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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
I've been on Lamictal 200mg for two or three weeks now, and things is bad as bad can be. Today, I lay down for my required nap at about 1:30 -- and woke up when my husband got home at 6! You can imagine how much I got done today, right?
And I'll sleep like a baby tonight, too. (No, I don't mean waking up every two hours and crying.)
Anyway, I'm ready to chuck all the meds, and start over. Well, I'm ready to chuck half the meds, the other half I think might be worth continuing to see if they'll help on their own. At this point, I think I might have to lower my expectations and settle for anything that helps, instead of looking for full remission.
I'm currently taking:
Cymbalta 60mg
Wellbutrin XL 300mg
Lamictal 200mg
Provigil 100mg.Raising the Provigil doesn't help, and may make things worse, although I think I may try to add 50 at lunch, too.
All that, and I'm still depressed -- more depressed since starting the Lamictal. Total and complete anhedonia, and almost unable to do ANYTHING. And Dr CattleProd said something about 'if it doesn't work at 200mg, we can go up a lot more.' I don't want to go up more! I feel so much worse than before I started it, why on earth would I want to take more of it?
At this point, I'm thinking of calling and telling him I want to drop both the Lamictal and the Cymbalta. Maybe just the two energizing drugs would help?
Here's a question, though: I've never really read that anyone has had luck with Wellbutrin for mono-therapy. It seems to be used primarily as an augmenting agent. Has anyone experienced good results from it as the sole antidepressant rather than an adjunct?
Thanks.
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 22:00:37
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
i would think WB would help w. depression for sure since it deals w/ dopamine and norepinephrine - should give you energy. from what i understand i guess you have to figure out which of your three neurotrnasmitters need tweaking - (one of the reasons i question WB for me - i think i am deficient in serotonin, GABA and have excess dopamine, norepinephrine AS IS) anyway - i would think the WB would work well for depression, esp in combo w. an SSRI - then you are covering all your neurotransmitter basis. then again - i have only been reading abt this stuff for less than two weeks.
as for chucking it all ???!! i do not have depression - and i took my first WB as monothereapy for anxiety panic yesterday and i hate it so far and am not taking it today. (not to say i wont get nerve up to try tom. even tho sense tells me it is not working on what needs tweaking in my brain - but appealing nonetheless b/c of reputation for no weight gain and help w/ quitting smoking) anyway - i digress-i feel like sh*t from this drug and i felt the same on lexapro (tried that for two days) and i am over it ALL already. so i might bag it all myself and go back to my normal functioning w/out drugs besides xan as needed anxiety attacking self.
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 27, 2005, at 22:03:59
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
>>Here's a question, though: I've never really read that anyone has had luck with Wellbutrin for mono-therapy. It seems to be used primarily as an augmenting agent. Has anyone experienced good results from it as the sole antidepressant rather than an adjunct?
I did/have, but I agree, I don't seem to be the norm
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 22:10:23
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( » Racer, posted by rainbowbrite on September 27, 2005, at 22:03:59
> >>Here's a question, though: I've never really read that anyone has had luck with Wellbutrin for mono-therapy. It seems to be used primarily as an augmenting agent. Has anyone experienced good results from it as the sole antidepressant rather than an adjunct?
>
>
> I did/have, but I agree, I don't seem to be the norm
>
rainbow- were you taking it for anxiety or depression?
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 27, 2005, at 22:32:20
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( Rainbowbrite, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 22:10:23
Posted by Maxime on September 27, 2005, at 23:35:42
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
I hear you. Lamictal didn't make me sleepy but it made me very very depressed. And it was such a disappointment because you titrate so slowly and wait for results.
I know a lot of people who have done well on wellbutrin alone. Actually that way you will know what helps and what doesn't and puts you into a coma.
I'm at the waking up every two hours and crying point myself or not sleeping at all and just crying.
I think you are on the right track.
Maxime
> I've been on Lamictal 200mg for two or three weeks now, and things is bad as bad can be. Today, I lay down for my required nap at about 1:30 -- and woke up when my husband got home at 6! You can imagine how much I got done today, right?
>
> And I'll sleep like a baby tonight, too. (No, I don't mean waking up every two hours and crying.)
>
> Anyway, I'm ready to chuck all the meds, and start over. Well, I'm ready to chuck half the meds, the other half I think might be worth continuing to see if they'll help on their own. At this point, I think I might have to lower my expectations and settle for anything that helps, instead of looking for full remission.
>
> I'm currently taking:
>
> Cymbalta 60mg
> Wellbutrin XL 300mg
> Lamictal 200mg
> Provigil 100mg.
>
> Raising the Provigil doesn't help, and may make things worse, although I think I may try to add 50 at lunch, too.
>
> All that, and I'm still depressed -- more depressed since starting the Lamictal. Total and complete anhedonia, and almost unable to do ANYTHING. And Dr CattleProd said something about 'if it doesn't work at 200mg, we can go up a lot more.' I don't want to go up more! I feel so much worse than before I started it, why on earth would I want to take more of it?
>
> At this point, I'm thinking of calling and telling him I want to drop both the Lamictal and the Cymbalta. Maybe just the two energizing drugs would help?
>
> Here's a question, though: I've never really read that anyone has had luck with Wellbutrin for mono-therapy. It seems to be used primarily as an augmenting agent. Has anyone experienced good results from it as the sole antidepressant rather than an adjunct?
>
> Thanks.
Posted by Racer on September 28, 2005, at 1:35:21
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( » Racer, posted by Maxime on September 27, 2005, at 23:35:42
I'm so sorry you're in that state. You know how I feel about you, I only wish I could do something to help. Something beyond caring from the other side of the continent.
Be warm tonight.
Posted by SLS on September 28, 2005, at 8:55:13
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
I cannot report a personal success using Wellbutrin as monotherapy, despite taking 900mg for quite a few weeks. I have seen others report success, though.
My first instinct is to consider the Lamictal a failed trial if you are sure it is making things worse. There is a possibility that it is interacting with Cymbalta by promoting somnolence. However, you should not be feeling more biologically depressed. I doubt moving up in dosage will help. Of course, I don't know for sure.
I think you have given Cymbalta long enough to know to what degree it is responsible for side effects. Amotivation does not seem to have mitigated much over time. How do you know it is helping? I would not "chuck it". I would attempt to reduce the dosage to 40mg and see if you see a return of a more severe depression.
I don't like the way Provigil affected me. I think it can make some people more depressed.
In order, I would take it one step at a time and evaluate the outcome of each step before moving on:1. Remove the Provigil
2. Remove Lamictal
3. Reduce the Cymbalta
4. Remove the Cymbalta
5. Add nortriptyline
- Scott
> I've been on Lamictal 200mg for two or three weeks now, and things is bad as bad can be. Today, I lay down for my required nap at about 1:30 -- and woke up when my husband got home at 6! You can imagine how much I got done today, right?
>
> And I'll sleep like a baby tonight, too. (No, I don't mean waking up every two hours and crying.)
>
> Anyway, I'm ready to chuck all the meds, and start over. Well, I'm ready to chuck half the meds, the other half I think might be worth continuing to see if they'll help on their own. At this point, I think I might have to lower my expectations and settle for anything that helps, instead of looking for full remission.
>
> I'm currently taking:
>
> Cymbalta 60mg
> Wellbutrin XL 300mg
> Lamictal 200mg
> Provigil 100mg.
>
> Raising the Provigil doesn't help, and may make things worse, although I think I may try to add 50 at lunch, too.
>
> All that, and I'm still depressed -- more depressed since starting the Lamictal. Total and complete anhedonia, and almost unable to do ANYTHING. And Dr CattleProd said something about 'if it doesn't work at 200mg, we can go up a lot more.' I don't want to go up more! I feel so much worse than before I started it, why on earth would I want to take more of it?
>
> At this point, I'm thinking of calling and telling him I want to drop both the Lamictal and the Cymbalta. Maybe just the two energizing drugs would help?
>
> Here's a question, though: I've never really read that anyone has had luck with Wellbutrin for mono-therapy. It seems to be used primarily as an augmenting agent. Has anyone experienced good results from it as the sole antidepressant rather than an adjunct?
>
> Thanks.
Posted by Sonya on September 28, 2005, at 9:05:48
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
Wellbutrin SR 225mg once a day as monotherapy is helping me. The change was subtle compared to SSRI's (which felt like a lightswitch was turned on when the depression was gone).
(plus orgasms are more intense and I've lost considerable weight.)
Posted by maddy4 on September 28, 2005, at 10:18:08
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( » Racer, posted by Sonya on September 28, 2005, at 9:05:48
> Wellbutrin SR 225mg once a day as monotherapy is helping me. The change was subtle compared to SSRI's (which felt like a lightswitch was turned on when the depression was gone).
>
> (plus orgasms are more intense and I've lost considerable weight.)did you have anxiety/panic prior to taking WB (or only depression) and do you have it now?
Posted by JaneB on September 28, 2005, at 11:02:05
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
FWIW, Wellbutrin made me soooo tired! Isn't it amazing how meds affect us so differently!
Posted by neuroman on September 28, 2005, at 12:33:02
In reply to Ready to chuck it all :^(, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 21:35:34
Hi,
I seem to be having a similar experience with lamictal. I've been on it a month and am taking 100mg. It seems to be sucking what little energy I have right out of me. It's not so much making me tired but just bringing me down. That might not be bad if I was "up" to begin with, but I haven't been "up" in 10 years. I really think it's suppressing my already low dopamine levels. It also hasn't helped any with my chronic neuropathic pain. I'm not going to bother going up any higher. I'll probably start tapering this week. Good luck.
Paul
Posted by gilanthony on September 28, 2005, at 16:05:52
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( » Racer, posted by neuroman on September 28, 2005, at 12:33:02
Wellbutrin made me a total zombie fater 2 days of jitters I suffer from panic depresion am on gabitril and xanax .....sleeeepy added wellbutrin thinkin energy would come cleaned the garage the first day slept the last 5...plus sex disasappeared and couldn't even focus to read the paper...but i am a biochemical enigma
good lucl
gil
Posted by Sonya on September 29, 2005, at 12:12:26
In reply to Re: Ready to chuck it all :^( SONYA, posted by maddy4 on September 28, 2005, at 10:18:08
> > Wellbutrin SR 225mg once a day as monotherapy is helping me. The change was subtle compared to SSRI's (which felt like a lightswitch was turned on when the depression was gone).
> >
> > (plus orgasms are more intense and I've lost considerable weight.)
>
> did you have anxiety/panic prior to taking WB (or only depression) and do you have it now?Only depression. I only get a little anxiety in the mornings but it's manageable.
This is the end of the thread.
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