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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 61. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
I am not doing well. I am depressed and very suicidal. I don't know what to do. I see my psychiatrist tomorrow but I don't think he will be able to help me. I feel broken.
Currently I am on:
100 mg of Parnate
75 mg Nortriptaline
.5 Clonazepam
600 mg TrileptalI really don't know what could be done with my cocktail. I was thinking that may swiching Nortrip with Surmontil would help because it is a mood brightner.
Any advice? Thought?
I don't know if it's my life circumstances that are to blame or if I need a med change. How does one know? At the rate I am going I will be on a psych ward. I don't want that.
Thanks in advance for your support.
Posted by jerryTRD on July 29, 2010, at 15:49:20
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
> I am not doing well. I am depressed and very suicidal. I don't know what to do. I see my psychiatrist tomorrow but I don't think he will be able to help me. I feel broken.
>
> Currently I am on:
>
> 100 mg of Parnate
> 75 mg Nortriptaline
> .5 Clonazepam
> 600 mg Trileptal
>
> I really don't know what could be done with my cocktail. I was thinking that may swiching Nortrip with Surmontil would help because it is a mood brightner.
>
> Any advice? Thought?
>
> I don't know if it's my life circumstances that are to blame or if I need a med change. How does one know? At the rate I am going I will be on a psych ward. I don't want that.
>
> Thanks in advance for your support.I'm gonna get shot for saying this - but stimulants can and are being used in conjunction with MAOIs. I was on Nardil and 5mg of Dexedrine which helped immensely. BUT you have to have the right doc who knows what he/she's doing and monitor you closely-very closely.
Wish I had more suggestions. Hang in there.
Jerry
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:59:55
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Maxime, posted by jerryTRD on July 29, 2010, at 15:49:20
Thanks for your reply. My psychiatrist did have me on 30 mg of Adderall whilst I was on 100 mg of Parnate. Maybe he will let me try it again until all the crap in my life goes away. It can't hurt to ask, right?
Posted by jerryTRD on July 29, 2010, at 16:00:41
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » jerryTRD, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:59:55
> Thanks for your reply. My psychiatrist did have me on 30 mg of Adderall whilst I was on 100 mg of Parnate. Maybe he will let me try it again until all the crap in my life goes away. It can't hurt to ask, right?
If it helped why not??
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 17:17:07
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Maxime, posted by jerryTRD on July 29, 2010, at 16:00:41
Maxie are you also seeing a therapist to discuss the stuff going on in your life? Last you were here weren't you having Mother problems? Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 18:06:30
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 17:17:07
No, I don't have the money to see a therapist. Wish I could. Lord knows I have a lot of issues. Yes, I am still caring for my mum who has Alzheimers. It's very difficult for me because I feel like I have to be there for her all the time. Truth is, I can't. I think I have dug my own hole into depression.
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 20:19:48
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 18:06:30
I was under the impression that theraphy was free there? Must be very hard caring for your Mother. Phillipa you dug a hole?
Posted by Zyprexa on July 29, 2010, at 20:27:27
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
I say take zyprexa, just a small dose to see if it works, 2.5mg. That drug always helps me out of a bad time. When I'm angry, feel like crap, and even when I can't stand what is going on in life. It seems to make the bad times go away. Yes it helps when I wish I was dead.
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 29, 2010, at 21:59:00
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
hey. sorry you're feeling so terrible. Could you maybe get involved with something, like volunteer or join some kind of spiritual/religious group?
In terms of meds...what's the main problem(s)? Do you think you need something to perk you up, calm you down, or are you simply feeling terrible? I'm obviously not a doctor, but if you're looking to shake up your meds, it would probably be a good idea to narrow down what you want/need to get out of your meds that you aren't getting.
Again: I'm really sorry you're feeling so down. It sounds to me like you're stressed out and overworked AND dealing with mood problems. I suggested the volunteering and/or spiritual/religious activities b/c that might help take your mind off things.
Good luck.
Posted by Justherself54 on July 29, 2010, at 22:06:07
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Christ_empowered on July 29, 2010, at 21:59:00
Maxime..I'm so sorry you're feeling so awful. You must be under a terrible amount of stress. Watching a loved one struggle with Alzheimer's must be brutal.
Is there any type of caretaker respite available where you live? Maybe getting some relief from caring for your mom 24/7 would be helpful with lessening the stress you are under.
I wish I could do more for you..
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:25:24
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 20:19:48
Therapy is not free in Canada. Only medical doctors are covered.
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:28:52
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Christ_empowered on July 29, 2010, at 21:59:00
I'm not really a spiritual person. I wish I was. I do a lot of volunteer work for a literacy organization and I find it does help my mood.
I need something to help with the suicidal thoughts because I have a attempted a few times in the past and I don't want to go down that route again.
I need a med that will help me not want to stay in bed all in a vegetative state.
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:30:57
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Justherself54 on July 29, 2010, at 22:06:07
Thank you for your supportive post. There isn't any respite care I can tap into. However there is a day hospital for people with Alzheimers but my mum refuses to go. I can't force her.
Posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:32:38
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Zyprexa on July 29, 2010, at 20:27:27
I know that Zyprexa can help. However it makes me lactate on even the most smallest of doses. I can't handle that right now.
Posted by sigismund on July 30, 2010, at 0:17:24
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Zyprexa, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:32:38
You remember some time back (perhaps years ago now) when you were having trouble with Parnate, and iirc, you eventually said 'I have to accept that Parnate isn't helping'?
Is this like that?
And what's the mood brightener thing about? Like mood brightener as opposed to what else it is that Parnate does? (though I realise you were talking about that other drug, the name of which I forget now).
Posted by sigismund on July 30, 2010, at 0:22:37
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
Some people say they find some tricylics mood brightening, I think.
Bulldog said something about clomiprimine and Heaven (which surprised me) and Brainbeard said something similar about amitriptylline (which surprised me again).Completely impossible with Parnate I know.
Posted by europerep on July 30, 2010, at 3:37:35
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by sigismund on July 30, 2010, at 0:22:37
no it's not *completely* impossible with MAOIs.. it would obviously have to be done in a hospital, with close supervision, etc., but amitriptyline for example has proven very effective in severe TRD..
I guess there are different questions here, including what you have already taken before parnate.. if you've had "all the others", and I guess really only in that case, you would have to try to find a doc who is willing to try something "exotic/possibly dangerous".
i.e.:
- MAOIs + TCA
- MAOIs + amphetamines
- buprenorphinethat's what comes to my mind.
on a different note though, therapy isn't free in canada? that's a freakin' shame. I had such a good opinion of the canadian healthcare system.. what is that, mental health only for the wealthy? damn that makes me angry...
Posted by Maxime on July 30, 2010, at 8:04:45
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Maxime, posted by sigismund on July 30, 2010, at 0:17:24
Thanks for the reply. I currently take Nortriptyline with the Parnate. I don't think the Parnate has stopped working. I think my life is not working. I am under a tremendous amount of stress - unable to find a job and caring for my mum with Alzheimers. I think if anyone was living my life that they would be depressed as well.
I could switch the Nortrip with Amitryptaline. But i don't know if that is the answer.
I can't articulate about the mood brightner. I can't find the right words. Sigh.
Well, I am off to my appt.
Posted by Maxime on July 30, 2010, at 18:02:44
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » sigismund, posted by Maxime on July 30, 2010, at 8:04:45
I am not happy. My doctor prescribed Lithium again for me. I was on it March-April and made me gain 35 pounds. I really don't want to take this med, but I promised my doctor that I would try it for a week.
Posted by bleauberry on July 30, 2010, at 18:46:51
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
I am so sorry you feel so bad. If it helps, so do I !
Gosh, ya know, if that cocktail isn't working, especially at that high parnate dose, I dunno, it kind of tells me the whole cocktail is off base. Earlier in this thread there was mention of ritalin and zyprexa. I agree with both of those. That said, you obviously do not have a deficiency of neurotransmitters. 100mg parnate would more than fix that. It is something else. Keep telling yourself, it is something else, and keep asking, what is it? If it isn't dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, what is it? I guess I am saying that through all the badness here, there is one small good side....the meds are giving you some rather loud clues.
I could suggest several places to start looking for the severe depression cause, but that's another story. The meds may actually be contributing more than helping. Actually, if you are indeed feeling suicidal, then there is no doubt about it. They are either completely doing nothing good or they are doing bad. Either way, loud clues.
Lithium has worked miracles before, so even though you are disappointed with the choice, ya never know.
Back to where I started....I like the earlier suggestions of ritalin and zyprexa. As for any weight gain on any med, screw that. This aint no time to be concerned about weight.
Posted by TriedEveryMedication on July 30, 2010, at 19:02:16
In reply to Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 15:10:14
TCAs can make me viciously depressed... at best when on them it feels like my outlook on everything is bleak.
I just noticed this: nortriptyline can increase suicidal ideation (at least in men).
Posted by Phillipa on July 30, 2010, at 20:31:24
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on July 29, 2010, at 22:25:24
What a shame. I guess the lithium for now. I know your fears of weight gain and you must eat. Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on July 30, 2010, at 22:06:56
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by bleauberry on July 30, 2010, at 18:46:51
>Lithium has worked miracles before, so even though you are disappointed with the choice, ya never know.
I was thinking of Lithium also. Supposed to be great for suidical ideation(why are these 2 words red squiggly underlined as if they are mispelled, weird).
Or maybe a new antidepressant is in order, Parnate doesn't seem to be doing the trick anymore.
Posted by Maxime on July 31, 2010, at 19:48:51
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by morgan miller on July 30, 2010, at 22:06:56
Feeling really nauseated with the Lithium on board. WHY WHY WHY does the doctor think this medication will help me? I feel like he is torturing me.
I couldn't get out of bed today. I just stayed all day until 6:30 pm this evening. I really want to go back to bed to. I wonder if I will be able to sleep tonight? I hope so.
Stupid Lithium.
Posted by morgan miller on August 1, 2010, at 1:11:20
In reply to Re: Please Help, not doing well at all, posted by Maxime on July 31, 2010, at 19:48:51
How long have you been on Lithium? I would give it some time. Your doc gave it to you because you were feeling suicidal and Lithium is one of the first line of treatments for such a state.
Lithium may not be what you need, but try to be patient with it. Also keep in mind that you may not need Lithium a high doses that show up as "therapeutic" levels in your blood. You may get therapeutic benefit from just 300 mg. How much are you taking now?
Maybe you just need a different AD or a different combination of ADs. I've learned here that Zoloft + Nortriptyline is a good combo. Maybe you have tried this. If you are taking Parnate, I imagine you've tried quite a bit of different ADs and combinations of drugs since Parnate is usually used as a last resort by many doctors.
Sorry you are feeling so bad. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Morgan
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