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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Hi,
What are the best medications for motivation, bearing in mind that I also suffer with anxiety.
I'm currently taking 10mg of Lexapro and I feel a mixture of anxiety and apathy on it.
I'm scared, as I feel like I'm giving up sometimes.
I used to come on this board and have some sense of hope that there were loads of medications that I still hadn't tried and was forever searching.
I'm starting to feel though that I've really reached the end of the line and that I'll never get better.
Denise
Posted by kaleidoscope on March 30, 2007, at 14:31:15
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Denise,
Since you say Zyprexa is no longer helping, I assume you're now taking it every day?
Ed
Posted by DStupid on March 30, 2007, at 16:37:39
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Stimulants or stimulant-like anti-depressants are, in my opinion, the best medicines to awoke motivation. Of the stimulants, I tried Dexedrine 5 mg. and Ritalin 10 mg. While I was taking them, I got a lot of good things done -- things I didn't even know I could do. The cardiac side effects, however, were brutal: high pulse, increased diastolic blood pressure, insomnia. Unless you combine them with a heart/blood pressure medication (like Toprol), I don't recommend taking stimulants. The next step are anti-depressants with a stimulant component or effect. Of these, I tried Welbutrin (150 mg for XL; 100 mg. for SR; and 75 mg for regular), Desipramine (10 mg), and Nortriptyline (10 mg). [The dosages I took are the smallest available because my heart isn't that good.] I can say that Welbutrin is a harsh drug on the body and isn't worth taking. Next were the tricyclic antidepressants: I lasted 2 weeks on Desipramine; I quit because I could no longer tolerate getting up 3-44 times at night to urinate. While I was taking it, I was motivated but not hyper. I've been on Nortriptyline for about a week now, and it works quite well: I have a purpose, I try to get things done. I take with Toprol XL 25 mg to keep my pulse in check. Although I read about drowsiness as Nortripline's side effect, actually I need Xanax to fall asleep. With Nortriptyline, however, you can get into a zone -- it's hard to explain -- it's as if you're in a tunnel and you do things or think about things without looking or paying attention to anything else. I'm for Nortripline.
Prior to the above, I had taken Lexapro 10 mg for about a year. It distanced me from troubles, but I wasn't motivated to change my life. I think this is the same when you write that you want to get motivated. I had also taken Xanax 1 mg for some time but I didn't get any motivation from it all.
Hope this helps.
Posted by bassman on March 30, 2007, at 17:13:22
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
I know that feeling. Have you tried 20 mg Lexapro? A lot of people don't seem to respond until 20 mg-and maybe a benzo to keep the AD stimulation (e.g., Xanax) in check? I've found that with anxiety I need some kind of AD or I become less anxious but sort of existentially bored...that's the best I can do to describe it. So you sound like what I felt when I was just taking a benzo...best of luck.
Posted by Phillipa on March 30, 2007, at 20:43:41
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by bassman on March 30, 2007, at 17:13:22
Bassman you've been on just a benzo? I've been trying this with a new pdoc doesn't work for me either So you like lexapro too? So many people do. Denise have you considered raising your dose? Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on March 31, 2007, at 10:33:00
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Have you tried wellbutrin?
Stimulants are great for motivation, but be careful, Adderall caused me to crash hard.
Posted by bassman on March 31, 2007, at 11:23:49
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping. » bassman, posted by Phillipa on March 30, 2007, at 20:43:41
Phillipa,
Yes, was on just Xanax for panic for three years. It didn't work at all compared with a benzo plus an AD. I was taking 4 mg of Xanax/day and feeling dizzy and crying all the time. And depressed. And not from the Xanax, from the panic. I seem to remember Paxil worked for you at one time, too (?).
Hope you feel better very soon,
Bassman
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on March 31, 2007, at 15:22:01
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Hi,
Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. I am just taking Zyprexa 10mg now and again but it used to sort of make me feel a lot better than it does now. Now it just makes me feel more apathetic where as it used to actually give me more motivation for about 7 days after taking it.
I really want to up the Lexapro but the psychiatrist wanted me to stick to 10mg for at least six weeks! which I'm pretty pissed off about. I knew right after the second week of being on 10mg it wasn't going to work at that dose.
I'm not sure it will work at 20mg and its frustrating because that will mean I have to wait a whole 12 weeks before I know for sure.
I would try stimulants but I general, constant anxiety as well so not sure what the stimulants will do in that regard and I do worry about developing a tolerance to them.
I want to try ECT and I would even consider Deep Brain stimulation. I think I'd risk my life in order to try and have a decent, fofilling one. Maybe I'm just being melodramatic, but living life like this isn't living as far as I'm concerned.
I can work and function but I have no real desire to do anything, go anywhere, talk to anyone, etc. All I seem to want to do is smoke and drink tea.
Denise
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on March 31, 2007, at 16:32:08
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by chiron on March 31, 2007, at 10:33:00
Chiron,
Do you still take stimulants, do they help? And when you say Adderall caused you to crash hard, did you go down further than you had been before you took it and did tolerance develop?
Also, did the Adderall cause any anxiety?
Thanks...Denise
Posted by Phillipa on March 31, 2007, at 19:15:37
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping. » Phillipa, posted by bassman on March 31, 2007, at 11:23:49
Bassman see my thread below. I am so depressed and miserable. And rubber legs, and no concentration and a lot of other things as well. soory to hyjack you thread. Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on March 31, 2007, at 21:17:36
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by Deniseuk190466 on March 31, 2007, at 15:22:01
well I guess at least you want to smoke and drink tea :)
I'm with you on taking any measures to feel better. ECT might help with your motivation. I remember after my 6 treatment series, I felt like maybe I might enjoy a hobby for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, I only felt that way for a few weeks.
Posted by Sebastian on April 1, 2007, at 2:11:45
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
I'm starting to think abilify. It takes quite a getting use to, and you will have higer anxiety in the beginning. Especialy coming off zyprexa, if you can. I coulden't, but lately, 3.5 months later I'm starting to think it has anxiety relife. Its quite a different type of anxiety relife. More of confronting your inner thoughts. Moving outward. Doesn't realy make sense, but things will change. Which is the hard part.
Posted by deniseuk190466 on April 1, 2007, at 11:34:23
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by chiron on March 31, 2007, at 21:17:36
Chiron,
:-) I know but I sort of want a more fulfilling life than just smoking and drinking tea.
I saw your other post about how you feel generally and I soooooo relate. When one of my friends asks me if I'm planning on doing anything exciting over the weekend I feel like he is taking the piss.
You never answered my question about the adderall and also another thing, how come you never had ECT maintenance treatments if it it seemed to help you after the sixth treatment?
What are you planning on trying next?
Denise
Posted by deniseuk190466 on April 1, 2007, at 11:46:35
In reply to Re: No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by Sebastian on April 1, 2007, at 2:11:45
Hi,
How much abilify are you taking and how does it compare with Zyprexa? What dose of Zyprexa did you take if you did at all?
I'm not actually on Zyprexa regularly, I just take it now and again.
Thanks....Denise
Posted by Sebastian on April 1, 2007, at 15:44:12
In reply to To Sebastian, posted by deniseuk190466 on April 1, 2007, at 11:46:35
I'm taking 15mg abilify/day. Also still taking 5-10mg zyprexa, but lately 5mg. I was taking 10mg zyprexa for most of the last 9 years.
Posted by Lexxor on April 3, 2007, at 1:21:22
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
Denise, ask you doc about Symbyax. It is a combonation of zyprexa and prozac. It's one copay and is more powerful than zyprexa or prozac by themselves. Be Blessed, Lexxor
Posted by chiron on April 3, 2007, at 23:23:53
In reply to To Chiron, posted by Deniseuk190466 on March 31, 2007, at 16:32:08
> Chiron,
>
> Do you still take stimulants, do they help? And when you say Adderall caused you to crash hard, did you go down further than you had been before you took it and did tolerance develop?
>
> Also, did the Adderall cause any anxiety?No, I no longer take stimulants and my psychiatrist thinks I should stay far away from them based on my response.
1st week: Wonderful, happy, motivated, time wasn't so painful, I could sit for a longer period of time without going mad.
2nd-4th week: Declined, crazy, depressed
5th week: Extremely depressed, miserable, worse than before.
Next month: also added Abilify, which I think was bad for me as well. (Geodon also made my depression go even deeper & crazier).
Then finally I caved & went to the hospital. The pdoc tried me on lithium, but that wasn't helping, so I became desperate and did ECT. After only 6 treatments, I experienced a happiness I had never known. Unfortunately it didn't last, but thank god it pulled me out of that black hole & I got to experience what it's like not to be depressed.
Sorry I don't have a better story.
Posted by greywolf on April 4, 2007, at 21:08:28
In reply to No motivation - Even Zyprexa no longer helping., posted by deniseuk190466 on March 30, 2007, at 14:18:24
If you're looking for something motivating/stimulating, Symbyax would be an odd choice. I've been on it, and it had the usual SSRI side effects I experience (fatigue/fogginess), only worse because it's got the Zyprexa mixed in. Plus, the combination med is not very versatile in terms of dosage adjustments.Greywolf
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