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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 Racer on September 9, 2006, at 2:47:24
Right now, I'm only on Wellbutrin, 450 mg XL. It's fighting a valiant battle, but it's losing ground daily. On top of which, my anxiety is pretty well through the roof, which leads to a cycle where I sorta shimmy between the two.
BUT on the WB, I don't feel stupid, sedated, etc.
And we're trying to get pregnant -- that is, we're trying to get ME pregnant. My husband decided he didn't want to be pregnant himself... Anyway, that means that a lot of psych meds are out of the running anyway right now. Thus, I'm putting up with feeling pretty lousy a lot of the time.
But our marriage counselor arranged for me to see a fancy psychopharmacologist who's not accepting patients, just the best, great with TRD, etc. That's coming up -- although I may have to reschedule it, which probably means it'll be several months from now -- and it's got my anxiety and obsessionality going in a big way. So much so I nearly quit Wellbutrin this week. Just giving up on meds -- again. Not knowing what else to do, I am writing here for reassurance and thoughts from you here.
What do I want? I want to tell you the problems I've had with other drugs, and hear that it's possible to get effective treatment without those problems that I can't live with. And maybe some thoughts on what meds might help. Maybe that will help me remember that there really is still hope...
The absolute deal breaker for me has been hypotension. I have enough trouble with that without drugs, and TCAs have triggered that every time. Nortriptyline didn't, but desipramine did. That's an obvious problem, since passing out isn't therapeutic and crawling instead of walking isn't very good quality of life...
Otherwise, the big three that I don't think I could do again, are weight gain, constipation, and sedation. Since even WB has me kinda lethargic -- albeit still quite anxious -- I'm not sure anything can be done about the lethargy. But those three seem to go together for me -- and the only drugs that have ever been fairly effective have caused all three. Those are also the reason I've gone off them. Oh, and sleep disturbances. I feel half asleep all the time, but I can't get to sleep or stay asleep at night.
Is there any hope that I can get relief without being reduced to sitting in the corner staring at the wall, wondering if picking up the remote control is worth the effort? Ugh...
I don't know. I'm depressed, and anxious, both. And I doubt there's anything much anyone can offer right now. It would be nice just to know that someone cares, you know?
Posted by finelinebob on September 9, 2006, at 4:07:01
In reply to Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 2:47:24
> I don't know. I'm depressed, and anxious, both. And I doubt there's anything much anyone can offer right now. It would be nice just to know that someone cares, you know?
I got yer back, Racer.
flb
Posted by linkadge on September 9, 2006, at 7:25:58
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by finelinebob on September 9, 2006, at 4:07:01
Have you tried omega-3. It may help you to reduce your dose of antidepressant, and would be benificial for a baby.
I was able to reduce my celexa dose from 20mg to 10mg by adding 1 gram of EPA. Don't be fooled, its potent stuff.
http://biopsychiatry.com/eicosdep.htm
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on September 9, 2006, at 7:40:11
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by linkadge on September 9, 2006, at 7:25:58
> Have you tried omega-3. It may help you to reduce your dose of antidepressant, and would be benificial for a baby.
>
> I was able to reduce my celexa dose from 20mg to 10mg by adding 1 gram of EPA. Don't be fooled, its potent stuff.
>
> http://biopsychiatry.com/eicosdep.htm
I agree with Linkadge that this would be a psychobiologically potent and nutritionally beneficially addition to your regime. Along the same lines, you might also add inositol and folic acid in there.
- Scott
Posted by llrrrpp on September 9, 2006, at 12:47:49
In reply to Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 2:47:24
Hi Racer,
Sounds like you're going through a lot right now. I bet the anxiety is due to trying to get pregnant? At least in part? Just a hunch. And the hopelessness and crying and things, well those are no doubt exacerbated by your daily stresses also.Since your meds haven't changed, and they were doing their job for a while- has something else changed? Are you on any special hormones? Have you recently stopped taking birth control pills, for example
I took one brand of ethinyl-estradiol-progesterone somethingerother that made me totally incapacitated because I was sobbing all day long and wanting to end the misery all night long). But this only happened 4 days a month, whenever the formula changed (Ortho-tri-cyclen: it's evil. It ought to be renamed Ortho tri-cyclothymia, or Ortho tri-psychopathogen)
I'm definitely on the same page as linkadge and SLS-
B vitamins and essential fatty acids (omega 3). Yep Yep. I'm assuming that you've been getting your thyroid checked and your iron also. Important to rule out anemia and thyroid issues when mood and fertility are at stake.
I don't know much about psycho-meds, but I'm here to listen. Weight gain is not a bad thing, as long as it's slow and steady and contributes to more muscle, bone and fat. Unfortunately, when my body gains weight it's usually in the form of solid blubber. Again- you're trying to get pregnant, so your body might enjoy having some reserves... just a thought... I think chubby pregnant women are the cutest (aww!)
-ll
Posted by blueberry on September 9, 2006, at 13:58:00
In reply to Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 2:47:24
I would so much like to see you well. I remember moons ago when you did well on effexor prozac combo. The good ole days.
Don't be afraid of ECT. We hear negative stories about it, but that is because the vast majority of positive ones are out in the world living transformed lives and we don't hear from them. ECT also has a way of making drugs that don't work, or drugs the once did work, work. Just something to put on the shelf to think about.
Posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2006, at 14:07:07
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again... » Racer, posted by blueberry on September 9, 2006, at 13:58:00
Racer that s*ucks knowing there is a med that helps and you can't take i'm so sorry. Keep on ranting it's good for you. Love Phillipa who now has diverticulitis.
Posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 17:06:31
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by linkadge on September 9, 2006, at 7:25:58
I don't know enough about all this. We do take fish oil daily, since a dr recommended it to my husband -- one huge monster capsule twice a day. I guess if I weren't so lazy I could go check the strength...
EPA 480mg, DHA 400mg? Does that sound right? At any rate, 880 mg omega-3 per day. Is that close enough, of add another capsule?
Posted by MidnightBlue on September 9, 2006, at 18:14:42
In reply to Would fish oil count? » linkadge, posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 17:06:31
Racer,
I take 2 grams of high quality fish oil a day. I had been on 450 Wellburtin, and like you it sort of stopped working. The fish oil did help and it should be safe. There are times I think I should up that dose a bit.
MidnightBlue
Posted by linkadge on September 9, 2006, at 19:31:47
In reply to Would fish oil count? » linkadge, posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 17:06:31
I'd aim for about 1 gram of EPA, so 2 capsules would probably put you in the right range.
So long as you can tollerate it. That dose would probably be closer to a level that could have a positive impact on your mood.
Linkadge
Posted by Klavot on September 10, 2006, at 14:49:24
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by linkadge on September 9, 2006, at 7:25:58
> Have you tried omega-3. It may help you to reduce your dose of antidepressant, and would be benificial for a baby.
>
> I was able to reduce my celexa dose from 20mg to 10mg by adding 1 gram of EPA. Don't be fooled, its potent stuff.
>
> http://biopsychiatry.com/eicosdep.htm
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>I recenty began taking Omega-3 supplements and I definitely feel an improvement.
Posted by linkadge on September 11, 2006, at 10:26:20
In reply to Re: Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by Klavot on September 10, 2006, at 14:49:24
I started taking omega-3 a while back when taking an SSRI. I noticed an improvement so I kept increasing the omega-3. In hindsight, I think its what got me better. Still have bouts, but they don't last as long, and I feel more like me than on drugs. Eventually got off SSRI's, which was hard.
Don't get me wrong, I'd pop a pill if it meant abolishing it alltogether, but I don't think thats going to happen any time soon, so I just look to use any tool that helps.
Linkadge
Posted by Donna Louise on September 16, 2006, at 5:57:43
In reply to Seeking reassurance about meds again..., posted by Racer on September 9, 2006, at 2:47:24
> Right now, I'm only on Wellbutrin, 450 mg XL. It's fighting a valiant battle, but it's losing ground daily. On top of which, my anxiety is pretty well through the roof, which leads to a cycle where I sorta shimmy between the two.
>
> BUT on the WB, I don't feel stupid, sedated, etc.
>
> And we're trying to get pregnant -- that is, we're trying to get ME pregnant. My husband decided he didn't want to be pregnant himself... Anyway, that means that a lot of psych meds are out of the running anyway right now. Thus, I'm putting up with feeling pretty lousy a lot of the time.
>
> But our marriage counselor arranged for me to see a fancy psychopharmacologist who's not accepting patients, just the best, great with TRD, etc. That's coming up -- although I may have to reschedule it, which probably means it'll be several months from now -- and it's got my anxiety and obsessionality going in a big way. So much so I nearly quit Wellbutrin this week. Just giving up on meds -- again. Not knowing what else to do, I am writing here for reassurance and thoughts from you here.
>
> What do I want? I want to tell you the problems I've had with other drugs, and hear that it's possible to get effective treatment without those problems that I can't live with. And maybe some thoughts on what meds might help. Maybe that will help me remember that there really is still hope...
>
> The absolute deal breaker for me has been hypotension. I have enough trouble with that without drugs, and TCAs have triggered that every time. Nortriptyline didn't, but desipramine did. That's an obvious problem, since passing out isn't therapeutic and crawling instead of walking isn't very good quality of life...
>
> Otherwise, the big three that I don't think I could do again, are weight gain, constipation, and sedation. Since even WB has me kinda lethargic -- albeit still quite anxious -- I'm not sure anything can be done about the lethargy. But those three seem to go together for me -- and the only drugs that have ever been fairly effective have caused all three. Those are also the reason I've gone off them. Oh, and sleep disturbances. I feel half asleep all the time, but I can't get to sleep or stay asleep at night.
>
> Is there any hope that I can get relief without being reduced to sitting in the corner staring at the wall, wondering if picking up the remote control is worth the effort? Ugh...
>
> I don't know. I'm depressed, and anxious, both. And I doubt there's anything much anyone can offer right now. It would be nice just to know that someone cares, you know?Racer, I really hear you and understand. I am in the same place, except i couldn;t tolerate WB and i am not trying to get pregnant. I do not want to tolerate the same side effects you mentioned. that is close to as awful as crying all day. but i have become practically housebound and dont know what to do about it either. I cry alot because i can't do all the things i used to and i wonder what has happened to me. it is so sad, i will make myself cry. i started a new thread about it so i won't go on repeating myslelf/ but it is nice to know that i and you are not alone.
donna
This is the end of the thread.
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