Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 800375

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

I have been taking Wellbutrin for quite a while, and was taking Lithium also which my pdoc recently took me off of. I had a mix-up recently where they gave me the generic of Wellbtrin which didn't work at all, and I really crashed bad. I got the regular Wellbutrin again, and also started on the Emsam patch. The problem is I have NO drive to do a damn thing! I can't make myself do the stuff that really needs to get done. IMPORTANT stuff - like feeding the kids and washing the clothes. Paying the bills, etc. You know what I mean. I thought the Emsam would help, but it only makes my heart race while I sit here unable to do a damn thing. Advice, anyone?!?!?!?

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by Racer on December 12, 2007, at 16:41:16

In reply to What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

Wellbutrin and EMSAM are contraindicated...

Advice? None. I'm having similar difficulties, which I think are partly depression, and partly EMSAM. So, no advice -- except to point out that Wellbutrin and EMSAM shouldn't be taken together...

Good luck.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » Racer

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 16:56:46

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by Racer on December 12, 2007, at 16:41:16

I was a little nervous about taking them together but my pdoc said if I'm on a very lose dose of both, it should be okay. I just don't know. Everything I read says not to take them together, but I trust him - he's been very good.

Still, the feeling I'm having right now started before the Emsam. Is there a word for this feeling - where you just CAN'T force yourself to do anything? I mean ANYTHING - like.....take a shower and stuff.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat

Posted by Racer on December 12, 2007, at 17:04:52

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » Racer, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 16:56:46

> I was a little nervous about taking them together but my pdoc said if I'm on a very lose dose of both, it should be okay. I just don't know. Everything I read says not to take them together, but I trust him - he's been very good.

And some of those general rules are OK to break. I just wanted to make sure you and/or your doctor was aware of the possible problem...

>
>Is there a word for this feeling - where you just CAN'T force yourself to do anything? I mean ANYTHING - like.....take a shower and stuff.

There is a word for it -- amotivation. It's common enough, but it can get pretty severe at times. It's interesting that you experienced it on Wellbutrin, though, because it's less likely to cause that sort of effect than many other ADs.

Good luck. I'd offer some other thoughts, but I'm late for something so gotta go...

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat

Posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 17:38:51

In reply to What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

I have the same problem.. don't want to do anything but lay around and watch tv.. the house is a mess. the clothes have to be washed agin since I left them in the washer way too long.. I don't eat right.. don't cook.. don't clean.. don't go grocery shopping.. I don't do anything either.. Am on cymbalta and provigil.. Even with the provigl I want to lay around and sleep.. too much wrok to take a shower or change my clothes.. don't go out of the house if I don't have to.. i know i amnot doing well.. hope you have better luck

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 18:14:23

In reply to What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

Sounds like wellbutrin is either making your depression worse on isolated symptoms of depression, or it is just numbing you out like ssris are more known for. Just because a drug somehow someway works on dopamine and norepinephrine doesn't mean it won't cause you to go numb. The mechanisms are so complicated. The fact that it has you tied in knots isn't good either, as it is probably overtaxing your adrenal glands to the max, worsening everything in your entire body, which has direct impact on your brain.

I can understand the pdocs reason for going this direction, but in the end individual reactions speak louder than theory. It is not unusual to see something that makes perfect sense on paper turn out to be a total flop, while something else that really doesn't seem to fit works like a charm.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » star008

Posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 18:18:46

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat, posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 17:38:51

One more thought to my previous post. Depending on how our dopamine systems are wired, and depending on how specific receptors are either over sensitive or under sensitive, dopamine enhancing drugs can have opposite effects. Example...a hyperactive child who is calmed to serenity on a powerful stimulant like ritalin or adderall, where for some us that same drug would makes us extremely hyperactive enough to fly to the moon.

Dopamine/norepinephrine drugs can definitely have effects opposite of what would be expected.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » bleauberry

Posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2007, at 18:43:43

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » star008, posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 18:18:46

I can't imagine me on ritalin or an ADD med. Definitely would end up in a hospital in a locked room. Someone hand me the haldol please!!!!!Phillipa

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 19:51:29

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat, posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 17:38:51

Wow, star008....that describes me exactly. I'm sorry you're suffering too, but it helps to know I'm not the only person feeling like this. I hope we can both get better. It's no fun living like this.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » bleauberry

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 19:54:25

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 18:14:23

Thanks for the information. Do you think I should call my pdoc and tell him I don't think this is working? How long should I try this?

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 20:16:36

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » bleauberry, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 19:54:25

> Thanks for the information. Do you think I should call my pdoc and tell him I don't think this is working? How long should I try this?


I cannot advize you on what to do. It is your life, your body, your mind, and your freedom of choice. I can however advize you on what I would do if it were me. I would call the pdoc and tell him, not ask him, that I am not willing to continue with this med. When he tries to give me the lecture on how the drug needs more time to work and how I need to stick it out, I would say I am perfectly willing to do that but not with this particular drug.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat

Posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 20:49:59

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 19:51:29

PANDAWAT,

I hope we get better too.. this sucks.. i live in a pig sty.. I have been like this for along time but it has gotten worse lately.. more meds?? different meds.. I don't know anymore.. none of them seem to work for me.. take care.. i hope we get out of this too.. i wish we lived close to each other thanif one of us could get off the couch we could get the other one going!!

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » bleauberry

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 22:41:53

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by bleauberry on December 12, 2007, at 20:16:36

Thank you so much for the sound advice. Sometimes I just can't think straight and need someone to point me in the right direction.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » star008

Posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 22:47:07

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat, posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 20:49:59

Hi star008. I live in a pig sty too. I am embarrassed even when the Fedex guy comes to the door. Mine has gotten worse lately too. It seems like I've always had a "manageable" amount of this not being able to do stuff, but in the past month or so it has really ramped up. I feel so sorry for my husband and kids who have to take up the slack for me. I wish so much that my poor kids could have had a "normal" mother! They will never know how to cook & clean because I've never been able to teach them.

Where do you live? I'm in the Houston area.

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat

Posted by seldomseen on December 13, 2007, at 10:12:45

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » star008, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 22:47:07

I have dealt with this problem as well. It's like you get locked into this pattern of helplessness and hopelessness. It's a black hole.

Everyone just thinks you are lazy (or worse), but literally the will to move (which everyone seems to take for granted) is just gone.

I often wondered how productive people did it. Where did the energy come from?

Medication can help and I'm glad you are going to contact your pdoc for that help.

For me one of the keys to getting out of it was an SSRI, although I felt a lot worse on that before I got better.

But the most important thing was to each day pick one thing, just ONE little thing, don't think about it, and just do it.

I'm not talking about cleaning the entire house, or cooking up a storm or running the boston marathon. I mean just one little thing - paying one bill, cleaning one room, one walk around the block.

It helps to take action, no matter how small and it helps to build momentum.

Remember, just one little thing and do it.

Seldom

 

What brilliant advice - Seldomseen and Bleuberry

Posted by Deniseuk190466 on December 13, 2007, at 14:34:19

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat, posted by seldomseen on December 13, 2007, at 10:12:45

Just wanted to say, what good advice you both gave.

One of the reasons why this messaging board beats all others. Because of the sound opinions of the people on here.


Denise

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by florence on December 15, 2007, at 5:33:19

In reply to Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat, posted by star008 on December 12, 2007, at 17:38:51

Unbelievable.........this is me....only i am in bed not on the couch..think Provigil quit working after 5 yrs......dont wash myself; no energy from thyroid disease...

Provigil got me out of bed but never did a thing for mood....anhedonia is unbearable...wonder if I will ever "find" me... cant even drive to dr if i even wanted to go..

And i wish my family would quit telling me to get out of the house and go here do this blah blah...like i havent tried for yrs. florence

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM????? » pandawat

Posted by KayeBaby on December 15, 2007, at 9:39:55

In reply to What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

Wellebutrin has a tendency to cause this type of inertia in me. I can only take it for a short time and no more that 100 mg per day. Ritalin also does this to me. I simply cannot move.

I have found that some dopamine enhancing drugs will do this. I would give the WB a rest for a bit. You can always re-start it later-it works pretty fast and doesn't have much withdrawal issues. Worth a try.

Kaye

 

Re: What is my PROBLEM?????

Posted by pandawat on December 15, 2007, at 11:39:52

In reply to What is my PROBLEM?????, posted by pandawat on December 12, 2007, at 14:42:08

Thanks for the responses and advice everyone. Right now I don't even want to look at the computer so I will get back to you all later. You are so kind to take your time with me.

Wanda


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