Posted by orbital on August 20, 2013, at 15:36:32
In reply to Re: Lou's response and warning-, posted by Christ_empowered on August 20, 2013, at 7:48:00
Well, thanks for the insights. I checked my notes, with the exception of Saphris, all the AAPs did worsen my depression. They flatten my mood and kill what little motivation I may have. Saphris is good stuff, it calms me down without flattening my mood .. but it's not like it perks me up. I'd compare it to a benzo, actually.
I suspect stimulants could help, but my old doctor refused to prescribe them, claiming they were addictive.
I'm seeing a new doc next week, should I just show up and ask for Vyvanese? LOL. At this point, I might just do that.
Provigil worsens my depression very badly. I take it anyway whenever I'm feeling too foggy and sleepy, maybe once a week.
Thanks everyone, I'm too tired to answer each post individually, but I appreciate your time very very much.
> "Depression" actually covers a lot of ground. You could be: anxious, tired, apathetic, too agitated, psychotic, unable to concentrate, gaining weight, losing weight....so on and so forth.
>
> Personally, AAPs don't help my sad states. I either have to deal or add in a short term SRI for bouts of psychotic depression (I'm on Abilify @ 20 for bipolar, with trileptal @ 1200). But I'm not you.
>
> Even though AAPs are the latest thing for depression, and shrinks are a trendy bunch, I'm starting to suspect they're not gonna work for you. Antipsychotics can actually cause or worsen depression in some people. If you're already apathetic from antidepressants, a tranquilizer probably isn't going to be the best thing for you. Then again, I'm not an MD.
>
> Have you tried BuSpar? Does some of the same things for AD-boosting as an AAP, but its cheaper, probably safer (TD, NMS, all that), and the immediate side effects usually aren't nearly as terrible.
>
> There's also: low dose lithium, lamictal, a benzo (xanax or xanax xr comes to mind), stimulants. You've got options.
>
> Like I said, "depression" is now a fairly meaningless diagnosis. Shrinks (and GPs, too) just throw antidepressants at people and hope it goes OK. Re-diagnosis isn't really all that helpful, unless something crazy is going on (psychosis, manic episodes).
>
> All I could think of, looking over your meds, would be to drop the Effexor, keep the Prozac, and maybe add in Ritalin, Provigil, or one of the amphetamines (Vyvanse is the new "it" Rx speed). Or not.
poster:orbital
thread:1049029
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130730/msgs/1049375.html