![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elzabeth on September 2, 2001, at 18:01:24
That pretty much sums it up. I am not suicidal, but life is miserable. Go to bed miserable. Wake up miserable. Am on Serzone for depression, and obviously it's not working. My new M.D. recently added Topamax as a mood stabilizer and now I'm not only depressed but crying. Frequently. And having thoughts of suicide. Wouldn't you know it's a holiday weekend. Anybody else experience crying/suicidal thoughts with Topamax? XXX, E.
Posted by Zo on September 3, 2001, at 1:12:55
In reply to Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts, posted by Elzabeth on September 2, 2001, at 18:01:24
>Anybody else experience crying/suicidal thoughts with >Topamax? XXX, E.
No, but *Serzone* made me depressed as hell.. . .
Good luck,
Zo
Posted by Roo on September 3, 2001, at 14:22:04
In reply to Re: Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts » Elzabeth, posted by Zo on September 3, 2001, at 1:12:55
Ditto for me with the serzone..made me crying and
suicidal...
Posted by Kathleen6674 on September 3, 2001, at 16:26:41
In reply to Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts, posted by Elzabeth on September 2, 2001, at 18:01:24
> That pretty much sums it up. I am not suicidal, but life is miserable. Go to bed miserable. Wake up miserable. Am on Serzone for depression, and obviously it's not working. My new M.D. recently added Topamax as a mood stabilizer and now I'm not only depressed but crying. Frequently. And having thoughts of suicide. Wouldn't you know it's a holiday weekend. Anybody else experience crying/suicidal thoughts with Topamax? XXX, E.
I'm another person who had crying jags (almost every day) on Serzone, plus felt suicidal fairly often (if I had a bad day, if something worthy of crying happened, if I drank one glass of wine, etc.)
There are some people who've been helped immensely by Serzone, I hear, but I had bad reactions. You might want to try lowering the dose or switching to another anti-d to see if it helps. I don't know anything about Topamax, sorry.
Posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
In reply to Re: Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts, posted by Kathleen6674 on September 3, 2001, at 16:26:41
Well, THIS is very interesting, and thank you all for writing. I've been a complete nut case. I NEVER cry, and while revisiting crying has been -- well, kind of nice -- the amount of tears I've been shedding has been out-of-control, and thoughts of suicide intrusive and scary.
I'm pretty p*ssed off about this. My (Serzone) dose was doubled from 200 mg./daily to 400 mg./daily 6 wks. ago. Same time I started Topamax. I thought Topamax was the culprit.
Topamax has also been interesting, in case anyone is curious. NOTHING tastes good. Everything tastes sour. Not sour like lemons. Sour like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over the 4th of July weekend. Yucky. I'm also clumsy, tingly, kind of stupid. Yeah, I've got it goin' on.
I'm calling my doc in the morning.
I'm so sick of meds. I just want to go off everything and start over.
Anyone else, like me, who feels they've tried everything?
Let's see if I can remember it all ...
Lithium ... Nortriptolene ... Trazadone ... Valium ... Xanax ... Klonopin ... Prozac ... Paxyl ... Wellbutrin ... Effexor ... Serzone ... Topamax ...
What's left?
Has anyone tried a drug holiday and come through okay?
XXX, E.
Posted by Kathleen6674 on September 3, 2001, at 18:50:11
In reply to SERZONE crying/suicidal thoughts (topamax), posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
I had taste problems when I first started Celexa - I had virtually NO taste. NONE. Unless I ate something with an extraordinarily strong taste (lemon sorbet, spicy Mexican food, etc.). In those cases, I'd get the old beach towel flavor, with a hint of alkaline something or other (tasted faintly of baking soda) as an aftertaste. Not fun. I'm pleased to tell you it did go away, so I'd hope that your taste probs will fade as your body adjusts to the new med.
My Serzone probs. increased when I increased dosages, too. I think that may be the culprit more than the Topamax, given that so many others here have had the same prob. w/Serzone. Run that past your doc. I sometimes get frustrated with my doc bc he seems overly cautious re: adding/switching meds - he'll either up a dosage OR change a med OR add a med (although he almost never combines meds, thus far). I kind of see his logic with a case such as yours, though - how to tell if it's the increased dose of Serzone (my hunch) or the new med? Only way to tell is to remove one at a time (or add, if you're just starting) and see what happens, which takes quite a while.
I hear you on the med frustration. Thus far I've tried Prozac, Wellbutrin, Ambien, Serzone and now Celexa, not to mention some herbal experimentation I tried on my own (to little or no avail).
I tried a drug holiday after my Prozac started to poop out, without medical supervision. It was a big, big mistake. I crashed into a very bad depression, suicidal, hard to get out of bed, kept thinking I was a waste of planetary resources merely for existing (I mean more so than anybody is, LOL), the whole bit. I've spent over a year playing musical meds since then and it's driving me crazier than I think I might otherwise be had I found a good med in the first place.
You're not the only person in this boat, believe me. I'm glad I found this site to see so many other people with experience with lots of different meds - otherwise I don't know anyone else who can relate.
Posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 18:59:24
In reply to SERZONE crying/suicidal thoughts (topamax), posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
> Well, THIS is very interesting, and thank you all for writing. I've been a complete nut case. I NEVER cry, and while revisiting crying has been -- well, kind of nice -- the amount of tears I've been shedding has been out-of-control, and thoughts of suicide intrusive and scary.
>
> I'm pretty p*ssed off about this. My (Serzone) dose was doubled from 200 mg./daily to 400 mg./daily 6 wks. ago. Same time I started Topamax. I thought Topamax was the culprit.
>
> Topamax has also been interesting, in case anyone is curious. NOTHING tastes good. Everything tastes sour. Not sour like lemons. Sour like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over the 4th of July weekend. Yucky. I'm also clumsy, tingly, kind of stupid. Yeah, I've got it goin' on.There is a reason it is nick named Dopa max
>
> I'm calling my doc in the morning.
>
> I'm so sick of meds. I just want to go off everything and start over.Me too. When I came off of serzone (two opinions re: it agrivates, all AD ssri agrivate mania) I hit major depression each time I dropped the dose. CAUTION CAUTION Will Robinson.....
>
> Anyone else, like me, who feels they've tried everything?Yes, pdocs are 'stumped' Did you know 'poop out' re: Prozac Pooped out...is a real medical term?
>
> Let's see if I can remember it all ...
>
> Lithium ... Nortriptolene ... Trazadone ... Valium ... Xanax ... Klonopin ... Prozac ... Paxyl ... Wellbutrin ... Effexor ... Serzone ... Topamax ...
>
> What's left?How about Depakote, Keppra, general group of anticovulsants....
>
> Has anyone tried a drug holiday and come through okay?
>
> XXX, E.I have a friend whose son decided to just stop taking meds. He felt horrible, but the meds made him feel horrible too...Then he started again, and that is another story, but he is better now.
It took years...years of trying, crying, buying, lieing laying, weighing, saying...
babble babble babble
Susan C.
Whats a girl do do?
Posted by judy1 on September 3, 2001, at 20:21:59
In reply to SERZONE crying/suicidal thoughts (topamax), posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
I'm sorry you're feeling so bad; since I've been banned from AD's I've never had the pleasure of taking serzone- but I did feel like a moron on topamax and had the taste problems too. I guess I wanted to address your thoughts of discontinuing meds; I've done it many times (pregnancy, noncompliancy, manic episodes, etc) I've come to the conclusion that therapy is much more valuable to me than any med has, and therefore only use them during emergencies (psychotic manic episodes) with the exception of klonopin a drug that successfully stopped panic attacks. It took a great many shrinks to find one supportive of my decision because of my history, but my clarity of thought is so much better than the 6+ drugs I was on. I wish you the best- judy
Posted by sorsha on September 3, 2001, at 21:55:33
In reply to SERZONE crying/suicidal thoughts (topamax), posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
> Well, THIS is very interesting, and thank you all for writing. I've been a complete nut case. I NEVER cry, and while revisiting crying has been -- well, kind of nice -- the amount of tears I've been shedding has been out-of-control, and thoughts of suicide intrusive and scary.
>
> I'm pretty p*ssed off about this. My (Serzone) dose was doubled from 200 mg./daily to 400 mg./daily 6 wks. ago. Same time I started Topamax. I thought Topamax was the culprit.
>
> Topamax has also been interesting, in case anyone is curious. NOTHING tastes good. Everything tastes sour. Not sour like lemons. Sour like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over the 4th of July weekend. Yucky. I'm also clumsy, tingly, kind of stupid. Yeah, I've got it goin' on.
>
> I'm calling my doc in the morning.
>
> I'm so sick of meds. I just want to go off everything and start over.
>
> Anyone else, like me, who feels they've tried everything?
>
> Let's see if I can remember it all ...
>
> Lithium ... Nortriptolene ... Trazadone ... Valium ... Xanax ... Klonopin ... Prozac ... Paxyl ... Wellbutrin ... Effexor ... Serzone ... Topamax ...
>
> What's left?
>
> Has anyone tried a drug holiday and come through okay?
>
> XXX, E.Everyone deserves a chance at a drug holiday. In eight years of taking meds I have never had one as I cant stand to be depressed and only last a day or two. You must be young as the number of meds you have been on is not that many considering what some people go through. I t take s experimenting for resistant depressions to find the right combination. good luck.
Posted by allisonm on September 4, 2001, at 19:50:06
In reply to Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts, posted by Elzabeth on September 2, 2001, at 18:01:24
It's been 3+ years. I've been on Zoloft, Effexor, Remeron, lithium, Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Celexa, Serzone and the occasional Ativan in different combos. Diagnosed with chronic refractory depression. Nothing has worked completely.
Currently on Wellbutrin and Serzone. I have had a couple of crying jags since getting on Serzone, but they have gone away. I heard somewhere, but cannot tell you where, that this can happen several weeks or months after starting Serzone. I have found the Wellbutrin/Serzone combo helpful but not completely effective. Am on 300mg of each per day. I think my pdoc is going to raise one of them tomorrow. I still have that dead feeling -- not reacting to things, not caring... I would not take a drug holiday knowing how suicidal I was in January of '98 without drugs. So far I have avoided MAOIs, although my doctor has brought them up. I am deathly afraid of the 2-week washout and then the weeks of building up again. May have to go that route, though, if this stuff continues not to really work.
Good luck.
Allisonm
Posted by Elzabeth on September 4, 2001, at 21:16:12
In reply to Re: Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts » Elzabeth, posted by allisonm on September 4, 2001, at 19:50:06
> It's been 3+ years. I've been on Zoloft, Effexor, Remeron, lithium, Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Celexa, Serzone and the occasional Ativan in different combos. Diagnosed with chronic refractory depression. Nothing has worked completely.
>
> Currently on Wellbutrin and Serzone. I have had a couple of crying jags since getting on Serzone, but they have gone away. I heard somewhere, but cannot tell you where, that this can happen several weeks or months after starting Serzone. I have found the Wellbutrin/Serzone combo helpful but not completely effective. Am on 300mg of each per day. I think my pdoc is going to raise one of them tomorrow. I still have that dead feeling -- not reacting to things, not caring... I would not take a drug holiday knowing how suicidal I was in January of '98 without drugs. So far I have avoided MAOIs, although my doctor has brought them up. I am deathly afraid of the 2-week washout and then the weeks of building up again. May have to go that route, though, if this stuff continues not to really work.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Allisonm* * * *
Regarding you note ... What is Chronic Refractory Depression?
I talked with my psych nurse today ... She works in tandem with my doc. She's going to talk with him tomorrow and call me back. I definately want to cut back ... or do something. The Topamax is bothering me -- the smell of my B.O. -- it's in my skin -- under my nails -- it's in everything I eat, I it's in my hair -- I can't stand it. Everthing I eat stinks. I stink. It's awful. Can't think. I topple when I walk, I itch. For me, it's just bad medicine. The Serzone, I'm not sure, but something worsening my depression, making me cry and think suicidal thoughts -- I'm guessing this is it.
I'm almost ready to talk electro shock therapy. Excuse me, I don't know the correct terminology here.
:-(
Am worried, nervous scared about going off meds, but will see ... how it goes ... I am not seeing my M.D. again until 9/25 ... I think I can hang in there until then.
It is -- so hard -- to find the right combinations of drugs to make things work. The idea of popping a little pill for just a little lift -- just a little lift -- I guess it's just a dream.
XXX, E.
Posted by mair on September 5, 2001, at 7:43:17
In reply to Allison -- RYN, posted by Elzabeth on September 4, 2001, at 21:16:12
> >
>Elzabeth - everyone reacts to ADs so idiosyncratically, so I wouldn't begin to suggest that my experience is related to yours, but I think that last winter, serzone very definitely made me significantly more depressed and suicidal. I started trying to take it as an augmentation drug to Wellbutrin, titrating it very slowly because I had so many side effects. Over a period of time, as i increased the dose, I kept becoming more and more depressed. My therapist wanted me to talk to my pdoc about the serzone because she thought my slide seemed to coincide with my taking the drug. I avoided calling my pdoc because I didn't think there was anything she could do but take me off. Since I didn't feel I had been on it long enough to determine whether it was going to be of real therapeutic benefit, I wanted to keep taking it. Also, I didn't buy that my depression was related to the serzone. Things sort of came to a head when my therapist started talking about hospitals. I got in touch with my pdoc mostly just to convince my therapist that I was more on top of things than she thought, and my pdoc's suggestion was to start taking serzone only at night (and not 2 x per day). This small adjustment made a huge difference to the severity of my depression and suicidal ideation. I continued with serzone for a couple of more months, eventually building up to I think around 300+ mgs (with 300 mgs of Wb). I never really got to the point where the benefits were at all obvious, and eventually my pdoc took me off it. When she did, symptoms that i had attributed to other things, (forgetfulness, slow mental response rate and poor small motor coordination to name some), went away.Allison - I'm sorry you haven't found this to be a great combination. I could never really say it made me better, and while I had gotten to the point where I thought I was tolerating serzone really well, I didn't realize how many side effects I still had until I took myself off. Since it's been summer and I was able to cut back at work for a couple of months anyway, I've managed to get by okay without starting something new. But there was a reason I was looking for an augmentation drug to begin with and I know that I have to start thinking again about a new combo. It's such a miserable task to start all over again, and I had such hopeds for this as a good combo. Fortunately, no one has ever felt that I should go off WB and start totally from scratch. At least I have that one constant, however inadequate it may often seem.
Good Luck
Mair (formerly ksvt)
Posted by Elzabeth on September 5, 2001, at 15:19:43
In reply to Serzone and Wellbutrin - elzabeth and allison, posted by mair on September 5, 2001, at 7:43:17
> > >
> >Elzabeth - everyone reacts to ADs so idiosyncratically, so I wouldn't begin to suggest that my experience is related to yours, but I think that last winter, serzone very definitely made me significantly more depressed and suicidal. I started trying to take it as an augmentation drug to Wellbutrin, titrating it very slowly because I had so many side effects. Over a period of time, as i increased the dose, I kept becoming more and more depressed. My therapist wanted me to talk to my pdoc about the serzone because she thought my slide seemed to coincide with my taking the drug. I avoided calling my pdoc because I didn't think there was anything she could do but take me off. Since I didn't feel I had been on it long enough to determine whether it was going to be of real therapeutic benefit, I wanted to keep taking it. Also, I didn't buy that my depression was related to the serzone. Things sort of came to a head when my therapist started talking about hospitals. I got in touch with my pdoc mostly just to convince my therapist that I was more on top of things than she thought, and my pdoc's suggestion was to start taking serzone only at night (and not 2 x per day). This small adjustment made a huge difference to the severity of my depression and suicidal ideation. I continued with serzone for a couple of more months, eventually building up to I think around 300+ mgs (with 300 mgs of Wb). I never really got to the point where the benefits were at all obvious, and eventually my pdoc took me off it. When she did, symptoms that i had attributed to other things, (forgetfulness, slow mental response rate and poor small motor coordination to name some), went away.
>
> Allison - I'm sorry you haven't found this to be a great combination. I could never really say it made me better, and while I had gotten to the point where I thought I was tolerating serzone really well, I didn't realize how many side effects I still had until I took myself off. Since it's been summer and I was able to cut back at work for a couple of months anyway, I've managed to get by okay without starting something new. But there was a reason I was looking for an augmentation drug to begin with and I know that I have to start thinking again about a new combo. It's such a miserable task to start all over again, and I had such hopeds for this as a good combo. Fortunately, no one has ever felt that I should go off WB and start totally from scratch. At least I have that one constant, however inadequate it may often seem.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Mair (formerly ksvt)
* * * * *Thanks Mair ...
This is all impressing me as a ... big ... puzzling mix.
My pdoc nurse called today. Pdoc recommends increasing Serzone, increasing Topamax, or coming in for a chat. I chose the third item. I'm starting to feel like an experimental monkey. Would really like to know who I am underneath this all. Am feeling so manipulated. Not intentionally manipulated, you know ... just not myself. I have no sex drive. Food doesn't taste good. I feel like a frigging zombie, I'm still depressed, and I'm tired. Excuse my complaining. What good is life, and why do we struggle so ....
I'll share more on my continuing saga when I have anything new to share. In the meantime, thank you all for sharing your stories, and your encouragement. I really appreciate it. XXX, E.
Posted by allisonm on September 5, 2001, at 21:03:35
In reply to Allison -- RYN, posted by Elzabeth on September 4, 2001, at 21:16:12
> Regarding you note ... What is Chronic Refractory Depression?It's a fancy term that means I've had depression for a very long time (chronic) and it is resistant to treatment (refractory). My pdoc says it may be refractory in part because the depression was only diagnosed 3 years or so ago. Might have had better luck with meds if it had been diagnosed much earlier.
My pdoc and I decided to up the Serzone to 200mg at night and keep it at 150mg in the am. Keeping the WB at 150mg, morning and nite. It seems WB is the only constant, but is not enough on its own. I have noticed the forgetfulness I suspect is from the Serzone. I particularly have trouble coming up with words. Pdoc thought either upping the dose to see if we break through this stuff, or reducing it would be viable ideas. I chose to up it because I continue to feel flat.
Who knows. I hate waiting so long for answers.
I empathize with you. Hang in there!
Allisonm
Posted by allisonm on September 5, 2001, at 21:08:55
In reply to Serzone and Wellbutrin - elzabeth and allison, posted by mair on September 5, 2001, at 7:43:17
Hey Mair (ksvt):
So glad to hear from you. It's funny that we seem to be going down the same med paths. I agree that the WB has been most helpful. I would be loathe to stop taking it. Like you, I am so very tired of waiting and waiting to see whether these meds make even miniscule differences. Then there was the debate today with my pdoc about whether these most recent meds are making me feel better, whether recent good events have made me feel better in spite of the meds, or whether the meds caused me to make these good events happen.
Ugh!
Take care.
Allisonm
Posted by Mair on September 5, 2001, at 21:58:50
In reply to Re: Serzone and Wellbutrin - elzabeth and allison » mair, posted by allisonm on September 5, 2001, at 21:08:55
Posted by Tony P on September 6, 2001, at 2:41:52
In reply to Re: Serzone and Wellbutrin - elzabeth and allison » mair, posted by allisonm on September 5, 2001, at 21:08:55
Speaking as someone who's just come the opposite route - from Serzone to Wellbutrin - I appreciate what you are saying about the Serzone - the side effects are mostly mild, but that slight muzziness was there all the time - I just got used to it eventually so I didn't realize I was muzzy!
Mind you I'm having even more trouble concentratin and remembering words on Wellbutrin right now - but it's only Day 13 and I'm still feeling pretty speedy, which I hope will settle down soon.
A couple of things about Serzone - it generally works quite fast, if it's going to work for you at all, I knew within 2 days of starting it that it was right for me (at that time). The drowsiness happens immediately, but each step up or step down I went through only took a few days to work, though I'm sure it was a week or two before I completely stabilized.
And taking it ALL at night (but NOT too late) worked well for me most of the time - got the help with sleep first - then the activating effect the next day with the drowsiness wearing off fairly quickly in the AM. It's actually somewhat more efficiently absorbed if you take it all at once, too.
It's helpful to me to know that others have experience with this particular combination, as there may be a point where I want to try combining it with the Wellbutrin too. I do want to try the Wellbutrin by itself for long enough that I really know where it is putting me. I also think I need a good long holiday from Serzone after almost 7 years continuously on it!
But I'm quite fearful of a return of the insomnia that Serzone heped so well in the first place, once I stop the temporary extra meds (Clonazepam and Zopiclone/Imovane).
Tony P
Posted by jay on September 7, 2001, at 9:24:01
In reply to Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts, posted by Elzabeth on September 2, 2001, at 18:01:24
Elizabeth:
I had the same experience with Serzone/Depakote, in fact most AC's with an AD. Lithium also...just major, nasty, YUKKY! A number of others have posted on here their positive experiences with the atypical AP's. In order to determine your tolerance to an AP, why not start with a very low dose of one, let it build up in your system for a few weeks, and go from there. IF you tolerate it (and compared to AC's, which all made me feel like I had been hit by a truck), the atypical AP's (especially in lower doses) seem to have such little in the way of side effects.
Then, if you still feel the need to further your treatment of depression, you can 'test' small doses of ad's with whatever ap you are on. The best and most important thing with the ap's is this: they regulate and smooth your moods, only after a few weeks, without all the crappy cloudy feelings of ac's.
YMMV...but there are many people on here who will agree, it is DEFINATELY worth a shot, and a GOOD one at that. You may actually shock yourself at how quick things will turn around.
Best wishes...
Jay
> That pretty much sums it up. I am not suicidal, but life is miserable. Go to bed miserable. Wake up miserable. Am on Serzone for depression, and obviously it's not working. My new M.D. recently added Topamax as a mood stabilizer and now I'm not only depressed but crying. Frequently. And having thoughts of suicide. Wouldn't you know it's a holiday weekend. Anybody else experience crying/suicidal thoughts with Topamax? XXX, E.
Posted by Elzabeth on September 7, 2001, at 11:46:49
In reply to Re: Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts » Elzabeth, posted by jay on September 7, 2001, at 9:24:01
Hi Jay, Thanks --
Hmmm, not sure what an AC is ... or an AP ... I'm assuming AD refers to antidepressant ...
On a whole, Jay, I'm very discouraged. Topamax has been a disaster for me. I've been doing this about six weeks, now. Have been up to 400 mg. about 2 or 3 weeks now -- and for me, this Rx has been poison. I've been sick, really sick. In fact, the last part of this week, I haven't been able to work. Went to my internist today. Felt like my womb was falling out of my body. It's not my womb, it's the G.I. tract. I can't eat. I can't -- er -- excuse me -- I can't poop. I'm just sick sick sick. I called my pdoc on -- when was it? Monday? Told him (his nurse actually) I wanted to go on a drug holiday. His advice? He wanted to INCREASE the Topamax. That, or to increase the Serzone, which hasn't been helping either. I'm starting to feel like a real nut case here. Nothing I've tried seems to lift my depression -- you know -- Wellbutrin, Lithium, Zoloft, Effexor, I've tried so many. I'm just really starting to wonder what to do next. :-(
Maybe I should post a treatment-resistant depression query.
Thanks for writing.
XXX, E.
Oh, P.S. I'm Elzabeth, not Elizabeth. Didn't want to confuse you with someone else you might be writing.
Elizabeth:
>
> I had the same experience with Serzone/Depakote, in fact most AC's with an AD. Lithium also...just major, nasty, YUKKY! A number of others have posted on here their positive experiences with the atypical AP's. In order to determine your tolerance to an AP, why not start with a very low dose of one, let it build up in your system for a few weeks, and go from there. IF you tolerate it (and compared to AC's, which all made me feel like I had been hit by a truck), the atypical AP's (especially in lower doses) seem to have such little in the way of side effects.
>
> Then, if you still feel the need to further your treatment of depression, you can 'test' small doses of ad's with whatever ap you are on. The best and most important thing with the ap's is this: they regulate and smooth your moods, only after a few weeks, without all the crappy cloudy feelings of ac's.
>
> YMMV...but there are many people on here who will agree, it is DEFINATELY worth a shot, and a GOOD one at that. You may actually shock yourself at how quick things will turn around.
>
> Best wishes...
>
> Jay
>
> > That pretty much sums it up. I am not suicidal, but life is miserable. Go to bed miserable. Wake up miserable. Am on Serzone for depression, and obviously it's not working. My new M.D. recently added Topamax as a mood stabilizer and now I'm not only depressed but crying. Frequently. And having thoughts of suicide. Wouldn't you know it's a holiday weekend. Anybody else experience crying/suicidal thoughts with Topamax? XXX, E.
Posted by sorsha on September 7, 2001, at 18:13:08
In reply to Re: Topamax: Crying Jags/Suicidal Thoughts -- Jay, posted by Elzabeth on September 7, 2001, at 11:46:49
>About twenty percent of depressions do not respond easily to AD. I went through six years before finding a combination that worked. The SSRIs worked pretty well but I needed Imiprimine also, a tri-cyclic. the tri-cyclics are excellent anti-depressants but have a few more side effects. It wasnt until I added lithium that my depression totally disappeared and for the first time in my life I have been enjoying normal mood even through a terrible divorce. I tollerate lithium well although others dont like it. I have been told it is the most common adjunct to AD for resistant depression but I know where I work the nurses like to use topomax and never prescribe lithium. Sometimes I wish I could have had shock treatment thinking it would not have side effects. I hate the sexual dysfunction effects of the SSRIs but if I dont take them I get depressed. I wish theren were something else to try but I have not found it.
Posted by kregpark@yahoo.com on September 9, 2001, at 4:53:42
In reply to SERZONE crying/suicidal thoughts (topamax), posted by Elzabeth on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
Hi,
Not sure exactly what treating but
if you tried all that maybe depression and
anxiety both?Nardil is a king there.
Parnte is also.Jack Gorman's "Essential Guide to Pschiatric Drugs"\
1997 v3, paperback $8, amazon.com
Have you checked it out?small paperback all disorders and drugs,
highly respected author and book.Nardil and Parnate succeed where other weaker
drugs fail.Again I've no idea what you're treating and I'm
not a doctor anyway but I highly recommend
the book if you've not seen it!!> Well, THIS is very interesting, and thank you all for writing. I've been a complete nut case. I NEVER cry, and while revisiting crying has been -- well, kind of nice -- the amount of tears I've been shedding has been out-of-control, and thoughts of suicide intrusive and scary.
>
> I'm pretty p*ssed off about this. My (Serzone) dose was doubled from 200 mg./daily to 400 mg./daily 6 wks. ago. Same time I started Topamax. I thought Topamax was the culprit.
>
> Topamax has also been interesting, in case anyone is curious. NOTHING tastes good. Everything tastes sour. Not sour like lemons. Sour like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over the 4th of July weekend. Yucky. I'm also clumsy, tingly, kind of stupid. Yeah, I've got it goin' on.
>
> I'm calling my doc in the morning.
>
> I'm so sick of meds. I just want to go off everything and start over.
>
> Anyone else, like me, who feels they've tried everything?
>
> Let's see if I can remember it all ...
>
> Lithium ... Nortriptolene ... Trazadone ... Valium ... Xanax ... Klonopin ... Prozac ... Paxyl ... Wellbutrin ... Effexor ... Serzone ... Topamax ...
>
> What's left?
>
> Has anyone tried a drug holiday and come through okay?
>
> XXX, E.
This is the end of the thread.
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