Posted by Ruby on July 17, 2010, at 16:44:23
In reply to Re: Abilify and Lithium, posted by ed_uk2010 on July 17, 2010, at 14:43:50
Hi Ed--
Thanks for your thoughts; they are certainly ones I will bring up with my pdoc.
> The problem with using trazodone for sleep induction is that it lasts far too long, potentially making you feel tired all day (which really defeats the point).
I've been on traz for 8 years now; for 7 of those years I only needed 50mg of it to give me a good night sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Since I was in the hospital and since the ECT, I've needed much more traz to make me sleep. But you are right, I do feel fatigued all day and have a terrible time getting out of the door in the morning.
Short-acting drugs such as ramelteon (Rozerem) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) are much less problematic in this respect. Lunesta is best taken intermittently due to the risk of dependence.
I've not heard of ramelteon, though I have heard of lunesta. My insomnia is hard, tried and true since I was a child, so I'm not sure the lunesta would work for me.
>
> Clonazepam (Klonopin) can sometimes aggravate depression. Have you noticed this at all?I've not noticed this at all; it really takes the edge off of my anxiety and even at .5mg works to get me through difficult parts of the day--more than once its gotten me through a stressful meeting when I thought I might jump out of my skin.
I assume your anxiety and depression do not response well to SSRIs such as Lexapro?
I've been on all kinds of meds--and you are right the SSRIs just don't work for me. Was on Lamictal for a long time, it worked wonderfully, but I kept getting a rash (not THE rash but a rash) and finally my pdoc decided she didn't want me getting rashes and not knowing when a rash might be the bad one. Can't remember all the meds they've tried with me...wellbutrin was awful, as was seroquel....my depression has been called treatment resistant, bipolar 2 with anxiety disorder and PTSD.
>
> Desipramine can sometimes be an effective and non-sedating alternative to nortriptyline. Desipramine can be taken in the morning.
>
Haven't heard of this one either, so will bring it up to the pdoc and see what she has to say.Lots to think about here. And all because of "little" upswing/downswing which might have been the result of a supplement I took that have chromium in it.
Thanks again for your thoughts and help. I'm sure we'll get things straightened out.
Ruby
poster:Ruby
thread:954671
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100709/msgs/954801.html