ricketybridge comments on Open Thread for February 3 - 10 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: NancyLebovitz 03 February 2014 03:30PM

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Comment author: btrettel 12 February 2014 11:03:45PM 0 points [-]

If there are tons more different medications to try as you assert, none of my psychiatrists seem to know about it.

Wikipedia lists many. I count 21 categories alone. I would suggest reading at least a bit about how these drugs work to get some indication of what could work better. Then, you can go to your psychiatrist and discuss what you've learned. Something outside of their standard line of treatment may be unfamiliar to them, but it may suit you better.

For my last antifungal treatment, I specifically asked for something different from what I had used before and I provided a list of antifungal meds I tried, all of which were fairly standard. My doctor spent a few minutes doing some searches on their computer and came back with what ultimately worked.

Comment author: ricketybridge 12 February 2014 11:31:26PM 0 points [-]

Huh, interesting. Up-managing one's doctor seems frowned upon in our society -- since it usually comes in the form of asking one's doctor for medications mentioned in commercials -- but obviously your approach seems much more valid. Kind of irritating, though, that doctors don't appear to really be doing their job. :P

The exchange here has made me realize that I've actually been skipping my meds too often. Heh.... :\ So if I simply tighten that up, I will effectively increase my dosage. But if that doesn't prove to be enough, I'll go the route you've suggested. Thanks! :)

Comment author: Creutzer 13 February 2014 12:04:32AM 0 points [-]

SSRIs, for example, aren't supposed to do anything more than make you feel not completely miserable and/or freaked-out all the time. They are generally known to not actually make you happy and to not increase one's capability for enjoyment. If you are on one, and if that's a problem, you might actually want to look at something more stimulant-like, i.e. Bupropion. (There isn't really another antidepressant that does this, and it seems unlikely you'll manage to convince your psychiatrist to prescribe e.g. amphetamines for depression, even though they can work.)

And then there is, of course, all sorts of older and "dirtier" stuff, with MAOI's probably being something of a last resort.

Comment author: ricketybridge 13 February 2014 12:32:15AM 0 points [-]

Yeah, that accurately describes their effect on me.

I used to be on Buproprion, but it had unpleasant physical effects on me (i.e. heart racing/pounding, which makes sense, given that it's stimulant-like) without any noticeable mood effects. I was quite disappointed, since a friend of mine said he practically had a manic episode on it. However, I took it conjunction with an SNRI, so maybe that wouldn't have happened if I'd just taken it on its own.... Idk.

I'm actually surprised my psychiatrist hasn't recommended an MAOI to me in that case, since she freaks the hell out when I say I'm suicidal, and I've done so twice. I'll put MAOIs at the bottom of my aforementioned new to-do list. :)