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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 13:16:45
Hi all,
Well, just got back from pdoc and gabapentin is all done (not working as well and gained 7 lbs. - after recently gaining 5 on verapamil so a total of 12 disgusting pounds on my short body looks awful!!!!!). Anyway, switch to librium..... Will keep you posted....also switched back to vyvanse (adderall wearing off to early)..... Lunesta stayed the same..... Hopefully this will help...So here is the question: Next week I am GOING to get back on antidepressant!!!! SO, my choices seem to be Pristiq, Cymbalta, Savella, or Effexor..... anyone have a preference?
Oh, for those that dont know me symptoms are anxiety, irritability, rage, depression.....
Libium should address irritability and rage.....
Vyvanse and lunesta help with adhd symptoms and sleep problems.....
SOoooo, now for the depression and anxiety....
SSRI's no longer work for me.....
FM
Posted by sam K on July 10, 2009, at 13:28:57
In reply to Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 13:16:45
sorry the gabapentin didnt work for ya. keep hope though. So your the type where medicines give out really quick? i guess Im lucky in that aspect. Whats your diagnosis? TRD? I think its a good idea with the vyvanse or adderall. The ampehetmines seem like they fit a certain crowd like us on psycho babble for depression. Have you tried Lamictal? Im guessing you have but if not Id try that in a heartbeat. Lamictal and adderall for me seem like treatment resistant depression drugs. What about maois? like emsam? I dont know about the other ones, unless its a last resort. (some may disagree, but i wouldnt know considering I havnt tried one. some say the side effects and risks are over rated.)
I have a love hate relationship with ssris...
Well hopefully you get better. Your in my prayers. Im not really religious but I think prayer type stuff works. Cya
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 14:08:30
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by sam K on July 10, 2009, at 13:28:57
Thanks Sam K!!!! I did use Lamictal a few years back and it did help...I just couldn't take the side effects and over time (like a year) it stopped working.... Yeah, most of the meds seem to work at first then crap out super quickly... It is so hard to deal with....I was wondering about Rilutek as some say it is similar to lamictal,.,,,
Posted by Zana on July 10, 2009, at 14:33:13
In reply to Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 13:16:45
I haven't tried Cymbalta in years and have never tried Savella. But I did take Effexor and found it agitating. Pristiq is working well for me, with plenty of augmentation like klonopin and provigil but I do not find it too stimulating even though it is an SSRI/SNRI like Effexor.
For what it's worth.
Given the symptoms you have been describing, I think an AD is definitely worth a try. My father and a cousin of his were experiencing rage attacks and their PDocs have them both on Celexa. I don't know if you have considered that.
Zana
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 15:08:12
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Zana on July 10, 2009, at 14:33:13
Thanks Zana!
I was on celexa a long time ago....recently I failed trials of buspar, lexapro, and prozac so.... we are thinking one of the snri's might be a better choice.....
I am leaning toward pristiq too....
fm
Posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2009, at 16:02:36
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 15:08:12
Sorry the gabetin sp? didn't work out. Haven't taken pristiq but seems others like Zana find it great ad. Boy you have been through the mill. Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on July 10, 2009, at 18:02:53
In reply to Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 13:16:45
> SOoooo, now for the depression and anxiety....
> SSRI's no longer work for me.....When they did work for you, how did Zoloft affect you? Did it reduce your irritability and rage?
- Scott
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 18:42:39
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice » Frustratedmama, posted by SLS on July 10, 2009, at 18:02:53
Zoloft worked for me over 10 years ago and the irritability wasn't near as bad as it is now )that could be due to the higher stress life I lead now..... work, single parent, etc.... but regardless it was a long time ago.... Last ssri trial I had was lexapro...before that was buspar and prozac.... cant remember taking zoloft in quite some time.... do you think it would be worth another shot? It sure has less s/e and a less threatening withdrawal tacked on than pristiq may have....I know that in theory the zoloft and nortriptyline might work but last time I tried notrtriptyline it was a no go' however, maybe trying it again..... or with desipramine...
Posted by polarbear206 on July 10, 2009, at 20:57:15
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 10, 2009, at 18:42:39
It's pretty obvious from all of your failed drug trials, and the symptoms you present, that you need a mood stablizer on board. A low dose of Lithium or Depakote with an AD.
Posted by morganpmiller on July 10, 2009, at 21:05:32
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by polarbear206 on July 10, 2009, at 20:57:15
Or a combo low dose of depakote and lithium. The two appear to work in synergy with each other. They also both off potential long term neuroprotection. Low dose would be optimal if effective in order to avoid potential health risks. Then you could add an antidepressant possibly.
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/ManjiLithium.htm
Posted by morganpmiller on July 10, 2009, at 21:11:06
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice » Frustratedmama, posted by SLS on July 10, 2009, at 18:02:53
Scott may be onto something with Zoloft. At the right dose given some time it may help you feel like you had a better grip on your anger. When I took Zoloft(I should still be on it but that is a long story), 100mgs worked great; no aggitation. If I tried to stop and dropped down to 50 or started back up at 50, I was easily agitated and became a bit of a walking rage bomb, especially when something in my life was not going well at the same time.
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 11, 2009, at 10:28:46
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by morganpmiller on July 10, 2009, at 21:11:06
I am thinking zoloft is the next best thing to try and add on too as it is relatively free of side effects for me and no withdrawals.... thanks everyone....
Interesting side note; Pdoc said that "preventative meds" dont seem to work long term for me (Ie. lithium depakote, etc) anyone else experience this.....and when I say they dont work long term i mean no more than a few days.....
So, what do people do.... go through life struggling?
Posted by SLS on July 11, 2009, at 11:06:10
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 11, 2009, at 10:28:46
> Interesting side note; Pdoc said that "preventative meds" dont seem to work long term for me (Ie. lithium depakote, etc)
If impulse control is a problem, you might want to choose Trileptal as your mood-stabilizer.
What's the deal with Lamictal?
- Scott
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 12, 2009, at 11:33:06
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice » Frustratedmama, posted by SLS on July 11, 2009, at 11:06:10
I would be willing to try trileptal as I havent tried it yet.... I did try tegretol and got headaches (really intolerable- as I get migraines frequently anyways.....) Is there enough of a difference that it would be worth a try?
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 12, 2009, at 12:27:05
In reply to Re: Gabapentin DONE- new approach.....Need advice, posted by Frustratedmama on July 12, 2009, at 11:33:06
I would be willing to try trileptal as I havent tried it yet.... I did try tegretol and got headaches (really intolerable- as I get migraines frequently anyways.....) Is there enough of a difference that it would be worth a try?
Also, which would you think is better for depression: tripleptal, zoloft, or pristiq?
Posted by SLS on July 12, 2009, at 12:39:04
In reply to Re: SLS, posted by Frustratedmama on July 12, 2009, at 12:27:05
> I would be willing to try trileptal as I havent tried it yet.... I did try tegretol and got headaches (really intolerable- as I get migraines frequently anyways.....) Is there enough of a difference that it would be worth a try?
>
> Also, which would you think is better for depression: tripleptal, zoloft, or pristiq?The Trileptal is really for impulsive rage attacks and does have some mood-stabilization potential. It is not an antidepressant. My guess is that your brain would be better "caught off guard" by going with Pristiq than returning to Zoloft. If you do sustain an antidepressant response to a drug, you might find that your irritability disappears along with the depression.
- Scott
Posted by Frustratedmama on July 12, 2009, at 12:46:48
In reply to Re: SLS » Frustratedmama, posted by SLS on July 12, 2009, at 12:39:04
Yeah, I am thinking that Pristiq might be worth a try....the librium is helping with rage (only day 2 so who knows.....) right now..... I would like to think I could find a long term answer (even 6 months.....) as I find changing every month to be very fatiguing and I gained a lot of weight over the last 3 trials..... :(.....
thanks for responses and let me know what we can do to support you! I will say just going off the gabapentin and switching to the librium helped a bit the last couple days.... go figure! Now to sustain this feeling and lift the depression... ahh...do i dare to dream?
FM
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