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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Vicki on April 7, 1999, at 10:44:39
I am a 31 year old female and have suffered from depression since my early teens. It has only been in the last two years that I have sought treatment though. My doctor started me on Serzone and it worked wonderfully. In fact, it worked so well that I thought I could go off the medication and manage it myself. WRONG! It took another year before I sought help again. Like before, my doc put me back on Serzone but it did not have the same effect. So, the merry-go-round started. I was tried on Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Remeron ... all of which had horrible side effects for me. I am now on Pamelor and while I don't notice any of the side effects like the others, it just doesn't seem to be working. I feel drained and unmotivated all the time and just can't seem to get "excited" about anything. Is that a possible side effect? I haven't found much in the way of postings on this medication. Is it because it is not prescribed much or what? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Frankly, I'm getting tired of all the meds. My doc has been wonderful about working with me, but I'm getting worn out. Please help!
Posted by Wayne R. on April 8, 1999, at 8:50:02
In reply to Medication Merry-Go-Round, posted by Vicki on April 7, 1999, at 10:44:39
Vicki, I am 51 and suffered from depression since my teen years also. I rode the merry-go-round some 25 years and recently discovered that augmenting an SSRI AD with Naltrexone did the trick for me. See my several postings in February and March for details. I hope you can find the magic bullet for you! Wayne
Posted by Joanne on April 8, 1999, at 17:04:38
In reply to Re: Medication Merry-Go-Round, posted by Wayne R. on April 8, 1999, at 8:50:02
Vicki and Wayne,
I posted sometime last month about also being frustrated with the change of medication and
the frustration it continues to cause me... this particular thread caught my eye today because
I have just returned home from my doctor... She had me on 1000 mg of Depakote which she upped to
1500 mg last week. When I saw her today, I told her that I have spent the last week doing just
about nothing but crying. The only drug that has seemed to work so far, (she has only tried 3 due to
my insurance company not covering much... is this normal?) isn't covered by my insurance. She wants
to take me off the Depakote, but this will take me a month to wean myself off of. In the meantime, she
is going on vacation next week. I would like a vacation next week... instead, I get to wait for her
office to get back to me... they are going to get ahold of my insurance company and tell them that this
is the only medication that works. I can only hope that they ok paying for it. If Depakote is a
mood stabilizer, I would rather go back to being unstable. I didn't cry as much then.
Also, since I have only been diagnosed a few months ago, I'm still not real sure of everything. Why
would the crying get worse now than it ever has been? More stress? Frustration because of the meds?
I don't know, but I'm gonna go broke on tissues.
The only thing I am thankful for right now is that I don't have the balls to kill myself.
But I would sure like to crawl in bed and stay there for about a month.Thanks for listening again...
Joanne
Posted by Ruth on April 14, 1999, at 19:29:32
In reply to Re: Medication Merry-Go-Round, posted by Joanne on April 8, 1999, at 17:04:38
I've come to see it more as a roller coaster than as a merry-go round. I too have been on many meds and combinations of meds. When I get the most discouraged I try to "borrow" some hope from my psychopharmacologist who continues to say that we will find something that will work. The hard thing about dealing with meds is that the effect does not show for a number of weeks. As for the depakote you should try to get your doc to advocate for you with your insurance company. Sometimes that works.
> Vicki and Wayne,
> I posted sometime last month about also being frustrated with the change of medication and
> the frustration it continues to cause me... this particular thread caught my eye today because
> I have just returned home from my doctor... She had me on 1000 mg of Depakote which she upped to
> 1500 mg last week. When I saw her today, I told her that I have spent the last week doing just
> about nothing but crying. The only drug that has seemed to work so far, (she has only tried 3 due to
> my insurance company not covering much... is this normal?) isn't covered by my insurance. She wants
> to take me off the Depakote, but this will take me a month to wean myself off of. In the meantime, she
> is going on vacation next week. I would like a vacation next week... instead, I get to wait for her
> office to get back to me... they are going to get ahold of my insurance company and tell them that this
> is the only medication that works. I can only hope that they ok paying for it. If Depakote is a
> mood stabilizer, I would rather go back to being unstable. I didn't cry as much then.
> Also, since I have only been diagnosed a few months ago, I'm still not real sure of everything. Why
> would the crying get worse now than it ever has been? More stress? Frustration because of the meds?
> I don't know, but I'm gonna go broke on tissues.
> The only thing I am thankful for right now is that I don't have the balls to kill myself.
> But I would sure like to crawl in bed and stay there for about a month.
>
> Thanks for listening again...
> Joanne
Posted by Joanne on April 17, 1999, at 21:29:38
In reply to Re: Medication Merry-Go-Round, posted by Ruth on April 14, 1999, at 19:29:32
Well, my insurance company has agreed to pay for Zoloft!
My doc went on vacation last week so the Rx was called in. Someone,
I refuse to point fingers, totally screwed up the dosage. So, I am one
more week crying nonstop. I am almost done tapering myself off the Depakote,
so I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that within the next couple of weeks,
I can start to feel normal... or whatever normal may be.
Thanks again,Joanne
This is the end of the thread.
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