Posted by John Doughboy on May 10, 2008, at 18:04:51
Hi, I'm new to this board and this is my first post, but I've been lurking (reading) on and off for a couple years.
Basically, I have OCD and clinical depression. I'm 99% certain of this diagnosis; I'm sure I'm not bipolar,psychotic,manic or anything like that.
I take 100mg Zoloft (sertraline) for OCD.
The Zoloft works great for the OCD,but like many people on SSRI's, it flattens my moods and it doesn't help with my depression and might even make it worse. Getting off the Zoloft or lessening the dosage isn't really an option because the OCD would want me to bang my head against the wall.
What should I add to help with my depression? I'm thinking I have some kind of dopamine and/or norepinephrine problem in addition to the serotonin problem. How do I know if this is more a norepinephrine or dopamine related depression? They both sound similiar to me,ie related to motivation and energy.
Adderall really helps the motivation problems, but it only works for like a week and then it just totally poops out, no matter how high I raise the dose. Provigal just keeps me awake.(I haven't tried methylphenidate in a while, but I assume it will just poop out like the amphetamines).
I tried Effexor 150 mg instead of the Zoloft, but I only took it for like two weeks because it seemed to flatten my mood even more than Zoloft. I know Effexor inhibits sertonin reuptake more strongly than norepinephrine; does 150 mg have an appreciable effect on NE at that dose?
So basically I'm considering these options:
1. Stop the Zoloft and take Effexor 150mg instead and trying to tough it out for four to six weeks
2. Adding Wellbutrin 300mg to the Zoloft
3. Trying another SSRI (I highly doubt this will help)
Can anyone give me some advice as to what to take to help with the anhedonia and lack of energy? How can you tell if it's more dopamine or norepinephrine related? I also take an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure, would that have any effect on the depression?
Any suggestions WHATSOEVER would be greatly appreciated. Just taking a shower and brushing for teeth seems like a monumental task.
Thank you...
poster:John Doughboy
thread:828365
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080418/msgs/828365.html