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Thread: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    As ya'll may have noticed, I've been very edgy and mean on the site lately, to the point of being a plain out bitch. Some terrible things have happened in my life that have further aggravated the delicate wasteland that is my mind.

    I am sorry, but I think my medication isn't working and having an adverse effect. My shrink asked me if there is anything I would like to try. Why the hell should I know, he's the professional!??

    Currently I am on Lamictal for bipolar and Addarrol for the ADD. Anyone have any better experiences with something else?

    I have tried Serzone and don't like it. I know there have been several threads about this but the only one I can find at the moment doesn't answer this question. I will also check other forums.

    I am more depressed than manic at all these days. It sucks and I can barely function. Thanks!

    Besos, Kat

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    I was depressed at one point, and my dr put me on Paxil, but Im not sure if thats for the more mildy depressed? If anything I would just tell the shrink to find something for you asap.

  3. #3
    Pamela
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Good for you and the Serzone, it's been re-called, and may be out again...Not sure why.

    I went through a pretty bad time after my sister died in Sept. I went to see a Doc. for therapy many times to help me get my sleep, and mind straight again.

    I have since then been involved with group therapy and met a few people who, after hearing their stories thought i wonder how they survived.

    Anyway, most of the people i talked with LOVED Celexa! They say it has helped lift their spirits SO much. I have read about this drug, and like what i hear. Although i was denied it, due to "i have to grieve shit."

    It is for Depression, and has great results i hear from the Doctor and many patients.

    You may need it in combo. with another drug.

    Good luck, ask about it!

    Pamela

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    Featured Member exotica17's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Wow, I'm sorry to hear this, Katrine. I did group therapy and individual therapy, and I am taking Zoloft for depression. Group therapy helped a lot (it was an all-woman group). Zoloft works well for me--Paxil didn't really cut it. It made me anxious and sexless. I don't know about drugs for bi-polar, though. Try going to drugs.com. Feel better!

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    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    exotica17, I was in a women's group and that helped me a lot too. I wish I could find another one here in Tampa. I took Prozac and that helped me some too I think.

    Katrine, if you are bipolar lithium could help you. I had a friend that was hospitalized several times, on and off several drugs, and was even diagnosed schizophrenic at one point. She would get really paranoid which it doesn't sound like happens to you but she is manic depressive, severe mood swings, and once she finally got on lithium it's like you'd never guess she has a problem. She recently graduated from law school. Unfortunately antidepressants and those types of drugs are a hit and miss trial and error type thing. Before I took prozac I tried at least 3 others and one made me feel like I was on crack and another made me so sleepy I took 1/2 dose and couldn't wake up for 15 hours but then when I went on Prozac it helped. I hope you get to feeling better cuz I know how having emotional problems and a lot of stress can really make you miserable.

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    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    The trick with Bipolar is you shouldn't be on an anti-depressant but rather a mood stabilizer. Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Klonopin are all pretty popular in the treatment of bipolar. Flat out antidepressants can throw you into a manic spin. Bipolar is something that runs very strongly in my family so you have my sympathy. It can be a real bitch kitty to find the right med combo.



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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Don't be mad at me for asking this, but are you still partying? I hope you feel better soon.


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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Hey Katrine, both my best friend and my natural mother (who I have a relationship with) are bipolar. Both of them feel their best when on lithium. My friend though, is on a whole cocktail of pills, b/c her disorder has been very severe. (mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety and anti-psychotics!). I just talked to her and she's on the following:

    Topamax (generally for seizures, but for her it's to prevent migraines and as a mood stabilizer - works well with lithium)
    Lithium (mood stabilizer)
    Seroquil (sp) (anti-psychotic)
    Xanax (anti-anxierty - used to have severe panic attacks) (I'm not happy that they prescribed her xanax again, but oh well)
    Hydroxyzine - (generally anti-histamine, but for her, since she was badly addicted to xanax, it is a non-habit-forming 'light' alternative to xanax for her)

    It took a lot of trial and error, over time, she's also been on paxil, depakote, ativan (sp), etc. She's tried a lot of different combos, so it's taken some time, but this all seems to be working just fine. In the past 2-3 years, she's only had 1-2 episodes total, and they were minor, compared to what I used to go through with her. (She used to flip out at least 2-3 times a year, to the point that it usually resulted in me having to admit her to a hospital for a while after getting suicidal or violent) (her family wasn't around for a LONG time - they had given up on her and said she was looking for attn). Anyway, that's my story .... hope you can find something that works for you.
    Last edited by Hello_Kitty27; 07-07-2005 at 08:44 PM.

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    Veteran Member Gerina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Oh Katrine, I'm so sorry! I definately feel for you; I was depressed for many many awful years. I was diagnosed bipolar, as well, and then dysthymic, then borderline. Turns out that it doesn't matter the diagnosis for therapy, but for drugs it's always hit or miss. I responded horribly to all the drugs they gave me, but I know for some people you just have to keep adjusting doses and drugs until it works.

    What worked for me was taking a year break after graduating school and temporarily withdrawing from major stresses in my life. It was hard to ignore friends with similar ailment, but they were actually bringing me down more, and I couldn't handle it. I came back to them when I was able to sustain myself. I replaced the stresses with exercise, hobbies, and stripping. My fiancee consulted his mother, a nutritionist, to help me to eat three meals a day and finally beat my chronic anorexia. We found foods that were healthy and I felt the least guilty about eating, then gradually upped the portions to normal. I actually lost five pounds! I was forced to completely withdraw from all the drugs because of no medical insurance. I DO NOT reccomend you do this, but if you stop taking them do it gradually and with the care of your therapist. Just make sure you take it one step at a time, and keep going when you are feeling the worst.

    For the ADD, if the Aderol isn't working for you, my fiancee has had wonderful effects from dexadrine, even in low doses. It gets you started really well so that by the time it wears off you're still able to concentrate okay. My doctor prescribed an extemely low dose for me (I'm not ADD) for the days I was so anxious I couldn't get out of bed. It helped to put the anxiety in order until I didn't need it anymore.

    Good luck, Katrine! You'll feel better as long as you keep working to help yourself
    ...and the day came, when the risk it took to remain closed in a bud became worse than the risk it took to blossom.

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    Senior Member grinew127's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Have been a user of prozac until I was 14. Haven't use it since. However, my depression problems is still with me, bad. I have exercised, done nearly everything to keep from feeling in the dumps. Currently I have begun studying and this sort of keeps my mind from becoming having negative thoughts.
    Have used LEXAPRO with some positive results. Some times, though, it gets so bad that I feel like taking, uh, caught myself. not supposed to be saying anything like that. Be Happy. Yeah!
    Giselle Rine W. , -------- 127 Chesterfield.
    You weren't on Match Game in 1974.

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    Senior Member exoticxx33's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    SIRONA IS A 100 PERCENT CORRECT !

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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Currently I have begun studying and this sort of keeps my mind from becoming having negative thoughts.
    I used to get really depressed as a teen until I got a job and was in school full time. I think I'm just a person who gets gloomy if I'm not super busy. Now as an adult if I'm not working enough I feel depressed but as soon as I start working a lot I feel better. My brother seems to be the opposite. He is totally content being a total bum but working makes him depressed. Weird.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Thanks ladies! I will pass on your suggestions!

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

  14. #14
    242_fair
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    I'm sorry to read you are feeling so down. I've been in the dumps in a serious way lately too.

    I hope your doc is able to help you more than mine helped me.

    It's weird how other sw members can tell when our personal lives are falling to shit, by the things we post here.

    For about the last week I sensed you were really feeling low and upset about something. Your attitude is usually much better than lately. You seem like a happy-go-lucky person typically, and you take all that Austin extras drama with such grace and good humor usually.

    I sure hope you get some help to pull out of it.

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    Newbie Nate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Some good info here, but I'll add my thoughts and experience. I currently take Zoloft and Wellbutrin for unipolar depression, so keep in mind that my knowledge of bipolar depression is fairly limited. It seems to me that being on a strong stimulant like Adderal or dexedrine might exacerbate some manic symptoms, so you might want to look into something else to help with the ADD. A lot of people think that Strattera sucks, but it might be worth a try if amphetamines (Adderal, etc.) aren't helping you. Wellbutrin is also used to treat ADD, so that might be worth looking into. That could also affect manic symptoms, but I would think less significantly than an amphetamine. As far as treating the bipolar goes, I've heard good things about lithium. However, if you don't like Lamictal, an SSRI *may* help. Many people like Celexa/Lexapro (basically the same. Get Lexapro if you have insurance. Do they offer benefits at your club? ). I would start with one of these if you decide to go this route. These drugs are referred to as the "clean" SSRIs because they (almost) only block serotonin reuptake, without disturbing (much) other neurotransmitters. I'm a big fan of Zoloft, but that drug has a high affinity for dopamine receptors, and might not be a good idea with bipolar. The different SSRIs can have dramatically different effects on a person, so finding the right drug is often a process of trial and error. If you and your doc decide to try an SSRI, I would advise you to avoid Paxil, or at least try it as a last resort. I sound like I'm trying to pimp SSRIs here, but I'm not. They are not great drugs, although they do help at least a little in many situations. Hope this info helps. I'd be happy to (try to) help if you have any more specific questions.

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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Just a tiny suggestion...I was on Paxil waaaay back and it did diddly for me. It didnt really help at all except for kill my sex drive which kinda feels like what I am going through now.

    I know how it feels to have stuff all mucked up in your head. *hugs*
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



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    Featured Member Corey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Kat

    Just my .02 here. I am on trazadone for insomnia, the smallest dosage appartently, 50 mgs. I had never tried an anti-depressant/SSRI drug before this. Besides not being able to sleep, I have always been very emotional, quick tempered and very moody. I just accepted my state and tried to deal with it naturally for all these years.
    However, when I started taking the trazadone, I was in for a great surprise. Not only can I sleep 8 hours but I am the most level headed, even tempered I have ever been in my life!
    Also, my sex drive has not been tampered with, actually since the onset of summer I'm hornier than hell and I haven't gained weight. In fact, I've lost nearly five lbs. I have been on it since April. If you don't have insurance it is really inexpensive. I do have insurance, shitty insurance. They refuse to cover anything that has to do with anxiety or depression.

    Good luck, I hope you feel better.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Thank everyone! He is going to try me on:
    Lexapro 10 mg 1/2 each am
    Lithium carbonate 300 mg twice a day

    My friend is on Trazadone. She has given it to me a couple of times to help me sleep, but it gave me that weird tripping on E feeling, and I didn't feel rested.

    Strattera didn't work for me. I would pop one and go to sleep.

    Thanks!!

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

  19. #19
    Mahlor
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    A word of caution when taking Lithium Carbonate this is not your ordinary kiddie drug. As I am sure your Dr. has already explained Lithium is an intraneuronal metabolism of catecholamines, but the specific biochemical mechanism of lithium action in mania is unknown. The sideaffects can vary and usually consist of chronic ailments. If you are a recovering addict of some sort or another, Lithium tends to bring on cravings for a little added euphoria.

    As a side note I have often wondered if depression comes along with our line of work and apparently it does. Over 60% of the replys have stated such...sad really.

  20. #20
    Pamela
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Kat if you ever have time read Patty Dukes book about her life. She has been on Lith. All her life with GREAT SUCCESS!!!!!!

    Hope this is the right combo for ya hun!!!!
    Pamela

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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    I also was depressed, going through a seperatien and my Dr. put me on 300mg of webuteran and it helped for a while, then i started getting super moody, so i reduced my mg, to 150 and i began to feel much better then after a month and a half i stoped taking them all together. Now it has been over a month since i have taken any pill and i fell great, like back to normal. So for me the antidepressants worked for a little while but then the had a adverse affect.
    I hope this will help.
    Amy
    amybell

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    Veteran Member Yea's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Hey Kat, I’m sorry to hear your feeling down, hope you feel better very soon

    You should research Lithium before taking it.. my friend is on it and she is more messed up now than ever, I am no professional however it seems this stuff gets into your blood stream and really messes things up and apparently she cant “just go of it” now.. Also are you aware many Lithium patience receive $1000 per month from the pharmaceutical companies!! That’s right, they receive it for 2 reasons.. 1) some are “unable to function while on these meds 2) PAID PHARMACEUTICAL TESTING!!!


    Good luck bonita!!
    *besitos*


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    Veteran Member Gerina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Quote Originally Posted by Mahlor
    As a side note I have often wondered if depression comes along with our line of work and apparently it does. Over 60% of the replys have stated such...sad really.
    I don't think it really comes with our line of work, but that we're open to talking about it on the forum. Of close friends, I'd say about 60% would admit to having been depressed at some point in their life, but they wouldn't talk about working through a relapse with an aquaintance. There's still some social stigma with mental disorders.
    ...and the day came, when the risk it took to remain closed in a bud became worse than the risk it took to blossom.

  24. #24
    God/dess holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    I tried Lexapro for a bit - I had a little trouble sleeping and it also made me sweat! Now I'm focusing on working out - taking time to treat myself better - and eating super healthy. I'm really trying to get all my vitamins. I don't know if you've heard of them, but there are these Salmon Oil supplements. It sounds wild, but it's all about the Omegas, anyway it's wierd but they make me feel good for some reason.

    Take care of yourself!
    I'm confused, but the Chewbacca Truffle Shuffle cleared it up. - Emily

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    Default Re: Serious Anti-Depressant Advice, Please Help

    Quote Originally Posted by Mahlor
    As a side note I have often wondered if depression comes along with our line of work and apparently it does. Over 60% of the replys have stated such...sad really.
    It's a biased, self-selected sample, though. That is, the people who are most likely to reply here are those who have personal experience with depression and psychotropic medications. It doesn't mean that 60% of SW members have experienced clinical depression.....

    In fact, I wasn't going to respond, because the only psychoactive drug I've ever taken is Adderall, which is really nothing but a low dose of amphetamine. It works well for my particular manifestation of ADHD, but I'm lucky in that I don't have serious comorbid depression or anxiety....

    But Kat, I'm really worried about you....lithium is a really serious drug. I'd do more research before starting on it. How much confidence do you have in your shrink? In your diagnoses? You're so fucking smart and just generally awesome. It doesn't surprise me that you've been diagnosed bipolar, because most of the truly interesting and original people in this world are also a little crazy. Meds can be good, but don't fuck with that powerful brain of yours too much....

    There's a book called, I think, 'An Unquiet Mind'. Have you read it? It's written by a psychiatrist who is bipolar. It's a memoir, but there is a lot of information about the effects of lithium (it may be a little outdated, but still useful....)

    I'm sorry, baby--I wish I could be of more help....I really want you to be okay.

    -Nic
    "Doc still loved true things, but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress." - John Steinbeck, Cannery Row


    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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