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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sac on January 28, 2015, at 12:12:41
Any ideas for a good med for treatment resistant depression?
Currently on lithium and prozac. Have previously tried most of the AAP's and buspar which helped but gave me debilitating muscle stiffness.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 28, 2015, at 14:03:11
In reply to Options for treatment resistant depression, posted by Sac on January 28, 2015, at 12:12:41
what are your remaining symptoms? something as simple as Klononpin, xanax, or lyrica can help some people. stimulants or provigil helps others...even adding Wellbutrin can be effective. Actually, come to think of it...adding Remeron can boost a lot of ADs.
I'd avoid an AAP if you can. Kind of heavy artillery. Lamictal? Had any blood work of physical examinations to see what could be contributing?
Counseling? Exercise? Fish oil?
Posted by bxbx19 on January 28, 2015, at 14:20:00
In reply to Re: Options for treatment resistant depression, posted by Christ_empowered on January 28, 2015, at 14:03:11
I posted just above you a question about magnesium - I am on Klonopin for anxiety and it works to about 80%. I get minor depression now and then. Magnesium Taurate has done wonders and made me come out of my shell quite a bit. Exploring adding Taurine and L-Theanine as they are supposed to have similar properties.
There are several kinds of Magnesium - Taurate appears to be the most efficient.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 28, 2015, at 19:26:43
In reply to Re: Options for treatment resistant depression, posted by bxbx19 on January 28, 2015, at 14:20:00
mainly from the posts i've read over this site over the years, the main treatment resistant antidepressants are Parnate and Nardil, lesser extent Marplan, they are strong antidepressats but they have more side effects than current traditional ones, but they both work vary effectivly......it may be a good choice, but have to cut out certain because you have go on a diet when you are on parnate or nardil....can't eat certain things because you'll go the hospital.....
ask your doctor, that or looking Tricyclic antidepressants
Posted by Tomatheus on January 29, 2015, at 8:37:08
In reply to Options for treatment resistant depression, posted by Sac on January 28, 2015, at 12:12:41
Sac,
Generally, when the newer antidepressants don't seem to be effective in treating someone's depression, doctors prescribe older antidepressants (namely, the tricyclics and MAOIs, which another poster mentioned). If you think that the Prozac that you're taking may be producing a partial response, then augmenting it with something like Deplin might be a good idea. I can see that you've already tried antipsychotics and Buspar and that you're currently taking lithium. Another thing that I like to recommend is to make sure that you've been tested for physical abnormalities that might contribute to your depression, if you haven't already had such tests done. Some tests that might be relevant would be those for thyroid disorders, anemia, and levels of vitamins B12 and D. I had depressive symptoms that didn't seem to respond to any treatment in the long run that now seem to be responding to vitamin D3 after a blood test found my vitamin D level to be low.
I also think it's worth mentioning that many patients with depressive disorders find that their depressive symptoms are best controlled when the treatments that directly affect our biology (e.g., medications) are combined with other treatment modalities and depression management strategies. Such approaches could include psychotherapy, exercise, peer support, and healthy lifestyle choices. Perhaps you've already tried at least some of these approaches, but I think that they're worth mentioning, especially considering that your depression seems to only be responding so well to medications. Do you have any experience with psychotherapy?
Hopefully you'll find some of the ideas that I've put forth to be worthwhile of consideration, and I certainly hope that whatever you decide to do treatment wise that you'll find relief from your depression. Good luck with your treatment, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions about anything that I've written.
Tomatheus
Posted by Sac on January 31, 2015, at 23:05:14
In reply to Re: Options for treatment resistant depression » Sac, posted by Tomatheus on January 29, 2015, at 8:37:08
Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. Will be looking into the mag taurinate and vitamin d as possibilities.
Posted by Sac on January 31, 2015, at 23:10:40
In reply to Re: Options for treatment resistant depression, posted by Christ_empowered on January 28, 2015, at 14:03:11
Remaining symptoms are fatigue, lethargy, difficulty concentrating and low motivation. I was on lamictAl for awhile but stopped due to it causing some troubling side effects like obsessive thinking and irritability. Wellbutrin was of some benefit but caused too much of an anxious, edgy feeling.
> what are your remaining symptoms? something as simple as Klononpin, xanax, or lyrica can help some people. stimulants or provigil helps others...even adding Wellbutrin can be effective. Actually, come to think of it...adding Remeron can boost a lot of ADs.
>
> I'd avoid an AAP if you can. Kind of heavy artillery. Lamictal? Had any blood work of physical examinations to see what could be contributing?
>
> Counseling? Exercise? Fish oil?
This is the end of the thread.
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