[chromegirl]

I have felt myself slipping down into the rabbit hole of depression (first, it was chronic anxiety due to some super stressful situations in my life...then it devolved into mostly depression and a less acute but more chronic anxiety) for a few months now. I finally got in to see a new psychiatrist after a months-long wait (my old one retired). She took a long, detailed history and at the end of my appointment completely switched up my meds- I had been taking Lexapro (10 mg) and Strattera (40 mg). (I don't actually have ADD/ADHD but it was used for its AD properties).

I am now on Effexor XR 75 mg (I suspect she will bump this up) and Seroquel (50 mg for a week, then doubling it to 100 mg). I go back to her in 3 weeks. She said the Effexor is for the depression and the Seroquel is for the GAD.

I have to say, after 5 days on this new mix I am not feeling any worse...maybe even a bit better. It is hard to say because I have a few extremely stressful situations going on that just cloud everything. My sleep at least, thanks to the Seroquel, has been great...and I haven't had any of the dreaded Seroquel hangover except after the first night I took it.

Just wondering what others' experiences are if they've ever done a complete overhaul of their meds all at once...I know it is different for everyone. This doc said that I should feel a positive effect in a couple of weeks. I was just surprised because my old pdoc would have never switched out two meds for two new ones at the same time. He would switch one, watch for the effect, and then take action.

I am trying in the meanwhile to simplify my life so as to minimize the stressors that I can. This has always been key for me when fighting depression. I am a single working mom though so that is tough.

Any words of encouragement/advice/experience would go a long way on this cloudy day...thanks all

[gayleggg]

Once when I was hospitalized the docter there totally redid all my meds and even added more. By the time he got through with me a was a walking zombie. As soon as I got out and saw my regular doctor she redid everything they had prescribed in the hospital. I could finaly function again. I don't like it when they mess with more than one at a time.

Hope your change helps you out.