Good read.

I'm just happy that I'm not alone.

My husband [58] has been diagnosed with depressive pseudodementia. He has been on lexapro for 19 mo and added wellbutrin a year ago. His mood and ambition have improved a lot but still has memory and confusion problems. Is it possible the meds still need more time to work? Could there be a different combo of meds that would help resolve this? This is very frustrating. They have ruled out AD because of a slight improvement in testing scores.

My husband [58] has been diagnosed with depressive pseudodementia. He has been on lexapro for 19 mo and added wellbutrin a year ago. His mood and ambition have improved a lot but still has memory and confusion problems. Is it possible the meds still need more time to work? Could there be a different combo of meds that would help resolve this? This is very frustrating. They have ruled out AD because of a slight improvement in testing scores.
[/quote]

What if I spend the rest of my life fighting the urge to stop living? Is that anyway to live? I know there is a part of me that doesn’t want to give into that urge but I don’t know how strong it is or how long it’s willing to fight. I don’t know how long I am willing to fight, if I’m willing to fight at all now. I take pills in attempt to feign a balanced person and I just keep coming up to a this wall of truth that screams I can never truly be a balanced person…I will always be faking on the street and fighting behind closed doors. I’m not suicidal, sure I’ve thought about it but the fear of hurting people is the only thing keeping me here…what happens when the people that would be hurt aren’t here anymore? Is it going to get harder than it already is?

My mother has been taking different medications for 7 years now and has stopped cognitive therapy a few years becasue "she didn't have anything to say to her doctor". She also uses this line with us......"we have nothing much to talk about". She stays indoors all the time, only watches telly but she does cook (the simplest meals) and washes cloths but she refuses any inovations or they must b introduced gradually so that she could get used to that idea (for example if someone's going to visit us).

She is taking both sleeping pills and the tricyclic antidepressants and hasn't changed the therapy in quite a while. I was wondering if these drugs are working at all? Her depressed state hasn't changed for the last 4 years but is better when it all started happening. She was suicidal then, tried it on more ocassions. SHe doesn't have suicidal thoughts any more. And recently she told me she felt useless.

This post has been edited by Stjarna: Oct 8 2006, 03:11 PM

Hi,

I tried EFFXOR and it was working well for 3 months. But then I switched over to homeopathic treatment and that was a mistake. I again came to aleopathic and started CIPRALEX (20 mg) and XANAX. I weaned off the XANAX and started with REMORAN and RIVOTRIL with the CIPRALEX. Its been about two weeks now with this combination and I am feeling somewhat better. My sleep has improved, as well as my appetite. I feel that in the coming weeks my condition will gradually improve.

Hello everyone,

I've just joined this forum so I haven't had a chance to search the different sections but I wanted to share my experience as I'm feeling really frustrated lately. I was wondering if any of you would have advice or a different perspective on things.

I'm in my late 20's, I've been depressed for a long time (since around 11/12 yrs old). The worst time of my depression was in my teens - my parents and teachers were not very understanding etc... I attempted suicide on a couple of occasions during this time but (thank God) i failed. I think the thing that made it so bad was the fact that I was depressed for no reason and as a young teen I couldn't get my head around that. I can't remember when I stopped wanting to kill myself but for a very long time it was on my mind constantly. I've always pushed myself to try to work although I really wanted to curl up and die. I found it quite hard to keep up a happy front - people can be really nasty when they think you're just a moody boring person.

Anyway, having been diagnosed with depression in my teens, I had tried several SSRI's. With most of them I experienced a 2 week "high" when I suddenly felt as though a weight had been lifted off my mind and I was motivated and happy and life was great. But it never lasted and I soon fell back into my depression. I stopped seeking medical help and spent several years trying to cure myself by researching the impact that diet, exercise and other things have on depression. Unfortunately none of the changes I made in my life seemed to help even a little bit.

About a year ago I decided to seek help from my doctor. She prescribed lexapro. I started taking it and had the usual 2 week high which soon faded. After about 7 or 8 months I asked my doctor if she would prescribe a different kind of anti-depressant (other than an SSRI) as I had read about other types on the internet. She was reluctant to prescribe anything other than the normal kind (which I can understand) so she referred me to a psychiatrist. I met with the psychiatrist and was full of hope - looking forward to FINALLY finding some kind of meds that could help. The psychiatrist told me that I am not in fact depressed because I am no longer suicidal. He said that if the lexapro hasn't worked, that also indicates that I am not depressed. He gave me the number for a counsellor and that was it! Although I understand that counselling can be extremely helpful for those who are depressed as a result of something - I am depressed for NO REASON. I really have nothing to be depressed about, other than the fact that I'm depressed (if that makes sense :) )

I get the impression that the psychiatrist thinks I'm depressed about some issue and that I just want him to give me some drugs to fix it. That is not the case at all.

I've been attending the counselling, although I have nothing to talk to him about. I've told him how I've dealt with my depression and how I've managed to live an almost normal existence with it and he has said that I seem to be coping well.

I feel so frustrated and I don't know what to do. Have any of you had any similar experiences?

PS. I hope that wasn't too long - I tend to ramble! :) :)

Hello Kats,

I just want to tell you that I understand how you're feeling. When I read you're post I could have been reading something I had written a few years ago. I still suffer with depression but the overwhelming urge to end my life has gone. I think you really have to fight and be as strong as you can. The fear of hurting my family members used to be the only thing stopping me from killing myself but now it's just out of the question. I wish you happiness and I hope you begin to feel better soon.

I have taken prozac off and on since 1989. I know that if I had took my antidepressants consistantly, I might not have had so many down days( which i contribute to "my situational curcomstances") I presantly take prozac 10mg and wellbutrin150mg....How or when do you change your meds? I just started back to counseling due to my worthlessness taking over again. Could it just be my meds? Ive been taking Prozac for 15months and wellbutrin for 8 months.

Turtleshell and Whitney,

We have rooms here on the different medication, maybe you can find some helpful information there as well.
Once you hit 5 posts you will be able to start your own topic in the appropriate room which will give you more individual responses.

Hope that helps,
SN

Interesting article. I'm already worried about not responding to medication and how long the effects will last if I do find one that works.

I really hope that my perseverance with trying all kinds of combinations of meds will pay off.... being a human guinea pig for years almost adds insult to injury.

If you can handle 2 different drugs that both had you wanting to jump out the window, sick, angry, in pain and without sleep for a week, you're pretty D*** tough.

I use helicopters and dynamite in the most remote regions of the country searching for oil, and I couldn't.

Why would I try another non-guaranteed, wicked drug?

Listed side effects - murder, suicide, and madness.

I got close to all three.

People who ask you to be patient are almost always taking advantage of you.

johnx

Lindsay,

Thank you very much for sharing this with all of us. Your timing is perfect as there is an individual I am going to copy this to. The story is so true, there is a lot of comfort to be had in knowing that the professionals are continuing to work hard in seeking the right help for each person. Your post is another rope of hope for us.

Warm regards,

Always Trying