[Nikki57]

Hi there everyone! So for the past couple of years I have been on Paxil (60mg) and Lamictal. I started out on 25 mg of the Lamictal and over the past year and a half I have gone up to 125 mg. I just started the last 25 mg last night (was on 100 mg).
My Pdoc and I decided to go up on dose because I have been feeling very depressed and out of it. My Pdoc said that after a week, if there is no improvement I should add Buspar into the mix.
Now here are my questions:
Does this seem like a lot of medicine? (I have a very strange fear of O.D.ing.)
Just in your opinions, will the rest of my life just constantly be going up on more and more medicine? It's getting tougher and tougher to afford all this and deal with it.

Thank you for any answers!

[Crazy Hitch]

Hang in there.

I am glad you have asked.

I like to use my pdoc as my first guide.

And will try suggestions.

This is merely my choice; I am free to decide this, as you too, have made this same choice.

If after a period of time, I believe that what my pdoc has suggested to me, is simply not working, for me personally (and there have been many a time at stage where I have certainly challenged what else could be done as I am simply not noting an improvement) but really for me I give it a little bit of time before I make this judgment.

Each med is different though in terms of when it is expected to "possibly" begin having a little bit of a noticable effect on us.

I think follow your medical professionals advice.

If you're not feeling better after a week?

Sure.

Give Buspar a go.

Now, I am not sure what medical professionals would say about this:

My pdoc and I are on the same page - when I am unwell; sure the dose of certain meds may increase / additional ones added - however; we strive towards the goal of my overal mental health stability; and once this is achieved; we always use the "less is more" on meds approach.

[vital]

Originally Posted by Nikki57

Hi there everyone! So for the past couple of years I have been on Paxil (60mg) and Lamictal. I started out on 25 mg of the Lamictal and over the past year and a half I have gone up to 125 mg. I just started the last 25 mg last night (was on 100 mg).
My Pdoc and I decided to go up on dose because I have been feeling very depressed and out of it. My Pdoc said that after a week, if there is no improvement I should add Buspar into the mix.
Now here are my questions:
Does this seem like a lot of medicine? (I have a very strange fear of O.D.ing.)
Just in your opinions, will the rest of my life just constantly be going up on more and more medicine? It's getting tougher and tougher to afford all this and deal with it.

Thank you for any answers!

Hi Nikki,

Here is a discussion that might help

Negative Effects of Antidepressants | Mad in America

Maybe you could discuss this with your pdoc. Personally, I would be quite concerned that the same problem will repeat at a higher dose and/or with Buspar because of oppositional tolerance. The risk is that you end up still depressed but with an altered brain, unable to easily get off the drugs and suffering from potentially dangerous health effects.

Whatever you do, I think that it is a great idea to be sure to check for medical/nutritional issues that may be affecting you and to seriously go for all of the safe and healthy ways to recover from depression in parallel:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

- vital

[brainhi]

Originally Posted by vital

Hi Nikki,

Here is a discussion that might help

Negative Effects of Antidepressants | Mad in America

Maybe you could discuss this with your pdoc. Personally, I would be quite concerned that the same problem will repeat at a higher dose and/or with Buspar because of oppositional tolerance. The risk is that you end up still depressed but with an altered brain, unable to easily get off the drugs and suffering from potentially dangerous health effects.

Whatever you do, I think that it is a great idea to be sure to check for medical/nutritional issues that may be affecting you and to seriously go for all of the safe and healthy ways to recover from depression in parallel:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

- vital

I like your view on many of the ways you are working on yourself and informing/offering your advice to others as to how to try to help the brain/body get well with things other than using antidepressants.......

In my opinion medication is never enough without making other changes in your life... at the same time, medication does work for a lot of people. When all else fails, medication can help your brain/body get moving to be able to work on yourself.

I have watched my brother suffer for years - trying to do all the "right" things without medication. You never saw a person try harder and then beat himself up because he is not getting better.

No one wants to be on medication the rest of their life if you do not have to. It is also is very difficult to find a good doctor and expensive to figure out what works for you. I take medication (and spent much time figuring out what works and does not work) and I also do many other things to help me be well -I have no shame. Pretty sure I would not be alive today writing this post without it.

P.S. I completely understand there is misuse and misdiagnosis going on out there.