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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2012, at 12:11:44
I know I'm a pest and have asked before but I feel like getting depressed as bored, no hope, fight daily to maintain routine, I am terrified to go against the pdoc and increase the lexapro to 5mg just to see. What should I do. Fighting daily both literally with husband, and same old routine which doesn't vary due to money and business. But a med can't fix this can it and zero on therapists. Sorry to be a pest. thanks Phillipa
Posted by kagome on March 13, 2012, at 14:50:43
In reply to Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2012, at 12:11:44
Phillipa, I don't know you well - I just joined this board - but to me this sounds like classic depression. Going against your doctor's advice probably isn't good, but to be perfectly honest 5mg is still really low for Lexapro, from what I understand. Sure, meds can't fix finances or troubling circumstances but I bet there's still some part of you that remembers that things just aren't this hard when depression is under control. Good luck, I'm rooting for you!
Posted by herpills on March 13, 2012, at 15:21:24
In reply to Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2012, at 12:11:44
> I know I'm a pest and have asked before but I feel like getting depressed as bored, no hope, fight daily to maintain routine, I am terrified to go against the pdoc and increase the lexapro to 5mg just to see. What should I do. Fighting daily both literally with husband, and same old routine which doesn't vary due to money and business. But a med can't fix this can it and zero on therapists. Sorry to be a pest. thanks Phillipa
I think you should try the 5mg Lexapro and see what happens. You could always take a benzo if you get start up anxiety. Why does your doctor not want the increase again?
Posted by Twinleaf on March 13, 2012, at 15:52:41
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse » Phillipa, posted by herpills on March 13, 2012, at 15:21:24
One thing which might help you know is to take a short test like the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale, which has only 10 questions. I use it to make sure I'm not slipping back into depression and in need of maintenance TMS. I of course really know anyway ( and you must, too), but an objective test can help me decide if Ii need additional treatment. The scoring for it is:
0-3 normal
3-10 mild depression
11-20 moderate depression
20-30 severe depression (the maximum score is 30)You can download a sample test from several sources on- line. My pdoc considers this a reliable test, and I find it very easy to take occasionally.
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2012, at 20:32:21
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Twinleaf on March 13, 2012, at 15:52:41
I agree on the dose being low and if not anxious or depressed clearer decisions can by made. I do take a benzo so many years no more "Ahh relaxed ". I will google the test thanks Phillipa
Posted by gadchik on March 14, 2012, at 14:34:00
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2012, at 20:32:21
Phillipa,you are never a pest,you always care about everyone on here.I know what you mean about no more "aahhh" with benzos.I think though,for me,that klonopin is still working.But it definately doesnt have that wow factor anymore.Wonder if you should taper luvox and ramp up,slowly,lexapro?I guess that wouldnt be good though if pdoc doesnt agree.good luck,you deserve to be happy and carefree!
Posted by Laney on March 14, 2012, at 17:18:13
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by gadchik on March 14, 2012, at 14:34:00
P-
Why doesn't your doctor want you to go up on the Lexapro? Also, what are you currently taking?
Laney
Posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2012, at 21:00:36
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Laney on March 14, 2012, at 17:18:13
I don't get why he doesn't want me to go up on the lexapro as dose so low. As for the luvox seems like with both 5mg of lexapro and starting luvox dose it's a bit better. I took the 5mg anyway. He's an additions doc maybe that is why but you would think he would be more concerned about the l0mg of valium and .25mg of xanax. But he just says take same. Maybe he's a robot and says the same to each patient? Just kidding. Phillipa
Posted by Twinleaf on March 15, 2012, at 7:23:54
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2012, at 21:00:36
We are hoping that you will get an objective rating, such as from the Montgomery-Asberg scale, for how much depression you are currently having. Several posters have noticed that you have expressed increased distress recently, but it's impossible for us to know whether this is situational unhappiness or actual, real depression. You may cover up your real feelings, so that your pdoc probably doesn't know either. An objective rating of how much, or how little, depression you actually have would be a tremendous help for you to ensure that you get just the right help.
Posted by Phillipa on March 15, 2012, at 20:40:10
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Twinleaf on March 15, 2012, at 7:23:54
I will haven't gotten to google yet? Phillipa
Posted by Twinleaf on March 15, 2012, at 23:05:38
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse » Twinleaf, posted by Phillipa on March 15, 2012, at 20:40:10
That would be great, Phillipa.Much as we want to help, I don't think any of us here would be able to say whether you have significant depression or not - we would just be guessing, and that wouldn't really help at all.
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2012, at 12:19:22
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse, posted by Twinleaf on March 15, 2012, at 23:05:38
Couldn't find your test but the one found most prominent was dysthymia at moderate. Highest score. Phillipa
Posted by 10derheart on March 16, 2012, at 13:46:14
In reply to Re: Am I Depressed Asked Before Getting Worse » Twinleaf, posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2012, at 12:19:22
http://farmacologiaclinica.info/scales/MADRS/Just click "Start now"
Sorry you are having these struggles, Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2012, at 20:50:39
In reply to Found online MADRS » Phillipa, posted by 10derheart on March 16, 2012, at 13:46:14
10der thanks you are always so helpful. Hope you are feeling good. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on March 16, 2012, at 23:24:08
In reply to Found online MADRS » Phillipa, posted by 10derheart on March 16, 2012, at 13:46:14
> http://farmacologiaclinica.info/scales/MADRS/Nice.
I scored moderate depression on MADRS and HAM-D.
According to Zung, I am not depressed.
After all of this time, these rating scales still don't screen for the atypical symptoms of hypersomnia and hyperphagia. There is no mention of leaden paralysis. I like MADRS the most.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 0:19:22
In reply to Found online MADRS » Phillipa, posted by 10derheart on March 16, 2012, at 13:46:14
18 mild depression. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 0:30:13
In reply to Re: Found online MADRS, posted by SLS on March 16, 2012, at 23:24:08
Moderate Hamilton D. Hard as loss of taste and smell that was diagnosed 4 times two taste and smell centers, 2 ENTs stated virus destroyed nerves in nose so henc no taste and smell which means no appetite. I so miss the smells and tastes of foods. Phillipa ps that itself is depressing. Now going to take the one for anxiety. And what is this other test Scott?
Posted by Twinleaf on March 17, 2012, at 7:14:55
In reply to Re: Found online MADRS » 10derheart, posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 0:19:22
Phillipa, with a score of 18 on the MADRS scale, you are at the high end of having a moderate degree of depression, and this surely accounts for the extreme distress you have been experiencing. Even though pdoc's are using lower doses of medication these days, yours are clearly too low to provide any relief for you, at present. If you are properly treated, your outlook on life will change so much for the better.
Be sure that you share this information with your pdoc. I know you have tried many medications, but I think it was almost always in very low doses, if I remember correctly. Perhaps Scott would be willing to suggest what medications (and dosages) he thinks would be most effective for you for an initial trial.
I think you deserve a lot of credit for taking this courageous first step.
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 18:32:27
In reply to Re: Found online MADRS, posted by Twinleaf on March 17, 2012, at 7:14:55
Twinleaf so you feel meds are the answer? I have just raised on my own lexapro to 5mg with the 50mg of luvox and lower doses of benzos down to 7.5mg of valium & .25 approximate had to break that small. So will stay here for a while. Don't see him til mid April. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Twinleaf on March 17, 2012, at 20:06:02
In reply to Re: Found online MADRS, posted by Twinleaf on March 17, 2012, at 7:14:55
Well, I guess you know that I think therapy and somewhat higher doses of meds would be the most helpful. That's what mostt everyone seems to do to effectively treat depression. The meds would not necessarily have to stay higher indefinitely - just until you began to feel really better.
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2012, at 21:04:06
In reply to Re: Found online MADRS, posted by Twinleaf on March 17, 2012, at 20:06:02
I agree it's finding a competent therapist here. Phillipa
Posted by europerep on March 25, 2012, at 10:22:15
In reply to Found online MADRS » Phillipa, posted by 10derheart on March 16, 2012, at 13:46:14
I think it's important to note that those scales are to be used by clinicians to evaluate their patients. There is a self-rating scale made by the MADRS guys, it's called MADRSS. I only know a link to the French version which probably won't help a lot of people here, but I'm sure there is an English version available somewhere online.
This is the end of the thread.
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