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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by adamie on November 24, 2001, at 20:00:54
hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
Posted by jay on November 25, 2001, at 5:06:18
In reply to excersize for depression/anxiety? also Adrafinil, posted by adamie on November 24, 2001, at 20:00:54
Well, I don't quite know about the efficacy of Adrafinil as a single unit for depression. I noticed you had trouble with antidepressants in the past, and was surprised (well..not really, considering how anti-benzo many doctors are) your doctor didn't supply a *good* strong dose of a benzo with your antidepressant.
I would really suggest shopping for a few doctors until you find one willing to truely help you. It takes some time for antidepressants to *really* work, and in the meantime, a good benzo can help quell the anxiety. I am concerned about what seems to be lack of good, strong care for you, as your doctor should be supporting you with much longer trials of a combo of meds.
Please, talk to your doctor again, or find a better one willing to help coach you through. If you are looking for support on here, I and I am sure others would be willing to help support you through tough times. Believe me, though, benzo's can *cut* the painful side-effects and easing on to an antidepressant *fast*, and quite easily. Anxiety and sleep I believe are the two areas you would find a *massive* difference in with a good benzo dose. This isn't just a guess...myself and millions have been greatly helped by a benzo while both going on to an antidepressant, and while on one in the long run.
Anyhow, your question about exercise. If I had more time (excuse, I know..heh), I would exercise, as along with medication, it is a major,major PLUS! Depression and anxiety are very physical, and exercise feels like it is slapping these things in the face, and shoves them a bit further away. Plus, you also feel better about getting yourself in a somewhat healthy shape. Your body also just feels good afterwards, and man, in this battle,feeling good is, well, good! :-)
Anyhow...I honestly think you need a stronger coach in the way of a doc to help keep you on track, and get you on a good regiment of meds. I too have had a nasty reaction to antidepressants after I first started them, but usually a severe lowering of the dose, and adding a good benzo like Xanax or Ativan a few times a day, will slowly tackle both anxiety and depression. It is also important to note many people (me included!) go through many, many different antidepressants before finding the best one (i.e. works best on depression with less side effects. Again, a benzo is of dire importance especially in the start to help ease on.)
Things won't ever be perfect (are they ever???..heh), but your symptoms can be reduced greatly, as noted by some of us on here who do post our success stories.
Please get back when you can...
Thanks
Jay
>
> hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?
>
> over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
>
> then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
>
> maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
>
> also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
Posted by Neal on November 28, 2001, at 16:55:57
In reply to excersize for depression/anxiety? also Adrafinil, posted by adamie on November 24, 2001, at 20:00:54
Keep up the exercise, adamie. It has been shown to be beneficial for moderate depression. And you'll be healthier too, so you can't lose.
Posted by Simcha on November 29, 2001, at 7:24:09
In reply to excersize for depression/anxiety? also Adrafinil, posted by adamie on November 24, 2001, at 20:00:54
adamie,
I just started back at the gym this Monday. There must be something in the air for us Babblers. :-)
I do find that exercise helps with my depression. I also find that it helps with sexual side-effects. One possible explanation is that my testosterone levels might be higher because of the weight-lifting and muscle-building. Anyway, why bother with a complicated explanation so long as it works!
I exercised for years along with just talk therapy. I know this combo helped. But alas that combo was not enough for me. I needed to add meds to the mix. Even with the meds I feel better if I exercise regularly.
Take Care,
Simcha
Posted by Cindylou on November 29, 2001, at 12:35:10
In reply to excersize for depression/anxiety? also Adrafinil, posted by adamie on November 24, 2001, at 20:00:54
Hi adamie,
I'll get to the exercise part, but first wanted to just check in with you ... I remember you were going to talk with your doc about Lamictal ... were you ever able to do so? I remember that you and I have very similar symptoms and similar reactions to meds. I am finally doing better, with a combo of Lamictal plus a low dose of Serzone. It isn't easy titrating up on the Lamictal .. it seems to bring on a lot of anxiety and agitation when I titrate up to the next level, but then it gets better. Klonapin helps the agitation, and this Serzone really helps it without making me too fatigued (but I am on a very low dose -- 75 mg right now.)Anyway, as far as exercise goes, I find that it definitely helps with depression and anxiety, but only temporarily -- like for a few hours or so after I exercise. I used to exercise like a fanatic in the past, and still had severe depression. Now I just don't have the time or energy to exercise, but when I do, I feel better for a good part of the day. It doesn't last though.
Hope you're doing well. Keep me posted ... I've been thinking of you.
-cindy
> hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?
>
> over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
>
> then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
>
> maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
>
> also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
Posted by adamie on November 29, 2001, at 13:11:46
In reply to Re: excersize for depression/anxiety? .. LAMICTAL? » adamie, posted by Cindylou on November 29, 2001, at 12:35:10
i haven't been able to talk about the lamictal. the doc is unwilling to listen to my ideas. I was precribed zoloft 25mg and .5 mg risperdal. zoloft raised to 5mg in 5 days.i am giving up on excersize. this week of excersize has been hell for me. if it's helped then it seems hardly at all. i have felt quite suicidal this week. also i am taking ativan .5mg a few times a day.
hopefully the zoloft wont make me worse like the others.
i will be sent to a special clinic soon. maybe i will get some help there.
> Hi adamie,
> I'll get to the exercise part, but first wanted to just check in with you ... I remember you were going to talk with your doc about Lamictal ... were you ever able to do so? I remember that you and I have very similar symptoms and similar reactions to meds. I am finally doing better, with a combo of Lamictal plus a low dose of Serzone. It isn't easy titrating up on the Lamictal .. it seems to bring on a lot of anxiety and agitation when I titrate up to the next level, but then it gets better. Klonapin helps the agitation, and this Serzone really helps it without making me too fatigued (but I am on a very low dose -- 75 mg right now.)
>
> Anyway, as far as exercise goes, I find that it definitely helps with depression and anxiety, but only temporarily -- like for a few hours or so after I exercise. I used to exercise like a fanatic in the past, and still had severe depression. Now I just don't have the time or energy to exercise, but when I do, I feel better for a good part of the day. It doesn't last though.
>
> Hope you're doing well. Keep me posted ... I've been thinking of you.
> -cindy
> > hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?
> >
> > over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
> >
> > then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
> >
> > maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
> >
> > also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
Posted by Cindylou on November 29, 2001, at 21:56:45
In reply to Re: excersize for depression/anxiety? .. LAMICTAL? » Cindylou, posted by adamie on November 29, 2001, at 13:11:46
Hi adamie,
I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling bad again. How long have you been on the Zoloft? Did you start it yet? Just a caution, since you and I seem to be so similar in our responses to things ... I have tried Zoloft on a few different occasions, and it HAS worked for me -- HOWEVER, it did cause me to get much worse before I got better. And after my mood was lifted, I still experienced extreme fatigue with the Zoloft which never abated.So, if you do end up feeling worse it could be the Zoloft, but the feeling should pass in a couple weeks and help your mood substantially. Hopefully you won't experience the fatigue that i did.
Hang in there!!
cindy
>
> i haven't been able to talk about the lamictal. the doc is unwilling to listen to my ideas. I was precribed zoloft 25mg and .5 mg risperdal. zoloft raised to 5mg in 5 days.
>
> i am giving up on excersize. this week of excersize has been hell for me. if it's helped then it seems hardly at all. i have felt quite suicidal this week. also i am taking ativan .5mg a few times a day.
>
> hopefully the zoloft wont make me worse like the others.
>
> i will be sent to a special clinic soon. maybe i will get some help there.
>
> > Hi adamie,
> > I'll get to the exercise part, but first wanted to just check in with you ... I remember you were going to talk with your doc about Lamictal ... were you ever able to do so? I remember that you and I have very similar symptoms and similar reactions to meds. I am finally doing better, with a combo of Lamictal plus a low dose of Serzone. It isn't easy titrating up on the Lamictal .. it seems to bring on a lot of anxiety and agitation when I titrate up to the next level, but then it gets better. Klonapin helps the agitation, and this Serzone really helps it without making me too fatigued (but I am on a very low dose -- 75 mg right now.)
> >
> > Anyway, as far as exercise goes, I find that it definitely helps with depression and anxiety, but only temporarily -- like for a few hours or so after I exercise. I used to exercise like a fanatic in the past, and still had severe depression. Now I just don't have the time or energy to exercise, but when I do, I feel better for a good part of the day. It doesn't last though.
> >
> > Hope you're doing well. Keep me posted ... I've been thinking of you.
> > -cindy
> > > hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?
> > >
> > > over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
> > >
> > > then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
> > >
> > > maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
> > >
> > > also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
Posted by JohnX2 on December 1, 2001, at 20:42:39
In reply to Re: excersize for depression/anxiety? .. LAMICTAL? » Cindylou, posted by adamie on November 29, 2001, at 13:11:46
Adamie,Good luck finding a better doctor. It just sounds
like you are not getting the right treatment.
I know how frustrating it is to be dealing with
depression and then the anxiety of having to
"debate" with your doctor about meds. Ugh.
I really hope your next doctor is open minded.
Don't be afraid to doctor shop.Good luck,
john>
> i haven't been able to talk about the lamictal. the doc is unwilling to listen to my ideas. I was precribed zoloft 25mg and .5 mg risperdal. zoloft raised to 5mg in 5 days.
>
> i am giving up on excersize. this week of excersize has been hell for me. if it's helped then it seems hardly at all. i have felt quite suicidal this week. also i am taking ativan .5mg a few times a day.
>
> hopefully the zoloft wont make me worse like the others.
>
> i will be sent to a special clinic soon. maybe i will get some help there.
>
> > Hi adamie,
> > I'll get to the exercise part, but first wanted to just check in with you ... I remember you were going to talk with your doc about Lamictal ... were you ever able to do so? I remember that you and I have very similar symptoms and similar reactions to meds. I am finally doing better, with a combo of Lamictal plus a low dose of Serzone. It isn't easy titrating up on the Lamictal .. it seems to bring on a lot of anxiety and agitation when I titrate up to the next level, but then it gets better. Klonapin helps the agitation, and this Serzone really helps it without making me too fatigued (but I am on a very low dose -- 75 mg right now.)
> >
> > Anyway, as far as exercise goes, I find that it definitely helps with depression and anxiety, but only temporarily -- like for a few hours or so after I exercise. I used to exercise like a fanatic in the past, and still had severe depression. Now I just don't have the time or energy to exercise, but when I do, I feel better for a good part of the day. It doesn't last though.
> >
> > Hope you're doing well. Keep me posted ... I've been thinking of you.
> > -cindy
> > > hi. I started excersizing on sunday. about 30 minutes a day at the gym. this was also the time i stopped my moclobemide which I felt was making the depression quite worse and also extremely tired. stopping meds I had more energy and i felt slightly better. I did excersize at 5pm each day starting on that sunday. I felt that perhaps it helped a tiny bit for the evening. so i kept doing it. then it felt like it wasn't helping. could the excersize improvement be gradual?
> > >
> > > over time does excersize help depression more and more? I started adrafinil on tuesday evening. wednesday was the last day i excersized because i just felt no motivation for it. it seemed on wednesday i felt quite better. but very very hard to sleep and much anxiety regarding my fiance. then thursday I felt the best I have felt in 1 and a half months. I actually felt I could have a livable life. My thinking ability was greatly improved. I was always thinking about things, including worrying about things. But the depression in general just felt quite better. I had enough motivation to do some things, and some energy. I assume many of these effects were maybe from adrafinil. but maybe mostly from the excersize?
> > >
> > > then on friday I was starting to feel MUCH worse. mind torture returning. on thursday it was extremely hard to sleep due to anxiety. only 4 hours of sleep. adrafinil maybe helped but also created anxiety. perhaps the lack of sleep caused me to feel so much worse.
> > >
> > > maybe it was because i wasn't excersizing anymore? just how much does excersize help? sometimes it is hard to force myself to do it. but i guess i will try to do it maybe every day.
> > >
> > > also i feel i should give adrafinil another try. it just makes it EXTREMELY hard to sleep. if it wasn't for that then maybe it could be a good med for me. i wasn't going to take the med today but i ended up taking half a pill compared to a full pill tonight at 8:20pm. tomorrow unless i change my mind I will take it at 2pm.
This is the end of the thread.
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