Posted by JohnL on January 14, 2003, at 4:27:50
In reply to Feel so awful I can't stand it anymore, posted by Peter on January 13, 2003, at 23:17:29
If I were you I would forget about listening to different opinions from different doctors on what your condition should be called. Because in the end, what ends up working for you may likely be something that doesn't exactly fit the diagnosis. Actually, that is pretty obvious at this point, because everything that should have been appropriate for your symptoms wasn't.
I look at psychiatry a bit different than most. I try to gather clues from medication reactions as to what the real underlying problem is related to. Is it related to serotonin? dopamine? electrical? other? Zoloft has a cool slogan that actually describes my approach to choosing meds...."The more you know what's wrong the more you can do something to correct it." Clues from medication trials can help steer you into the right direction.
For example, in your case, mood stabilizers do not seem to be good choices. For whatever reason, they do not affect the chemistries in your brain that need to be affected.
Some meds have multiple actions at multiple receptors and also have a high percentage of success rates in the general public. One such med is Zyprexa. It is being shown to be effective for depression, mania, and bipolar. For doctors "in the know", Zyprexa is fast becoming a first line treatment instead of Lithium, Tegretol, Lamictal, or any of the others.
My doctor loves Zyprexa because he has a high percentage rate of success with it in a whole variety of different symptom clusters. I love it too. You could ask your doc for a combo of Prozac plus Zyprexa. Here's why:
1) The odds of it working are in your favor. I like good odds.
2) There is plenty of scientific evidence supporting it.
3) There is tons of anecdotal evidence supporting it.
4) Studies have shown that Prozac plus Zyprexa is far superior to either alone. Somehow they work in harmony to where the sum is greater than the parts.How many times to we hear of someone doing real good with Lamictal? Lithiu? Etc? Actually, not very often. But when you look at Zyprexa, it is much more common to hear all kinds of success stories.
The one drawback...potential weight gain, which tends to subside on its own after about 3 months.
So I would say don't fool around with the traditional stuff or the fancy stuff. Instead, go with a reliable common powerhorse...10mg to 20mg of Prozac plus 5mg to 10mg Zyprexa.
Just my opinion. But it could very likely save you months and years of further frustration.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:135759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030113/msgs/135783.html