[lavieenrose]

I've tried a lot of medications for depression, including some mood stabilizers over almost 30 years. Nothing works. I currently take only vyvanse for ADD and xanax as needed for anxiety. I wish something would be effective. I'm loathe to take anything that's sedating since I already feel mentally sluggish from ADD. Medications have either been sedating, or they've caused anxiety/insomnia or raised my blood pressure. At one point, my pdoc suggested atypical antipsychotics in combination with antidepressants. However, those run the risk of causing tardive dyskinesia, a sometimes permanent condition involving involuntary movement of the tongue and lips. Why isn't there anything that works, and doesn't cause all these miserable side effects. I'm so frustrated that there's no help for me.

[Fresia]

I understand your concerns. I share them as well. I also understand the frustration when it feels we are out of options and someone brings up something that seems to have more risk than benefit. This is what happened for me.

I was originally diagnosed with major depressive disorder and ADD for decades. Having been through ALL of the anti-depressants with ADD meds and nothing worked, I happened to have moved to another state and had to change docs. The new one suggested the anti-psychotics with an anti-depressant. I was surprised. Yes, there are risks with all meds but I was more than concerned with this option, down right anxious about this class after reading the literature.

However, for me, I had definitely run out of options and the doc explained, since all of our chemistries are different, not everyone responds the same and I may or may not have those side-effects. With very slow titration, we could reverse it and then back off it immediately if any of the side-effects such as tardive dys. shows up. This turned out to be lifesaver for me. We had a trial and error period: one did not work out due to another side effect but the second one has worked for over 20 years now and was able to stop the ADD med in the process. I am clearer thinking, better functioning, and mood better stabilized. I wish someone had considered it sooner but hindsight is a luxury.

This is not to say this is the right thing for you but sometimes, though unconventional and a risk, it can be done safely and can be to our benefit. Everyone has to weigh those risks for themselves but how our own chemistry reacts is so individualized, there is no way of telling until tried. Granted, there are some meds that the risks are not worth it and for that we must decide too. For others, when carefully administered, the risks can be minimized.

Talk further with your doc over the concerns you have. That too will help you decide and also to make sure that there is definitely not another option. This will help ease your mind too before moving ahead with the anti-psych class and to save that as sort of a 'next to last resort.' There may just be another option.

I don't know if this might help as you move forward. Wishing you all the best.

[lastyearisblank]

((lavieenrose))

Maybe you could try some bipolar meds like lamictal. Or a different class of antidepressant like wellbutrin...

I have heard of atypical antipsychotics for depression but in my opinion they are too new to tell...I think they are being marketed heavily.... but that doesn't mean they work....

Add meds were pretty rough for me too (coming down from them). Are you sure this is not contributing to your depression?