Posted by chocamine on November 22, 2008, at 11:03:47
Hi guys,
After a very euphoric bout of hypomania lasting 3 months, I fell into the deepest, darkest melancholic depression you can think of. I am in a vegetative state, pretty much. Non-stop ruminating thoughts about this traumatizing experience (the bipolar appeared out of NOWHERE so I can't help thinking about it constantly). I cannot be cheered up by anything.. basically.. textbook case of severe MELANCHOLIC depression.
Prior to the hypomania, I had never had any mood swings and my life was pretty damn good. Just some minor depression here and there. I am 20 years old.
Unfortunately, my psychiatrist and I have had no luck in getting relief from my depression. I have been in this state for 4 months.
Here is what I am on so far with no success.
Lamictal 150mg 10 weeks
Lithium 1200mg 5 weeks
Zoloft 50mg 4 weeksI've had great success with 300mg Welbutrin XL in the past (2 years ago) but because of the severity of the depression I have now (nothing like I've ever experienced before) I could not even tolerate 150mg due to anxiety and chest pain when we tried adding it.
The depression is seriously the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life. I think due to the extremely prolonged and euphoric nature of the hypomania I had, the depression is especially as bad versus someone who had a more irritable type of mania. More neurotransmitter depletion or whatever.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking about trying a TCA but my psychiatrist wants to see if the SSRI will work first. I'm 99% convinced it won't... it's like... look at the studies... common.
I'm especially worried about the lamictal because it is a first line treatement for bipolar depression and I noticed nothing from it except cognitive impairement. Is it even worth it to keep using it?
I 100% know that something is severely chemically impaired in my brain. There is just no debating it. It feels like I got a lobotomy and the reward centers in my brain are just shut OFF.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
poster:chocamine
thread:864627
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081114/msgs/864627.html