Posted by stargazer on March 1, 2007, at 8:50:18
In reply to Re: Who here has experienced remission?, posted by mbluett on February 28, 2007, at 23:18:46
MY DEPRESSION HISTORY:
1985: Psychotherapy for depression/dysthymia
1987: Per my request, referred to a psychiatrist for medication.
1987-1989: Nardil, depression in remission X 2 years. Minimal disruption in life while on Nardil, eventually it stopped working.1991-1993: Marplan effectively put depression back into remission. Drug was discontinued by manufacturor in 1994 and I Relapsed.
1994-1995: Trials of Zoloft, Effexor, Pamelor, Parnate, Lithium, Prozac, Buspar, Ritalin, a few others, none very successful. Lots of SE's and physical and psych symptoms.
1995-1999: Prozac, Paxil, Wellbitrin, with and without augmentation strategies, all marginal results. Depressed but functional, able to work, sort of.
1999 to 2005: Celexa alone, with Wellbutrin, Neurontin and Adderall in varying combinations.
Celexa 40, Wellbutrin 150 and Adderall-XR 20 was the best combination for a few years, relapsed in 2/05. These 6 years were OK, I was functional but not without constant med adjustments and ongoing symptoms of depression. Not considered a true remission.2005-2007: Lamictal added to Celexa mix, retrial of Marplan, Cymbalta, Seroquel, Risperdal, lots of physical symptoms, had several falls, worked up for MS. Meds were determined to be the casue of the falling, especially Lamictal.
Currently on Emsam. Unable to work, planning to apply for disability, too many years spent looking for an answer and losing hope in ever finding another drug to work as effectively as Nardil and Marplan did. Just had a second opinion for medication suggestions. Not as positive as I would have hoped, left without feeling that his recommendations (transcranial stim (?), Abilify, Depakote) would work.
I know my situation is more resistent than many but it is all I know. I am now of the belief that the doctors really know very little about medication strategies for severe, chronic depression.
Sorry for my long windedness, this may not be what you were looking for but it may help. My recommendations are Prozac and Celexa as starting points for mild depression, MAO's for other types.
Stargazer
poster:stargazer
thread:736961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070224/msgs/737286.html