unresponsive to meds..

Hi everyone, I just recently joined the site.

I just have a quick question(I think the person who posted before me is in real need of help, so take your time answering my query). I've varied between moderate and severe depression, as well as general and social anxiety for many years and have tried several SSRIs, most for a few months without feeling much different. Most recently I took Cipralex for about 4 months, going up to 30 mg per day, along with .25 mg of clonazepam. Still wasn't doing much apart from making me even sleepier, and maybe slightly feeling less suicidal than usual. Anyway my psychiatrist got me to switch off cirpalex, and onto wellbutrin XL. It's been since the 3rd week of April, and still I haven't felt any different, and still the drowsyness continues at certain times, rather than giving me energy, or an extra drive to do things. I still feel kind of paralyzed and procrastinate/avoid doing even really basic things like tidying. Also something that is really troubling me is that I feel like I'm getting a really weird sensation a few times a day, like falling through my feet, going faint for a split second, I'm not really sure if it would fit any of the side effects listed. I was also prescribed Propanolol because of my stuttering and panic in social situations, which seems to help with that symptom slightly. Also before anyone asks yes I am seeing a CBT Psychologist, she's really good but still I'm not feeling that much better.

I know that doctors often prescribe wellbutrin along with SSRIs like Cipralex (the doctor who started me on cipralex was going to, before I was admitted to the psych ward in a hospital and was referred to a psychiatrist), but I also read recently that they shouldn't be paired because of the doubled risk of seizures. I don't want to endanger myself. Does anyone have experience with this combination or know whether it would be safe? My P-doc is on vacation for 2 weeks and I'm really starting to feel desperate.

Thanks, have a good one.

Hmm, that's interesting, Precious Gem. I've been wondering for some time now whether a more naturalistic approach might help. One of my friends is a vegan swears by it and says it got rid of her depression, and I've also heard that DHA from fish should help with the symptoms (I dislike fish though so I would have to take pills), as well as Vitamin D. I'm just wondering if it would be enough. I'll discuss it with my psychiatrist.

Thanks for sharing!!

Its definatly been proven that diet/exercise is a great way to deal with depression/anxiety, and that may be the best route for you to go. I am on wellbutrin XL paired with lexapro and i have found that this combo is the best that has worked for me. But with the meds you just never know, different people react to different meds differently. Vitamin D is also, as you said tied in with depression. I think the thing that reallly helped more far more than the meds was the therapy sessions, kinda reprogramed my thinking. Let us know if you are trying the homeopathic appraoch and how it works for you.

Yes Geo, It does work for me, not 100% of the time but atleast 85%, I will take that.  My PDoc said I was one of five people he had ever seen that was totally unresponsive to meds and the Queen of side effects known and unknown.  I had no choice if I wanted to try and be as well as I could be.  yesterday I was a little hyper/anxous today I am a little down, but I can deal with it.  I take a mutlivitamin 3 times a day, 2,000 mg of vitamin c three times a day, vitamin e 2-3 times a day and in the evening I take a B-complex plus 100-200 mg of extra niacin for sleep and magnesium for muscle twitches and heart palps.  The worse thing is all the pills but if it keeps me feeling OK, I can deal with that.  I can not have any alcohol and I must admit I have been craving it lately but when I resist, get a good nights sleep, the next morning I am proud of myself and feel well.

Gem

Thanks Karen,  It has really been hard lately.  I will go for long periods of time and not even think about it but sometimes the urge is great.  That is why I asked my Dr. (called the nurse) about adding L-Glutamine amino acid, it is suppose to decrease the desire for alcohol.  I have also read where it is not go if you have bipolar - good for depression, bad for hypomania.

I never considered myself a alcoholic, did not drink large amounts but small amounts frequently - self medicating I suppose.

Oh well, what to do but keep on fighting the good fight!  going downtown to the park with my lunch today to enjoy even though it is hot, feel like I need to get out!

Thanks Karen for always being sweet and supportive, I appreciate you and Kitt very much.

Gem

 

i hear ya on the alcohol thing, i really enjoy a cold beer (or five) on a hot summer day, nothings better but its not worth the risk to me. I do have some NA beer, but its really not that good :). Its tough but being alcohol free, but its a good thing.

I really admire you guys for being able to maintain such healthy habits, especially refraining from restaurant food and alcohol. Luckily I never really liked alcohol that much, but I am quite weak when it comes to chocolate (although these days I try to keep it to a square of 85% dark chocolate per day, I do cave in maybe once a week to regular chocolate), and sometimes other sweets. My boyfriend and I like to go to a restaurant maybe 2-3 times a month. I'm pretty good at avoiding most processed foods, I try to make my meals as full of vegetables as possible.

I think I'm going to try taking vitamin D3, I heard I might need a prescription for that ...

:) I'm feeling a bit better, I tend to when I get proper sleep..