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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by samx on July 15, 2014, at 19:53:58
Hello everyone!
I would like some input. I'm 33 years old and have been suffering from GAD and OCD since childhood. Due to personal problems I have also been suffering from stronger depression for the last 7 years. I started trying antidepressants 3 years ago. So far NONE has worked or made a noticable difference at all. This is really scary.
My depression is exogenous and endogenous. I have a lot of problems now (bad health etc) and many sorrows but even when I wasn't sick and my situation was still better I was still depressed and always feared loss.
I'm no high achiever because I always think what's this good for? What difference does it make when in the end we all die? This has cost me a lot because I was always so pessimistic and wasn't able to work for something which lies ahead in the future.I have also been tested for ADD because a lot of my symptoms would fit to it. The results were unclear. My concentration wasn't normal and my short term memory, too. I tried Ritalin LA from 5mg to 30mg but didn't really experience a "revelation". I also tried Wellbutrin and it also didn't do anything. Ritalin LA and wellbutrin are the only ADD drugs available where I'm at.
Against depression I tried:
citalopram, remeron, wellbutrin, agomelatine, tianeptine, escitalopramI simply don't understand why does nothing work?
My doc now suggested Lyrica against GAD. I have been taking 50mg daily and I already feel like it's making me dumb and forgetful. I don't think that this is an option for me.
Currently I'm taking 10mg lexapro and 20mg ritalin daily. I simply take the ritalin as augmentation cause I read that it would make SSRIs work better. I have been on 10mg lexapro for 6 weeks and I also feel NO improvement.
I spend most of the day at home. Even going out is often too much for me. I feel really low and have no motivation to do anything. Especially at night I feel more depressed.
I do not feel equally bad all the time. I have so so days where all my sorrows are a bit more distant. And then there are days where all my problems come crashing down on me and I think about how bad my situation is and then I simply cannot defend myself or shake these thoughts off. This is really scary. On such days I feel like I am absolutely powerless towards my depression. I hate being depressed. But I don't see how I could just pull myself out. I have too many issues which I cannot simply solve and then everything is fine again.
I also tried a few therapists and I had no luck. Their advice either didn't really help me at all or they made me more depressed. I feel like finding a good therapist is almost impossible. If there are good ones out there then I have no idea how to find them. Those which I went to also appeared to be good.
Anyway, what do you think? Do you have any ideas or suggestions? I really hate being the way I am.
I simply cannot be "happy". Even back when I wasn't sick yet I hardly ever experienced happiness cause I was always worrying.For example I cannot imagine at all how people can have children and not worry all the time. If I had children I'd worry all the time that something could happen to them.
I always think about how fragile everything is and how senseless life seems in contrast to this.
Why do all the things we do?
Posted by Phillipa on July 16, 2014, at 9:55:38
In reply to Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by samx on July 15, 2014, at 19:53:58
I am double your age +2 and know exactly what you mean. Although if was anxious and depressed as a kid back then they didn't know so you just lived life. I have lived many good years had three children when very young. Been married a few times. It's only now in later life that physical stuff is keeping me from doing all I want to do that used to do. So personally I feel that if you have your physical health you can just about do anything. Can I ask what is wrong with physical health now? And are you being treated for it. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 16, 2014, at 17:24:16
In reply to Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by samx on July 15, 2014, at 19:53:58
maybe keep the Ritalin and go for a tca? I would think Tofranil/Tofranil-PM might be good...
..just a thought...
Posted by Beckett on July 17, 2014, at 19:21:09
In reply to Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by samx on July 15, 2014, at 19:53:58
>For example I cannot imagine at all how people can have children and not worry all the time. If I had children I'd worry all the time that something could happen to them.
Yes, I have found this true. Lyrica helps with GAD, but it does not take away the questions. I am not sure what to do myself. Anxiety is debilitating.
Posted by Phillipa on July 17, 2014, at 20:06:42
In reply to Re: Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by Beckett on July 17, 2014, at 19:21:09
We can solve this problem all of us together. We have good minds. Working together all or most problems can be solved!!!!
Posted by phidippus on July 18, 2014, at 0:10:04
In reply to Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by samx on July 15, 2014, at 19:53:58
> Against depression I tried:
> citalopram, remeron, wellbutrin, agomelatine, tianeptine, escitalopramI wouldn't recommend agomelatine or tianeptine for your combination of OCD, GAD and depression.
Your treatment options are broad: SSRIs, SNRIs, Clomipramine and Remeron, which you've been on.
Now, you have OCD which complicates things because it becomes difficult to weed the depressive thoughts out from the OCD thoughts.
With OCD, treatment with medications usually involves higher doses. For instance, Zoloft is usually prescribed at 100 mg. Someone with OCD would take a 200 mg dose.
To treat the depression and the OCD better you can always augment with an antipsychotic which agonizes 5ht1a receptors-these receptors, when activated, improve mood aand decrease anxiety. Abilify, Geodon and Latuda all agonize 5ht1a receptors.
When you take antidepressants, how long do you stay on them before you decide they don't work?
> Currently I'm taking 10mg lexapro and 20mg ritalin daily.
You should be taking 40 mg of Lexapro.
also ritalin can worsen anxiety and ocd. I would recommend dextroamphetamine which can help treat both depression and OCD.
>I have been on 10mg lexapro for 6 weeks and I also feel NO improvement.
Again, way too low a dose. Because you have OCD and depression you need a higher dose.
Where do you live?
Any questions?
Eric
Posted by Beckett on July 18, 2014, at 13:03:30
In reply to Re: Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice » samx, posted by phidippus on July 18, 2014, at 0:10:04
(May I insert a question?)
>Now, you have OCD which complicates things because it becomes difficult to weed the depressive thoughts out from the OCD thoughts.
How do depressive thoughts differ from the OCD type?
Posted by Phillipa on July 18, 2014, at 20:56:45
In reply to Re: Melancholic depression,GAD,OCD,ADD need advice, posted by Beckett on July 18, 2014, at 13:03:30
OCD repetitive thoughts, actions such as continuous washing of hands. OCD is considered an anxiety disorder cause if you don't do the ritual whatever it might be something bad could happen. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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