Posted by notfred on March 29, 2007, at 11:13:30
In reply to Who is currently in REMISSION??Questions, posted by stargazer on March 28, 2007, at 18:07:14
depression, ADD & anxiety.
Current meds: Wellbrutrin, Lamictal, Provigil, Atavin, Lunesta. This is the best combo I have every been on in terms of side effects, There are none.
I have been in remission since 1985, when I started meds. 2 breakthrough depressions during this time (when I was not in remission) indicated a new med regimen was needed. Other regimens were, in order starting in 1984:
Doxipin
Effexor, Doxipin, & Ativan
Effexor , Remeron, Dexedrine & Ativan
Wellbrutin, Remeron, & Ativan
Wellbrutrin, Lamictal, Provigil, Atavin, LunestaIf 100% is well or the way you used to feel before you got depressed then I run between 85% and 100%.
I feel this is just normal variation in mood that everyone has.Less than that & I would say the depression is creeping back. Stress control is often key at this point to turn things around; AKA Ativan. Approx. 60-50% I would call breakthrough depression. I am no longer in remission. So far med changes (dose change or a new med) have brought me back into
remission.I have gotten better over the last 2 decades in telling when I am headed for a breakthrough depression. I used to get to the point where I was not leaving the house or bathing often b4 I realized I was having a breakthrough depression.
I am better now at identifying when this starts
so I do not have to wait to fall apart b4 I take action.I did therapy with a Psychologist the first 2 years I was on meds.
Sleep is very important to stability, I have always had problems with sleep. As I got older the sedating AD's, which had always been great for sleep, started having very negative effects on mood. Lunesta works well, now.
Controlling my other chronic health conditions is a factor in keeping the depression in remission.
They, too, must be in remission/well controlled.
This makes med management complex. Sometimes things work together; the Lamictal for my seizure disorder also helps mood, but prednisone for allergy flairs has negative effects on mood. Doxipin was great for my allergies but it and some other meds I take are pro-convulsive.This all takes a lot of work and learning on my part. It does not just happen by passively seeing a few docs and taking the meds they offer. Even with insurance the out of pockey/co-pays are several thousand dollars a year. Finding docs that
work well for me also takes some work and willingness to change docs till I find the right ones.
poster:notfred
thread:745050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070327/msgs/745166.html