Hey Hopeful,

I only have a minute, but my immediate thought is that maybe it's some sort of reverse placebo effect at work? Because, to my knowledge, it's not possible for the meds to have an effect that is that immediate. I wonder if, since you're monitoring the clock, you are, in a sense, convincing yourself that you feel a difference when you take them at a certain time, when there actually isn't a difference? I take 100mg Wellbutrin 2x a day and it doesn't matter what time I take it - I only feel the effects of depression if I've missed a couple doses, and even then, it takes a couple days for my body to catch up to the fact that I missed those doses (which actually might happen soon, since I got off schedule and have missed about 3 doses... ).

All that being said, I could be completely wrong. You really could be feeling a difference...our bodies do weird things sometimes. I hope this didn't come across as me negating what you're feeling, because that's not what I intended whatsoever. Just some on the fly musings.

Gotta run...Take care!

Hi Kashley,
I would have never of thought of it like this but I will have to pay more attention. I go somewhere on Saturday mornings and maybe the stress of little interactions with people may have triggered it and made me believe the way I seem to.

Really interesting thoughts. Thanks for your honesty!


Hopeful

Hi hopeful

My therapist told me there is something called half life with these meds which refers to how fast they get metabolized by your body. I think our bodies will feel withdrawal symptoms sooner with Meds that have a shorter half life - which makes it more important to take it the same time everyday.

Hi Liese,
Thanks for responding. I will have to ask the Pdoc more about the half life next month when I see him...I've read about it before but I'll get him to explain it in more detail. Been doing this combination of drugs since November I think and I want it (meaning the Welbutrin) to work and the combination is better than doing just one by itself but the Welbutrin made me almost crazy when I was on it alone. I guess like my T and the P says also that the drugs are not supposed to make you not feel at all and they don't in my case. Anyways, rambling here...I think that is a good thing to find out more about and have it explained. Thanks for your input.


Hopeful

Hopeful
I take Zoloft every day, usually around 7am
and I've not noticed any adverse effects at
weekends when I might take it later at say
10am. I was wondering if the daytime depression
which seems to be lifted by eating might be
due to sensitivity to something like blood
sugar levels? It might be worth getting it
checked out if only to eliminate the possibility.
AV.

Hi Avoidant,
Thanks for responding also. Another thing that might be happening that I didn't think of this time. I recently had blood tests done and they say they were normal but I think I will ask them to do not just the overnight fasting but the extended test...which I had forgotten but had thought about before that blood test. Sometimes "I" need input from others to remember all these things...thanks so much.


Hopeful

Hi Hopeful,
I take 200 mg of Zoloft a day. The problem I have is if I don't take it at exactly the same time everyday, then I start to feel what I call "brain zaps". The only way I can describe it, is that it feels like a wave of dizziness and a "zap" in my head at the same time. I can feel it run through all the nerves of my face into my teeth. My Pdoc is actually going to ween me off the zoloft completely and start me on something else b/c he says this is unhealthy to be happenining. My Therapist also says that this high of a dosage can have a negative effect, causing even more anxiety and depression. I don't know about your situation, but I sarted off on 10mg a day about 8 years ago and am now up to 200mg. That is because my body started becoming immune to it. about every year or so, I would start to feel like the meds weren't working anymore and then they would up my dose. I wonder if this is what is happening to you? How long have you been on the meds?

Hi kmay,
I was having brain zaps or like an electrical current running along the side of my head and sometimes near the top...one day in therapy even...I said "oh there goes that feeling in my head." Actually since I posted this thread and since a therapy appointment I had around the 29th of January (had one more since then) I haven't had these things as much. I was getting low-grade headaches everyday but it has all evened out now. I've changed many things lately also, eg., diet, exercise, a new friend. Since you mentioned it I remember I do still get dizzy fairly often. I do get the depressive feelings still if I'm thinking about something upsetting. I have an appointment with the psychiatrist for the med check in two days and I hope to have a few minutes to discuss these things. I suspect I will end up staying on this combination.

In the past I have been on Paxil 2 years (big weight gain) I took myself off, Zoloft 4 years (don't remember the dose...pretty small I believe like 20mg)became immune and thought Lexapro might be better, and then Lexapro alone for 2 years 10mg (tired and lethargic when taken by itself), Welbutrin alone 7 months (not good)increased anxiety among other things, and now this combination for the last 90 days. Too much fatigue with just Lexapro alone or atleast in the winter. I'll update later on Thursday.

I hope you get a good drug or combo that helps you the most. I hear Zoloft is helpful for many people by itself. I feel for me SSRI's alone must not have been the only chemical I was having trouble with which is why I wanted to try the Lexapro and Welbutrin together because each one was good in different ways and the psychiatrist said that many people do good with that combination which was what I was hoping to try anyways but he came out with the idea to me first.


Hopeful

Hi Hopeful,

I saw my Pdoc today. He is weening me off of the Zoloft and putting me on Lexapro. I hope it works better. I am going to keep in mind what you said about it maybe not working well alone. I do have some problems with anxiety, but it seems to be more siutational so taking adivan when something kicks it into gear is working.

Hi Kmay,
I went to the Pdoc today...took all of one minute which I find annoying but anyways he did keep me on the same stuff according to "how are you doing?" "Any side effects?" I have been moody lately but that is situational like you say. If I had to be on only one it would be Lexapro...it's just fatigue and other things that the Welbutrin helps to counterbalance for me. Please let us know how the Lexapro works out for you when you get an idea. Lexapro was the easiest one for me to get used to and Welbutrin was the most difficult...when taking each by themselves that is.

Hopeful

Hi Guest,
Thanks for the information. I didn't understand these things...I'm on the SR currently. I really went unprepared but was rushed through which really irritates me...I may get a different Pdoc because of it or go back to my GP now that it's fairly settled that the two drugs are fine at the same time. You make such interesting points that I do really need explanations and another option could be just to write a note and take it to the office and ask these things that everyone has brought up because all the responses are worth having more information about. Thanks so much for pointing out all these things...it is really helpful information.

Hopeful

Some meds I take I will know I have missed them because later in the afternoon I will feel shaky physically, or I will have pronounced anxiety.

Eating regularly might help, even people not on meds can have improved mood eating good stuff at the right time.

Does your PDoc have an emergency med line or a general VM? This is something I'd call my P about. Sounds like you might want a new PDoc though, mine spends 30 minutes with her patients. She listens, and informs me and I get to participate. I've been to two Ps before, and both of them were 2mins in/out here's a diagnosis and a prescription have a nice day and I had problems with my meds. One made me SU and I asked my P if I could try something else and she terminated me via e-mail. My T was shocked. The next one was a male who made a lewd sexual comment (not about me but it was definitely not appreciated). My current P and T have actually communicated before - and I trust her very much as a result.

Anyway, I think having a good relationship w/ your doctor can really help. I have/had a significant amount of trauma around taking things people give me from my past so to trust a dr is a miracle for me and has made all the difference.

Hope you figure it out!

Catalyst,
Thanks for your input. Good seeing you around again also. This Pdoc did refer me to a T who does testing who seems really nice and I'm going to him this week so that's one good thing that's come from it but he himself is a dissapointment and I have three months before my next appointment before I go back. Maybe I'm wrong but I want explanation more in depth about the meds and I pay a co-payment which entitles me to atleast 10 minutes. Yeah I don't like the way he did it...two questions...prescription pad "here you go." I will research better for the next one.

Thanks again
Hopeful

Hey have any of you tried samE? Natural anti depressant with no side effects. I take it during T breaks so I don't end up self destructing and in hospital. Takes about 7 to 10 days to start working

Hi Greeneyes,
Thanks for responding. No I have never tried samE...I bought 5-HTP TR from GNC six months ago but I never gave it a chance before I just called my GP to get back on Lexapro and then a few months later I started seeing the Pdoc and he added the Welbutrin back in also. I drive my T nuts "I believe" in saying "do you think I can do this without the meds?"...every couple of months but everytime I try I just don't last before the symptoms come back. I very well may try the samE...maybe in the summer. I used to use St. John's Wort and then Kava Kava...the Kava Kava was pretty good but I don't think the St. John's Wort was too effective but those were 10 years back. I hate that something triggers the breakthru depression and I can't put my finger on it and figure out what it is but I keep trying to pay attention to "what I was just thinking" as they say but usually can't find anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hopeful

Hi guest,
Thanks for the validation . I have a light that I bought from Brookstone which is in malls in the USA...don't know if you're in the USA but I don't use it much but I do find it helpful when I do use it.