[MisterUnderstood]

Hi, all! I was wondering if any of you could tell me your experiences with different meds. I think I'm gonna do a walk-in tomorrow because I haven't been feeling my usual self, and he and I always do a bit of a seminar on my suggestions and why they would or wouldn't work, and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas as to medications that are more activating than sedating. I've been on close to 20 (Lexapro, Zoloft, Trazodone, Doxepin, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Neurontin, Trileptal, Lamictal, Zyprexa, Abilify, Geodon, Lithium, Haldol, BuSpar, Vistaril, Librium, Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax). I had the best results with a combination of Wellbutrin and Abilify, but the atypical antipsychotics are either sedating or, in the case of Abilify, they severely elevate my triglycerides. Anyway, I was wondering about a couple (Fetzima, Brintellix, Parnate, or Viibryd). Does anyone have any good experiences with any of those, and if so, which would be the least sedating and the most tolerable (I know Parnate and the MAOIs come in last in tolerability, but if they work... Well. Thanks, everyone!

[lilypup]

Try mentioning Rexulti plus Wellbutrin plus Lamictal. Rexulti is the new Abilify (new and improved).

[MisterUnderstood]

I tried to go for Rexulti but unfortunately insurance doesn't cover it and it's a whopping $1,100 a month. And Lamictal just plain didn't work for me, but he actually wants to give it another try. I didn't end up seeing him though. Forgot that he was only there on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. But I might walk in next Monday because I feel like things are getting worse.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Pristiq is elevating for me

[gina_re]

When Wellbutrin was initially added to my Trileptal and Effexor mix, I noticed the stimulation

[SingDanceRunLife]

Viibryd was like a sugar pill to me. I honestly don't think it did anything. Useless drug in my book.

[barbella]

I took Vyvanse for a while and found it very helpful.

[MisterUnderstood]

I'm gonna see a psychiatrist on the 12th instead of my ARNP so I'm hoping he'll be able to help with Vyvanse. That's what my ARNP wanted me on, but my general doctor decided to be rude and use my past history of suicidal actions as a front instead of straight up calling me a drug addict. But anyway... Lol. And tbh I thought Viibryd was related to Desyrel so I wasn't expecting it to be too activating, but idk.

[cheshiregrins]

Brintellix is really great. It's activating like Wellbutrin but doesn't make anxiety worse; it's actually calming at the same time.

[PinkFlamingo99]

Parnate is awesome but you have to be willing to tolerate side effects like dizziness. I still get it sometimes after 2 yrs

[BeyondtheRainbow]

If you are interested in an MAOI have you considered Emsam? It's a patch so not absorbed in the gut which makes it a little easier to deal with than the older MAOIs. It is stimulating.

[with or without you]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

If you are interested in an MAOI have you considered Emsam? It's a patch so not absorbed in the gut which makes it a little easier to deal with than the older MAOIs. It is stimulating.

It is totally stimulating. I was on the 12mg patch and could not sleep at all, including one horrible New Years weekend (this year) where I had insomnia for 4 straight days despite staying away from caffeine. It was a real struggle to get through the workday dealing with the weight of "heavy eyes". I got my pdoc to dial it back to 9, and guess what? I'm depressed again! And I still have sleep issues, but not as bad as when I was on 12. I also started gaining weight again after starting this because the cocktail of pills I was on before EMSAM killed my hunger "signal".

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I'm sorry with or without you. Emsam has been the best AD I've ever been on. The stimulation was easily countered with adjustments to my other meds and it had an appetite suppressant side effect until my AP was increased a couple years later. I usually am at 9 and go to 12 if I get depressed (and down to 6 or 4.5 if manic).

One thing we've done before is every other day dosing, either 12 every other or 9 one day, 12 the next. That's let me have some fine-tuning when I was in a really bad place.

[with or without you]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I'm sorry with or without you. Emsam has been the best AD I've ever been on. The stimulation was easily countered with adjustments to my other meds and it had an appetite suppressant side effect until my AP was increased a couple years later. I usually am at 9 and go to 12 if I get depressed (and down to 6 or 4.5 if manic).

One thing we've done before is every other day dosing, either 12 every other or 9 one day, 12 the next. That's let me have some fine-tuning when I was in a really bad place.

Thanks, it was the best AD for me as well for about 3 or 4 months. My depression is unipolar. I asked my pdoc if I was bipolar and he said no because my highs don't last long enough, and historically both of my manic-like episodes were a direct effect of medication. (It happened before with Abilify, and now this one). That's interesting you alternate with dosing and different amounts, he's never suggested that. Also, I am on nothing else except Xanax ER. I may as well be on a nicotine patch these days because that's how useful this thing is. I really wanted this to work because oral medication wreaks havoc on my stomach. The dietary restrictions haven't been so bad because I am a picky eater anyway and never ate most of the foods on the list. I'm glad it's working for you anyway.