![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 mark57 on May 31, 2004, at 8:00:48
I’m just trying to figure out what meds will help with my problems. I’m struggling with depression, anxiety and anger/irritability. I have lots of trouble with Socil Anxiety and ADD symptoms. I’m not sure whether I have agitated depression or some form of bi-polar because I can have short term periods of euphoria then quickly fall into depression. My pdoc says it isn’t bi-polar because I don’t stay in any one state for a long enough time. Actually I just see a nurse who has special training in psycho meds. I have very low energy and sleep too much.
I am currently on Lexapro 10mg/day and risperdal 1mg/day but this combo isn’t helping much.
This is some of what I’ve tried before: Parnate – some help but not much. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft – some help but not a lot. Effexor – not much help. Wellbutrin – made me VERY agitated. Adderall – helped a lot at first with energy and more focus but then kind of wore off. Zyprexa was helping but was making me eat and sleep too much so was switched to Risperdal.
Right now the depression is really hurting. I’ve come close to trying Nardil a couple times but am worried that it will be too sedating. And I can’t combine it with anything to help the with the ADD or low energy like Adderall.
Just wondered if anyone has any similar issues or success with some drug combos. Thanks very much for any ideas.
Mark
Posted by Ann Marie T. on May 31, 2004, at 10:11:22
In reply to Looking for help with meds, posted by mark57 on May 31, 2004, at 8:00:48
>My pdoc says it isn’t bi-polar because I don’t >stay in any one state for a long enough time.
Sounds like me, but my pdoc was willing to put me on a mood stabalizer along with my antidepressant and it eliminated my mood swings. I don't know if I'm actually BP II, ultra-rapid cycler, ot cyclothymic disorder, but me it doesn't mattter because the treatment is the same.
Your pdoc seems awful hung up on diagnosis....
Zyprexa is especially good if you are agitated.I'm sure other people will have some more specific recomendations for you. Good Luck.
Posted by King Vultan on May 31, 2004, at 12:15:39
In reply to Looking for help with meds, posted by mark57 on May 31, 2004, at 8:00:48
Nardil might be worth trying. In my book "Psychotropic Drugs", they state "Phenelzine (Nardil) is the most studied and most effective MAOI in depressed patients with atypical features on clinical examination." My understanding is that sleeping too much is one characteristic of atypical depression. My own natural energy level is quite low also, and I don't find Nardil to be particularly sedating. I have a poor tolerance of sedating meds in general, and I would classify Nardil as fairly neutral in terms of activation/sedation.
As far as some of your other symptoms, my experience with Nardil has been
depression: good
anxiety: very good
anger/irritability: very good, I find Nardil to be quite calming.
social anxiety: superior (I have very bad social phobia).
ADD: some reduction in my symptoms; it is as least as good as anything else I have tried, the best of which were Wellbutrin and some of the tricyclics.
For me, it's not a silver bullet but it does provide a stable and constructive platform to build upon. I've been on it since March 1 and am up to 90 mg/day. I believe I will at least spend the summer on it because I am near the end of the road, the only other viable thing left to try IMO being Parnate, and for me, the Nardil seems so positive and beneficial that it should not be too hastily discarded.
Todd
Posted by mark57 on May 31, 2004, at 18:21:13
In reply to Re: Looking for help with meds, posted by King Vultan on May 31, 2004, at 12:15:39
Thanks for the replies. I think I could continue taking a mood stabilizer like risperdal with the Nardil if that would help. I'm really leaning toward giving Nardil a try since I've heard a lot of good things about it. I just wish you could take a stimulant with it too but maybe I won't need it. I also often take Vicodin for chronic pain from a neck injury so I would have to give that up too. But maybe it would be worth it. I see my pdoc this Friday and will talk to him about it more.
Thanks again!Mark
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.