Increasingly depressed but what will help?

Hi! I'm new here and I'm BPII, oh and throw in some PTSD too and my pdoc believes I have SAD as well. I take a meriad of meds but I still fall into the deep abyss, where I am now, even though I am taking ADs. For my depression, I'm currently taking 225mg of Effexor XR and 100mg of Wellbutrin daily. I've been as high as 375mg of Effexor XR. Nothing seems to work. I'm getting worse and worse all the time. I'm also taking 600mg daily of Tegretol, God knows how much Xanax for my anxiety as well as Klonopin and other non-psych meds. My pdoc won't give me more ADs because she doesn't want me to have any hypomanic episodes BUT aren't my extreme episodes of anger and irritability and lashing out considered to be hypomanic? Originally, they were euphoric and I LOVED them, although I did manage to get myself into some major problems but what about the opposite of being irritable, angry and lashing out? And what would anyone suggest for my overwhelming depression? I want out of the black abyss that I currently reside in. I don't see any hope. I've tried so many mood stabilizers and have had problems with them all. I don't have any side effects from the Tegretol but it simply is not working either. Somebody, PLEASE I need help because I feel like I'm losing this battle. Oh, and btw, my family is getting increasing concerned too as they can see the intensity of my mood swings.

Thanks,
Angel Girl (who's not feeling very angelic lately)

I'm sorry the meds aren't workin'. I'm also having a difficult time with meds. It's really frustrating, but we can't give up, right?

I try not to give up but it's all so frustrating when you're not in a good place.

Angel Girl

AngelGirl - There are now a myriad of mood stabilizers on the market as of late. Perhaps a change to Epival (Depakote in the US: aka divalproex), lithium, Lamictal (lamotrigine), Neurontin (gabapentin), or a number of others, may be in order. Lamictal has antidepressant activities which help many who suffer from BPII. There are also mood stabilizers like Zyprexa (olanzapine) Risperdal (risperidone) or Seroquel (quetiazine) which can work as adjuncts (add-ons) to your current regimen or as replacements. Or rather than increasing the antidepressant, maybe an increase in the Tegretol (carbamazepine) may help.

Ask your doctor if any of these options may be right for you. There are several options available. I hope that this is of some help. - Cam

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
AngelGirl - There are now a myriad of mood stabilizers on the market as of late. Perhaps a change to Epival (Depakote in the US: aka divalproex), lithium, Lamictal (lamotrigine), Neurontin (gabapentin), or a number of others, may be in order. Lamictal has antidepressant activities which help many who suffer from BPII. There are also mood stabilizers like Zyprexa (olanzapine) Risperdal (risperidone) or Seroquel (quetiazine) which can work as adjuncts (add-ons) to your current regimen or as replacements. Or rather than increasing the antidepressant, maybe an increase in the Tegretol (carbamazepine) may help.

Ask your doctor if any of these options may be right for you. There are several options available. I hope that this is of some help. - Cam

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Hi Cam

Unfortunately, I've already tried and have ruled out Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, Seroquel, and Topomax. I've heard that Zyprexa can cause significant weight gain so I don't want to go anywhere near that one. I've also had my Tegretol increased. Seems to have had no effect whatsoever. It just seems to me that my meds are not working for me.

Personally, I can live with the hypomania (if it manifests itself as euphoria and not irritability and hostility), it's the debilitating depression that gets to me, and that's the state that I normally reside in. I have very little time, if any, inbetween the two extremes.