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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daisymm on December 6, 2003, at 23:56:36
Hello All!
I am a 25 yo grad student, who is on 900mg Lithobid and 10mg Lexapro a day for treatment of depression. I have been using Lexapro for 4 months, after using celexa for 5. Lithobid is 3 weeks old, and been upped to 900 only yesterday. (I am still feeling suicidal--and even though L keeps me alive, it doesnt help the suicidal feelingd since I get them from not coping with my school work.) Well, I feel groggy, crappy and tired all day and have no will, desire or energy to do my schoolwork. I was to graduate this semester, apparently that has to wait. Yet, I need to finish this semester and I have to submit three papers in two weeks. Does anyone has any ideas on how to inject some energy into my days? Thanks, Daisy
Posted by daisymm on December 7, 2003, at 0:37:58
In reply to I need urgent help with my medication, posted by daisymm on December 6, 2003, at 23:56:36
More on my meds history:
Lexapro 10-Wellbutrin150 for 5 weeks, extreme anxiety, almost panic-attacks, insomnia >>so Wellbutrin dropped, Lexapro upped to 20
Lexapro 20 for 3 more months, and 3 weeks ago Lithobid 600 mg added to prevent suicidal plans.
Works for suicidal tendencies for about two weeks, then fades, so(as of yesterday) Lexapro lowered to 10 mg and Lithobid upped to 900mg.My biggest complaints: I have zero motivation, which never improved, I have no energy and chronic fatigue, I sleep 16-18 hours a day and I cannot get my papers written. It feels like as if I have no separate will.
I am wondering if anyone had a similar experience and overcame it....
Thanks
D.
Posted by stjames on December 7, 2003, at 2:29:02
In reply to Lexapro Lithobid combo: I dont think it works, posted by daisymm on December 7, 2003, at 0:37:58
Li is a common adjunct to any AD, and will
work in some. Li also is quite well know for knocking people out. After all, it is an anti-manic agent. Unless you are BP, I don't see it as a first choice for suicidal thoughts.Have you ever switched to manic while on an AD ?
Have you only tried the 2 AD's mentioned ?
Has your doc mentioned BP as a posibility ?
Please give a little history, ie what problems
(depression, panic, thoughts, ect) caused you
to start meds ?
What is your opinion of your doc ?Lots of questions but the good news is, yes you are treatable ! Suicidal thoughts can be stopped quite quickly. I am hearing you really want to get
back to school and rejoin the living. That is a very good sign.I have several ideas but I need more info. to help
you. In your situation I took incompletes and made them up next semester; you might look into that.
Posted by daisymm on December 7, 2003, at 14:13:27
In reply to Re: Lexapro Lithobid combo: I dont think it works, posted by stjames on December 7, 2003, at 2:29:02
Hey stjames (and all)
thanks for the note. I only tried Wellbutrin, Lexapro and celexa as ADs. Lithobid was added as I started to have suicidal thoughts and called my doctor. (yes, you are right, i want to live) She doesnt think i am BP, but I know I have my highs when I buzz like a bee and and my lows when I become a bottomdweller in the ocean. I think it was mainly added and laeter increased to stop me from harming myself.
My head is a constant cloud. I cant get any work done. I hate this and the idea of failing this semester and having to face my family make me want to die. (FYI, they think meds and therapy made me only more dysfunctional)
I started to take ADs as I stopped attending classes and reading last spring. I was crying for hours for no reason everyday, and switched between insomnia to oversleeping everday. Celexa at that period helped to stabilise greatly, but I ran out of medication while abroad and literally turned cold turkey. I went medless for two months and started Lexapro ,in hopes that it'd cause less side effects. It wiped away my libido and messed my sleep and eating patterns more than imaginable. So finally it is lowered. I am not happy with it. I am not happy at all. Actually last night I sopped taking my medication. I dont want to think, but I have tofor the next two weeks.
Best,
Dps: i already have 3 incompletes under my belt that will turn to Fs this semester. plus, my academic department is only as supportive as my family.
Posted by daisymm on December 14, 2003, at 3:10:29
In reply to Re: Lexapro Lithobid combo: I dont think it works, posted by daisymm on December 7, 2003, at 14:13:27
I was hospitalized two days ago for palpitation, tightness of chest, difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness, etc.. sounds like a panic attack but everyone was concerned that i was lithium-toxicated. fucking lexapro doesnt help, and lithium makes me sleep all day. (like 16-18 out of 24)
please post advice/ideas/personal experience aout what i can change to as medication goes, and what i can do to fight the side effects??
best,
daisy> Hey stjames (and all)
>
> thanks for the note. I only tried Wellbutrin, Lexapro and celexa as ADs. Lithobid was added as I started to have suicidal thoughts and called my doctor. (yes, you are right, i want to live) She doesnt think i am BP, but I know I have my highs when I buzz like a bee and and my lows when I become a bottomdweller in the ocean. I think it was mainly added and laeter increased to stop me from harming myself.
>
> My head is a constant cloud. I cant get any work done. I hate this and the idea of failing this semester and having to face my family make me want to die. (FYI, they think meds and therapy made me only more dysfunctional)
>
> I started to take ADs as I stopped attending classes and reading last spring. I was crying for hours for no reason everyday, and switched between insomnia to oversleeping everday. Celexa at that period helped to stabilise greatly, but I ran out of medication while abroad and literally turned cold turkey. I went medless for two months and started Lexapro ,in hopes that it'd cause less side effects. It wiped away my libido and messed my sleep and eating patterns more than imaginable. So finally it is lowered. I am not happy with it. I am not happy at all. Actually last night I sopped taking my medication. I dont want to think, but I have tofor the next two weeks.
> Best,
> D
>
> ps: i already have 3 incompletes under my belt that will turn to Fs this semester. plus, my academic department is only as supportive as my family.
Posted by daisymm on December 16, 2003, at 1:29:37
In reply to Lexapro+Lithobid=Emergency Room???, posted by daisymm on December 14, 2003, at 3:10:29
I am pretty desperate to hear from others on this forum, because my meds arent working for mental problems and only creating brand new physical ones! Please read my previous posting ans say somethin..
Desparately Seeking, Daisy
Posted by nicky847 on December 16, 2003, at 18:55:10
In reply to Somebody HELP ME PLEASE » daisymm, posted by daisymm on December 16, 2003, at 1:29:37
Daisy-
Waiting for meds to work can be a very very frustrating time, I know b/c I am going thru it right now as well!...Daisy you need to give these meds a chance...right now your brain is probably so fried you cant think straight from anxiety/depression and going on and off the meds so i know its hard..you probably feel like they dont help at all but if you give them time dont you think they will at least help a little? wouldnt it be nice to feel just a little bit better?right now you need to take care of yourself and that is the number one priority..remember there are always options when it comes to school, believe me if you need to take some time off they wont turn your money down when you are feeling better and ready to come back..your feeling better is the MOST important thing!
right now you are ill but you can get better but recovering from depression has to be your number one priority..DO THE BEST YOU CAN..thats all any of us can do at anything..
from reading what happened to you when you went to the emergency room, what you had was a panic attack..and they are extremely unsettling but NOT life threatening or even dangerous..here is a list of things that absolutely can NOT happen from a panic attack
1. Losing control of your body or mind
2. Going crazy
3. Passing out
4. Basically anything else you are afraid might
happen...hard to believe but its all true..people with panic attacks often have accompanying scary thoughts...such as thoughts of hurting themselves or others...but people who suffer from anxiety disorder and panic attacks DO NOT act on these thoughts..what they are is just your brain trying to imagine something so horrible that it takes your mind off of something that is really bothering you...like in your case probably your performance at school..
I hope this helps a little bit...there are many great sites on the internet with tips for dealing with anxiety and panic attacks..the best one for me is to accept your anxiety and just breathe your way through the panic attacks..slowly thru the nose, out thru the mouth..this is not a cure but it can help you cope and it can bring you some relief..HANG IN THERE! moments of relief are always there..and as you recover they will become more frequent...
Once again I hope that this helps even a little bit..
This is the end of the thread.
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