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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 11:30:05
What would you consider ideal results if your medication(s) actually worked for you?
Posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:51:56
In reply to If your medication(s) worked..., posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 11:30:05
well, I don't know about "ideal" (I'll get to that later), but I'll tell you some of the ways in which they do work
they keep me from getting as depressed as I might otherwise, the "bottom" is definitely higher than it could be
they do provide some anxiety relief, I'm not chronically terrified
they shut down the noise in my head, the racing thoughtsbut if they worked ideally...
I'd have a deep down calm
I'd have a greater ability to focus and concentrate
I'd enjoy things more
I wouldn't get so fixated
I wouldn't be sedated
I wouldn't be gaining weight
Posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:54:17
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked..., posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:51:56
One more:
I am a lot less "moody", less extreme> well, I don't know about "ideal" (I'll get to that later), but I'll tell you some of the ways in which they do work
>
> they keep me from getting as depressed as I might otherwise, the "bottom" is definitely higher than it could be
> they do provide some anxiety relief, I'm not chronically terrified
> they shut down the noise in my head, the racing thoughts
>
> but if they worked ideally...
> I'd have a deep down calm
> I'd have a greater ability to focus and concentrate
> I'd enjoy things more
> I wouldn't get so fixated
> I wouldn't be sedated
> I wouldn't be gaining weight
>
Posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 12:03:14
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked..., posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:54:17
> One more:
> I am a lot less "moody", less extreme
>
> > well, I don't know about "ideal" (I'll get to that later), but I'll tell you some of the ways in which they do work
> >
> > they keep me from getting as depressed as I might otherwise, the "bottom" is definitely higher than it could be
> > they do provide some anxiety relief, I'm not chronically terrified
> > they shut down the noise in my head, the racing thoughts
> >
> > but if they worked ideally...
> > I'd have a deep down calm
> > I'd have a greater ability to focus and concentrate
> > I'd enjoy things more
> > I wouldn't get so fixated
> > I wouldn't be sedated
> > I wouldn't be gaining weight
> >
>
> I hear you. Don't think i've ever met a person who could claim they worked ideally.
Posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2008, at 12:15:19
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked... » obsidian, posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 12:03:14
Wouldn't be anxious would be nursing again at least l5 years younger my magic pill and would go back to early 40's best years of my life happy independant no worries. Love Phillipa. I want my magic pill!!!!
Posted by cactus on June 22, 2008, at 13:53:43
In reply to If your medication(s) worked..., posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 11:30:05
good question, I thought I'd actually found that with
200mg modafinil
3mg clonazepamuntil I had oxycodone added for 2 weeks. I'm still fine but wow, that was an amazing combo. I'm still really good though. It's the best I have ever been in over 15 years while on medication and life is good. No weight gain and I'm managing quite well with a quiet clear mind. While I was on oxycodone it just took it to another level that I didn't know existed, but I'm still happy with the way things are now. I count myself a very lucky person at this point in my life after 15 years on the med go round.
Posted by dbc on June 22, 2008, at 14:09:52
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked... » IAMtheWalrus, posted by cactus on June 22, 2008, at 13:53:43
Dexedrine and some form of benzos is the best i've found. But of course anyone who's taken dexedrine knows the story on how it usually ends up.
Posted by Tomatheus on June 22, 2008, at 18:49:46
In reply to If your medication(s) worked..., posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 11:30:05
> What would you consider ideal results if your medication(s) actually worked for you?
First, I wouldn't be psychotic anymore. So, no ideas of reference, no intrusive thoughts, no hallucinations of any kind, no cognitive impairment, no avolition, and no extreme apathy. Basically, I'd be self motivated and free of positive psychotic symptoms again, just like I used to be before I had my psychotic break in February of last year.
Then, I'd be completely free of my depessive symptoms just as I was when I took my enteric version of Nardil with doxylamine succinate in the spring of 2006.
I'd be able to say this about the medication's effects:
"I felt *just right* in every way. Experiences that were supposed to make me feel good made me feel good, and experiences that were supposed to make me feel sad made me feel sad. Likewise, tasks that were supposed to be simple were simple, and tasks that were supposed to be difficult were difficult. I experienced little to no insomnia, and for the first time ever, I did not struggle to get out of bed after a full night of sleep. I would just wake up as most people do. For once, I finally felt like I knew what it was like to be fully human and to experience the range of feelings and emotions that most people experience. It was wonderful ... and I wasn't euphoric, just extremely satisfied and grateful to finally have the opportunity to live life as it was meant to be lived. (Tomatheus, 2006)"
Tomatheus
==
REFERENCES
Tomatheus (Psycho-Babble member). (2006). Re: Taking Nardil to the EXTREME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! » ace. Retrieved June 22, 2008, from Psycho-Babble: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060617/msgs/658844.html
Posted by BGB on June 22, 2008, at 21:50:48
In reply to If your medication(s) worked..., posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 22, 2008, at 11:30:05
Right now, I would be thrilled to find something that would just allow me to think about something other than killing myself.
Posted by Racer on June 23, 2008, at 12:07:31
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked..., posted by BGB on June 22, 2008, at 21:50:48
What would optimal response be for me? That's tough, but the tough questions are often the most helpful.
1. Anxiety often leaves me unable to focus, so that's definitely on my top three list. An anxiety reducing medication which allows me to focus, and does not leave me paralyzed by sedation and amotivation.
2. An antidepressant which soothes the intensely negative feelings I get, without simply numbing all feelings.
3. It wouldn't cause weight gain, nor constipation, nor insomnia, nor mental fog, nor emotional blunting.
The best I've found so far is Wellbutrin with methylphenidate. Unfortunately, Concerta doesn't seem to be as effective for me as immediate release Ritalin was, so I may ask my doctor if we can try the IR again. Maybe I'm just more depressed, maybe the long acting formula isn't as effective for me. Still, the combination is best in terms of side effects -- even if it's not terribly effective.
I am very depressed right now, though, so my views are much more negative than usual...
Posted by cactus on June 25, 2008, at 13:43:07
In reply to Another great topic, posted by Racer on June 23, 2008, at 12:07:31
Hey racer hon, have you tried a DA? I didn't get any of those side effects from ropinirole. I did get quite a few side effects but they were worth putting up with because at the time because the benefits out weighed the SE at the time and not everyone suffers from them.
Posted by okydoky on June 26, 2008, at 11:25:06
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked... » IAMtheWalrus, posted by cactus on June 22, 2008, at 13:53:43
As interesting observation. As an analogy, people who think they have it all until someone else comes along with something better.
I think it is in many ways very subjective.
These answers are so subjective in many ways. Culture and family and social status all make a difference.I have a friend who has depression (as I do) He takes medication and very slowly has been able to function in the world. He works full time I never tell him this but he is so miserable. He once told me he does not know and thinks his meds probably do nothing. I do not know because I never experienced him off his meds. But if I were him I would be looking to change meds and not be content where he is now. He has made a decision to be content. He seems quite aware he is not happy. I rarely see him smile or laugh. I am his only friend. If I only had one friend and not even others just to do things with I do not think I would consider myself happy or content. Having met and experienced a lot of his family I begin to understand. They are easy going and able to derive contentment from the simple things in life, highly educated but not upwardly mobile as that is not their goal. His expectation is not much more than he already lives. I know several people, not necessarily depressed who are content in their lives in places I never could be. I am not advocating we should be content to live in depressed states but if I for example could lower my expectations of what it would take for me to be satisfied with my life I think at least at times my depression was not so bad I might find myself smiling a lot more. I think I just have a difficult time understanding while he is aware of his unhappiness he is content to continue in that vein. Perhaps he believes he cannot get better. I would never ask because I am afraid his contentment is very fragile. It is not for me to break what he has.
But your experience with the meds "I thought I'd actually found that with.." speaks a lot about the subjective nature of an indiviguals experience. If we are unaware and have not had the experience to evaluate than as you were we can be content with or at a certain place. My favorite movie is "As Good as it Gets" It has storey lines that deal with mental health issues and physical health issues and life style ( or gay) issues and all the charactors learn to be content with life "as good as it gets"
As usual I am rambling.
oky
Posted by elanor roosevelt on July 1, 2008, at 22:03:31
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked..., posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:54:17
if my meds worked i would feel like i did on a good day before meds
Posted by irishcatholic on July 11, 2008, at 12:09:54
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked..., posted by obsidian on June 22, 2008, at 11:51:56
Prozac allows me to sleep well at night.
(this was a total surprise to me - because I take it in the morning)With a good night's sleep I can handle just about anything that happens during the daytime.
This is the end of the thread.
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