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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Happyflower on May 18, 2008, at 21:48:15
Okay so I am at the max dose of Prozac now for 2 months. I am better but I am still depressed. I guess I didn't realize how bad I actually was. I still struggle to do anything. I told my doc that I would give it another 4 more weeks of me trying to exercise, etc. But after a week of that I realize I still am stuck in my depression.
He mentioned adding Wellbutrin to the mix if the Prozac doesn't help enough. Any advice or experience with this?
I feel like I am wasting my life away, depression is so depressing. Maybe I should try to see him this week.
Posted by Molybdenum on May 18, 2008, at 22:39:41
In reply to uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by Happyflower on May 18, 2008, at 21:48:15
Well you could start by changing your username.... ;)
I only have one bit of advice & that is to try to tolerate each new med or combo the doc suggests.
I seem to be very good at telling docs something isn't working, even when I can start to feel it working, because I have this stupid belief that "more is better", so I have always pushed the docs to increase my doses, when I really didn't give the previous dose a fair trial.
Now I'm on 600mg venlafaxine & 225mg mirtazapine & not even my doc will go any higher and the worrying thing is that I think they're starting to poop out on me. So if that starts feeling very true, I'm sure it'll be a lot harder to change than if I was on a more reasonable dose... ;)
So I'm saying, stick at one dose for as long as your doc thinks is a fair time. And I wish you all the very best of luck. :)
Posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2008, at 23:30:55
In reply to Re: uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by Molybdenum on May 18, 2008, at 22:39:41
Happyflower thought the new dose was working well? Is it not working as well as it was? Love Phillipa
Posted by twinleaf on May 19, 2008, at 0:27:41
In reply to uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by Happyflower on May 18, 2008, at 21:48:15
...and it is with me, too, but when I started to feel really cared for by my "new" analyst (of one year now) I began to get in much better touch emotionally with some extremely painful things from my past. I think I needed the relationship with him to be strong enough to begin to be able to face it all.. and to begin grieving. So, in a way, I started getting better by feeling even worse. I know it's just something I have to go through...emotional work I have to do even though I'd give almost anything not to.
Is this anything like what you are going through?
Posted by Sigismund on May 19, 2008, at 1:37:17
In reply to I know this will be a very unpopular view..., posted by twinleaf on May 19, 2008, at 0:27:41
> I started getting better by feeling even worse
It's not unpopular with me.
For me, the worse I feel the stronger I get, not like the Neitzche quote, but more that my system is stronger for being without the drugs. Not that I have anything against them and if they help you so much the better etc etc.
Posted by bulldog2 on May 19, 2008, at 9:57:52
In reply to Re: I know this will be a very unpopular view... » twinleaf, posted by Sigismund on May 19, 2008, at 1:37:17
> > I started getting better by feeling even worse
>
> It's not unpopular with me.
>
> For me, the worse I feel the stronger I get, not like the Neitzche quote, but more that my system is stronger for being without the drugs. Not that I have anything against them and if they help you so much the better etc etc.It just might not be helpful to her. She's asking about what drug might be a good adjunct to her prozac. People can get better without drugs but we're talking about a total reawakening and disconnecting from our ego(faulty thought patterns and associated emotions). That may have happened for you but all are not at that stage of their lives.
Posted by bulldog2 on May 19, 2008, at 10:00:55
In reply to Re: I know this will be a very unpopular view... » twinleaf, posted by Sigismund on May 19, 2008, at 1:37:17
> > I started getting better by feeling even worse
>
> It's not unpopular with me.
>
> For me, the worse I feel the stronger I get, not like the Neitzche quote, but more that my system is stronger for being without the drugs. Not that I have anything against them and if they help you so much the better etc etc.It just might not be helpful to her. She's asking about what drug might be a good adjunct to her prozac. People can get better without drugs but we're talking about a total reawakening and disconnecting from our ego(faulty thought patterns and associated emotions). That may have happened for you but all are not at that stage of their lives.
Posted by B2chica on May 19, 2008, at 14:24:15
In reply to Re: I know this will be a very unpopular view... » twinleaf, posted by Sigismund on May 19, 2008, at 1:37:17
> For me, the worse I feel the stronger I get, not like the Neitzche quote
ok, now i know i love you...'
aaahhhh Neitzche.
Posted by B2chica on May 19, 2008, at 14:32:27
In reply to I know this will be a very unpopular view..., posted by twinleaf on May 19, 2008, at 0:27:41
it is not unpopular with me either.
it makes a world of difference to let your guard down with a wonderful and helpful therapist. and it can be unsettling too. but that is also when you for sure need a med (if your going that route) that works well. that's when you REALLY need to be in tune with your body.
HF you do yoga and stuff right. listen closely to your body.i was on prozac and it actually made my depression worse. so it CAN effect everyone differently.
please keep a close eye on yourself. my first experience on prozac landed me my first trip to the ER. i'm not saying that will be your experience, i'm just saying please listen to your gut. it may not be helping right away but it should NOT be making things worse, if you feel yourself going downhill RUN don't walk to your doc and tell him/her you want off. and i don't mean ADDING ON to the drug...but taking OFF prozac completely. also mention this to your new T. keep in extra close contact with your T maybe even one of those stupid mood charts just for a week or two until meds kick in to make sure you won't get to a severe state.it scares me, only cuz i care about you muches! i want you to have all your point guards in place with this med. and keep in touch here too ok?
and i personally LOVED wellbutrin. i was SOOOOOOO disappointed when after i had my littleone and stopped nursing when i went back on meds that wellbutrin didn't work on me anymore. this med was perfect for me. NO sideeffects except maybe a little extra energy and maybe even helped drop a few pounds. Not to mention helped Tremendously with depression.
i can only hope that i can go back on it again someday. it was great.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on May 19, 2008, at 15:30:16
In reply to Re: I know this will be a very unpopular view..., posted by B2chica on May 19, 2008, at 14:32:27
It is standard practice to augment an SSRI with wellbutrin if remission of symptoms is incomplete.
that's what my doctor did. It has made me much more mood-swingy, but also feeling much more alive. and hyperhappy.
-Ll
Posted by twinleaf on May 20, 2008, at 17:39:01
In reply to Re: I know this will be a very unpopular view..., posted by bulldog2 on May 19, 2008, at 9:57:52
Just to be clear, I wasn't making any recommendation for or against medication. My general view about medications is that, if they help, take them! I thought Happyflower was not asking about medication, but about why she was feeling more depressed even though she is taking a helpful medication and has a strong therapeutic relationship. i was trying to address possible reasons for that.
Posted by blueboy on May 21, 2008, at 8:05:26
In reply to uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by Happyflower on May 18, 2008, at 21:48:15
Yes, you should definitely keep seeing your doctor, as often as you feel like you need to. If he wants to try a new medication, give it a good try.
It actually sounds like you're doing pretty well on the Prozac, and adding another med could potentially greatly alleviate your depression.
Keep fighting! I know it's a bit of a Catch-22, but if you're really depressed, you have to push to get better.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on May 24, 2008, at 0:08:03
In reply to uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by Happyflower on May 18, 2008, at 21:48:15
2 months is a long time to ait for prozac to kick in
get the wellbutrin and give it a try
but if that doesn't work switch from the prozac
it just doesn't work for everyone
i hope things work out for you soon
Posted by liza05342 on May 28, 2008, at 0:14:38
In reply to Re: uugghh! So frusterated with depression, posted by elanor roosevelt on May 24, 2008, at 0:08:03
I was on prozax 80mg and 450 of wellbotrion for 3 yrs and it was a wonder combination for me it worked so well and I wasn't depressed for the first time in years and it helped with my PTSD I also was on 200mg Topamax and 2mg Klonopin and I never felt better, but earlier this year it fizzled out on me for some reason.Give it time and see what happens :)
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