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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 9:09:09
I just emerged from a one year + bout with my TRD.
For anyone interested here is a summary of what I have tried and the results....I believe my recent recovery is from trying new combinations and challenging my pdoc to try new (and old) meds.7/06: On Celexa 20/Wellbutrin 150/Adderall 20 with Lamictal up to 200 mg/day. At my insistence we began Marplan 30. Kept Lamictal at 200. Added Risperdal 0.25 to help w insomnia.
8/06: Workup for M.S. (Multiple sclerosis) since having episodes of falling and poor memory, Neurologist felt was related to Lamictal. Will decrease Lamictal gradually.
9/06: Stopped Marplan d/t minimal improvement. Started Adderall 5 mg for lack of motivation. Still on Lamictal 50 mg.
10/10/06: Depression worsens. Discussion w pdoc of Emsam, Seroquel as monotherapy, on Wellbutrin 150ER, Adderall-XL 20, Lamictal 50. Saw pdoc, increase Wellbutrin to 300.
10/17/06: Obsessing about everything. Tired, dizziness, loss of appetite, mind scattered, worried, will start Cymbalta 30, increased to 60 after a few days. Depression worsens, more tired, staying in bed, decreased back to 30.
10/30/06: Seroquel 25 added to Cymbalta at night for sleep.
11/3/06: Seroquel increased to 50, than 100. Making me spacey, lethargic. Stop Cymbalta, cont seroquel 100.
11/15/06 Beginning Emsam 6. Seroquel decreased to 25.
Jan 07: initial response to Emsam then diminished.
Feel I need a stimulant like Adderall, Strattera, Provigil, Focalin, Concerta. Added Amphetamine (generic Adderall)at 2.5, then 5.0. Initial response to stimulants, then unclear.Depression much worse, researching solutions myself, pdoc rec Abilify, Geodon. I requested a referral for second opinion.
***Suicide seems like an option***. Not even sad, just not alive, body barely functioning, starting to fail. Increase Emsam to 9 mg.
My question to self...Is there a hormonal or endocrine problem that everyone has missed?
Part 2 later, too much information to summarize now.
Stargazer
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 12:37:12
In reply to Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 9:09:09
Stargazer did you see a therapist too? Love Phillipa
Posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 12:44:15
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery » stargazer2, posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 12:37:12
Phillipa, not this past year but several years ago. Helpful but medication was really the key component for me. SG
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 20:09:25
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 12:44:15
Stargazer seems they cause more problems for me than help haven't found a good fit yet and now its probably a total of six over the years. Phillipa
Posted by deniseuk190466 on October 7, 2007, at 12:40:48
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 12:44:15
Hi Stargazer,
I'm really interested in what comes next so please finish off at some point.
Thanks.....Denise
Posted by deniseuk190466 on October 7, 2007, at 13:08:37
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by deniseuk190466 on October 7, 2007, at 12:40:48
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Posted by brooke484 on October 8, 2007, at 8:36:17
In reply to Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 9:09:09
Stargazer,
Did you ever go higher than 30 mgs when you took Marplan? I'm currently on 25 mgs (going up 5 mgs every 3-4 days). The only side effect is anxiety (of course), especially when I increase the dose.
Also, I wanted to ask you how you took it. RIght now I take 10 in the morning and 15 at night. Did you take it 3 times a day?
Glad you're finally seeing some improvement. You deserve it!
Thanks,
Brooke
Posted by stargazer2 on October 8, 2007, at 11:30:15
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and recovery, posted by brooke484 on October 8, 2007, at 8:36:17
Brooke,
The first time I took Marplan was in 1991 and it worked only as a single med. I took 30 mg and that was the highest dose I tried, split 15/15. It worked well until Roche, the manufacturor, stopped making it in 1994 because of "business reasons", aka "poor sales". As I understand it many of us taking Marplan at the time couldn't find another med that worked as well as Marplan.In Feb. 2006, I retried Marplan, starting at 10 mg and going up to 30 mg. I think I took the 30 mg as one dose which should have been split like I took it in 1992. I was also on Risperdal and Lamictal and I believe now it was those other meds that caused me to fail. Lamictal, in particular, caused poor balance and memory problems and I stopped the Marplan and never tried it again. This was probably not what I should have done. I should have continued it as a monotherapy, just stopping Lamictal and Risperdal.
My recommendation to you would be Marplan alone at at least 30 mg, more if 30 isn't doing anything. Good luck Brooke.
Stargazer
Posted by brooke484 on October 8, 2007, at 13:51:00
In reply to Re: Part 1:Past year w depression and /Brooke, posted by stargazer2 on October 8, 2007, at 11:30:15
I'm not having nearly as many side effects as I did on Nardil (talk about a disaster). The anxiety is bad though, and I'm having to take Ativan again. My doctor wanted me to start Lamictal also, but becasue I'm so sensitive to drugs, I decided to wait on that. I didn't want to have a ton of side effects all at once.
Anyway, thanks. I'll work my way up to 30 and see how that works for awhile. I don't think my doctor wants me to go any higher than that.
brooke
This is the end of the thread.
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