What else is there?

I think I'm on my last legs for anti-depressants. I'm not done yet, but I'm getting really close and that scares me, because I think the next step is ECT. I don't like that idea.

Right now I'm taking Cymbalta, and we just added Wellbutrin. My pdoc says that covers all three neurotransmitters, so it should work. That's cool with me. It'll be a couple of weeks before I know anything about the Wellbutrin, but I'm pretty sure it will help.

But when this combo quits working, what do I do?

I've tried a few SSRI's. They didn't do anything except give me side effects. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa - after that, we quit trying them. I guess Serotonin isn't my problem because you'd think ONE of them would do SOMETHING.

I tried Effexor, but it made me so darn sick that I just couldn't take it. I tried to ride it out, but I was SO nauseous for days on end that we called it off. Since Cymbalta works for me, maybe the Effexor would have. I just can't afford to be that sick for that long (I've got a full time job).

I don't remember what results we got with the tricyclics. I guess that means they didn't do much for me. If they did, I'd remember.

Remeron got me functional, but that's about it. I ate like a horse, though. So I was still kinda depressed and gained weight too. Oh, joy. Nope.

I DID have really good luck with Parnate, which is an MAOI. Lemme tell you - that's a SCARY drug!!! But it WORKED. I mean, really worked!! I didn't really have any side effects, but I DID have to watch absolutely everything that I put into my body. Food, medicine - No OTC medicines, no good cheese (velveeta wasn't a problem, but that's not real cheese, either), no aged meats, all sorts of things. I had a couple bad interactions, and I really thought I was going to die. I mean this stuff can KILL YOU! It's definitely a bad thing to be in the ER getting a scan to look for intercranial bleeding. AND I seem to build up a tolerance to it. I'd be good for a while, and then I'd need more. After a while, I'd get to where they wouldn't prescribe any more to me, and I'd have to go off it to get my tolerance back down.

So MAOIs work for me, but I REALLY don't want to go back to them again. I think I'd rather have the ECT, but that's a really close call. Is there anything out there we've missed? Anything new I haven't tried yet? I mean I hope the Wellbutrin works with the Cymbalta, but what do I do if it doesn't? What do I do when these pills wear off? I'm in therapy, and working on the psychological part, but the meds are important,. too.

i'm in the same boat that you're in.... ect might be my next step, too. too scary, though. i already have brain damage, so i don't know... hate running out of options, too. maybe we should do ect together, should we? don't mean to joke about it, as it is a serious matter. i understand what you're going through though.

Kendyll, I read an article in a popular magazine a couple of months ago about using small doses of narcotics as an anti-depressant. In the U.S., the medical establishment is leery of this because of the anti-narcotics phobia here. But there is a body of literature on using narcotics against depression. The narcotic used is one that is not addictive, and it is only in small doses. For the author of this article, it was a lifesaver and the only thing that helped her. If you are interested in this article, I will look up the reference for you.

that's interesting, sunrise. is it opoids? looks like i came across the same article somewhere.

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wickedwings said:
that's interesting, sunrise. is it opoids? looks like i came across the same article somewhere.

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Yes. I always thought narcotics were opioids? I can't remember the name of the one that was used in most of the depression studies. I had not heard of it before (it was not morphine, codeine, etc.).

Probably buprenorphine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buprenorphine

Lar

I know how u feel Kendyll... HUGS... It took me forever to find the right antipsychotic for me; my pdoc put me on a very minimal dose of trazadone to sleep; he said it was once the top antidepressent prescribed earlier on. And then I take lithium and valium which also have somewhat of an antidepressant effect. Maybe you could talk to ur pdoc about trying something else that's major use is not an antidepressant because there are many drugs out there like for example some anticonvulsants are used as mood stabalizers ie topamax. so maybe he/she could try you on a different med if needed to help out with that. Good luck. Hope things go well for u and take Care, Danielle

I tried vicodin for fibromyalgia and though it did not relieve the muscle/bone pain it certainly lifted my mood! I was tempted to continue taking it just as a mood-lifter! Yes, it's in the class of 'opiates' and can be addictive. I had success using 5-htp and b-complex and a good multi. After a few weeks of those I felt an improved difference in my mood and lost interest in using vicodin as a mood-lifter.
So yes I hear where people are coming from when they talk of using opiates as an anti-depressant. The feeling is grand! Discuss with your doctor.