[Snakebit]

After two years of not finding the correct drug, my physician now seems to be pulling meds and dosages out of thin air to see if they will work for me. Yesterday I went in specifically to record the drugs I have been on, the dosage, and the side effects. Here's a synopsis.

These drugs cause so much fatigue, I might as well be depressed
Paxil, Lexapro, Cymbalta

These drugs caused anxiety or anxiety attacks
Wellbutrin 350XL
Prozac (self destructive thoughts)
Nortripyline (+10Lbs)

I felt worse on this combination
Buspar and Wellbutrin 150

I was prescribed Ativan for anxiety but had a breathing issue one night. I was not interested in getting addicted (like my sister) so I wanted to stay away from this type of drug, but after the latest with Prozac, I am taking Clonazepam, but nothing else. I'd rather be addicted at this point.

As my title suggests, I'm looking for some correlation between the drugs and the side effects so I can hopefully find a med that will work. It's been a long 2 years.... If anyone has any ideas I'm all ears.

Thanks.

[KDlady]

I am looking for a combo that works for me too - it is very frustrating

[freudgirl]

I also had a very hard time finding a drug that worked, and was tried on a seemingly endless list of medications for years.
I have found Luvox to be helpful for both my depression, and anxiety. It is most often used for OCD, but has been great for me.

[Slothrop]

Hi Snakebit...what are the base symptoms you are taking meds for?

[Snakebit]

Slothrop,

Originally 2 years ago for chronic depression. Then through counseling I figured out I had anxiety (I had no idea that what I was doing was anxiety; I thought I was undisciplined and lazy).

Because of subsequent things this past year - loss of job, loss of brother, loss of lifelong best friend and second mom, my anxiety is out of the roof.

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Snakebit

Because of subsequent things this past year - loss of job, loss of brother, loss of lifelong best friend and second mom, my anxiety is out of the roof.

I also suffered the first two, during the past decade...bleah...

You mentioned your bad experience Wellbutrin earlier...a WRONG drug for anxiety, I think...

Antidepressant + antianxiety med seems logical...eek, too bad you had that problem with Ativan.

Addiction to benzos seems to vary from person to person. I've been using estazolam for sleep for a long time...sometimes I just don't take it, and don't have any ill effects.

Wish I could suggest something more substantive...

[Snakebit]

After talking to my pharmacist, my EAP, and my Internest, it seems that no one quite knows why different drugs affect people differently or knows whom would know.

Just picked up Effexor XL. Fingers crossed this one will work.

[Slothrop]

My psychiatrist has said that our understanding of the brain is decades behind our understanding of, say, the heart. And I think what you've gathered is really true...beyond a certain point, they just don't know. And unfortunately, we have to experiment. Good luck with the new med, I hope it gets you some relief!

Hi Snakebit

The best luck I've had for depression & anxiety is Zoloft. If it seems to slow down or stop working, my p doc adds Abilify. I also take dexadrine and xanax to which I'm addicted (but don't abuse) Of all the antidepressants, Zoloft has calmed the anxiety and make depression lift, the best.
It's a tricky mix and it doesn't always work without adjustments. Good luck!

[Snakebit]

Calista,

Abilify was on the table, as was Zoloft.
I'm not sure how my internest came up w/Effexor (Maybe by throwing a dart )

[perpetuallysad]

Ha, it does seem like a guessing game most of the time. I can't even remember all the different medicines I've tried. At least 6 for depression, 7 or 8 for mania - either an anti-psychotic or a mood stabilizer. And only xanax for my anxiety. (It works the best for me and frankly for the relief it gives me I don't care if I get addicted, though it doesn't give me any sort of high feelings, so who knows). My main problem is that all the drugs they give me may actually work on what they are supposed to, but I have such bad reactions to them and seem to get EVERY side effect possible, thus making it impossible for me to continue taking whichever meds seem to be working at that time.

I took effexor xl 450mg for 2 yrs and gain SEVENTY POUNDS! I mean, no matter what I do, I can literally not eat and exercise my brains out and I cannot lose a pound. Eventually though, it just stopped working for me so I have tried a bunch of other things (which all seem to support weight gain). So its come down to the fact that I have to just accept the weight gain if I want any relief from my bipolar. Yeah. Damn, I know most of that was irrelevant, but I guess my point is that getting a good combo of meds is just a game of craps, who knows when you may win.

[Snakebit]

> Yeah. Damn, I know most of that was irrelevant, but I guess my point is that getting a good combo of meds is just a game of craps, who knows when you may win.[/quote]

It's not irrevelant at all. It's empathy and much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Snakebit

Calista,

Abilify was on the table, as was Zoloft.
I'm not sure how my internest came up w/Effexor (Maybe by throwing a dart )

More than likely....

[VickiesPath]

Was doing a search on Zoloft and this thread came up. I was on Effexor for a while at 300 which was over the recommended dosage of 225. So we lowered it and I tolerated it for six months until headaches and what they call "brain zaps" (sharp pains behind the eyes) caused us to lower it more and add something else. Effexor has a sedative effect and that might be why it came up when talking about an antidepressant with an antianxiety quality to it.