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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
Why is that everything I try seems powerfully overpotent and sends me into a much deeper depression almost immediately?
I've been a wreck since stopping zyprexa 2 months ago. Daily cycles of deep depression or fierce anxiety/terror, but never at the same time. Cycles happen 1 to 3 times a day. What is this?
Restarted zyprexa for 2 days. The first day was such a relief. Everything fine. But the second day, massive deep depression.
Doc gave me lamictal with high hopes. Just 12.5mg felt like a dump truck landed on me. Extremely deep depression within 4 hours that lasted 2 solid days (but the anxiety was gone).
Xanax...my old friend that never lets me down...awesome antianxiety and antidepression. But now, it only calms the body but the terror remains, and it makes me very very depressed.
Lexapro...never was good as an antidepressant for me, but half decent for anxiety. 5 days at 2.5mg has calmed anxiety, but again I am plunged into such a deep despair of depression.
In emergency situations (like going to company conventions), I take about 1mg cymbalta (yeah, just 1mg of the norepinephrine stuff) along with .25mg xanax 4 times a day, along with 1.25mg zyprexa 2 times a day. And I'm perfectly fine. I am now thinking to throw caution to the wind and just do it. I've never done it for more than 4 days though, so who knows how long it would last, or even if it would work again.
I can't take it anymore! I don't get it! I can understand when meds don't help depression. But when all of them seem to make it profoundly incredibly worse almost right away, that is scary. I'm terrified to put any pill in my mouth now, and equally terrified not to. Trapped. These daily or hourly cycles are pure nightmares. I have never felt so hopeless.
What's going on?
Posted by SLS on April 12, 2006, at 20:31:21
In reply to Why is it...., posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
Hi.
I don't have a definite answer for you right now, but I figured I'd let you know that there are people reading your posts and wanting to help you.
There exists a form of bipolar disorder that includes ultra-dian rapid cycling. People with this presentation can switch back and forth several times a day. For you, it might be an incomplete switch from pure depression into a mixed-state that includes anxiety. Lamictal might very well have interrupted that cycle and left you in the depressed phase. If this is what's going on, then I would look to something like Trileptal.
I imagine there are alternative explanations for your experiences that are not at all related to affective disorder.
Is there any history of depression or bipolar disorder in your family?
How old were you when you first displayed symptoms of mood illness or anxiety?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2006, at 22:13:29
In reply to Re: Why is it...., posted by SLS on April 12, 2006, at 20:31:21
Blueberry I'm so sorry. I wish I could help you truly I do. Love Phillipa
Posted by Crazy Horse on April 12, 2006, at 22:28:07
In reply to Why is it...., posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
> Why is that everything I try seems powerfully overpotent and sends me into a much deeper depression almost immediately?
>
> I've been a wreck since stopping zyprexa 2 months ago. Daily cycles of deep depression or fierce anxiety/terror, but never at the same time. Cycles happen 1 to 3 times a day. What is this?
>
> Restarted zyprexa for 2 days. The first day was such a relief. Everything fine. But the second day, massive deep depression.
>
> Doc gave me lamictal with high hopes. Just 12.5mg felt like a dump truck landed on me. Extremely deep depression within 4 hours that lasted 2 solid days (but the anxiety was gone).
>
> Xanax...my old friend that never lets me down...awesome antianxiety and antidepression. But now, it only calms the body but the terror remains, and it makes me very very depressed.
>
> Lexapro...never was good as an antidepressant for me, but half decent for anxiety. 5 days at 2.5mg has calmed anxiety, but again I am plunged into such a deep despair of depression.
>
> In emergency situations (like going to company conventions), I take about 1mg cymbalta (yeah, just 1mg of the norepinephrine stuff) along with .25mg xanax 4 times a day, along with 1.25mg zyprexa 2 times a day. And I'm perfectly fine. I am now thinking to throw caution to the wind and just do it. I've never done it for more than 4 days though, so who knows how long it would last, or even if it would work again.
>
> I can't take it anymore! I don't get it! I can understand when meds don't help depression. But when all of them seem to make it profoundly incredibly worse almost right away, that is scary. I'm terrified to put any pill in my mouth now, and equally terrified not to. Trapped. These daily or hourly cycles are pure nightmares. I have never felt so hopeless.
>
> What's going on?Blueberry,
I am so sorry that you are hurting so badly right now. I wish I could give you a magic pill and take it all away. Others here like Scott, Ed, Linkage, all know a lot more about meds than i do so i leave that up to them. But one thing for sure, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that you will be feeling better SOON!Tyler/Crazy Horse
Posted by TenMan on April 13, 2006, at 9:58:58
In reply to Why is it...., posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
Blueberry, have you read the story of Jack Dreyfus and Dilantin? I only mention it because it seems you have exhausted most conventional resources. I took Dilantin a few years back briefly and found it had a profound anti-anxiety effect along with mood stabilization. All the best.
Posted by nellie7 on April 13, 2006, at 14:51:46
In reply to Why is it...., posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
Blueberry, have you checked for a physical problem that may be complicating your depression?
It is also possible that the zyprexa made your depression worse by depleting dopamine and that could explain why adding cymbalta helps you.
I hope you find a combination with a lasting helpful effect.Nellie.
Posted by blueberry on April 13, 2006, at 18:48:35
In reply to Re: Why is it...., posted by nellie7 on April 13, 2006, at 14:51:46
I do thank you for your kind response.
As for physical problems, yes, they have been testing everything in the book...full blood panel, full thyroid panel, hormones, toxic metals, HIV, cancer, on and on. Everything keeps coming up fine. Low cortisol levels and high mercury/lead have been found.
I like your theory on cymbalta. It does seem like just a touch of dopamine does wonders for me. I'm thinking seriously of going back to prozac+zyprexa+xanax, or cymbalta+zyprexa+xanax. There was something special about those combos. Not perfect, but certainly way better than where I am now. The serotonin bit helps only a bit, but the dopamine synergy of the combos is pretty strong.
Posted by Crazy Horse on April 14, 2006, at 10:48:23
In reply to Re: Why is it.... » nellie7, posted by blueberry on April 13, 2006, at 18:48:35
>
>
>
>
I'm thinking seriously of going back to prozac+zyprexa+xanax, or cymbalta+zyprexa+xanax. There was something special about those combos. Not perfect, but certainly way better than where I am now.
Blueberry,
If there was something special about those combos, than by all means get back on one of them! "Not perfect", nothing is! I know i talk a lot about how well i'm doing on Parnate...but is it perfect? Absolutely Not!!! But, compared to before i started it-way better!Best wishes,
-Crazy Horse
Posted by bassman on April 14, 2006, at 18:06:03
In reply to Why is it...., posted by blueberry on April 12, 2006, at 18:42:28
Every AD I've taken has given one day of feeling better followed by depression/tiredness for several days, often with other SE's. It is very difficult; even more so when we take these meds because we already feel awful and don't need to feel worse! Sounds like you have an old med combo that at least worked a bit I know what you mean about a nightmare existence-best of luck. My experience has been that meds are the only way out...
Feel better soon,
bassman
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