Gone through all A/D meds

[LolaBelle]

Hi,

I was fourteen when I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Shortly before this, I was having memories that had been blocked previously. Anyway, after about a year whatever medication I am on it stops working. My doctor has tried adding things, and adjusting dosages, but has run through almost all of the AD's that are not "experimental" he has even used meds with off-label usage as antidepressant. Because of this I have been using too much ambien and doctors are refusing to fill it for me again. My husband got a letter today saying that will not fill his ambien prescription anymore or any of his medications at all....I don't really know where this is going, but I need help. I guess.

[barkingmad]

@LolaBelle,
If you and your physician have run through all of the meds used as anti-depressents, have you given any thought to visiting a holistic healer? There are many people who have had significant success with them, although I don't personally have any experience with them, my old high school buddy was manic depressive, spent 10 years as a zombie, trying all manner of meds and lots of off- label use meds only to be close to suicide for his trouble.

He started seeing a holistic healer who changed his diet, gave him some basic yoga as exercise and modified his body chemistry with vitamins and herbs and he's been happy and social for he last 15 years. Might be worth a look in the yellw pages.

[LolaBelle]

Thank you, I would do anything for my husband and I to get relief from our current situation.

[IGoeOn]

@LolaBelle - I would like to know more details about the meds you have tried. I always used a/d's in conjunction with several types of meds. Years ago when I was struggling with depression and other things a psychiatrist had me on a combination that looked like this:
Effexor/Paxil, Neurontin, Klonapin, Seroquel and Trazadone. The Trazadone was the most effective sleep medication and you can increase the dosage if you build a dependence. It is labelled as an a/d and it plays well with other meds. (Please note - most of these pills fall under a variety of labels: a/d, anti-psyc, benzo, anti-convulsant.)

I guess what I am trying to say is, for me, is that a lot of the medications I used were combined with other drugs - all of my docs always approached me with this "cocktail" concept. I am not sure if you are stating you've tried a lot of a/d's ONLY but for me, during my worst times, I needed other medications.

I hope this helps.

[LolaBelle]

@IGoeOn My doctor has had me on no more than 2-3 antidepressants at one time. Keeps trying wellbutrin, but I have noticed no difference at all (over a year on it). I went through some medical issues before and could not be on certain types of A/D so I was switched to something else. I would like to try those meds again but doctor doesn't want to. An aquaintance (spelling?) of mine spent over a month at a depression center where they did shock therapy and found a "cocktail" that works for her. But I don't want to go to my doctor requesting a cocktail of meds, but honestly, the depression is bad and other symptoms have started to appear and I don't want to get in so deep that nothing helps. Sorry to ramble...have nobody to talk to and my fingers are just flying over the keyboard.

[IGoeOn]

@LolaBelle - I would suggest that you be very direct with your doctor. I don't know the nature of what you are going through but there is no point is suffering needlessly. I would recommend a good psychiatrist - perhaps someone who can put a new eye on things.

Also, please note that I used only two a/d meds at the same time - Trazadone (for sleep) and either Effexor or Paxil. There are so many other meds out there that work well with these -

Eh, good luck!

[Quaalude]

Hi,

I was fourteen when I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Shortly before this, I was having memories that had been blocked previously. Anyway, after about a year whatever medication I am on it stops working. My doctor has tried adding things, and adjusting dosages, but has run through almost all of the AD's that are not "experimental" he has even used meds with off-label usage as antidepressant. Because of this I have been using too much ambien and doctors are refusing to fill it for me again. My husband got a letter today saying that will not fill his ambien prescription anymore or any of his medications at all....I don't really know where this is going, but I need help. I guess.

@LolaBelle --personally think I've suffered major depression with anxiety all my life as well. I'd been tried on just about every available A/D on the market including the old TCAs (tricyclics). As you no doubt know, there are TONS of A/D drugs as well as combinations out there available for severe, unresponsive depression. When I read your post one treatment modality came to mind and that was the use of the older class of MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) [Parnate, Nardil, etc.] You're likely NOT going to be able to find a GP or anyone besides a psychiatrist who is going to be comfortable in prescribing them, familiar with them, and the monitoring of their usage. They basic increase all THREE neurotransmitters in the brain (serotonin, noradrenalin, and dopamine) and are NOT without their lists of side effects, some very dangerous. A dietary change is just about a given due to avoiding certain groups of foods that interact with the drug(s), mood elevation (possible increased insomnia), and weight gain are also common. You didn't list everything drug you've tried but if you're working with a good psychiatrist and feel like you're really at your wits end, why not mention it to him/her? I AM NOT a PHYSICIAN or PHARMACIST by any means just browsing the postings and found your situation interesting. It took years of trial and error, hundreds of dollars at the pharmacy and the right physician to find the "right" concoction for me. My saving grace is Effexor and Klonopin and they work great FOR ME. Can't speak for other folks. Anyway, just a suggestion and wish you only the best as I know depression can be beyond just a struggle at times.

All The Best!

Q

[UGAgal]

@LolaBelle ambien can be found easily on this site. You could switch it up with something else like lunesta for a week or two to help reset your tolerance. I have to that about every 2 months then I am good to go on 1 tab for another 2 months then do my reset.

I can't answer as far as depression. But just wanted to say if you feel the need o have someone to talk with, I am a PM away. Especially if your in a mindset that is not positive at all.

[LolaBelle]

@UGAgal Your post just made me cry!!!!! I still have not received my letter and am with no sleep for several days and your post was exactly what I needed. Thank you so much!

[MellowMind]

I agree with @barkingmad
I have never personally used this approach, because I can't afford it. However - once I am able too that is probably the first route I will take. I've heard a lot of good things about acupuncture as well. May be something you'd want to look into. Do some research on it and compare prices.
- Just in my opinion, I'd be wary about being on several antidepressants at once. Some of these meds may counteract eachother. Also if you were to take more than one SSRI you run the risk of serotonin syndrome. Always do your research and check with multiple pharmacists so you know the pro's and con's. Some medicines will mesh well together, but others will be hell.

I know what a long, hard process it can be to find an antidepressant that actually works. I've been down that road many times and I am about to be trying again.
Best of luck to you.

[Revert]

@LolaBelle you are not rambling, you are asking for help - nothing wrong with that.

So if you were cut off from Ambien and forced to go cold turkey...that is rough. The WD from Ambien can certainly manifest itself as depression and not sleeping is enough to throw anyone into a depression. Please understand I am not dismissing your depression as simply due to Ambien WD, I am just saying that it may be making matters worse.

It is fairly typical for ADs to stop working after some time. But you need a psychiatrist who understands pharmacology and if, when and how to augment ADs with other pmeds such as anti-convulsants, anti-pyschotics, benzos etc.

You should be able to feel comfortable enough to have an open discussion with your doctor about cocktails or whatever else you are feeling. I understand that the recent issues with Ambien have probably made you gun shy. But don't let that keep you from asking for the treatment you need, deserve and advocating for yourself.

It sounds to me like you need to find a new doctor. And for your particular issue I would recommend a psychiatrist. If you find one you feel comfortable with, admit that you were self-medicating with Ambien. My sense is that you just wanted to sleep through life because the depression when you were awake was unbreable. I could be wrong though.

This MD who cut you off. Was he a GP or a psychiatrist?

[audacity]

You went through all these combos?

SSRI (e.g. Prozac, Lexapro)
SNRI (e.g. Effexor)
DNRI (e.g. Wellbutrin)
SSRI/SNRI + Lithium
SSRI/SNRI + Atypical antipsychotic (e.g. Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify)
SSRI/SNRI + Ritalin/Adderall
MAOI's (e.g. Nardil)
Tricyclic Antidepressants (e.g. Elavil)

[Alternate]

@LolaBelle hope you have or get a psy not a gp to balance medications.

The fact you were yanked off Ambien is not good.

Do not judge how you feel with a lack of sleep/w/d from Ambien how you are.

Ambien w/d is for some, a depressant. A person might feel the worst depression ever - and it is the Ambien leaving the system.

A lack of sleep is going to affect how you feel. When you go a few nights with little sleep your symptoms are far worse. Surprising this Dr. cut you off like this.

Always try to taper Ambien.

And get a psy. as posters have mentioned who will balance out a medication and get you some much needed sleep. Also maybe a therapist for non drug methods of dealing with depression. You are exhausted, get to a psy. who will work with you and get a solution.

[grayh]

You went through all these combos?

SSRI (e.g. Prozac, Lexapro)
SNRI (e.g. Effexor)
DNRI (e.g. Wellbutrin)
SSRI/SNRI + Lithium
SSRI/SNRI + Atypical antipsychotic (e.g. Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify)
SSRI/SNRI + Ritalin/Adderall
MAOI's (e.g. Nardil)
Tricyclic Antidepressants (e.g. Elavil)

After developing clonic twitches from SS(N)RI anti-depressants and feeling like a zombie even after I've stopped. But don't want to be depressed any longer, and no amount of reasonable counseling seems to help.

Stimulants lift my depression, but then I crash. Also I get accused of being on coccaine. Only recently my doctor has considered ADHD but I'm still waiting to see what he will prescribe after coming off the SNRI's

I'm not sure I want to mess around with my receptors anymore. I don't think I've read many reports of people's anti-depressants actually working.

[mdavis6565]

After developing clonic twitches from SS(N)RI anti-depressants and feeling like a zombie even after I've stopped. But don't want to be depressed any longer, and no amount of reasonable counseling seems to help.

Stimulants lift my depression, but then I crash. Also I get accused of being on coccaine. Only recently my doctor has considered ADHD but I'm still waiting to see what he will prescribe after coming off the SNRI's

I'm not sure I want to mess around with my receptors anymore. I don't think I've read many reports of people's anti-depressants actually working.

There are many people here who use anti depressants successfully. Personally Wellbutrin works well for me, although I do supplement it with Kratom so I can stay on a low dose. Most people eventually do find one that works; however, after years of use the effectiveness can often diminish requiring the person to turn to something else.

[Perromaldido]

I remember my shrink saying, now me must find the right SSRI for you.... and there's only one way to do that, a 15 days trial of each and report back. Effexor was at the top of the list and that one did nothing to me.....luckily Zoloft was the second and was put on 100mg a day which over time I reduced to 50 and right on these days to 25 with no problems at all. I guess below 25 I'll need a script for Z drops to slowly and gently start my descent towards O level

Perromaldido

[kcfunguy50]

It sounds like the doctor may be cutting your husband off because he suspects that one or both of you are abusing them. Ask him if that's the case. If it isn't, and he merely can't figure out what will help you, I recommend you try a new doctor.

[oceanfiresky]

This thread is two months old...how is the OP feeling? Any relief?