Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Advice Needed - Depression/Anxiety Treatment » SFY_Redux

Posted by bleauberry on July 19, 2018, at 9:15:50

In reply to Advice Needed - Depression/Anxiety Treatment, posted by SFY_Redux on July 15, 2018, at 11:02:42

You seem to be engaged and educated on meds. I can't really offer any suggestions there. Maybe a couple points.

Try Ritalin all by itself. Really! Look I could go on a long spree here and explain in lengthy detail why I say that. Long story short - it all boils down to whether your dopamine receptors are currently unregulated or down regulated. Keep in mind, school children become CALM and peaceful on stimulants. I, for one, had the best sleep of my life on the stimulant Ritalin! And according to some clinical studies, especially for the elderly, and according to my own experiences, it is usually better than any of the antidepressants at improving depression.

I would suggest getting a book called Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner and read it thoroughly. I'm not suggesting you have undiagnosed unsuspected lyme, though your story and symptoms are 100% consistent with that, and I'm not suggesting herbs instead of meds. But I am strongly suggesting that if you read this book you will find your way to remission much faster than if you stay on the road you are currently on.

In my world, where I came back from 20 years of treatment resistant depression which even failed ECT, these are the causes of depression not related to a life event: 1.Unsuspected stealth chronic infections, such as Lyme or Lyme-like (dozens) 2.Environmental toxicity (amalgams, mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, plastics, herbicides, pesticides, gluten, and genetically modified grains) 3.Systemic inflammation and/or brain inflammation. 4.Immune system imbalance.

The book show you how to address all of those simultaneously with over the counter inexpensive safe botanical medicines, herbs and common supplements. Sometimes we make a big huge deal out of it all and go to the highest powered psychiatrists we can find and take the heaviest duty cocktails we can make, when in fact all of that may be unnecessary and ineffective.

What I am saying is do the best you can with med choices but do it with a short-term goal in mind - the meds are most appropriate for acute symptoms but not so helpful in chronic conditions. That's where the other strategies outside of meds come into play. It's like an orchestra. You will get a much better song, much richer sound, with an entire orchestra rather than a single solo player.

Calming herbs that work as good as Xanax except without addiction are combinations of Lemon Balm, American Skullcap, Passionflower, and Valerian root.

In your case I think major improvement can come from the 'adaptogen' herbs - rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha, eleuthero, and others. Hard to explain. They are sort of like agonists and antagonists at the same time, so they tend to balance out in the body whatever is out of balance. Very helpful for issues involving energy, motivation, endurance, engagement, and mood. If you think about it, for example, an insomnia situation is basically too much adrenaline. That's where adaptogens come in to balance that out.

Anyway, just thinking out loud.

> Looking for some advice for my upcoming pdoc visit.
>
> I have a history of Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorders and Anhedonia/Dysthymia as well as Early Morning Awakening Insomnia.
>
> Had some success in the past with Prozac for the MDD, Nardil for the SAD, and Mirtazapine for the insomnia. Had to go off the Nardil because of very bad insomnia and the Mirtazapine no longer seems to do much (except cause unwanted weight gain). CBT has helped with the SAD as well but I seem to hit a plateau that I cant get beyond.
>
> Im currently struggling with recurrent mild depression (flat affect, amotivation, depressed mood), a flare-up of my SAD (which never really goes away), and the reemergence of my early morning awakening insomnia. There also seems to be some diurnal variation in my depression as I feel much worse in the morning which is exacerbated by the insomnia.
>
> Right now, weve been trying to manage the insomnia to no great effect - doxepin, temazepam, melatonin with no improvement. Due to another condition, I need to avoid anything that acts as a strong antihistamine effect.
>
> With the more recent flare ups in my depression, I think we need to revisit antidepressant treatments with something that may impact the insomnia. Bupropion and Trintellix (which I didnt react well to) have both been tried.
>
> Right now, Im stuck in the weeds looking at meds and wondering if anyone had some thoughts that might be helpful.


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:bleauberry thread:1099604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180521/msgs/1099706.html