Posted by colin wallace on November 26, 2002, at 5:32:54
In reply to Is depression damaging my brain?, posted by catmint on November 26, 2002, at 0:54:02
Amy,
I really feel for you, believe me.It's taken me a full three months to hall myself up from the point you're at now(my last big crash) , and I know that it's an awful place to be.
Are you only taking Depakote? I was too, because I think my doc. underestimated my depressive side, and believed that this would eventually even out and prevent my mood troughs.Wrong.I spiralled quickly. without an AD.
I know it's a tough call for people like us to risk taking AD's, but if you're sinking fast, it has to be be something to seriously consider (needless to say, not the dreaded SSRI's).
I've tried virtually every med. out there, as you know, and I have to say that (aside from Lamictal) the only one that pulled me out of a hellish depression was Remeron- the only med I could tolerate at therapeutic doses. It wasn't perfect, by any means, but it didn't cause me mania(even at 45mg)and I even managed to pass a few exams whilst taking it (I'd previously been stuck in a chair for months).
It did cause me some erratic swings, but no hypomania for sure.I would take it again if I had to,in a small dose and with a low dose mood stabilizer in place of course.
I wish I could be more help here,as we're all 'shooting in the dark', but personal experience is all I've got to go on.Take care, and keep talking to your doc.
Col.
poster:colin wallace
thread:129341
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129361.html