Jamison Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Hullo! I am currently taking Wellbutrin XL 300mg 1x a day. It has been effective in relieving a good portion of my depression, but I still think I can improve more. I was previously at a 1,2 (maybe 3 at the most) and now I am at a 6 (sometimes 7, maybe 7.5). I am grateful that I can get out of bed again, but I don't feel "good" just better then I was before. I plan on staying on my the Wellbutrin XL by itself for a little while longer before talking to my doctor about something else. My doctor generally takes my research into consideration, and I would never take any medication without researching it before hand. So I want some suggestions, please. Should I ask her to raise the Wellbutrin XL to 450mg a day? My symptoms are mainly just sever depression, and some anxiety. The Wellbutrin hasn't made my anxiety any worse but it certainly hasn't made it any better. It is completely neutral in that area for me. I don't get manic, hypomanic, psychotic, delusional, or anything. I'm just depressed, all the time. I find SSRI's to pretty much in effective. I don't know why SSRIs never worked but Cymbalta and Effexor worked great, go figure. I really want to stay away from anything that works on serotonin or anticonvulsants, but I am pretty open to other things. I'd try an antipsychotic but wouldn't they just counteract the benefits of the Wellbutrin? Help, please. Seriously, I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I don't understand. If effexor and cymbalta worked great, why are you not still on one of them? Perhaps effexor could be used to augment the wellbutrin? Ask your doctor. Many people are on 2 ADs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamison Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share Posted October 15, 2006 I don't understand. If effexor and cymbalta worked great, why are you not still on one of them? Perhaps effexor could be used to augment the wellbutrin? Ask your doctor. Many people are on 2 ADs. Cymbalta, Effexor, and Strattera all caused my liver enzymes to go through the roof. What Cymbalta did to my liver was classified as severe liver damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Oh wow, I'm really sorry to hear that. I missed your signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamison Posted October 16, 2006 Author Share Posted October 16, 2006 Nobody can help me? :embarassed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 why not try benzos for anxiety? WB isn't going to relieve anxiety. the SSRIs will but you don't want them. so discounting the SSRI class, i'd go with klonopin. also, if you want to get fancier, there is the AAP class. you could try those. especially seroquel is known to calm people down. but it might make you very tired (people say this happens more at lower doses- not at higher, theraputic ones). i've taken all the AAP drugs while on WB wtih no problems. none of my pdocs, and i've had a few recently due to insurance changes- none of them thought anything of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resonance Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 One of the best things to do is to ask your psychiatrist about what other options are available. If you're having difficulty getting her to do that, it would be a good time to find another psychiatrist who will work with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamison Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 Loon-A-Tik- It's not really the anxiety thats the problem, mostly the depression. I am just so blue. Yeah, like I said, I am better then I was before the Wellbutrin but I am certainly not great. The Wellbutrin was completely neutral in terms of anxiety. I have taken about 6 different SSRI's and I must say that they are almost completely ineffective for me. noemie- I know that. I wasn't asking anyone to prescribe anything to me, just for possible suggestions. If I were to go to my doctor tomorrow and she were to prescribe me something I would not agree to it until I had done the research on the potential risks and benefits. I am sorry to say that but I have had too many "experts" make some crazy mistakes with my body. My psychopharmacologist who had prescribed me the Cymbalta never once thought to check my liver function tests. It wasn't until I went in for a physical exam that we found out they were in the 600 range. Sorry, but I am skeptical of the "experts". A degree in no way means that you know everything. This is why I am asking for suggestions so that I can do some research before hand on the risks and benefits and then go in and talk to my doctor and then see from there. I really need suggestions though guys. Please. I know its kind of limited but just offer up whatever you can think of, atleast if its no good then I can rule whats not effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I don't feel comfortable trying to suggest much for you. However, it occurred to me that the two meds I know best are proven to help with depression. Lithium and Lamictal. Mood stabilizers, yes, but depression is a mood. They are prescribed for depression as adjuncts to antidepressants. Lithium is the only med proven to reduce suicides and is a bit stronger, I think than Lamictal. They can be taken together. good luck. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maceo Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 If you're anxiety is really severe and inturrupting your life I think a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin etc) or an atypical antipsychotic (Seroquel, Zyprexa etc.). The problem with benzodiazepines is tolerence and dependence and the problem with atypical antipsychotics is weight gain so I would stay away from both if you can put up with the anxiety. I was put on Valium when I was too anxious to go to school and Zyprexa because I couldn't stop shaking and I was very agitated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairyna Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 If you're anxiety is really severe and inturrupting your life I think a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin etc) or an atypical antipsychotic (Seroquel, Zyprexa etc.). The problem with benzodiazepines is tolerence and dependence and the problem with atypical antipsychotics is weight gain so I would stay away from both if you can put up with the anxiety. I was put on Valium when I was too anxious to go to school and Zyprexa because I couldn't stop shaking and I was very agitated. i agree, klonopin works for me and i am on lamictal and 450mg of wellbutriun. I do still have really bad blue days and will be working on that my next visit. But the klonopin works, when I was not on it i was throwing up like 2 to 3 times a day, just from anxiety..now i am better but not 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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