Posted by stargazer on April 3, 2007, at 17:43:13
In reply to Are The Only Meds That Work MAOI's That's All I se, posted by Phillipa on April 3, 2007, at 12:02:41
Phillipa, You know the people who are on PB so often are those that have very difficult cases of depression, anxiety, etc. and are beyond taking an SSRI or monotherapy for their condition. That is why you do not see many straight forward stories of SSRI's and other first line treatments used initially for depression. The success stories on SSRI's are in many whose lives are not all consumed with these conditions. They are working and living relatively normal lives. At least, that is what I think.
You and I see things very differently. I look at the MAOI stories and feel good that there are many success stories (not always) especially since so many of the users have requested the MAOI's when all their pdocs want is to give them SSRI's or other "new, improved" meds, which have proven do not work for so many of us. Those of us who have spent years going that route know it can just be a futile endeavor and time is being wasted, with every med trial.
Finding a MAO or other combination of meds that work is real progress and success, so don't look at the stories as depressing. They are inspiring, if you look at it from someone's long journey to get there. We are the experts, not the pdocs, although some are, but the majority of us probably have average pdocs, the superstars are few and far between.
If I were in your shoes, I would say I have more to lose by not taking a MAO or something like it. Low dose Nardil worked very well for my social anxiety which is really the way my depression started out. It was a true miracle and hopefully I can try it again very soon. I have no fear of trying MAO's since I've tried 4 and have not had anywherer near the SE's on them as I have had on SSRI's. I have essentially refused to ever take an SSRI again if I am thinking clearly at the time, which can cloud my ability to make good decisions for myself.
SSRI's give me horrible side effects including a worsening of depression to the point of being suicidal. I was the one who told my doctor if he insisted on me upping my dose, he would have a dead patient on his hands. Needless to say, stopping the SSRI saved my life since the suicidality left as quickly as it had comeon.
If I were there, I would be your advocate for trying Nardil since it is such a good drug and the SE's for me were so minimal. It really did give me a life. That was almost 20 years ago. Why these insane pdocs don't use logic is beyond me.
So much for all the great meds of the 90's (Prozac, Paxil Effexor, Zoloft, Celexa (OK),Remeron) none gave me any relief on their own. Occasionally when combined with something, like Wellbutrin or a stimulant the combo worked but it wasn't the SSRI that was doing anything.
Please take the initiative and help yourself. You can't get much worse than where you are at right now. You have to take a new course and try something different. Not benzos and not SSRI's, at least in my opinion, they are not working.
You need a new approach and everyone here has tried to encourage you but your resistence puts up so many roadblocks, we can only do so much to help you. You are getting more and more depressed and anxious that you are your own worst enemy for seeing any real logical solutions.
I do think a different approach is key to you getting better, you need to find an alternative to benzos and Luvox or other low dose SSRI's. If you never have tried a MAO you owe it to your self to try one at least once and not to focus onthe negatives because you can always convince yourself why not to try one.
Be well...Stargazer
poster:stargazer
thread:746524
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070402/msgs/746598.html