Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1094856

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Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 17:02:10

Hi! I was diagnosed 20years ago with anxiety and depression. I was treated with Zoloft and have been pretty much symptom free for about 20 years (while taking Zoloft). Last year it pooped out on me and I was taken off it. I have tried numerous medications, but usually can't get past a few days because I get agitated depression and my anxiety goes through the roof. I am currently taking Nortriptyline. I have taken it before, but tried to swap to Clomipramine and same thing happened with the agitated depression/anxiety. So I have stopped that and am now back on Nortriptyline. I also take 2.5mg Olanzapine at night and 2mg of Klonopin, which has been increased since this latest crash. The psych has asked if I have any history of Bipolar, which I don't. I don't have any highs, just extreme anxiety that then turns into depression. Anyone out there experienced this and what medications helped. Feeling at a loss right now. TIA

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by linkadge on September 3, 2017, at 17:51:43

In reply to Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 17:02:10

Hi there,

I have bad anxious agitated depression too. I may have some bipolar tendencies (not too sure). Anyhow, I used to do well on serotonergic drugs, but recently they make anxiety worse.

I am also currently on nortriptyline and a small dose of Effexor. The Effexor seems to increase agitation so I keep the dose low.

I also take a small dose of lithium (300mg). I don't consider myself bipolar, but lithium can help unipolar depression too. It also not likely to increase agitation.

I find lithium helps with depression, anxiety, insomnia and agitation. It seems to mix well with nortriptyline.

Anyhow, lithium, an anticonvulsant, or a benzodiazepine might be worth trying if the antidepressants are not helping.

Linkadge

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 18:16:45

In reply to Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by linkadge on September 3, 2017, at 17:51:43

> Hi there,
>
> I have bad anxious agitated depression too. I may have some bipolar tendencies (not too sure). Anyhow, I used to do well on serotonergic drugs, but recently they make anxiety worse.
>
> I am also currently on nortriptyline and a small dose of Effexor. The Effexor seems to increase agitation so I keep the dose low.
>
> I also take a small dose of lithium (300mg). I don't consider myself bipolar, but lithium can help unipolar depression too. It also not likely to increase agitation.
>
> I find lithium helps with depression, anxiety, insomnia and agitation. It seems to mix well with nortriptyline.
>
> Anyhow, lithium, an anticonvulsant, or a benzodiazepine might be worth trying if the antidepressants are not helping.
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>
>
Hi!. Thanks for your reply. Helps to know that I'm not alone out there :-) My psych has mentioned Lamactil, which I believe is also a mood stabiliser. I don't really know much about it though. I was taking 2mg of Klonopin before this last thing happened with the the Clomipramine, but the psych has increased it to 5mg. I am working and I am more than aware of it's addicting qualities, so want to keep the dose as low as possible if I can. Even though it makes it hard to cope sometimes. I have read that Lamactil can cause activation at small doses and you need to increase it very slowly to avoid 'the rash'. What dose of Nortrip are you on. I'm on 75mg, but think psych wants to push it up to 150mg. Thanks for your reply. Tracy

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by joe f on September 3, 2017, at 19:14:42

In reply to Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 18:16:45

have you ever tried luvox as it a more calming ssri...in my experience

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by linkadge on September 4, 2017, at 7:57:29

In reply to Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 18:16:45

Hi,

Currently I'm on a very low dose (10mg). However, I have taken up to 50mg.

Lamictal can cause activation, but it is nothing compared to antidepressant activation (in my experience). Lamictal would be worth a try. It might help determine whether a different class of drugs would help. Lamictal might also make it easier to get off clonazepam.

You could also try a higher dose of the nortriptyline, but you'd have to assess how well it has helped you thus far.

Linkadge


 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression » Mermaid16

Posted by beckett2 on September 4, 2017, at 23:01:53

In reply to Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 17:02:10

I've suffered from anxious depression. I have a diagnosis of BPii, and I discovered that the agitation was more prominent than hypomania. Anyways, I'm sorry to hear about your med trials. When I started ADs a few years back, I tried a few, and each time I'd get a flipping panic attack. But after the initial period, things calmed down.

I find lamictal really helps steady me--yes, it was activating at the start.

Anticonvulsants can help with anxiety as Link points out. Maybe it's a possible avenue for you.

Starting medication (esp ADs) can be difficult. My suggestion is resist changing meds too rapidly (if you are doing this.) When you don't feel good, it's hard to stay steady.

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by rjlockhart37 on September 5, 2017, at 23:36:54

In reply to Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 18:16:45

i've had anxious and in a horrible mood at the same time for no reason, you may increase your olanzipine, the max is 20 but you will notice your calmer on higher dose, around 10-15mg, but i have to say, olanzipine is known well for weight gain, just be careful. On a side note, i've noticed if i take armodafinil nuvigil, which doctor used, it boosts my serotonin levels, it's kinda like a jump starter, but that's my own chemistry, i was on prozac the first years i noticed everything felt better and ok, but there was alot of things that happened, sent me into a slump depression for very long time

one ething i could say to recommend is elavil, it's a TCA but it's very good for anxiety and depression, both at same time. Maybe ask about it in session, lamotragine is like a mood leveler, it pulls you up from dark depression, but it won't let you go up real high, it kinda keeps at baseline, it does have some anti-depressant add on effects. 200mg usally is a standard dose, i've been on 400, i noticed i was much calmer, but felt dulled out. 200mg just keeps depression at baseline for me.

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by phidippus on October 7, 2017, at 17:17:45

In reply to Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 17:02:10

An extremely anxious or agitated state can be indicative of bipolar disorder.

Try lithium.

Eric

 

Re: Anxious/Agitated Depression

Posted by Meltingpot on December 21, 2017, at 8:40:43

In reply to Anxious/Agitated Depression, posted by Mermaid16 on September 3, 2017, at 17:02:10

Hi,

I can relate to your message. I took antidepressants and was symptom free for around 10 years. I came off them and was fine for 3 years and then I started experiencing severe depression (worse than previously, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

I thought I would be ok just by going back on antidepressants (Seroxat). However, this time whereas they had taken me to heaven before they took me to hell, I had excruciating anxiety on all of the SSRIs at the starting dose. It just went through the roof as did the suicidal thoughts.

I never tried benzos but the only thing that really took the anxiety away was 10mg of Zyrexa (Olanzapine). Also, I found that when the psychiatrist put me straight on 40mg rather than 20mg of Seroxat the anxiety went away after three days. I have found that with all of the SSRIs now, the higher the dose the less anxiety.

I know that we are all different, your experience might be different to mine but I get where you are coming from and just thought I would tell you of what helped me.


Denise
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