Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 747096

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What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?

Posted by waspnest on April 4, 2007, at 22:36:04

Hello, this is my first post. This board has been a great help to me, thanks.

I am 34 and was dx ADD almost two years ago, and have been on Concerta, now at 54mg, and it does pretty well. I also struggle with depression. My psychiatrist first tried me on Zoloft, but that left me totally wiped out, and had bad sexual side effects.

Next up was Wellbutrin at 150mg. I tolerated that well, with the exception of ringing ears. Went up to 300mg and the ringing was keeping me up at night, so I backed down to 150mg and was at that level for several months. Still with the annoying ringing, but bearable. I still wasn't where I wanted to be all the time, but I'd occasionally have days where I felt "normal" and it really made me hopeful that there was help for me.

In Dec. my doc dropped my insurance, so I started with a new one in Jan. He wants to more agressively go after my depression, so he switches me to Cymbalta. Disaster, almost as bad as Zoloft. I have sworn off SSRI's.

Now he has me on Strattera (still in addition to the Concerta). I started at 40mg, about a week and a half ago. This was primarily to help with anxiety, but it is really making it worse. I'm anxious and irritable and very edgy.

Will this go away and maybe I'll actually get help from Strattera? If not, what else can I try? Oh, and three months after getting off the Wellbutrin, my ears are still ringing!! So will I have that forever? Could it be that Wellbutrin wasn't the cause and I can go back on it?

Thanks for sticking with me if you've read this far. I'm just so worn-down from the trial and error. And so are my husband and kids.

 

Re: What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?

Posted by med_empowered on April 4, 2007, at 22:51:01

In reply to What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?, posted by waspnest on April 4, 2007, at 22:36:04

Maybe BuSpar? Its mostly anti-anxiety, but it can smooth out stimulants and help with depression.

Have you tried a mood stabilizer (anticonvulsant type, like lamictal or trileptal) ?
Have you tried a benzo, like ativan, klonopin, or valium? Maybe neurontin or lyrica?

Does the concerta help the depression at all? Have you tried Dexedrine or Adderall? Provigil?


 

Re: What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?

Posted by notfred on April 5, 2007, at 1:28:19

In reply to What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?, posted by waspnest on April 4, 2007, at 22:36:04

Cut to the chase and try the prototype med for ADD,
amphetamine. Dexedrine is better than Adderal.
the AD desipramine (Norpramin®, Pertofrane®)
might be a good one to try, it is sometimes used in ADD.

However, you need to give Strattera 4-6 weeks. AD's tend to be all side effects the first few weeks till
the AD effect kicks in at week 4-6. something like atavin would control this start up anxiety

 

Re: What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?

Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 11:33:09

In reply to Re: What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?, posted by notfred on April 5, 2007, at 1:28:19

Good luck and welcome to babble. Love Phillipa

 

Re: What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?/waspn

Posted by stargazer on April 6, 2007, at 6:49:42

In reply to What to try after Wellbutrin and SSRI's?, posted by waspnest on April 4, 2007, at 22:36:04

I had fairly good luck with Celexa 20, Wellbutrin 150 and Adderall-XR 20 combination. Sometimes it's the 2nd or 3rd med that makes the difference so if Wellbutrin worked, perhaps Celexa or Lexapro will help with the depression. Adderall helps with motivation and lack of focus and the dose can be as little as it takes, perhaps just 10 mg. That might help.

I too couldn't take Zoloft and Cymbalta, or Effexor. Bad side effects made me worse than original depression...Stargazer


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