Depression Community

You are making sense, I understand. I felt the same way you did today. There is so much on your mind and your mind just keeps racing and doesn't stop. Then when you try to relax and think, you just can't think straight.

Hope you feel better after you rest.

Hi deasertrose, I hear you, and I understand exactly what you are talking about. You make perfect sense to me. Feel kind of silly but what is an ECT?
What kind of meds are you taking? I have noticed that my depression has been getting the better of me more and more and I also don't know what to do, like you my mind is racing and I have that cold empty feeling in me again. It is such an awful feeling.
So tonight I bought myself a bottle of wine and a bag of my favorite chips and rented a feel good movie, and you know what it helped me, I was such a good feeling just watching a movie and not thinking about anything else. I can't remember the last time I did that.
Please let us know how you are doing,
take care,

tfu

deasertrose,
I'm sorry you're feeling like this. I know what you mean by no thoughts but your mind is racing. For me it's like I'm thinking of everything and nothing at the same time. My mind can't quite alight on any one thing, when it's like that.
I worry about you, you sound like maybe you feel the medications are too much or that the side effects are making you feel like you're losing your grip. Yet it sounds like the doctors are not listening to your concerns. Is there a way you could get an outside opinion from another doctor, just to see if they think this is wise?
What kind of problems did ECT have for you last time?
(BTW tfu, ECT is electroconvulsive therapy. Basically it's a electric current being administered to the brain...beyond that I don't know how it works.)
deasertrose, I forget, are you seeing a therapist? I hope so. I hope you are talking about your concerns. It might help that since you're having a hard time forming thoughts, that if you do think of some things you're concerned about, to write them down so that they don't slip your mind later. Sometimes journaling can help make things more clear as well. Hang in there!!

desertrose, I haven't been on much lately - ill. Getting better, slowly. Just wanted to say how glad I am to see you here. I don't understand the above statements, guessing I missed a lot. Is this confusion due to ECT? I'm getting the picture you are getting treatment and resent it. The last I remember was a very strong threat to self. Guessing that crisis is past and you're now getting ECT. Is this correct, sorry if I seem a little slow right now.

tfu, I take lexapro, lamictal, abilify, lithium, wellbrutin xl, clonapin and trazodone. Everyone say's wow your on alot of medicine but no one will do anything about it.
I am glad you had a nice evening. I should do it but I can't sit still enough to watch a movie.

alaska_mommy, ECT has screwed up my memory. I have none. Shot turn especially I wake up the next day and yesterday is gone. Even this I'm told and I turn around and it's gone. I no longer enjoy doing anything. Everything I use to enjoy doing like sewing, garding, cooking and being with people. All I do is sleep. I don't know if it's from the ECT, all my meds. or depression But I could't have been depressed for 5 years or so.

demons, no to ECT yet anyway and I still have a plan. I'm gonna do it just don't know when. My daughters birthday is today.

desertrose, I don't say WOW about the cocktail you're on. I say Holy Sh**. I'm sorry but I don't know how anyone could make a or any decision on that many drugs. I'm no doctor but this much seems way to much. Hope your daughter has a happy birthday. Once you execute your plan, she won't have many happy days.

Hi deasertrose, How are you feeling today? I was wondering too if you are seeing a therapist or psych, And I do think that you are taking way to many meds, I cannot even imagine what they are doing to your mind and body.Is it possible for you to find someone else that could help you and listen to you? Do you have any support from friends or family? I think that is very important.
take good care of yourself.

tfu

deasertrose, how are you doing now? have you done anything with your daughter for her birthday?
I am with Demons on the cocktail you are taking, are they reviewed by a psychiatrist?
I am worried that you have again referred to your plan!! What can we do to help you? Is there anyone you can talk to?
Thinking of you and sending you positive thoughts
hugs
Chez x

I've been to 4 pdocs. no the first one put me on all this stuff. The other 3 even the hospital doc just say wow you're on to many meds but no one has done anything different. Well no the hospital doc changed one and added another one.
Yes I see a therapist and a pdoc. Not much help though. There is no help in this county and I don't want to go to D.C. to find help. Thanks for all the hugs and stuff. You guys take care. I'm going to bed.

hi deasertrose,
I can feel your pain in your writing, help us help you?
Can you change pdoc again, or do you feel you can challenge them in relating to meds, you could print off your posts here to show just how much you are suffering.
I hope you do manage to rest and sleep tonight.
I am sending you more hugs and well wishes, please take care and kind to yourself
Chez x

Chez, I was just thinking that too about printing off posts.
deasertrose, it does sound like you might be overmedicated, or at the very least it sounds like you feel your medication and care is out of your control. Medical care should be a partnership between the doctor and the patient, where the patient feels cared for and feels that their health is priority. Your mental health is important, but so many meds--ugh! No wonder you feel the way you do. I would definitely print out all your posts here, and take them to your pdoc...and make it very clear you want some action taken on reducing the number of meds you are on.

Hi deasetrose -

Wanted to share this discussion, susiemargaret talks about ECT. Click here

Hope you find a psychiatrist and therapist that listen to you and can adjust meds if needed.

Elizabeth

hello, D --

along with everyone else, i am very concerned about the mix of meds you are taking. i've run an interactions check on them on a website i trust, http://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=233-0,440-0,703-0,1013-0,1430-0,1477-0,2228-0&consumer=1 , and i feel very strongly that you need to raise with someone -- preferably your psychiatrist and preferably immediately, such as today -- the issue of a meds re-evaluation. just for starters, lithium interacts detrimentally with every single one of your other meds.


lithium/eskalith (see PS1) and --

-- bupropion/wellbutrin (PS2) -- can increase the risk of seizures. if these two meds are taken together, the dosage of bupropion should be kept as low as possible, http://www.drugsdb.com/rx/lithium/lithium-drug-interactions . this is considered a "major" interaction, meaning that it is "highly clinically significant," that the risk of the interaction is greater than the benefit, and that the combination should be avoided.

-- escitalopram/lexapro (PS3) or trazodone/desyrel (PS4) -- can increase the risk of having too much serotonin in the body; this can lead to serotonin syndrome, a rare but very dangerous condition characterized by muscle spasms, extreme fluctuations in blood pressure, seizures, and heart problems. if lithium and either of these two meds are taken together, lithium levels need to be monitored regularly, http://www.drugsdb.com/rx/lithium/lithium-drug-interactions . these are also considered to be "major" interactions.

-- aripiprazole/abilify (PS5) -- can increase the parkinson's-like neurological effects and involuntary muscle movements often caused by aripiprazole alone. if these two meds are taken together, their dosages may need to be reduced. this interaction is considered a "moderate" one, meaning that it is "moderately clinically significant" and that the combination should be avoided except in "special circumstances."

-- clonazepam/klonopin (PS6) or lamotrigine/lamictal (PS7) -- can produce dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and impaired judgment. these interactions are also considered "moderate" ones.


i can see that i am close to reaching the word limit, so can you meet me at my subsequent post?

-- susie margaret

PS1 -- webMD info on lithium/eskalith is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-42-LITHIUM - ORAL.aspx?drugid=5887&drugname=lithium carbonate Oral&source=2 (lithium carbonate) and http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-14374-lithium citrate Oral.aspx?drugid=14374&drugname=lithium citrate Oral&source=2 (lithium citrate).

PS2 -- webMD info on bupropion/wellbutrin is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-151959-bupropion HBr Oral.aspx?drugid=151959&drugname=bupropion HBr Oral&source=2 (bupropion hydrobromide) and http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-155-BUPROPION - ORAL.aspx?drugid=13507&drugname=bupropion HCl Oral&source=2 (bupropion hydrochloride).

PS3 -- webMD info on escitalopram/lexapro is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-63989-escitalopram Oral.aspx?drugid=63989&drugname=escitalopram Oral&source=2 .

PS4 -- webMD info on trazodone/desyrel is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-89-TRAZODONE - ORAL.aspx?drugid=11188&drugname=trazodone Oral&source=2 .

PS5 -- webMD info on aripiprazole/abilify is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-64437-aripiprazole Oral.aspx?drugid=64437&drugname=aripiprazole Oral&source=2 .

PS6 -- webMD info on clonazepam/klonopin is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-6006-CLONAZEPAM - ORAL.aspx?drugid=14403&drugname=clonazepam Oral&source=2 .

PS7 -- webMD info on lamotrigine/lamictal is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-7217-LAMOTRIGINE - ORAL.aspx?drugid=4582&drugname=lamotrigine Oral&source=2 .

hello again, D --

this is the second part of my post about your meds and their possible interactions. please tell me that you have been thinking about calling your psychiatrist to discuss a reassessment of your meds. (first things first; think about it, then do it!)


bupropion and --

-- aripiprazole, escitalopram, or trazodone -- can increase the risk of seizures. bupropion can also increase the amt of each of these meds in the blood, which can intensify each one's side effects. dosage adjustments and/or close monitoring may be necessary if bupropion and any of these meds are taken together. these are considered to be "major" interactions.

-- clonazepam -- can cause seizures if the clonazepam is used excessively or discontinued abruptly after long-term use in patients who have also been taking bupropion. this is considered a "moderate" interaction.


trazodone and --

-- escitalopram -- can lead to serotonin syndrome. this is considered a "major" interaction.

-- clonazepam, aripiprazole, or lamotrigine -- can produce dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and impaired judgment. these interactions are considered "moderate" ones.


lamotrigine and --

-- aripiprazole, clonazepam, or escitalopram -- can produce dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and impaired judgment. these interactions are considered "moderate" ones.


aripiprazole and --

-- clonazepam -- can produce dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and impaired judgment. these interactions are considered "moderate" ones.

-- escitalopram -- can increase both the blood levels and the parkinson's-like neurological effects and involuntary muscle movements often caused by aripiprazole alone. this combination can also cause low blood pressure, with its accompanying symptoms of increased pulse/heart rate, lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting. if these two meds are taken together, frequent monitoring and/or reduced dosages may be necessary. this interaction is considered a "moderate" one.


clonazepam and --

-- escitalopram -- can produce dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and impaired judgment. this interaction is considered a "moderate" one.


i'm getting apprehensive just typing this list, and i hope you are getting nervous just reading it. if you can't get your dr(s) to adjust your meds, then ask your therapist to refer you to a psychiatrist (or a psychiatric nurse practitioner) who will take a look at them. these are not minimal, wait-a-few-days-and-see-what-happens effects you are risking; some are life-threatening, and don't forget that there is also the danger of the cumulative/collective effects of some or all of these interactions making others worse.

some dr must take responsibility for managing your meds, even if it is just for a few months, until you can arrange a more permanent relationship. i don't understand why your current dr(s) and/or therapist have not done so already. in my opinion, they should be suffering a fairly intense state of alarm whenever they see the list of your meds!

despite my deep concern about the mix of your meds, i have to add one thing -- do not stop taking any of your meds without talking with a dr first. i don't know how to evaluate the relative danger of any of these potential interactions versus the threats posed by discontinuing any of your meds without a dr's advice.

i'm not going to address your "plan"; others have already done so, and i want to focus your attention on your meds. if you can get them straightened out, i think your inclination even to have a "plan" will disappear, frankly. it is your sickness that makes you think one is a good idea, but that is a lie that your depression is telling you; it is not your true self speaking.

please, please, dear D, call your dr(s) or a dr or your therapist or a therapist today. i send you many caring thoughts.

-- susie margaret