Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 598254

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

What's my next step?

Posted by TommyIsland on January 12, 2006, at 3:45:49

Here's my situation. I suffer from debilitating thoughts. I have pure obsessions that plague me nonstop and have constrewed my thinking patterns. It's like my entire thinking process is a big game of myself playing devils advocate against myself. My social life went from a very busy one in the past to basically nonexistent. I have no desire to socialize or go out and my behavior has become extremely Avoidant. I have no desire to even leave the house. I have a terrible outlook on life and it just seems like the sun rises and sets everytime I blink my eyes. The days literally fly by and I'm only 29 years old but feel like my best days are all behind me. I feel like I can't change myself because my mind has literally hijacked my old self and personality and now I'm just this zombie that exists. My thought patterns are strange and very much a cycle of self analysis and self sabotage. As far as meds go, that's become a big joke. Are my disturbing thoughts causing all my sorrows or do I have some legitimate mental illness that needs to be helped with meds? I'm leaning towards the first.......I feel that my own phobic thought patterns are responsible for debilitating myself to the point of not wanting to do anything. I've tried CBT with one of the best in the nation.......a guy in NYC who specializes in pure Obsessions. My next step I think is going to be ECT. I have to take a big step and see what happens. I have nothing to lose at this point because I have suicide ideation nonstop everyday. Well any thoughts and replies would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tommy

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by blueberry on January 12, 2006, at 5:31:30

In reply to What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 12, 2006, at 3:45:49

That's a tough situation TommyIsland. I'm so sorry to hear things are so debilitating for you. It probably won't help your symptoms much, but sometimes it does help to know that most of us here know exactly what you are talking about and are having similar crippling problems.

I am not familiar with types of treatment other than medications and some natural amino acid treatments. If you would like some possible suggestions, please let us know. I kind of got the feeling from your post that you are trying to avoid them. Some of them could be predictably lousy for you, while others could be predictably more promising, but all come with side effects. There are a few amino acids and mineral supplements that could be good for you.

Taking a saliva test of cortisol and dhea, 4 times over a day, would be a good idea. The adrenal glands might be acting up causing weird behavioral and mood problems. Not very expensive and relatively easy to correct.

Wishing you a better day today!

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by linkadge on January 12, 2006, at 8:13:38

In reply to What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 12, 2006, at 3:45:49

What medications have you tried?

Linkadge

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by Racer on January 12, 2006, at 12:46:03

In reply to What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 12, 2006, at 3:45:49

There are a lot of steps to try before heading in for ECT, Tommy. And I've heard a lot of good things about ECT from various people over the years, but I've never heard about it for obsessional thinking.

You didn't mention what the results were from CBT? If there was no improvement whatsoever, how long did you stick with it? What happened? I'm asking, because this is a perfect example of the sort of thing CBT is best for. If it didn't work for you, then try another form of talk therapy -- whether or not you try some new drugs, too.

As for drugs, there are so many now, and some of them are very helpful for this sort of thing. What have you tried so far, and what were the results? I know people with similar problems who have had almost miraculous results from Zoloft and from Luvox, so an SSRI might be a good first choice, with some other meds that might be good if those don't work.

And tell us a bit about your situation: do you work? Are you in school? etc.

Good luck.

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by linkadge on January 12, 2006, at 15:17:59

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by Racer on January 12, 2006, at 12:46:03

I agree that ECT is not a good first choice. I've heard good things about ECT, but I have also heard a lot of bad things about ECT.

Linkadge

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2006, at 21:40:12

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by linkadge on January 12, 2006, at 15:17:59

Do pdocs even do it unless all other options have been tried. Selective not remembering would be good but it doesn't work that way unfortunately. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: What's my next step? » TommyIsland

Posted by yxibow on January 13, 2006, at 2:18:31

In reply to What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 12, 2006, at 3:45:49

> Here's my situation. I suffer from debilitating thoughts. I have pure obsessions that plague me nonstop and have constrewed my thinking patterns.

I am not a doctor but it sounds like you have some form of OCD mixed with Social Anxiety Disorder. There are a lot of medications out there for SAD that can be tried before ECT. Even antipsychotics would be better for immediate mood brightening and suicide prevention, such as Zyprexa, than ECT.

ECT is a last resort treatment and although it has been improve vastly it can stillcause some short to medium term memory loss, usually temporary.

I wouldn't think any competent p-doc would head for the high hills before trying a complement of medications as mentioned.

What have you tried?

-- Jay

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by TommyIsland on January 13, 2006, at 6:03:50

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by linkadge on January 12, 2006, at 8:13:38

> What medications have you tried?
>
> Linkadge

I've tried the entire gammot of meds. The only success on meds I ever had was taking Effexor XR and Depakote over a five year period of time. My mood seemed to brighten and my anxiety went away. The thoughts of coarse were still there with me but life had meaning and purpose. Suddenly the meds stopped working and my mental debilitating thoughts increased to a point where they got unmanageable. I stopped taking the Effexor XR and Depakote, crashed to a low point of depressioin and then began taking Effexor XR again. It got me out of the despair of deep dark depression and from there I've been trying lots of differnt meds with no luck on any giving any sort of noticeable improvement that one would consider it beneficial to keep taking it. As of the last year or so I've tried: Geodon, Abilify, Risperal, Lithium, and most recently Luvox which seems to do nothing. I increased the dose to 200MG and I felt literally numb. Meds only seem to keep me out of the pits of actually wanting to commit suicide. They do nothing to bring balance and peace to my mind. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Tommy!!!!!!!!

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by TommyIsland on January 13, 2006, at 6:13:33

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2006, at 21:40:12

> Do pdocs even do it unless all other options have been tried. Selective not remembering would be good but it doesn't work that way unfortunately. Fondly, Phillipa

Yes I agree with you about the selective not remembering........that would be a blessing. If I could find a way to get rid of thoughts or scenarios in my mind that have caused me great grief and fear I would be a lot happier of a person with a completely differnt outlook on life. I often wonder about the effects of hypnotherapy and if that would be beneficial at all to me.

Thanks,

Tommy!!!!!!!

 

Re: What's my next step? » TommyIsland

Posted by yxibow on January 14, 2006, at 13:12:55

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 13, 2006, at 6:03:50

> > What medications have you tried?
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> I've tried the entire gammot of meds. The only success on meds I ever had was taking Effexor XR and Depakote over a five year period of time. My mood seemed to brighten and my anxiety went away. The thoughts of coarse were still there with me but life had meaning and purpose. Suddenly the meds stopped working and my mental debilitating thoughts increased to a point where they got unmanageable. I stopped taking the Effexor XR and Depakote, crashed to a low point of depressioin and then began taking Effexor XR again. It got me out of the despair of deep dark depression and from there I've been trying lots of differnt meds with no luck on any giving any sort of noticeable improvement that one would consider it beneficial to keep taking it. As of the last year or so I've tried: Geodon, Abilify, Risperal,

Well, that still leaves Zyprexa and Seroquel -- Zyprexa is more associated with greater mood brightening from what I can gather.

>Lithium, and most recently Luvox which seems to do nothing. I increased the dose to 200MG and I felt literally numb.

Luvox is quite frequently prescribed to 400mg, it has a wide range of margin. Medications unfortunately do have a numbing effect, especially antipsychotics. Perhaps an addition of something like Cymbalta to stimulate NE would be of help.

And if you can manage the tiredness and possible weight gain of Remeron, it is a tetracyclic antidepressant which works completely differently from SSRIs and at a high dose of 45, 52.5 or 60 (i dont think I've heard of that but its possible) mg may be a smidgen stimulating as well.

>Meds only seem to keep me out of the pits of actually wanting to commit suicide. They do nothing to bring balance and peace to my mind. Any ideas would be appreciated.

>You've hit the nail with the hammer -- at least in part. Medication alone may not be a solution for you. I don't know your financial or insurance situation but psychotherapy, psychodynamic "inside" therapy, may be an adjunctive to a medication regime. Its a way of discovering what will bring balance and peace to your mind. Because only you can have hope. And its out there.

To better feelings

-- Jay

 

Re: What's my next step? » TommyIsland

Posted by Tomatheus on January 14, 2006, at 15:30:12

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 13, 2006, at 6:03:50

Tommy,

Have you ever tried an MAOI or a TCA?

If so, how did you respond?

Tomatheus

> I've tried the entire gammot of meds. The only success on meds I ever had was taking Effexor XR and Depakote over a five year period of time. My mood seemed to brighten and my anxiety went away. The thoughts of coarse were still there with me but life had meaning and purpose. Suddenly the meds stopped working and my mental debilitating thoughts increased to a point where they got unmanageable. I stopped taking the Effexor XR and Depakote, crashed to a low point of depressioin and then began taking Effexor XR again. It got me out of the despair of deep dark depression and from there I've been trying lots of differnt meds with no luck on any giving any sort of noticeable improvement that one would consider it beneficial to keep taking it. As of the last year or so I've tried: Geodon, Abilify, Risperal, Lithium, and most recently Luvox which seems to do nothing. I increased the dose to 200MG and I felt literally numb. Meds only seem to keep me out of the pits of actually wanting to commit suicide. They do nothing to bring balance and peace to my mind. Any ideas would be appreciated.
>
> Tommy!!!!!!!!
>
>

 

Re: What's my next step?

Posted by linkadge on January 14, 2006, at 21:01:56

In reply to Re: What's my next step? » TommyIsland, posted by yxibow on January 14, 2006, at 13:12:55

I would keep the lithium but change the luvox to nortryptaline.

The lithium-nortryptaline combination is probably the most studied combination for certain cases of treatment resistance.

It also seems to be the combination that statistically reduces ECT relapse the most significantly.

Linkadge


 

Re: What's my next step? » TommyIsland

Posted by 4WD on January 14, 2006, at 22:17:58

In reply to Re: What's my next step?, posted by TommyIsland on January 13, 2006, at 6:13:33

> > Do pdocs even do it unless all other options have been tried. Selective not remembering would be good but it doesn't work that way unfortunately. Fondly, Phillipa
>
> Yes I agree with you about the selective not remembering........that would be a blessing. If I could find a way to get rid of thoughts or scenarios in my mind that have caused me great grief and fear I would be a lot happier of a person with a completely differnt outlook on life. I often wonder about the effects of hypnotherapy and if that would be beneficial at all to me.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tommy!!!!!!!


That's so true. When you wake up in the morning and the first thing you remember is how horrible and scary yesterday was, it's hard not to feel horrible and scared just thinking about it. I wa thinking this morning that if I could just wipe out the memory of the past 15months of my life, I might not wake up and get scared.

marsha


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