Posted by Leo BoStar on March 22, 2003, at 13:37:24
In reply to atypical depression, posted by annlanka on March 22, 2003, at 10:46:02
My personal experience is that medication (including Lexapro) and therapy do not work. When this happens, the patient is described as having "atypical depression." You can't blame the medical professionals for taking this approach. The alternative would be to describe themselves as "useless." Better to let the patient take the heat for being "atypical".
As far as MAOI antidepressants are concerned: even the medical folks advise caution here. They tend to characterise these medications as "very involved." That's face-saving jargon for "dangerous." Here's what this all means: the next time you're in a drugstore, check the warnings about drug interactions on various over-the-counter medications. Often you will find that the product should not be used if you are taking MAOI antidepressants. When there are so many contraindicated non-prescription drugs and other potential interaction problems with foods, such drugs earn the epithet "involved".
This web site has a very well-done grid of MAOI interactions:
http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_interactions_MAOI.htm
Bottom line: unless you want to be constantly watching what you eat and/or what over-the-counter meds you take, steer clear of the dangerous MAOI drugs.
Another personal vent: be very careful in your dealings with mental health professionals, especially in the area of medications. When it comes to predicting the outcome of drug treatments, they really have no clue. They play the odds. If they're lucky, you win. If not, you lose, big time.
Good luck to you. Good luck to all of us. We need it.
poster:Leo BoStar
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030319/msgs/211476.html