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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 13, 2012, at 15:37:03
I'm down again. There's been so much up-down with this Nardil that I'm beginning to feel like I'm on a freakin see-saw. Or thinking I am bipolar after all.
Can't wait til I go back up again.
Kat
Posted by phillipa on October 13, 2012, at 19:42:00
In reply to Sigh, posted by ChicagoKat on October 13, 2012, at 15:37:03
Kat I'm sorry could you be bipolar? Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 13, 2012, at 20:12:43
In reply to Re: Sigh » ChicagoKat, posted by phillipa on October 13, 2012, at 19:42:00
> Kat I'm sorry could you be bipolar? Phillipa
Thanks Phillipa. No, I don't think I'm bipolar. It's probably just the ups and downs of starting a new med. At least I hope that's what it is.
But I gotta tell ya, I am *really* down again....it's gotten worse and worse as the day has gone on. It would be such a cruel joke if it turned out the Nardil is already giving me up. :(
Posted by bennybenzo on October 14, 2012, at 4:24:00
In reply to Re: Sigh » phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on October 13, 2012, at 20:12:43
I asked an English shrink if i was bipolar, he said you can be anything you like , but do you really want to take mood stablizers when you do ok without them. FAIR COMMENT instant logic ???
Posted by SLS on October 14, 2012, at 6:47:24
In reply to Re: Sigh » phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on October 13, 2012, at 20:12:43
> > Kat I'm sorry could you be bipolar? Phillipa
>
> Thanks Phillipa. No, I don't think I'm bipolar. It's probably just the ups and downs of starting a new med. At least I hope that's what it is.
>
> But I gotta tell ya, I am *really* down again....it's gotten worse and worse as the day has gone on. It would be such a cruel joke if it turned out the Nardil is already giving me up. :(You cannot determine the value of Nardil in your treatment regime until you take it for an extended period of time and attain full therapeutic dosages of the adjunt drugs you add to it. Your dosage of amitriptyline has yet to be optimized. In addition, you might add low-dose lithium as a third drug. I find that at low dosages, lithium can act as an antidepressant and prevent "mood-drift". There are a bunch of other things you can do to help Nardil produce remission, including adding methylphenidate. You can use Nardil as the core agent and build around it.
I am curious - what were your experiences with Lamictal, Abilify, and Wellbutrin?
I'm still optimistic.
- Scott
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 14, 2012, at 10:29:45
In reply to Re: Sigh - Yeah, I know. It can be a bumpy ride. » ChicagoKat, posted by SLS on October 14, 2012, at 6:47:24
>
> You cannot determine the value of Nardil in your treatment regime until you take it for an extended period of time and attain full therapeutic dosages of the adjunt drugs you add to it. Your dosage of amitriptyline has yet to be optimized. In addition, you might add low-dose lithium as a third drug. I find that at low dosages, lithium can act as an antidepressant and prevent "mood-drift". There are a bunch of other things you can do to help Nardil produce remission, including adding methylphenidate. You can use Nardil as the core agent and build around it.
>
> I am curious - what were your experiences with Lamictal, Abilify, and Wellbutrin?
>
> I'm still optimistic.
>
>
> - Scott
>Thanks for the input Scott, and for being optimistic. Logically I know I'm jumping the gun thinking maybe the Nardil has given up on me, but I'm severely depressed again and thus my thinking is not always logical. I'm feeling like the guy Robert De Niro played in Awakenings...like I had a few days in the sun, and now I've crawled back into the abyss.
With Wellbutrin I experienced severe anxiety/agitation, with Abilify had extreme agitation, and Lamictal had absolutely no effect on me whatsoever. Same with Lithium, no effect at all
But thank you for reminding me I'm not there yet with the Nardil, and that there are lots of options for augmentation. I can't wait til Tuesday when I'll be seeing my pdoc so I can get going with some of these options.
Thanks again for trying to straighten out my poor depression-addled brain.
I hope you are continuing to feel a bit better.
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 14, 2012, at 11:46:47
In reply to Re: Sigh, posted by bennybenzo on October 14, 2012, at 4:24:00
> I asked an English shrink if i was bipolar, he said you can be anything you like , but do you really want to take mood stablizers when you do ok without them. FAIR COMMENT instant logic ???
ha ha I love your pdoc's comment, and I bet it did lead to instant logic on your part :)
Kat
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 1:01:59
In reply to Re: Sigh - Yeah, I know. It can be a bumpy ride. » ChicagoKat, posted by SLS on October 14, 2012, at 6:47:24
The Australian data sheet for Nardil says that many people will need to take 60mg/day for 4-6 weeks to obtain a theraputic response - give it time
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 1:06:04
In reply to Re: Sigh » bennybenzo, posted by ChicagoKat on October 14, 2012, at 11:46:47
Adding 1mg risperidone at night could be very helpful - I literaly went to bed feeling suicidal, and woke up not better, but atealst well improved.
Take 0.5mg for the first 2 nights then 1mg.
Id you restrict it to 6 weeks use (while waiting for Nardil to kick it) you wont suffer any of the side effects except a little initial drowsiness
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 15, 2012, at 10:15:36
In reply to Re: Sigh, posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 1:06:04
> Adding 1mg risperidone at night could be very helpful - I literaly went to bed feeling suicidal, and woke up not better, but atealst well improved.
>
> Take 0.5mg for the first 2 nights then 1mg.
>
> Id you restrict it to 6 weeks use (while waiting for Nardil to kick it) you wont suffer any of the side effects except a little initial drowsinessThanks for the suggestion Jono, but I've tried Risperdal before and it did the opposite of making me drowsy: it made me feel very anxious/agitated
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 15, 2012, at 10:18:12
In reply to Re: Sigh - Yeah, I know. It can be a bumpy ride., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 1:01:59
> The Australian data sheet for Nardil says that many people will need to take 60mg/day for 4-6 weeks to obtain a theraputic response - give it time
Yeah, I know I must give it time. Thanks for the info. I know it logically, but I get impatient to feel better, especially after feeling so good last week.
How are you Jono? Did you have a nice time in Adelaide?
Kat
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 17:41:18
In reply to Re: Sigh - Yeah, I know. It can be a bumpy ride. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by ChicagoKat on October 15, 2012, at 10:18:12
"but I get impatient to feel better"
Yeah, I know that feeling all too well! I want to take the full dose of whatever on day 1, no slot ibcreases for me.
Had a great time in Adelaide.... decided that anxiety wasnt going to ruin my break, so I took Xanax tid for the 4 days I was there for.
Was great to catch up with family and friends etc.
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 15, 2012, at 18:55:27
In reply to Re: Sigh - Yeah, I know. It can be a bumpy ride., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 15, 2012, at 17:41:18
> "but I get impatient to feel better"
>
> Yeah, I know that feeling all too well! I want to take the full dose of whatever on day 1, no slot ibcreases for me.
>
> Had a great time in Adelaide.... decided that anxiety wasnt going to ruin my break, so I took Xanax tid for the 4 days I was there for.
>
> Was great to catch up with family and friends etc.:) glad I'm not the only one who gets impatient.
glad, too, that you had a nice vacation; I see nothing wrong with xanax tid
Kat
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