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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:39:13
Due to recurring anxiety and depression, it's apparent that I need to augment my regular 150mg dose of Nortriptyline (which, until recently, worked fine by itself.) with another med. For about the past 2 months i've been adding .5-1 mg of clonazepam with fairly variable results. While the benzo has been fairly effective against anxiety, my depression (as in loss of interest\motivation) has seem to become more problematic.It's rather odd since in the past both symptoms occured comorbidly; I believe this is the first time in my 20 years of dealing with this condition that i'm starting to suffer from an independent form depression.
So I've currently narrowed my list of augmentor meds to the following: Lyrica (Pregablin), Neurontin (Gabapentin) and Abilify (Arippiprazole), with the desire to ditch the clonazepam sometime in the future. Based on what I've heard, I find myself leaning closest to Lyrica, and furthest from Abilify (I've heard that it can amplify anxiety.) Anyone know which would be the most effective in my situation. Obvously I'm looking for something strong in the anti-depressant boosting factor, but am also looking for something with enough anti-anxiety potency to take the place of the clonazapam.
I should also note that I had a severley bad experience with Lithium in the past, and would want to stay awayfrom any med that has any similar psychological function.
Posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:54:17
In reply to Lyrica vs Neurontin vs Abilify: Best augmentor?, posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:39:13
I also wanted to mention that I heard that thryroid medications might also be applicable, but my doctor mentioned that they may cause anxiety. Any truth to this?
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on July 14, 2012, at 22:30:46
In reply to Lyrica vs Neurontin vs Abilify: Best augmentor?, posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:39:13
I would try Lyrica and Ablify together...the only thing about Lyrica...is that its max dose is 600mg...my doctor would not go above it but when I was taking Nuerontin I was on 800mg X 4 daily so if you need to increase the dose on the lyrica....and the doc won't do it...go to nuerontin....their pretty similar...lyrica is just a little bit stronger...
Both abilify and lyrica would be a good antidepressant cocktail that will improve the mood espcially for agitaged depression.
good luck to you!
Posted by Phillipa on July 14, 2012, at 23:13:24
In reply to Re: Lyrica vs Neurontin vs Abilify: Best augmentor?, posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:54:17
If you don't have thyroid disorder yes they can also be harmful. Have you considered xanax as it has slight antidepressant effects? Phillipa
Posted by psychobot5000 on July 15, 2012, at 13:34:20
In reply to Re: Lyrica vs Neurontin vs Abilify: Best augmentor?, posted by schleprock on July 14, 2012, at 19:54:17
> I also wanted to mention that I heard that thryroid medications might also be applicable, but my doctor mentioned that they may cause anxiety. Any truth to this?
>
>
Yes. Cytomel (T3), the most powerful and likely thyroid augmentor, made me angry and gave me anxiety. It still could be worth a try, but you might still need that clonazepam or something like it.Switching to a different benzo could be a good idea. Some are less associated with inducing depression than klonopin (i.e. xanax).
Taking any of those meds is a crapshoot. Abilify might indeed cause anxiety, but then it might not. I might try it first, if I were you. I'd try the drugs one at a time, so you know which one is doing what.
This is the end of the thread.
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