Antidepressant "Booster"?

My psychiatrist recently prescribed me Deplin 7.5, which I guess is a prescription strength folic acid. He told me it is to give my anti depressant a boost (Wellbutrin 100mg) because it is not working for me. I am highly sensitive to medications and he has tried so many antidepressants on me. My body completely rejects the anti-psychotics like Abilify and Seroquel. I also can't take a high dosage of the drugs he gives me because of how sensitive I am.

Has anybody had Deplin added to their treatment plan? Or known of anyone who has?

I'm curious to know if it works and really helps. This is only the second day I've taken it so far so I don't feel any different.

I tried deplin, but it did absolutely nothing for me. My understanding (and I may not be explaining it right) is that unless you have an actual folate deficiency, it probably won't have much effect, but those that do seem to find it helpful. I found it very expensive and not covered by insurance and completely ineffective.

Yes I was prescribed Deplin by a pdoc for depression. L Methyl Folate. He told me to not take B vitamins with it as they will screw the whole thing up. There is research on it.
He gave me a shopping list of supplement to buy. He was kind of anti med but still uses them. L Methylfolate is necessary for the synthesis of serotonin, nor epinephrine, and dopamine.

L Methyl Folate
Sam E
Fish oil
Vitamin D

Maybe one other I can't remember. I only took them for two months. I had a lot going on at the time and was in a very deep depression. At that point in my life I had given up all hope that anything would work so why the hell spend money on supplements. So I can't really say if they helped or not.

I have since started taking fish oil and vitamin D again. I am thinking of asking for Deplin again. It is so hard to tell what works and what doesn't with all the meds and so on.

L-Methylfolate for Depression: The Real Deal? | Psych Central Professional

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23212058

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...-be-the-answer

Ugh MINE told me it was fine to keep taking my Vitamin B Stress Complex and the pharmacist said I'd better stop taking that when starting Deplin. I listened to her.

I know I have to be patient and give it at least a month but it's difficult and I just wanna know if I'm wasting my time! Yes, my insurance covers it but it is still expensive because it is not generic.

I read so many good things about adding Deplin to antidepressants for people with "treatment resistant depression". It's one of the last resorts for me so I'm really hoping it works.

I also read there is a genetic mutation that could exist in people with Bipolar Disorder and treatment resistant depression...I guess Deplin helps those who test positive for one of these mutations.

Hmmm I can't remember for sure now if it was just folic acid or B vitamins that contained folic acid. I remember he warned me like three times not to take B vitamins with it. But he may have said B vitamins with Folic Acid. I was in a bad state and not planning to take B vitamins so I didn't pay total attention. B vitamins upset my stomach. He definitely did say something about B vitamins messing up the whole idea of it. I just can't remember if it was a specific B vitamin or folic acid or what.

L-Methylfolate: A Promising Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression? | Psych Congress Network
However, certain individuals lack the ability to convert folic acid to l-methylfolate, rendering folic acid supplements ineffective for this group of patients.
You seem to be correct that there is a genetic mutation. I wish all the genetic testing was much more available then it is now. My pdoc did say that they were seriously looking into getting some form of genetic test as part of their practice. I think it is the ones that determines how you metabolize the different anti depressants and puts them on a green, yellow, and red list.

I also have very treatment resistant depression. It is resistant to everything not just meds. Like I said a year and a half ago when that pdoc gave me deplin I had totally given up all hope and had no desire to try anymore. This is the same pdoc who gave me a six week treatment of TMS. Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation. To me it was like a last ditch effort. I must not have totally given up because I went through with it and had some hope it would work. It didn't help at all. There is always ECT lol.

I know how frustrating it is. Don't give up hope though there are still options out there for us and more research being done all the time.

After another very long depression I am having very good results with Fetzima and Lamictal. Two months on Lamictal and one month on Fetzima. In the last week a huge difference. In fact I am kind of manic but I always get that way for awhile when I come out of one. No serious side effects. Some difficult all over the map emotions the last two weeks. Feeling wired, getting all weepy and crying alot one day. That same pdoc told me that there are stages when coming out of a depression. I had never really heard that and i just remember snapping out of them like a switch went off. If i think about it I think he is right though.

Yeah the "B Stress Complex" is a multivitamin and contains Folic Acid.

I am sorry to hear you also struggle with treatment resistant depression. It is very hopeful to remember science is constantly evolving and there will constantly be new options to try; but the question is "When!?" will something finally work for me. I work extremely hard with Therapy and taking my Meds but man, sometimes it kicks my *** and it's hard to get back up and fight.

My biggest fear is finally finding something that works a decade or more from now and looking back at all of that pathetic, wasted time...Not wanting that to happen.

Genetic testing really should be standard...At least for biological "mental illnesses" like depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc. I did not know those things could exist due to gene mutations until recently, when I read up on Deplin.

Oh yeah genes can definitely can play a role, a huge role in my case. It is not just a matter of one gene that they can point to. There are a number of genes involved and how they interact with eachother and how environment triggers genes to turn on and off and when. It is very complicated and they don't understand it all that well. Gene testing is new and pretty crude.

Identifying a gene that is whacked for one enzyme that does not allow folic acid to be turned into L Methylfolate is pretty easy. And if you are very lucky the deplin would cure your depression. Unlikely though. It may help but I think it is much more complicated than that. One of the new gene tests just identifies which genes you have that produce certain enzymes in the liver. That gives them an idea of how AD's are metabolized for you and which ones might be more effective or have less side effects. There is a whole thread about it in this section. Someone had the test done and you can read about their experience with it since. I guess there is another type of test but I don't really know anything about it.

There is a wide variety in how people metabolize things. For example alcoholics (me being one) lack an enzyme that takes part in metabolizing alcohol. This is believed to cause the phenomenon of craving. Meaning once I get two or three drinks in me this overwhelming craving takes over and I will keep drinking until I pass out or I can't get anymore or whatever.

Then among races and ethnics groups. Asians metabolize things differently than whites for example.

Gene testing and personalized medicine is coming but it is a ways off. And I think mental illness is kind of on the back burner.

I totally understand your frustration. I have been fighting it since the 7th grade. Getting treated for it for 20 years. I can give you a list a mile long of all the therapy and meds and other things I have done. I have listed them a number of times in these forums. Like I said a year and a half ago I had reached the end of my rope. I am 50 now and not so resilient. I am tired of fighting. I somehow don't think it is all a waste. There is some meaning and purpose in our suffering. I don't know what it is but I am coming to believe there is. There are a couple of whole threads on that in the depression forum.

What meds are you currently taking? Have you ever added abilify? What about Lamictal? These are addons to regular anti depressants. Also Lithium has been shown to be effective as an addon. Not for bi polar but as and addon for depression. Augmenters they call them. Then there is Fetzima, Viibryd, Brintillex that are all new. There is a current discussion going on in this section about amphetamines for treatment resistant depression as an addon. Michanne will come in here and kick my butt for advising you this way but don't listen to her. just kidding.

Unfortunately the SSRI's and SSNRI's have turned out not to be very effective for many of us. For some people they are a miracle (although that is debatable). Me and you are just not one of the lucky ones.

We can't give up though, there is hope. I recently had a discussion in this section with someone who battled for 23 years. Added Adderall for a couple of years and then totally went off meds. Found a form of therapy or self help or something that worked for him or her. (can't tell around here who is male or female or how old anyone is, male 50 for me). Has been great and depression free ever since and I don't doubt it. What worked for them hasn't worked for me. That doesn't mean I won't find something or the same thing at a different point.

I have not been on Deplin, but I know 3 people with mental illness who are on it and both say it helps them. They are also on B vitamins.

Well I am both Asian and White so I guess I'm a unique case. lol

Welp I haven't given up yet, I'm pretty damn determined to win this fight and I will do whatever it takes. These funks of hopelessness and despair are no fun to go through, however, and I know they will be around until I find a solution.

I cannot take Abilify, or any antipsychotic for that matter. My body completely rejects them and after a couple days I feel like I am on my death bed with the flu. I tried Lamictal for a month or so and I want to say it actually DID help a bit with minimal side effects. My reason for stopping was how dangerous it was to consume alcohol while taking Lamictal. I'm 26, and was 25 then, and I still would like to drink occasionally and not worry about dying as a result. It may be an option for me in the future, but not right now.

I'm taking Welbutrin, a VERY low dose of Depakote, a very low dose of Adderall, and my doctor just added Deplin. We'll see how that goes! I know I need to give it another three weeks, at the very least. The waiting game is the hardest!