Posted by Mr. Scott on February 5, 2002, at 0:28:16
In reply to Read an article: getting really pessimistic...., posted by Anna Laura on February 4, 2002, at 22:56:40
> Hi all,
>
>
> I've had a bout of severe depression years ago and i have been suffering from residual symptoms ever since.
> My main symptoms are lack of motivation and anhedonia.
> I've been doing a lot of research on the subject during this last year : i've grown rather confident i was going to find a remedy for my anhedonia, the main obstacle being just a matter of time and patience.
> I've tried Imipramine (which had been effective when i relapsed last year, but made more apathetic in the long run), Prozac, Amytriptyline, Levosulpiride (similar to Amisulpride) Venlafaxine and Reboxetine together.
> Prozac and Amytryptiline didn't improve anhedonia at all, Effexor and Reboxetine improved motivation and negative thinking in the long run.
> I'm back on Effexor now but i'm afraid it's not kicking in like it did last summer. (still not sure, i'm going to give it a couple of more weeks trial, noticing no increase in motivation so far).
> My negative thinking got really worse during the last month and i hit the rock bottom yeasterday as i bumped in to this article while surfing on the net:
>
> http://www.psychminded.co.uk/old%20news/Newsl10.htm
>
> In a few words, it says you'd better stay off from drugs since they make your depression worse in the long run (sensitisation) and that switching it's not good for the same reason.
> The article advocates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for residual symptoms as the only way out.
> I did CBT therapy for two years and didn't help much. What really helped me was Imipramine and a compassionate, supportive and empathetic pdoc.
> He didn't believe in drugs though, so he made me drop imipramine after a year and a half.
> My anhedonia grew worse in a couple of years.
> As far as my personal experience is concerned, i shouldn't believe in what i read, but made me real upset no matter what.
> I'm loosing faith about finding the right drug for me and i'm back in the pitch black tunnel, hopeless and desperate.
> Don't know where to turn.
> Hope that you guys are going to bring a couple of positive experience contradicting what the above article is reporting...
>
> Thanks for listeningHello Anna Laura,
I read your anxiety producing article, and indeed it is an interesting theory. I would keep in mind that it is only a theory however. Also, that it is written by a psychologist and not a psychiatrist. So motivation to encourage CBT over meds must be considered. Even so the author raises some good points and BMJ is a respectable journal.
I cant put your mind at ease the way I'd like to (yours & mine that is), but I will say that we are all in this together. We are the first generation to really be so extensively medicated with these chemicals. One giant experiment is all psychiatry is right now. It's a terrible illness to have ours is, and without enough certainty. But don't give up hope that one day the truth and the answers will be found that will help us. And until then I think we need to take care of ourselves and eachother the best we can. I wish I could find the words I'm looking for instead of just delivering something cliche, but try to hang in there and keep your head above the water. If an answer is to be found, you'll have to keep looking until it is.
Finally I might add that the theory in the article is not tested, and that Hundreds of millions of people have taken antidepressants and that the vast majority of unipolars who do take them do improve with drugs. That has been tested!
I do hope things get better for you soon.
Scott
ps. Have your played with the dopamine/norepinephrine drugs like wellbutrin, reboxetine or desipramine. Based on your symptoms and earlier response to Imipramine I have a hunch you might do better there than with the highly serotonergic meds which often cause a decrease in motivation and or anhedonia.
Also...The Selegeline patch will be out soon which is highly dopamine and norepinephrine oriented.
poster:Mr. Scott
thread:92902
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92919.html