmas, tried coming off it going on Nardil and switching back to Seroxat again to no avail.
01/11/05 – 40mg of Seroxat and 200mg of Tegretol (took for two weeks) - No response just more tired.16/11/05 40mg of Seroxat and 15mg of Buspar (took for three weeks) - No response just more tired.
12/12 – Added 20mg of T3 to my Seroxat 40mg.
10/01 – Stopped T3, reduced Seroxat to 20mg and added 15mg of Mirtazapine. - More anxiety, felt worse.
Zyprexa always helps, my Godsend drug but only at 10mg.
I sometimes now add 30mg of Mirtazapine (as have some left over from previous trial) to my 40mg of Seroxat and this helps for a couple of days.
Kind Regards....Denise
Posted by SLS on March 21, 2006, at 7:19:33
In reply to To SLS, posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 5:34:45
Hi Denise.
I read through your post and decided not to make any suggestions right away. I'd like to digest and process it for a little while. It sounds like you might be a tricyclic responder.
I hope other people chime in.
If the list of medications you've given encompasses all that you have tried, it seems to me that you have a great deal to look forward to. For instance, you have not tried a combination of SSRI/Effexor + Wellbutrin.
In the meantime, try to accept that you will feel pretty bad today, and use all of what little you have to work with to make it a better day. Leave tomorrow for tomorrow. One day at a time. Sometimes it helps to make a gratitude list. List things that you are grateful for. When one is depressed, it is difficult to see the good stuff and easy to exaggerate the bad stuff. CBT can make for a good coping tool to help you get through each day.
- Scott
Posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 11:23:24
In reply to Re: To SLS » deniseuk, posted by SLS on March 21, 2006, at 7:19:33
Hi Scott,
Well I'll let you mull it over :-) I am taking it one day at a time (as the song goes) and the things I'm most grateful for are:-
My friends who I can really talk to
This board.
The fact that Zyprexa helps me when I take it.
I always have a bed I can crawl into :-)
That the day always comes to an end.
Denise
Posted by TylerJ on March 22, 2006, at 10:07:34
In reply to I want to try ECT Again, posted by deniseuk on March 14, 2006, at 11:13:05
> Hi,
>
> How can you get a psychiatrist to do what you want him to do?
>
> My psychiatrist wants me to take Zyprexa regularly and although it does help me, I don't want to be taking this drug forever, which I know I will end up having to do if I don't find an alternative treatment. I'm also really scared that if I took the Zyprexa regularly it will stop working as well and then I'll have absolutely nothing to fall back on.
>
> I want to try ECT again in the hope that it will get the more normal meds for depression working again. I know there is no saying that it will but I want to try it anyway.
>
> I only had two ECT treatments last time which I know is not enough but I was feeling to depressed to go in for the treatments and wanted to get back on Seroxat again. The unilateral ECT wasn't that bad, not as bad as I was expecting so I'm not scared of having it. I'm more scared of this horrible depression and living a life with no real joy.
>
> I know there is no rationale for not taking something that helps but I just don't think it's ever going to be a cure for me.
>
> I've been feeling worse lately, I know Seroxat isn't helping me much and I'm scared.
>
>
> Next time I see the psychiatrist on 11th April I want to try and persuade him to let me try ECT again but don't know how to persuade him. Should I tell him that I've been taking Zyprexa regularly but when I take it regularly it is too much.
>
> I don't like lying to him but I just want to be cured for a couple of years if that's possible. I don't want to be taking what I consider to be me my only option and then for it to poop out on me.
>
> This may sound ungrateful but I need to know I at least have Zyprexa as a fall back.
>
>
> Please somebody advise me.
>
>
> DeniseECT is,and can be very effective for some people,but for it to work, your going to need probably ten to twenty treatments-and then main. treatments for awhile. I agree with the others, a tca would prob. be a good med for you, but you must be committed to give the drug a full 4-6 wks at effective dosage. The pattern seems to be 2 wks on a cocktail of meds then stop. Try 4-6 wks on 1 or 2 meds and try to "wait it out" I know from my own exp. it's not easy, but it's crucial with these meds to give them a chance to work. Good Luck!
Tyler
Posted by TylerJ on March 22, 2006, at 10:23:33
In reply to Re: I want to try ECT Again » deniseuk, posted by TylerJ on March 22, 2006, at 10:07:34
I just thought of this...you may also benefit from vit. supplements, etc. ck. out alternative. Omega 3, B Vits, Magnesium Citrate, I wouldn't get too carried away here but, some have been proven to help w/depression and other mental disorders.
Tyler
Posted by deniseuk on March 23, 2006, at 11:28:26
In reply to Re: I want to try ECT Again, posted by TylerJ on March 22, 2006, at 10:23:33
Hi Tyler,
I've tried vitamen supplements and they didn't really help, also regarding tricyclics, I did give protiaden a good try the second time round at the max dose and it didn't help.
Thanks anyway....Denise
Posted by linkadge on March 25, 2006, at 9:45:33
In reply to Re: I want to try ECT Again, posted by deniseuk on March 23, 2006, at 11:28:26
There are so many different TCA's to try.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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