Depression (major depression)

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• June 23, 2011 2:35 p.m.

  Dear Denise how are you? went to the Dr. yesterday and asked him that I would like to try Abilify ans stop with zoloft but he told me that Abilify is only for schizophrenia, but I told him that i found a site that Abilify is not only for schizophrenia. In America they use it as addtional to antidepressant and some use to treat major depression but he wont listen instead he gave me nortripyline 25 mg to be taken 2x a day, stop zoloft and continue using seroquel. I take seroquel with a sleeping pill and can sleep now 7 hrs. Thank God. not feeling groggy in the a.m. tonight i try to take half of the sleeping pill and see if i could sleep. as of now I didn`t feel yet the side effects of the nortriptyline. hope and pray it will be the right one. take care and am happy to talk someone like you.

  - Annette

• June 22, 2011 3:19 p.m.

  Hi Denise, I have been on it a week now .Dr says its such a low dose it shouldnt be an issue with a rash .I am very aware of that side effect .Kinda scarey. Iam doing ok .Living with my level of PTSD can be hard .Not only on me but my family .I sometimes live from minute to minute .

  - kam

• June 22, 2011 2:32 p.m.

  hi kam: how many days on the lamictal now?? should work pretty fast, only thing u gotta watch out 4 w. that 1 is the rash, other than that i think u'll find that med. very helpful, u doin ok, otherwise??

  - denise

• June 22, 2011 2:19 p.m.

  Denise Having a few ups and downs .Lamotrigine boost for my Lexapro going ok .Not making me as sick as some ! Nicole ,totally get and understand what you are saying .I have tryed so many meds with so many side effects .Somedays I just want to run and hide .Other days I just want to curl up in a ball .I so wonder if all the drugs and what they have done to my body is worth it .I really do want to scream enough !!!! It can be so frustrating .

  - kam

• June 22, 2011 8:56 a.m.

  I am so sick of all these so call doctors that think they know how to treat depression. They have all these medications but don't really know how to use them. As patients, we have to go through trial and error until they find the right combination. I am tired of all the side effects and trying new drugs. I am currently on Cymbalta, Buspar, and Klonopin. Now my doctor wants to add Lamictal. Sorry but I don't want to have a rash, lose my hair, or my memory. At what point do the risks out weigh the benefits?? I would rather be depressed than take all these drugs and walk around like a zombie. Neither is a good way to live. I don't know what to do anymore. It would be nice just to be "normal" for once. Life is hard enough without having a chronic mental illness. Or multiple illnesses according to the "experts." It is so hard not to give up.

  - Nicole

• June 21, 2011 12:37 p.m.

  hi mark: r u the same person that used to write on the blog back in dec. 2010? do u have 2 boys-one that just grad. from high school & the other son is in his mid-twenties? if that's u, welcome back, it's good 2 hear from u, tell me what's going on with you, if u want to, it's been since feb. since i've "talked" 2 u, if ur ins. doesn't cover counseling, maybe u can call ur local health dept. & they may have free or low-cost counseling services, (depending on where u live), i've found out alot of new info. on meds., depression & other related issues, i hope u write back when u can, i'm a good listener & would like to help if i can, hope to hear from you soon

  - denise

• June 20, 2011 9:51 p.m.

  Been three months since last fall backwards and up until this week I have felt prety good. I feel things are heading down even harder this time. Meds seemed to help at first but they just cant cchange all of the misserable feelings inside. Doc wanted me to see a counselor too but cant afford one. Things are slipping faster this time

  - Mark

• June 18, 2011 10:25 p.m.

  hi annette: i'm good thank you, a little "out of sorts" still, from being home after 10 days w. the grandkids, soooo busy there & toooo quiet here, sorry u have no appetite, i try taking protein drinks or shakes when that happens 2 me, it's so hard when we have to take these drugs-if they could only work on them having less side effects-that would b sooo great, hopefully the changes the dr. made will help real soon, i agree only waiting a wk. 2 c if they help, i don't think drs. realize how "lousy" we feel sometimes?? i suffer from myaesenia gravis (m.g.) & when i'm not in remission & it "acts up"-all my muscles go weak, so the meds. i take have to not cause muscle weakness of course, my psych. dr. is very understanding of this illness & changes my med. right away if i have a bad reaction, in remission 4 a long time now-good thing-thank God, well long enough bout me, hope you are doing better & write back when u can

  - denise

• June 18, 2011 10:04 p.m.

  hi kam: glad 2 hear back from u, doc puttin' u on lamotrigine, that's great news!! was on it for many yrs., is classified as a mood stabilizer, dr. can make sure ur @ the right dosage with blood work-yeah!!(no guessing), try to get the brand name Lamictal, the brand names (i'm just finding out now) seem to work better, on me anyways, i'm glad that u have a good therapy team, it's sooo important, i think anyways, one other good thing about the Lamictal is that it works very soon (within a wk.) keep in touch

  - denise

• June 18, 2011 11:56 a.m.

  Annette. Tryed seroguel too .Hated the side effects.Took trazodone for a long time .Did help me sleep some nights .The next day took a long time to feel awake .Know how frustrating it all can be .Hope you find the right combo soom .

  - kam

• June 18, 2011 11:28 a.m.

  Dear Denise how are you. went to the doc last wednesday cause have trouble in sleeping and that makes me weak plus dont have any appetite. have asked him if i could take trazodone as sleeping aid or can i take benedryl but instead he gave seroquel to add zoloft. as of now i feel horrible from the side effects of seroquel, i`ll wait for a week if it will help me, thinking also of switching from zoloft cause i didnt feel 100% good on it. i`ll try if i can find benedryl here as soon as i feel a little bit better. or if i cant find it here i`ll try on the site you gave. thanks a lot for your advice. you take care and you`re in my prayers too.

  - Annette

• June 18, 2011 11:17 a.m.

  Dear Denise I have tryed many things for the night terrors and flashbacks .The Seraquile was supposed to help .It didnt .So now they are trying a booster for my lexapro called Lamotrigine, and up the dose to my Clonazapam .I have a great therapy team .So I work very hard at that .I take one step at a time .I dont ever feel sorry for myself ,, but I do get frustrated.Asked about Abilify .Dr. said my PTSD is just to much for that .Thank you for the thought ,and for keeping in touch.

  - kam

• June 16, 2011 5:22 p.m.

  dear jen: have u tried ritalin 4 energy or abilify 4 your depression, drs. have had a hard time finding the right meds. 4 me & (cross your fingers), hopefully these ones will stay working 4 me, have u had ur thyroid cked., mental illness can be misdiagnosed, when there is actually a thyroid problem, i'm not a dr., but did some research & my dr. is putting me on a natural thyroid hormone called "ARMOUR THYROID", u might want to look in to it, also see the symptoms of an under active thyroid, you'll be surprised to see how similar the symptoms r 2 those of us that suffer from depression, good luck, don't give up hope, write back & let us know how you are doing

  - denise

• June 16, 2011 5:11 p.m.

  dear kam: what r u using now 4 the nite terrors & flashbacks, those have 2 b sooo frightening!! have u had a chance 2 try the zanax, it's like ativan, but works for people when the ativan doesn't work, i remember you said u had bad luck or no luck w. klonopin, i feel bad 4 u having 2 deal with all this, keep in touch & let me no how u r doing

  - denise

• June 16, 2011 2:59 p.m.

  35 years of depression and anxiety screwing up my plans. All anti-dep., benzos, anti-psychotics, mood stab., bi-lateral ect, hypnosis... (can't afford tms) all that is left is to laugh and laugh...see you on the dark side of the moon...

  - jenn

• June 14, 2011 12:12 p.m.

  Anyone dealing with flashbacks,? Have tryed Seraquel.Didnt work .Night terrors are back in force big time too .Very uneasy all the time .Time to up the anxiety meds .

  - kam

• June 14, 2011 12:45 a.m.

  dear tahme: go on-line to: ketamine infusions for depression & there's a web-site for clinical trials that are on-going, all you have to do is put in the country that you live in & it will give you the info. that you're looking for, there are several in the u.s. good luck let me know what you find

  - denise

• June 13, 2011 11:16 p.m.

  anyone know of ketamine trails for depression going on I have port a cath permenently in my chest so easy access for IV. or other trails for IV antidepressants - VERY DESPRATE. thanks for replys. tahme

  - Tahme

• June 13, 2011 11:12 p.m.

  dear annette: good 2 hear from u, so sorry 2 hear that u have been sick from the wd. of the remeron, sorry didn't answer sooner-pretty tired, maybe can't keep up with the kids (ages: 14,17&18) lol, i'm glad the zoloft is working 4 u, any idea what is causing the weakness?? is doc doing any thing 4 it? i've taken the ativan (lorazepam) 4 many many yrs. 4 sleep (only 2 mg. per nite-low dose) & it's been ok, the benedryl doesn't have to b prescribed by a dr., but if u can't find it, try a generic antihistamine, it'll be cheaper & hope u can find it, do u have stores that sell things 4 only a dollar?? ck. there if u do, it is safe 2 use & is non-habit forming, try on-line @ amazon.com, if none of the above is avail. 2 u, had a great time w. the grandkids thanx, there 4 ten days, home now, write back & let me know how you are doing, you're also in my prayers & take care

  - denise

• June 11, 2011 4:45 a.m.

  Dear Denise am happy that you`re feeling good and enjoyed your holiday with family. been very sick for 2 weeks after weaning off the mirtazapine and the side effects of zoloft. it is almost my 3rd week taking zoloft alone 50mg and my depression is under control. only problem is that can`t sleep and makes me weak. my docter gives me lormetazepam which i dont like to take for long for addiction. i would like to try using the one you`re using benedryl but seems can`t find it in my country or online except in Uk but is expensive, do i need a prescription from the doctor for it? is it safe to use, i understand it is not a habit forming. have a great time with grandkids. God Bless.

  - Annette

• June 10, 2011 9:54 p.m.

  janet ,, I cant imagine how hard this must be . Thats why it is so important to get help as soon as you can .I know I spent a life time suffering .If someone had stepped up and helped me when I was a child ,,I wouldnt be dealing with what I am now .

  - kam

• June 10, 2011 8:16 a.m.

  dear janet: tahme is right u need to get your son 2 the dr., asap, he unfortunately won't get any better on his own, or with any one just talking 2 him (therapist), i'm not a professional, just someone who has suffered from this illness 4 about 35 yrs. now, i agree w. her that u should get him 2 a regular m.d. as soon as u can, he will rule out any medical illnesses & then u can go from there, thyroid problems often mask themselves as mental illness, this happens quite often, many people go mis-diagnosed, the lack of motivation is very common in depressed persons, but that doesn't mean that this is what is wrong with him, the hardest part is going 2 b 2 get him 2 a dr., they'll probably run some blood tests & maybe some other testing will be done, dr. will no, if u don't have a reg. m.d., ask a family member or friend, but don't destroy any confidence your son has in u, by telling anyone just yet- that he may have depression, it can b imbarrassing 2 some people as they see thereselves as being weak & an outkast, last count (that i no of) is that @ least 20 million people suffer from this genetic illness, do u have a good support group-family & close friends that u can confide in to help u thru this?? this is so very important, don't give up hope, there is help available, write back & let us know how you're doing-if this helps you, sorry i didn't answer earlier

  - denise

• June 9, 2011 7:51 a.m.

  Janet - u need to take action. be gentle but get him in to see a good gp - male young might be the ticket - make appt take him don't tell him in advance if he won't go - cud be range of other physical issues - including hormore like low testosterone. what is he doing on computer. find out. if it is porn don't overreact - get him help common in men with depression - many successful suicides among young men his age thisis DANGEROUS. if he had huge yellow spots all over him and refused to go to doc u wud take him right - depression is a DISEASE; it will KILL him - take some action. praying 4 u Tahme

  - Tahme

• June 9, 2011 7:41 a.m.

  battling depression 39 years. was relatively well managed with tricyclic antidepressant plus other like lexapro - lost short bowel, now on TPN - iv nutrition;bad malabsorption - depression uncontrolled using EMSAM patch now - little benefit; did ect severe memory impairment - but 1st time felt normal 26 days then depression returned all symptoms worsening. cannot beleive no IV antidepressant available... never will suicide- fall out to so's to awful - wud consider otherwise. leaving doctoral program - cannot maintain cover up - tried all therapies except magnet brain stim and vegus nerve... doing it all exercise daily, therapy, meds, pos self talk blah blah... maybe a big rock will fall on me or i'll get struck by lightening. any help appreciated...

  - Tahme

• June 7, 2011 10:17 p.m.

  dear Denise,, never tryed Zanax .Have to ask about that one . Glad u r having a good time.

  - kam