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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deniseuk on February 17, 2006, at 10:36:47
Hi,
I'm really uncertain as to what to do next. I know the Seroxat at 40mg isn't working, the last week or so I've felt myself go right down and I took 30mg of Mirtazapine last night in desperation just to feel better than I did yesterday.
The psychiatrist has tried augmenting with Buspar, thyroid agent and tegretol to no avail.
He sent me for a second opinion yesterday and all the psychiatrist concluded was that I was "Depressed" and that he would increase the Seroxat to 50mg not 60mg he said because that's only for OCD! He's also recommending that I see a therapist as he believes I've never had a stable life! It seems to me that when drugs don't work they always push you onto therapy just as something to do. I'm sure if you delved hard enough into anybody's life you could find a reason why they were depressed.
I don't know whether to give up on Seroxat completely for six months and just take Zyprexa as and when needed in the hope that I can go back on the Seroxat in 6 months time and it will work better or try augmenting the Seroxat with something else.
I'm really getting sick of all this trial and error with nothing really working. I want my life back!
I'm not going out hardly any more, just about getting myself to work and back but have very little motivation and constantly feeling like I'm having to pretend to everyone that I'm normal and that I feel normal. I'm going to bed earlier and earlier and I'm starting to get those weak, vulnerable feelings.
I bought a flat last year because I don't want to just give up on life completely but I have very little interest in it, my mum is more enthusiastic and keen on doing it up than I am. I'm reluctant to buy anything for it because I can't enjoy anything and don't see the point in buying nice things if I can't enjoy them properly.
Also, I'm worried that I won't be able to work and won't be able to afford to buy anything for it.
I'm very worried, not sure whether or not to try the ECT again or even go down the route of Deep Brain Stimulation.
Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
Denise
Posted by blueberry on February 17, 2006, at 17:29:46
In reply to What to do next??, posted by deniseuk on February 17, 2006, at 10:36:47
If you haven't already considered dumping the med completely, would you? I mean, you get to a point in augmenting where if nothing is working it's like trying to kick a dead horse back to life. Better just to bury the darn thing and get a new horse. Taper off the med and taper on to a new one at the same time. No wash out. But, that's just me. Close the chapter and open a new one.
You mentioned zyprexa. If you aren't already taking it, that would be my last ditch augmenting trick. But, there are many opinions and this is just one. I just think the doctor is wrong in thinking that an extra 10mg on top of what it already is will somehow make any significant difference if any at all.
When choosing a new med, choose one that works on different chemistries than you have already tried. If you stay in the serotonin family, try prozac, it's different. But look at other chemistries. If the serotonin route was going to make a big difference for you, it already would have most likely, or at least enough to let you know you are on the right track.
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2006, at 19:34:53
In reply to Re: What to do next??, posted by blueberry on February 17, 2006, at 17:29:46
Words of wisdom!!!!Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by deniseuk on February 21, 2006, at 4:14:29
In reply to Re: What to do next??, posted by blueberry on February 17, 2006, at 17:29:46
Thanks blueberry, I think you're right in saying that 50mg is not going to make much of a difference.
The thing is Seroxat used to work so well for me years ago and they had never stopped working before I came off them, so I never developed a tolerance to them.
They always say that if one drug worked for you before the it can work again.
But I do sometimes feel like I'm flogging a dead horse with the Seroxat. Funnily enough adding the mirtazapine (Remeron) the other day (just 30mg) seemed to help me for a couple of days.
Anyway, I had some old lamictal in my drawer so I've tried adding 100mg of that per day until I next see my psychiatrist next week.
I may as well self medicate and experiment on myself whilst I am waiting.
Thanks again for your feedback.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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