[shamon86]

So I've been on the same medications for almost a year now. My main med is Effexor. I already take 300 mgs a day. I've been having a hard time recently probably due to this time of year (I'm sure many of us are) and I'm also dealing with memories of some trauma at happened around this time several years ago. I was doing well when I last saw my PDOC in September and so I'm not supposed to see him until some time in December. But I wonder if it would worth it to try switching meds again. I've tried lamictal, Wellbutrin, adding ability, deploy and different doses of Effexor. Nothing has made me more stable (for lack of a better term, I'm not bipolar) then what I currently taking but I have no idea what to do. I'm just okay for the most part with some really bad days thrown in that are becoming more frequent. And I know that Effexor is a pain to step down from. Any suggestions?

Hello Shamon86: I don't really know what to suggest here. I've been on the maximum recommended dose of Cymbalta for about 2 years or so now. It's not great. But it does seem to keep me from diving too low. Previously I've been on Prozac, Paxil, Abilify (for a short time), and some other stuff in combination with the SSRI's. I've also been on Effexor. I can't take it.

From my perspective, the most that I can expect from any of the SSRI's or SNRI's is that they keep me from getting so low that I begin to think seriously about suicide. Beyond that & it's just up to me to keep myself going day-to-day. So although the Cymbalta I take doesn't do allot for me, I don't really believe anything else will be any better. Plus, you have to be on a med for several weeks or months before you can judge how helpful, or not helpful, it will be. Then if it doesn't seem to be helping, you have to move on to something else.

On the other hand, you've been on Effexor for a year, so it may be time to try something else. I think it's just something to talk with your pdoc about. Good luck!

[Altered Moment]

I am in a similar situation. I have raised the dose of Fetzima which has been working better than anything else ever has. This is always by far the worse time of year for me. Every November I go into a very severe depression. Its not near as bad as usual right now but I am struggling. I am going to ride it out and stick with the Fetzima. I can cope with depression and mixed states and stuff. How it affects my life is the hard part.