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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
Hi all, I haven't been on babble for a while, mostly because my mood is like a damp squib, whatever that is :)
Seriously, I have been SOOO anxious that I can't take Ritalin even at very low doses. So I'm incredibly depressed as well as incredibly anxious. No fun when you get the double whammy, as I'm sure a lot of you know.
Can't take benzos b/c of super-physical addiction. Doc rx'd a real oldie, Miltown (meprobamate). It's what was used as an anti-anxiety med before valium hit the market. It definitely does not help near as much as a benzo, but it helps a little bit.
Oh, we tried upping my Elavil dose, and I had several hallucinations, and became incredibly confused and at times hostile. I was plain weird. Tapering off that now, and starting Lexapro which has helped my anxiety in the past.
Anyways, I've missed you all on babble, I was just in such a dark place, even picking up my laptop seemed like a real effort.
Hope you are all well, and Jono, if you find something that's great for anxiety please let me know! And, even more importantly, explain to me what a damp squib is!! It sounds like some kind of sea creature that likes to crawl around on the beach in a wet t-shirt.
Kat
Posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 16:20:30
In reply to Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
> Hi all, I haven't been on babble for a while, mostly because my mood is like a damp squib, whatever that is :)
>
> Seriously, I have been SOOO anxious that I can't take Ritalin even at very low doses. So I'm incredibly depressed as well as incredibly anxious. No fun when you get the double whammy, as I'm sure a lot of you know.
>
> Can't take benzos b/c of super-physical addiction. Doc rx'd a real oldie, Miltown (meprobamate). It's what was used as an anti-anxiety med before valium hit the market. It definitely does not help near as much as a benzo, but it helps a little bit.
>
> Oh, we tried upping my Elavil dose, and I had several hallucinations, and became incredibly confused and at times hostile. I was plain weird. Tapering off that now, and starting Lexapro which has helped my anxiety in the past.
>
> Anyways, I've missed you all on babble, I was just in such a dark place, even picking up my laptop seemed like a real effort.
>
> Hope you are all well, and Jono, if you find something that's great for anxiety please let me know! And, even more importantly, explain to me what a damp squib is!! It sounds like some kind of sea creature that likes to crawl around on the beach in a wet t-shirt.
> KatI'm pretty sure this is what he means:
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/SquibKeep in mind I'm not into this stuff, I just got it from Googling. It seems to fit.
Posted by SLS on March 6, 2013, at 16:37:53
In reply to Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
Dear Kat.
I'm sorry that you have been suffering so. Have you folks decided yet that you are bipolar?
What about perphenazine?
What about hydroxyzine
What about promethazine?
What about gabapentin?
What about Paxil?
What about Trileptal?
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on March 6, 2013, at 16:48:07
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » ChicagoKat, posted by SLS on March 6, 2013, at 16:37:53
A squib is an explosive/fire cracker, and a damp squib is one thats gotten wet and fizzes out instead of going off - Brit expression inherited from my grandparents :)
Scott, re kat, hydroxyzine (and meprobamate)didnt work well for her, and she reacts badly to antipsychotics.
I was going to suggest phenobarbital for hr anxiety, as a last resort it might be worth trying....combined with her SR Ritalin it would (alomost) imitate that grand oldy Dexamyl
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:56:21
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » ChicagoKat, posted by SLS on March 6, 2013, at 16:37:53
> Dear Kat.
>
> I'm sorry that you have been suffering so. Have you folks decided yet that you are bipolar?You know, I meant to talk to my pdoc about that, but I forgot. The pdoc at the hospital where I was committed seemed to think I am.
>
> What about perphenazine?scary antipsychotic...EPS - Yikes!! I got akathisia from Zyprexa and every other AP I've tried, typical or not, has made me agitated
>
> What about hydroxyzineI had a love affair with hydroxazine. Until it turned on me. My personal best: tolerance to a drug in one week.
>
> What about promethazine?Something to consider, but still it has scary EPS, just not as strong
>
> What about gabapentin?Used to work, it pooped out, or more like my body gave up on it. Tapering off of it now.
>
> What about Paxil?Paxil made me really agitated
>
> What about Trileptal?After my bad experience with Tegretol (have never been so depressed in my life) I'm leary of Trileptal. But something to consider.
Lexapro has really helped my anxiety in the not so distant past, so we're gonna try that. We'll see. I was thinking zoloft might be a good alternative, b/c I've never taken it at therapeutic doses and I've read it can really help anxiety.
>
>
> - ScottThanks for your recommendations Scott! They are always good ones and are much appreciated. Unfortunately my liver makes taking psychotropic drugs a challenge b/c I just metabolize so fast. My Mom asked if my pdoc is bald. I said no, why do you ask? She said b/c he must tear out all his hair whenever he sees you coming!
And how are you doing, Scott?
Kat
Posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 17:26:46
In reply to Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
Here, this might work:
Posted by polarbear206 on March 6, 2013, at 17:48:31
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » ChicagoKat, posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 17:26:46
You are in a mixed state. What about Depakote, lithium, etc...????
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2013, at 18:34:10
In reply to Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
From my experience with Miltown I think with the doseage increase and no ritalin you will do much better. Also I'm liking lexapro. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on March 6, 2013, at 18:54:36
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by polarbear206 on March 6, 2013, at 17:48:31
> You are in a mixed state. What about Depakote, lithium, etc...????
Good idea.
:-)
I was thinking about both of those drugs when I asked about Kat being bipolar.
- Scott
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 19:50:35
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » ChicagoKat, posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 17:26:46
> Here, this might work:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cmcmHUO49EThanks Schlep, but no more MAOIs for me...it was likely Parnate that caused my Rhabdomyolysis, and Nardil was great for me, but I had several falls...maybbe the start of Rhabdo?
Anysays, thanks again...cute video
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 19:55:27
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by polarbear206 on March 6, 2013, at 17:48:31
> You are in a mixed state. What about Depakote, lithium, etc...????
I have never been diagnosed as a bipolar patient...I've never experienced mania before. If anxiety counts, then yep, I'm bipolar, but every reference I read says it has to be a manic mood.
I did once try Lithium, but it didn't seem to do annything for me. maybe it would now, I don't know. I've been so different after ect 2yrs ago; my symptoms are significantly worse and meds either won't work for me anymore or I develop tolerance very rapidly.Makes no sense to me, but that's the way it is :(
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 19:58:15
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2013, at 18:34:10
> From my experience with Miltown I think with the doseage increase and no ritalin you will do much better. Also I'm liking lexapro. Phillipa
Thanks Phillipa. I'd been on Lexapro for a couple of years and loved it when I was pre-ECT. After ECT it no longer helped with my depression, it was so quick, like a switch was set to off. I did find that it still helps with my anxiety about a year ago. I hope that is still the case; we'll see.
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 20:01:40
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again) » polarbear206, posted by SLS on March 6, 2013, at 18:54:36
> > You are in a mixed state. What about Depakote, lithium, etc...????
>
> Good idea.
>
> :-)
>
> I was thinking about both of those drugs when I asked about Kat being bipolar.
>
Do you all seriously think I'm bipolar? As I told polarbear, I've never had a manic state, but I do switch back and forth between depression and anxiety and sometimes I have them both at the same time, which is the worst. But I am really curious and would like to know if you all really think I am bipolar. Thanks,
Kat
>
> - Scott
>
Posted by polarbear206 on March 6, 2013, at 21:24:02
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 19:58:15
I have bipolar and have never had a true manic episode as in bipolar 1. This is what is so VERY misunderstood about bipolar affective disorders. please go to psycheducation.org and click on the link for mood swings without mania. Research the whole site which is dedicated to mood disorders. I would also suggest purchasing Dr. Phelp's book.
Posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 22:45:42
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by polarbear206 on March 6, 2013, at 21:24:02
> I have bipolar and have never had a true manic episode as in bipolar 1. This is what is so VERY misunderstood about bipolar affective disorders. please go to psycheducation.org and click on the link for mood swings without mania. Research the whole site which is dedicated to mood disorders. I would also suggest purchasing Dr. Phelp's book.
From the "Treatment" chapter:
"What if you are currently on an antidepressant?
If you're doing well, maybe continue it. This is controversial"
Please approach a man like Dr. Phelps with caution.
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2013, at 23:03:51
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 22:45:42
In other words don't be influenced by what you read listen to the people who treat you in real life. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on March 7, 2013, at 0:29:57
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by schleprock on March 6, 2013, at 22:45:42
> > I have bipolar and have never had a true manic episode as in bipolar 1. This is what is so VERY misunderstood about bipolar affective disorders. please go to psycheducation.org and click on the link for mood swings without mania. Research the whole site which is dedicated to mood disorders. I would also suggest purchasing Dr. Phelp's book.
>
> From the "Treatment" chapter:
>
> "What if you are currently on an antidepressant?
>
> If you're doing well, maybe continue it. This is controversial"
>
> Please approach a man like Dr. Phelps with caution.I haven't read Phelp's work. Could you post a link to the paper you cited?
People with a history of recurrent or chronic severe depression are often best continued on an antidepressant should they be lucky enough to find one that works. This has been demonstrated in longitudinal studies. Donald Kupfer was one of the first to research this. He found that antidepressant discontinuation or dosage reduction resulted in relapse rates that were much higher than the continuation of treatment at the dosage necessary to achieve remission.
It is an unfortunate scenario that someone should discontinue an effective treatment with an antidepressant, only to fail to respond to that drug subsequently upon relapse.
- Scott
----------------------------------------------------
Kupfer DJ, Frank E, Perel JM et al. Five year outcome for maintenance therapies in recurrent depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992; 49: 76973
Frank E, Kupfer DJ, Perel JM et al. Three year outcomes for maintenance therapies of recurrent depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990; 47: 10939
Frank E, Kupfer DJ, Perel JM et al. Comparison of full-dose versus half-dose pharmacotherapy in the maintenance treatment of recurrent depression. J Affect Disord 1993; 27: 13945
----------------------------------------------------- Scott
Posted by bleauberry on March 7, 2013, at 14:31:53
In reply to Kat is back (again), posted by ChicagoKat on March 6, 2013, at 16:09:51
Nice to see you, but then again, wish you weren't feeling bad.
Posted by ChicagoKat on March 11, 2013, at 15:15:59
In reply to Re: Kat is back (again), posted by bleauberry on March 7, 2013, at 14:31:53
> Nice to see you, but then again, wish you weren't feeling bad.
awww what a nice thing to say, thank you!
This is the end of the thread.
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