[pitfallharry]

In the last few months, something has changed in my outlook on the world and myself. I'm not sure if it's depression, anxiety, or what. It all sort of escalated after my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin for my lack of energy. One evening, I came home and had no interest in anything. It was like ennui, I think. It's as if I reasoned out that any kind of entertainment that I've always done (movies, TV, computer, music, reading, cleaning, etc.) was a waste of time and that I was going nowhere. I saw my whole life before me, so to speak, and realized that I'd be paying a hefty student loan for the next 30 years and that I'd be working the same job (which I like) for that time. I began to realize that I would be alone after my parents pass away (I spend weekends with them from time to time).

I'll be turning 33 in the next few weeks, and I've been living alone and quite content for the past 10 years. Is this a mid-life crisis? Am I losing my mind? Periodically, the ennui feeling returns (as it did today for a short period). My doctor did give suggest I stop the Wellbutrin, and start Zoloft (which didn't work too well on my GERD). Then I tried Effexor, which made me feel like I was going to explode. (Seriously...I was extremely nervous.) Right now, I'm not taking any medicine and I feel much, much better. I think this may have been caused by the medicine, but once the door has been opened in the mind, it's difficult to shut again. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

Lost....

[JustBen]

You said that you're not taking medicine -- is this under doctor's orders, or did you just stop taking them? I only ask because I've heard that just cutting them out completely without tapering them off can be dangerous. In any case, I'd talk to your doctor and tell him that you're feeling much better without the meds and see about discontinuing them. (You don't need to be on them forever, after all.) The better you feel, the more likely you are to get out and enjoy life more. As you make connections, you'll probably start feeling even better. It's like an upward spiral.

On another note, did your doc prescribe Wellbutrin just for lack of energy? I'm curious.

[pitfallharry]

Hi JustBen,

I called the doctor the day after the ennui evening, and the nurse said it was a known side-effect of Wellbutrin and I was to stop using it. It was originally prescribed just for lack of energy. I asked a loaded question, "Is there anything you can do for sleeping all the time?" I'd had a weekend where I didn't feel well, so I slept most of the weekend. The doctor asked if I was depressed, and I said, "No more than usual" (which in my mind meant no more than everyone else's common feelings of depression). So, I guess I caused a bit of this to happen by miscommunicating. What I did discover just a few weeks ago was that a medicine the doc prescribed for my stomach (Regalin) was causing serious anxiety in me to the point of confusion. I've stopped taking that as well as the other medicines I mentioned after I told him I was feeling better without them. Still, those thoughts creep back occasionally.

There's more to the story, including additional medicine for losing weight that created physical problems as well as physical immobility issues due to sore muscles and back problems. If I was depressed about anything, it's not having energy or the health to do much. I'm not an extrovert, and I've never been physically active, so I naturally don't get out and do much anyway.

[JustBen]

I wish I had some advice for you, Harry. If my doctor prescribed me Wellbutrin just because I lacked energy and "diagnosed" me with depression simply because I answered "no more than usual" when asked if I was depressed, I'd be looking for a new doctor. That's just me, though, and there might be more to your story than I've heard so far.

Does this seem odd to anyone else reading this thread? I don't have a ton of experience with anti-depressants myself, but is it common for an MD to diagnose depression and prescribe meds based simply on asking the patient if he's feeling depressed? Is it still common for docs to tell people just to drop their meds without tapering?

[BlueFaith]

It all seems a bit odd to me, too. I've never had a doctor put me on an anti-depressant just because I answered a question about being depressed with "no more than usual". My doctor normally talks to me extensively. It's also a little weird that the doctor told you to just stop taking it cold turkey. I don't know. I might be wrong about Wellbutrin. I don't know too much about that specific medication. And I also might not know the entire story. What I do know of it seems a little odd, though.

[kimmydawn]

Possibly the doctor assumed depression because he's treating for the other ailments. In that case, I don't think assumptions are good. I live with trigeminal neuralgia. It's difficult. I take one med only for it. However, the drs have, many times, wanted me to take an antidepressant because they would assume that I'm depressed as it can go hand and hand with chronic illness. I think doctors are too quick to prescribe them sometimes.

I don't tolerate antidepressants well at all either. My history sounds about like yours does. I've stayed completely away from them for 8 years now because of it. That doesn't mean the dr's haven't tried, though! Goodness. I always tell them, "No, thank you. Any depressions that I have are short lived and by the time the meds can work I'm better on my own. I've been on a few and couldn't tolerate them at all." They backed off.

I believe AD's are life saving drugs for some, as well as quality of life saving. However, I know that I'm one that can't take them. When on them, I would get drastically worse in one form or another.

The reason that I went into all of that is because I think possibly the doctor might have "assumed" as was done with me too many times. I think it's awesome that you know your body so well and listen to it. Sometimes we have to listen harder than other times, but it usually tells us when something's amiss.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

KD

[pitfallharry]

Wellbutrin (or the generic I was prescribed) is used for a variety of things, one of them being chronic fatigue syndrome. My guess is that he took that approach. And after taking it, I had that episode, so he prescribed the antidepressants to help. I'm leery of seeing him again because of all the time, money, and harm that has been caused by this "experiment." But on the flipside, I guess there's no easy way for a doctor to know if we will encounter side effects to a medicine beforehand.

My problem, I think, is with my GERD, hiatal hernia, and stomach. They're the core of the body, and I know a stomach problem can cause headaches, nausea, etc. In my case, because of all the different medicine he prescribed, I think that my body got "out of sync," which caused panic and anxiety due to irregular and new stomach ailments. In fact, today I missed work because I woke up very sick at my stomach and the Maalox and Tums didn't help. I stayed in bed, which gets to me now (I sometimes feel anxiety from being at home alone.) The best way to describe the difference between then and now is that then I didn't worry about the time--I had plenty of things to do--and often went to bed at 12:30, sleeping 6 hours due to my internal clock. Now, I have to struggle convincing myself of what to do, and I go to bed at 11:30 or earlier, sleeping 3 hours at first due to my internal clock, but now it has risen to 5 hours. My biggest concern is that work feels monotonous (as would any job I think of) as well as the morning ritual to get ready. I feel like I don't have the self-confidence for work or socialization thanks to these recent problems and my recurring stomach problems that feel like massive butterflies. I have gotten very irritable and impatient, which is completely opposite of what I used to be. Fortunately, it comes and goes. Right now, I feel okay despite a touch of stomach burning, etc. I'm just not sure what course to take....

Thanks for the help!