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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
I've got a new PDoc who is starting me on Pristiq. This is in addition to:
seroquel 300mg
remeron 45mg
clonopin 3mgs (2 at night)
provigil 50 2x a day
gabapentin 300 mg 2x a day
I have become agitated on every other AD I've tried,which is all of them including effexor. What hope is there that is will work? I feel defeated withhout even trying it.
My old PDoc recommended increasing the seroquel and reducing the remeron which she thought was causing anxiety.Maybe that's the better plan.
Any thoughts will be much apprechiated.
Zana
Posted by raisinb on April 8, 2009, at 9:45:01
In reply to Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
Geez, that is a lot of drugs. What is the Remeron for, specifically? That in combination with the Seroquel seems odd to me.
Posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2009, at 10:49:49
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again » Zana, posted by raisinb on April 8, 2009, at 9:45:01
Isn't Pristiq the same as effexor only long acting? How do you feel about all these meds? Love Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on April 8, 2009, at 13:39:07
In reply to Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
only thing i can add is pristiq took it's sweet time leveling in me. 8-10 weeks so have patience.
after that i'd kick the remeron or at least give it a try.but on the good side effexor was HORRIBLE for me so i was very hesitant to try pristiq. but my options were very limited so i figured i'd at least give it a try. it was well worth it. it worked very smooth with almost no side effects.
and for phillipa, pristiq is not an XR of effexor but a metabolite of effexor so i guess there's one less step your body has to take, maybe explaining less side effects.
all i know is effexor was one of THE worst meds i've ever been on and i got no side effects from pristiq other than some hair loss (which is NOT typical).
but it was worth the hair to feel decent again.best luck zana
and ya that is a few meds, but as long as they're not contraindicated i wouldn't worry about it. most of us are on about 5 meds. seriously 5 is the average, there are some on about 8 or 9.
at my VERY best i'm still on 3. but im usually 4.all i say to that is if the combo works, who cares if its one or 10!
h@ll, my dad has no emotional issues just heart and he's on 6....
and no one makes comments about 'multiple' meds for him.
if it works don't worry about the number.Best Best wishes.
b2c.
Posted by desolationrower on April 8, 2009, at 15:38:06
In reply to Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
maybe theres some reason behind it but that just lineup just looks like a pharmacological trainwreck.
-d/r
Posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 18:16:38
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by desolationrower on April 8, 2009, at 15:38:06
Oh my god, what a crushing response. This is a nearly last effort to fight the depression that has disabled me. What would you do?
Posted by desolationrower on April 9, 2009, at 7:33:50
In reply to Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
Sorry. I didn't mean it might not work, more that some of those drugs are basically doing the same thing, or cancelling out. Adding an sri to what you have isn't a bad start, anyway (and maybe pristiq is a abuot the only drug not to mess up liver enzymes on the maze of drugs already taking). But if it doesn't work, you might want to ask about dumping osme of them. How much is that coctail helping?
and since higher dose quetiapine and mirtazapine are doing the same thing, don't go back to the old doc.
-d/r
Posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 8:06:57
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by desolationrower on April 9, 2009, at 7:33:50
I have been to 3 pdocs, the one who dumped me after 15yrs, a supposedly hot shot consult and the woman I am seeing now.
I just don't know what to do. Their only comment about the remeron was that it might be causing anxiety and that I should taper off it. The other docs thought that I should increase the seroquel. No one has much hope about the pristiq since I have found every other AD too agitating. I am afraid to start it. And I don't think I should take Provigil with it because of the agitation. Provigil is the only thing that seems to be giving me any relief, any ability to get up and do anything at all.
I am just about at the end of my rope. I really just want it to be over with.
Posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 11:05:30
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again » raisinb, posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2009, at 10:49:49
Hi Phillipa. I feel terrible about it. I feel like a lab rat. I feel both hopeful and hopeless about any of them helping me. I feel desperate and like I'd try anything that held any promise. And I feel confused about what I'm taking. I have no way of knowing what any one of the meds is doing good, bad of indifferent.
Honestly, I feel like this life is not worth living. I feel like dying. I want the suffering to end.
Posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 11:07:46
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again » Zana, posted by raisinb on April 8, 2009, at 9:45:01
I am taking the remeron for sleep. It never seemed to have an anti-depressant effect. The seroquel does have a little anti-depressant effect. I know it is supposed to be sedating but I think it has contributed to my anxiety. The docs think the remeron is driving my anxiety. I don't know what to think anymore.
Posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 11:17:41
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by B2chica on April 8, 2009, at 13:39:07
Thanx for the encouragement. I feel like such a freak being on so many meds. I too have few choices left having been through all the SSRI's, tricyclics, atypical anti psychotics, thyroid, one MAOI worked well, the EMSAM patch but I developed a rash in my mouth and had to stop it. So if the pristiq doesn't work... the only options left are more seroquel, risperdone, one of the oral MAOIs and ECT. Combined with life stressors, my husband is out of work and we may have to sell our home which we share with my parents who are in their mid-80s and want to die in their home. I have been unable to work for 5 years. It feels like it is all closing in on me. I feel like I am doing everything I can, therapy 5 days a week (my insurance pays for all of it except a $20 co-pay), fish oil, B-12, 2000mgs of vitamin D. It all adds up to my feeling like I want to die. Which makes me feel even more ashamed of myself.
Sorry to lay so much sh*t on you. I'm just in a really bad place and don't know how to get out. Thanx for listenin.
Zana
Posted by desolationrower on April 9, 2009, at 14:19:08
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 11:17:41
well i usually say 'when you're tired of trying medications, just take an MAOI' but sounds like even more true in your case
-d/r
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2009, at 19:46:05
In reply to Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 8, 2009, at 8:45:51
Zana when you first were diagnosed as depressed did something happen to trigger it? What was going on in your life? Did any med ever work? One must have as you worked for l0 years? Love Phillipa
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 12, 2009, at 16:29:35
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by Zana on April 9, 2009, at 11:05:30
Zana, I am so sorry that you are going through a really tough time with medication and with getting a good treatment professional. I wish I had more to offer you, but being in the same situation without a clue of what to do, I don't have any good ideas. I just want to say that I am sorry, and please, don't give up. Amelia
Posted by Cseagraves on April 15, 2009, at 16:18:58
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 12, 2009, at 16:29:35
Zana,
My heart goes out to you. I can tell you, for me, after the merrygoround of meds I have been on, I am now finally giving Nardil a try.
I researched it like crazy and it seems to be the "gold standard" for depression and anxiety.
Nothing else has worked and am tired of them trying different cocktails just to treat anxiety and agoraphobia. They keep trying to put me on anti-depressants, which is not my problems. I have extreme GAD.
Please keep hopes up.
Courtney
Posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2009, at 20:51:16
In reply to Re: Here We Go Again, posted by Cseagraves on April 15, 2009, at 16:18:58
Courtney you made your decisions so nardil? Best of luck and please keep us all posted. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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