AD Cocktails and mixing meds

[chrischris]

For my depression, etc..........., I have been taking the max dosage of EffexorXR. Works well, but I still have uncontrollable crying and extreme anxiety where I scratch myself until I bleed, and I don't even know I'm doing it. It only happens when I leave the house!

Anyway, back to subject, my doctor added Wellbutrin to the mix and said it should counteract all the negatives of Effexor, but not to stop the Effexor.

So now, this is my med mix:

300 Mg. Effexor XR
150 Mg. Wellbutrin SR
300 Mg. Lyrica
1000 Mg. Relafen
20 Mg. Prilosec
Lidoderm Pain Patches
Lipitor (non w/c)

So far, what I've noticed is that the Wellbutrin is acting like a "happy pill," for lack of a better explanation. I don't dare try and drive.

I do worry about taking too many meds and am wondering if anyone else takes more than one AD (Anti-Depressant).

[ksgirl]

Chrischris, Do you mind my asking how long you have been on the anti depressants? It seems like if you have been on the Effexor for a while and it's not fully working, there may be another one that will take care of all of your symptoms. I had a chemical imbalance that I took Elavil for. It made me a completely normal person (as far as the imbalance went). We had tried a couple of other ADs that didn't fully work then we hit on one that took care of everything. Just a thought. I hope everything can get straightened out for you. It feels terrible to not be able to control your emotions, especially when you feel that they are irrational emotions and you have no reason to feel that way. Best of luck!

[frustratediw]

I have gone from taking nothing to downing a daily dose of pills. Have tried different anti depressants and settled on Wellbutrin. Seems to be the one with the least side effects for me. I also take Elavil at night which helps with pain and sleep. So yes there are others taking a mix of medications.

Elavil
Wellbutrin
Lyrica
Skelaxin
Lidoderm Patches
Vicodin (on occasions when pain peaks due to activity)

[chrischris]

ksgirl, I started taking the Effexor 37.5 mg. in March '07 when I finally admitted I was suffering some depression from my injury and a work related problem I was having with my Supervisor. In May '07, I had an "Emotional Breakdown" at work, which is why I'm in the boat I'm in now. The Effexor was gradually increased, and whenever I would ask any one of my doctors if maybe I could try something else, I was told that Effexor is the best, and it is the AD that is used when none of the others work, so I was started with the strongest AD because of my emotional state.

I still cannot even drive by the office I worked, or think about it without having a panic attack.

I was always a strong person, mentally, and rarely ever cried, but the pain of the RSD together with the treatment I was getting at work was too much for me to cope with. I was so embarrassed about having that breakdown in front of the superintendant. I left work (don't know how I got home) and have not been able to return since.

Oh well, life goes on, and I will get better! Thanks.

[chrischris]

Frustrated, Elavil keeps coming up and a lot of people are on that. I don't know how it differs from Effexor, but I will research that.

I too have Vicadin and Darvocet on hand to take if it's needed. The vicadin makes me loopy but it works well, and the Darvocet does nothing! I'm trying to stay away from opiods for as long as I can.

It looks like we have several meds in common. In addition to my psyche addon, I have Cervical Herniations, Cervical Radiculopathy, and Carpal Tunnel Bilateral. I had surgery on one hand for CT, then developed RSD. I traded one problem for a life altering condition. Lucky me! I'm leaving the other hand alone, but am looking at cervical surgery in the near future.

Thanks for answering me.

[Still in Limbo]

Hi Chris Chris!! The Following is My List of Meds:

Neurointin- 2400mg. Per Day
Fentaynl Patch- 100 Mcg. Per Hour
Morphine Sulfate IR- 120mg. Per Day
Lyrica- 450mg. Per Day
Promethyzine- 150mg. Per Day
Klonopin- 1mg. Per Day
Atenonol- 25mg. Per Day
Simvistatin- 40mg. Per Day
Andro Gel (Testosterone Replacement Gel)- 5mg. Per Day
Primatine Mist- As Needed for Asthma

These were My Meds. before My Injury:

Primatine Mist
Diovan- 10mg. for Mild Hypertension

AND I STILL HURT LIKE HE**!!!

[backache]

Limbo,
How the He** are you still moving. The Fentanyl would knock me out especially 100 Mcg. Then add to it all of the others. WOW I am never going to mention pain to you again since it seems you must have enough for all of us.

Chris Chris One good thing if you smoke you will probably lose the urge to do so because of the Wellbutrin. They found out when they gave people Wellbutrin they no longer wanted to smoke so they decided to use it for that so they made Zyban which they now market to quit smoking.

[chrischris]

Limbo, You must have developed a tolerance to these meds because most people would be a zombie, at least. You are amazing for being able to write and think as well as you do with all these meds. I appreciate all your posts and I look forward to them.

Backache, I quit smoking 1/1/1977 and never looked back. That is when Paul and I became engaged and we both wanted to start our married life afresh. We both quit smoking, and we both re-dedicated ourselves to God. We knew we wanted to start a family right away so the smoking had to go and church had to stay.

I have noticed though that with the Wellbutrin, I'm not hungry at all from the time I take it until the evening. Maybe that will be the answer to my dieting dilema. One can only hope!

[backache]

When I went on Zyban to quit smoking I actually lost weight while quitting. Unfortunately I can't take Zyban forever.

[Still in Limbo]

Believe it or not Guys, this is the Minimum Doses the PM Dr. and I could come up with to keep Me Somewhat Comfortable! I'm only 45, and We don't want to get Me to the Top of the Med. Scale too Quickly, with my Scar Tissue I'm not a Candidate for either the Morphine pump, or the SCS. My Condition is Pretty Severe, I Guess, but I have to Battle on for My Family! Believe Me when I Say I am still in Pain, but I have to Manage, My Family Needs Me!!