Posted by pedr on March 24, 2003, at 7:34:57
In reply to Re: New SSRI- Lexapro-Lia Mason, posted by Bekka H. on March 28, 2002, at 23:10:09
Hi everyone,
I thought a nearly-there success story might introduce a few oft-overlooked options into the mix.In a nutshell I was very depressed (suicidal ideation, obsessive thinking, panic attacks etc.) for 5 years without knowing it was depression. Once I was diagnosed with depression I was put on paxil, trimipramine, sertraline and effexor XR, one after the other. None helped and most just gave me dreadful side-effects, especially when coming off the drug (derealization, depersonalisation, seeing things etc.). I also tried very hard with CBT (I took about 50 1-hour sessions) but it only helped to make me feel like I was at least doing _something_ to get out of the hell I was in.
Finally I sought private help and was started on Reboxetine and Wellbutrin (Zyban here in the UK). The Wellbutrin in particular gave me energy although I can only speculate on the synergy/interaction between the two drugs. I also started learning REBT which is a lesser known alternative to CBT. Things have slowly turned around over 3 years of intense practicing of REBT from wishing I was dead most of every day to feeling pretty ok 80% of the time and not-that-bad the other 20% of the time. I feel strong, resilient, flexible, motivated, into my work and am lucky enough to have found myself a lovely lass. All the things I firmly believed I'd never see again.
This post doesn't really belong on any one PB board as it's about the combination of meds and therapy so apols to the medication-only purists out there for choosing this board :0). I just thought it was worth highlighting a little-known option.
Cheers & good luck to everyone.
pete.
poster:pedr
thread:100245
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030319/msgs/212120.html