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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oneamradio on January 8, 2005, at 16:13:47
I've been on anti-depressants off and on since I was 13.
When I was 13, I was put on Prozac and Trazodone (exact doses unknown). No effects whatsoever, except I'd feel like complete sh*t if I didn't go to sleep right after I took my Trazodone, and if I woke up too early, I'd feel very groggy.
I stayed off anti-depressants after trying Prozac and Trazodone for a few months until about January '03. I was then put on Effexor XR and worked my way up to a dosage of 450mg/day after about only 3 months.
At first, I thought it was working, but I think it had more of a placebo effect more than anything because I soon realized that I wasn't feeling so great after all.
I was on that dosage for over a year before I finally decided I needed to try something new.
I was perscribed Risperdal to augment my Effexor XR, but after reading up on it, decided that I wouldn't even try it because of all the side effects (increased risk of diabetes, possible tardive dyskinea, etc).
Then I was put on Wellbutrin in combination with Effexor XR, and while I was on it, I experienced two weeks of hell. Probably two of the worst weeks of my life, so I made the decision to quit Wellbutrin.
Then I was put on Lamictal (I forget the original dosage) not too long ago, and I'm up to a 200mg/day dose in combination with 90mg/day of Cymbalta. I'm weening off Effexor XR, and these are my last two weeks on it.
To be honest, I'm not sure if anything's changed at all. My problem isn't that I'm always depressed--It's just that when I do hit a downer, nothing else matters. All those times of being content completely disappear, and I can't think rationally for the life of me. I feel so bad--I cry, I throw up, and I can't get out of bed--It's the worst.
And I haven't even noticed any withdrawls from weening off the Effexor XR, and from what I've read/heard, they're supposed to be pretty brutal.
My question is: What the heck is wrong with me? I'm on these really high doses (from what I can tell), and I haven't really noticed any significant results.
And I've tried many other outlets other than medication just to clear things up.
Can anyone give me some feedback? I find this worrysome.
Posted by Iansf on January 8, 2005, at 18:36:18
In reply to Am I immune to anti-depressants?, posted by oneamradio on January 8, 2005, at 16:13:47
> My question is: What the heck is wrong with me? I'm on these really high doses (from what I can tell), and I haven't really noticed any significant results.
>
> And I've tried many other outlets other than medication just to clear things up.
>
> Can anyone give me some feedback? I find this worrysome.You're probably not "immune," but you may be one of those people who will have to experiment with numerous drugs and combinations of drugs before finding something effective. It's a difficult situation but not a hopeless one. Some doctors are much better than others at figuring out which drug is likely to work best for a particular person. Unfortunately, unless you can get a recommendation from someone who knows such a doctor, that search, too, could take time and effort. It's worth the effort, however., so don't let your depression deceive you into thinking there's no hope. Good luck.
Posted by Racer on January 11, 2005, at 20:19:39
In reply to Am I immune to anti-depressants?, posted by oneamradio on January 8, 2005, at 16:13:47
Many people here fall into a similar boat, in that we don't respond 100% to the first AD we try. We're not immune, but we do need some fiddling done before we find the right med or combo. In many cases, a lot of us here have tried literally everything! That's a really depressing thought for those of us who have come close to it, can you imagine?
It's also possible that your depression really is under control, but you also experience dysthymia. (Hell, don't ask me. My pdoc says that they're different and you can have both. If you figure that out, explain it to me, huh?) Or, it could be that you set things up to be dissatisfied. Therapy can help a lot with either of those issues, as well as a lot of other issues. Depression is not only biochemical, after all, because we've learned behaviors and coping skills that affect how we react to the world around us.
I hope you do find something that helps, and that everything works out for you.
Posted by johnsmith12345 on January 12, 2005, at 4:09:43
In reply to Am I immune to anti-depressants?, posted by oneamradio on January 8, 2005, at 16:13:47
If all else fails, try the MAOIs.
Posted by oneamradio on January 12, 2005, at 13:08:41
In reply to Re: Am I immune to anti-depressants?, posted by johnsmith12345 on January 12, 2005, at 4:09:43
> If all else fails, try the MAOIs.
Yeah, I've noticed that my doctor has steered away from the MAOIs. Do you think there might be a reason for this? I've been wondering myself for a while now. I suppose I'll ask him during my next appointment.
Posted by johnsmith12345 on January 12, 2005, at 17:56:03
In reply to Re: Am I immune to anti-depressants?, posted by oneamradio on January 12, 2005, at 13:08:41
Yes, there are certain risks of taking MAOIs that you won't see with newer medications. To my knowledge these risks can be completely avoided by going on the special diet, but there is a dilemma for doctors. If you slipped up and ate the wrong thing in your diet, and did not go to the emergency room and died, they would be at risk for a lawsuit for not trying every other possible medication first, before putting you on MAOIs.
However, MAOIs are usually more effective than newer antidepressants. That is why I am recommending them.
This is the end of the thread.
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