Depression (major depression)

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• January 1, 2012 1:50 p.m.

  My 25 yr. old daughter has been treated for resistant depression for over 2 years, and we are getting nowhere. She has been on drugs for anxiety since middle school. After college she started to develop depression. Less than a year ago she started to have headaches. During these last years, her psychiatrist(she changed doctors over a year ago) had been trying all different kinds of meds. and combinations. She has also developed a minor bit of OCD. Her headaches got really bad, and she had a seizure. So now besides seeing the psychiatrist and psychologist, she is also seeing a neurologist. The conclusion was the seizure was from meds. and lack of sleep. No additional seizures have occurred since July. Currently she is on lithium and T-3, and maybe something else. In any case, therapy is going nowhere. The various service providers do not coordinate. The psychiatrist has not found medicine that is helping her. We would like to find a coordinated team toevaulate and make recommendations. We live in the Northwest of the U.S. Is there any place you would recommend for another opinion.

  - WorriedMom

• December 30, 2011 12:34 p.m.

  My mom is suffering from anxiety and depression. She has been on loraspan & lexapro and this didnt work. Then Xanax and Elavil...still having shaking spells that causes her to shake all over and effecting her speech. Now the doctor is doing only Xanax to see if its anxiety thats causing the shakiness or the Elavil. My mom is in remission from colan cancer (4 1/2 yrs) and just recovered from bladder surgery. She is tough but this anxiety and depression is really pulling her down. What is causing all of this shakiness? Please give me some hope!

  - kati

• October 16, 2011 3:14 p.m.

  Hi Bethany, Even though your insurance won't cover it could you get samples from your doctor? Is the patent on the medication about to expired, then it may become available in generic form and cheaper. Also, your doctor should be able to know what other medications have similiar properties that he could switch you to that might help. Sometimes you may have to take two different kinds of medications, I do. One is remeron and the other is celexia. I take the generic version. I have to take twice the normal dose but not because it is a generic, just because that is the level I need to maintain my current balance and well being and finally feeling "normal" again, first time in five years.

  - Lydia

• August 17, 2011 2:25 p.m.

  I have tried several medications, and there is one that helps immensely. I have been taking it for five years--this is one where physiological things are involved. I found out yesterday that my health insurance won't cover it anymore. This is so frustrating, since I know what works and don't need a change because of something ineffective. ! They might not be interested in the fact that I have experienced thoughts of SI and suicide. Here I go again...finding new med, even though this one really helps me!

  - Bethany

• May 13, 2011 11:07 p.m.

  dear deborah & tawny-cat: i've written some other comments on some of the other blogs that r here on this web-site, if u want to read them they might help u guys, i've been suffering from treatment-resistant dep. 4 about 30 yrs. now, i've been on alot of meds., it seems like i've tried all of them, my 83 yr. old mom has basically been taking care of me 4 the past 4 mos., doing my laundry, shopping, errands, etc., i've been doing good for one whole week now, that's seven whole days, this is big !! dr. put me on ritalin (gives adults energy) & on abilify & am weaning off the lamictal, which was a very good mood-stabilizer, up until the time that the generic version came out & my ins. co. wouldn't pay for the brand name, it's 2 bad because it worked good 4 keeping me level, but i sure would love a little mania in my life, just a little wouldn't hurt right lol good luck to everyone don't give up hope keep writing if it helps

  - denise

• May 4, 2011 1:56 a.m.

  Deborah, how are you doing now? Did the Lithium help? I have similar symptoms (debilitating depression) and am on Zoloft 125 mg, Wellbutrin 300 mg, and Trazodone 50 mg at bedtime for sleep. It's not working so I'm hoping for something more effective. I'm on strong pain meds for disability so I sure don't want more fatigue/drowsiness.

  - Tawny-Cat

• March 29, 2011 10:40 p.m.

  sharon please b careful when ur on these drugs & ck. w. your pharm. 2 make sure that there r no condradictions ,if u have 2 go off any of them, u can have some severe side effects,i.e. hallucinations & other things

  - denise

• March 16, 2011 9:46 a.m.

  6days in with the lithium.. just got back from having labs and ecg since my doctor wants me monitored weekly until certain level is achieved and maintained (NOT to exceed). thing is, I could do with some mania.. lol.. major debilitating depression is my particular bag of rocks.. sometimes wish I had someone to "make" me do things, to follow through, to even leave the house.. to take care of daily things.. most often I just don't care and that lack of commitment/involvement in my own wellbeing can and does have major repercussions.. on a good day I often find myself doing damage control.. or not.. I hate living this non living sort of way. Often, even on a good day, I get a thing or two accomplished (ie phone calls.. since I don't answer the phone normally) and then I'm exhausted or demotivated.. I manage to work myself up to finally getting out for a few groceries but I never get all of the 'necessities' looked after.. Jeeze I sound like a whiner!! lol sorry folks but I guess I'm hoping someone reads this and somehow has something to tell me.. I've no clue what that could be but well, here I am.

  - Deborah

• March 14, 2011 9:57 a.m.

  lexipro ,in combination with wellbrutrin and abilify have had some results...for the depression... but it's the mania that gets me in trouble... sharon

  - sharon

• March 11, 2011 8:19 a.m.

  "Officially" diagnosed with clinical depression in 1985, at one time or another I've been prescribed the full spectrum of available medications beginning with amitriptyline, on to meritol (back to amitriptyline) to empromin to prozac to effexor to effexor in combination with wellbutrin. I may have missed something and definitely WOULD have missed something if not having the documentation in front of me (in process of ODSP application - Ontario provincial disablility) I've had some success/relief at times but the past couple of years.. it's been hellish, touch and go... I just finished being weaned off effexor: 300 mg. daily (MAJOR discontinuation symptoms), took 2 months, and wellbutrin discontinued this past Tuesday.. begin lithium today. Fingers crossed. Thing is, I've read some of my journals from 30 yrs ago (I'm 56 now) and really, nothing much has changed in any meaningful way.. I'm still "me".. same old same old. Am going to try an increase in omega 3's and maybe ask my Docs about B vitamins..? I can't help but think: I'm well into middle age now... what is there to inspire hope once youth is gone?

  - Deborah

• January 22, 2011 1:04 a.m.

  dear friends i have recently been reading up on the kind of "last resort" medications called maoi's, ck. it out, u might find it very interesting, it's not perfect, but alot of people have found great results, 4 long periods of time with them good luck

  - denise

• January 18, 2011 8:12 p.m.

  It is very useful. Sometimes we tend to loose hope with medication and in such situations Psychotherapy will be of help

  - Rajamohan Ph D

• January 13, 2011 11:23 p.m.

  hey greg (that had the back surgery) where r u ? wanna no how things r going ? write back

  - denise

• January 6, 2011 1:02 p.m.

  In 2003 I was involved in a bad accident and totally destroyed my left shoulder, it needed to be replaced with a stainless steel joint and rod. The year after that I had a mild stroke/TIA. Then I had prostate cancer and surgery, a heart and I have 2 stents. This pass year I had skin cancer and it required 2 operations for them to get all the cancer cells. All of this has taken place in the last 8 years. This caused me to develope depression and an anxiety disorder. One doctor had me on Cymbalta for over a year and I did not improve. I just sat in my recliner. Then I went to a different doctor and he took me off of Cymbalta immediately and put me on Wellbutrin 150 mg. and added Zoloft a month later. I felt great for 6 months but now things seems to be declining. I feel like my medication needs adjusted but I need to wait for an appointment.

  - Greg

• January 5, 2011 8:19 p.m.

  hey greg where r u want 2 hear how things r going write back

  - denise

• December 20, 2010 5:19 p.m.

  hi greg sounds like u had a good visit w. ur doc, great-so many of these drugs make us feel like we're taking "street-legal speed", as i call it, that's good when the doc tells u that u need 2 call her when things aren't right, seems like a good doc 2 me, i hope she's taking u off the prozac slowly, it might b a little rough going @ 1st, but it'll get better, my opinion about feeling like we're on "speed" is that our dosage is 2 high, some people can handle those high doses, but some of us just can't, i can't say what it feels like 2 b told that i'll never work again, but i am on ssdisability & not working now, i don't like it, but it's better than giving up on evrything & not being here @ all!! Just take one day @ a time, little baby steps, i'm glad u have good drs. that's vip, i'm glad i could help, keep in touch

  - denise

• December 20, 2010 3:52 p.m.

  Hi Denise, Well, i went to my doc and she pulled me off the prozac immediately, and kinda scolded me a little for not calling her much sooner. She says prozac is a long lasting drug that takes a while to build up but also to wane. She told me to just wait until all my side effects are gone (usually 2 weeks) and then see how I feel. She said if I start to feel down and depressed again to call her and we'd have to do some blood work before she'll prescribe something else. Years back I tried Zoloft and ended up in the hospital. It was like an overdose of speed. As far as what I use my valium for, I don't have a problem. I only use one or two a month when I get a bit nervous and anxious. The valium works just fine. It's just this post op depression, and the fact that I've been told that I'll never work again thats got me feeling rather down....useless, in fact. Thats what she's concerned with. I'm thankful, tho, that I have one of the best family doctors I have ever seen. And my back surgeon has told me the same thing about her. So we'll just wait and see. Thank you so much for the responses. You've been a very big help!

  - Greg

• December 19, 2010 11:56 p.m.

  dear greg, do your homework b 4 u go 2 the dr., what i mean is have questions ready to ask & have them written down, drs. tend 2 write those pres. 2 fast & ur out of the office, b 4 u no it, i don't drink coffee, but there's other things w. caf. in them, that does the same, ur were talking about something else that will last longer 4 the anxiety to replace the zanax, try klonopin lasts approx. 8 hrs., i am also disabled & it is hard to accept & adjust 2, it'll just take some time, with the doc focus on a low dose of an a.d., i'm just like u very sensitive 2 meds., but have a high tolerance 2 pain, hope this helped,let me no how it goes @ the doc, if u want

  - denise

• December 19, 2010 10:57 p.m.

  Denise, Thanx so much for the response. I have an appointment on Monday and I will speak with the doc about the options. I just seem to be very sensitive to anything that stimulates. One cup of coffee makes me very nervous and gives me shakes. I had xanax, but it didn't last long enough. I have a very high tolerance for pain meds and sedatives so I can take 30mgs of valium and funtion normally. But coffee is like taking speed for me. I only use a 10mg valium maybe once a week or less. The anxiety isn't a real problem. My biggest problem now is my depression after back surgery and the fact that I am now disabled. My life has made a 180* turn in no time flat. It's hard for me to accept.

  - Greg

• December 19, 2010 8:17 p.m.

  dear greg glad u wrote back, my opinion on using valium 4 anxiety, is i don't think that it's a good idea, wonder why your doc doesn't prescribe something like zanax or ativan good for anxiety, sleep and more, but not as strong & addicting as valium-here again my opinion, i again no what it's like to have "the shakes" all the time, as far as sugg. another drug, other than prozac, go on-line & look up drugs 4 mild depress., rxlist and web m.d. r just 2 sites that have alot of info., it will list side effects, usually the 1st 5 or 6 things listed will probably be the ones to watch out 4 (in my pharmacist's opinion), but the problem is that everyone of course is different, some people will have insomnia & others drowsiness, about the counterproductive part u might want to do some research on lamictal, it's a mood stabilizer & it helps w. balancing out your system, i take it & i feel it has helped me 4 many yrs., read side effects on it & if u & your doc decide 2 try it, your blood can be tested to make sure ur getting the right amt., when ur researching any drugs, there'll b a section that has "user reviews", but i only read the ones that have the highest rating, good luck hope this helped & keep writing

  - denise

• December 19, 2010 10:52 a.m.

  Denise, I have been using valium for years because sometimes I just get nervous, and when I get nervous I sometimes have a small panic attack or a very nervous stomach with nausea and diahrrea (sp?). But I found with just 20mg of prozac I get the shakes and am nervous all the time. I kinda think it's counterproductive to take prozac to stimulate me and then use valium to calm me down. What I need is something for the mild depression that doesn't stimulate my nervous system. Thanks for the reply.

  - Greg

• December 18, 2010 11:48 p.m.

  dear greg u didn't say if ur dr. has given u anything 4 ur anxiety? i also have a real problem finding a med. 4 my depression that doesn't give me the "shakes/tremors", i ask my doc 4 the lowest possible dose on things & that has seemed 2 help me, i'm on wellbutrin right now & it seems 2 b helping so far, there's a herbal supp. that's called 5-HTP that helps w. dep., anxiety & sleep, make sure u get a good quality product if u do buy it, it works right away 2 (at least it did with me), with insomnia (which sucks) try using benedryl 4 a temporary fix, it should make u drowsy enough to get some sleep hope this helps keep writing good luck

  - denise

• December 18, 2010 11:30 p.m.

  I am suffering post-op depression, along with anxiety attacks that I've had for years. My doc has tried Celexa but it gave me tons of canker sores. So now I get prozac and find that I shake and am nervous as all get out. The nervousnous also carries into the night and I have insomnia. I have always been a little hyper anyway, so is there a med out there that won't jack me up?

  - Greg

• December 17, 2010 11:57 p.m.

  dear ken i'm not a professional, but where did u get your info., i no when the drug comps. do their research they can use placebo drugs, but i didn't think they could use it for prescription distribution, the fda would be on their butts so fast, as far as i no they (the drug comps. go thru around 10 yrs. of research & testing before the fda will even approve any drug, just what i've heard, i agree totally that they spend way 2 much money on advertising & getting the drs. 2 push the drugs, whether they're the right meds. for us individuals or not, anyone else have an opinion ??

  - denise

• December 17, 2010 1:45 a.m.

  I've read some studies showing that antidepressants are basically placebos. The research is fairly convincing, too. In studies against placebo, there is very little difference in effectiveness. In studies comparing one drug to another, there are almost never any differences. I think the pharmaceutical companies have snowed us (including the doctors) with their fancy ads and fake educational materials/research. I don't believe there's anything to medications for depression other than a placebo effect.

  - Ken