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For the last few plus years Dr's (GP, DO's, sleep specialist, who see me for about 10 min a year) have suggested I take an antidepressant. I guess I look depressed I have so far said, you know, I'm unhappy, unhappy with my life. I don't think that's a chemical imbalance in my brain and hence can't be fixed with a pill.
And mostly I do think that's true. I did try Lexepro for over a year for sleep issues and it didn't really do much except screw up my gut a little and make me fall asleep while watching TV (but not in bed). I think maybe I worried about things a little less. After about a year, year and a half I slowly stepped myself off it and hardly noticed.
I'm self diagnosing here but its possible I have that sort of.........low grade depression/Dysthymia which I think of as - this is just how I am and have always been. I mean some people are super cheerful, some hardly ever, some brim with energy and sleep through the night and most falling somewhere in the middle right? I have sleep problems and have had for years, always been on the low energy side and also on the slightly depressed side.
So at 58 and very overweight and not seeming able to do much about it I am wondering if I should be more open minded (I should insert here I did see a counselor for 5 or 6 sessions a little over a year ago and that didn't really go anywhere).
I'm thinking of asking the Dr to try Wellbutrin. I hate the idea of getting on the pill wagon. It seems like once on its a one way road with lots of stops for more. But if Wellbutrin can elevate my mood just enough to give me a little more oomph I might be able to do something about my weight and forestall future pill popping for problems caused by obesity.
I will add that my mother has anxiety issue's and some other mental issue's but its hard to tell whether they were caused by a truly sh**** childhood or genetic or, mostly likely, both.
Sometimes people need to try more than one or two medications before they hit the one for them. Thank goodness so many anti-depressants are now available at a generic price these days...what a relief! If you think that you need an evaluation, talk to your doctor and mention your weight concerns. Your doctor may choose Wellbutrin to help you with your mood. Good luck!
For the last few plus years Dr's (GP, DO's, sleep specialist, who see me for about 10 min a year) have suggested I take an antidepressant. I guess I look depressed I have so far said, you know, I'm unhappy, unhappy with my life. I don't think that's a chemical imbalance in my brain and hence can't be fixed with a pill.
And mostly I do think that's true. I did try Lexepro for over a year for sleep issues and it didn't really do much except screw up my gut a little and make me fall asleep while watching TV (but not in bed). I think maybe I worried about things a little less. After about a year, year and a half I slowly stepped myself off it and hardly noticed.
I'm self diagnosing here but its possible I have that sort of.........low grade depression/Dysthymia which I think of as - this is just how I am and have always been. I mean some people are super cheerful, some hardly ever, some brim with energy and sleep through the night and most falling somewhere in the middle right? I have sleep problems and have had for years, always been on the low energy side and also on the slightly depressed side.
So at 58 and very overweight and not seeming able to do much about it I am wondering if I should be more open minded (I should insert here I did see a counselor for 5 or 6 sessions a little over a year ago and that didn't really go anywhere).
I'm thinking of asking the Dr to try Wellbutrin. I hate the idea of getting on the pill wagon. It seems like once on its a one way road with lots of stops for more. But if Wellbutrin can elevate my mood just enough to give me a little more oomph I might be able to do something about my weight and forestall future pill popping for problems caused by obesity.
I will add that my mother has anxiety issue's and some other mental issue's but its hard to tell whether they were caused by a truly sh**** childhood or genetic or, mostly likely, both.
Any experiences? Input?
I have a good friend like you. He would never consider medication, just not his thing.
He is what I call "low affect", though I do not know if that's a real medical term or even if a professional diagnosis would describe him that way
He's not miserable or in pain, he just lacks a lot of joy and life seems more of a chore to be accomplished.
Interestingly, he's actually a very deep, sensitive person who I know has a big heart for animals and kids, though you'd never guess that by looking at him.
I do think there is a low level of depression going on with him, and with you.
The truth is, people who are emotionally healthy make efforts to take care of themselves - mentally and physically.
You and my friend are not doing that.
His diet is terrible and he smokes. He is not grossly overweight (maybe 20 lbs at most), but his level of physical fitness is deplorable. At 55 with this lifestyle I fully expect to attend his funeral much too soon
You are 58 and "very overweight".
General unhappiness, chronic depression, unresolved anger and/or personal issues are the most common reasons for obesity in educated folks.
I can promise you that each year that goes by makes it harder and harder to lose weight. Please do what you can to start working on it now!
If that means trying Welbutrin for 6 months or a year, give it a shot!
Years ago before I ever wore my first pair of glasses I had no clue just how bad my sight really was. I just plugged along squinting at life.
Then a doctor put a pair of glasses on my face and I was blown away at how crystal clear things could look!
I'm betting if you were to try the right SSRI and actually start feeling better (which you would if it helped you lose weight) you'd be amazed at just how much more enjoyable your life can be.
Please, make a commitment to yourself today to just try to see if you can feel better, I'm pulling for you
Hi, I think I can help a little bit, though I do not share your situation specifically. I have both Major Depressive Disorder and the low burning variant called Dysthymia, and also take wellbutrin.
It's essentially a drug that gives energy and drive. Think of it as a little pick me up in the morning, except it doesn't work immediately but rather over the course of a few days as it slow-releases into the body. (depending on dose of course.) The baseline dose is 300 mg, but you can use 150 mg if you want to try it out and are worried about potential side-effects. It sounds like a lot but it really is a tiny amount. In fact, 400 mg is pretty normal for more severe cases. The major negative side effect, if it happens at all, is to make you jittery and over-anxious. The point of the drug is to give less-motivated or fatigued people the kind of kick they need to live their lives, and unfortunately it can give a bit too much. It varies by each person's bio-chemistry.
Obviously you should consult your psychiatrist before taking anything, and describe your symptoms in detail.
Thank you ID. I have an appt with my GP Monday am. I think my problem may be an inherited tendency toward lack of dopamine. But there isn't a pill that addresses that specifically. We'll see if my GP still thinks its a good idea and gives me a scrip.
I hear about SSRI's etc. that the effects quit working, some tolerance thing. Does that happen with Wellbutrin? Well i guess I can google it too.
My opinion on depression and dysthymia, is that there is something dysfunctional in your life, that causes the depression, identify that, change it, and amazingly, your life will improve. I am not a fan of psychotropic medication, for many reasons. I suggest CBT therapy, and some self help books, to really do a through self examination of what is making you feel unhappy, and when are times in your life that you were happier. Your body is systemic, and health is part of feeling happy, if you think of your body and entire life, like a huge system of weights, each piece added or removed from the scale affects the entire balance, the goal is to have more or less perfect symmetry, health, stress level, mental health, external factors and internal factors can also cause changes...anyway, I wish you luck on your journey, and hope you will not expect a pill to make changes, that need to be made of you to feel better.
My opinion on depression and dysthymia, is that there is something dysfunctional in your life, that causes the depression, identify that, change it, and amazingly, your life will improve. I am not a fan of psychotropic medication, for many reasons. I suggest CBT therapy, and some self help books, to really do a through self examination of what is making you feel unhappy, and when are times in your life that you were happier. Your body is systemic, and health is part of feeling happy, if you think of your body and entire life, like a huge system of weights, each piece added or removed from the scale affects the entire balance, the goal is to have more or less perfect symmetry, health, stress level, mental health, external factors and internal factors can also cause changes...anyway, I wish you luck on your journey, and hope you will not expect a pill to make changes, that need to be made of you to feel better.
While I completely agree with you that IF "there is something dysfunctional in your life, that causes the depression, identify that, change it..." you have failed to recognize that not all depression is caused by life events or thought patterns.
Some folks with major or clinical depression have issues with brain chemistry alone.
Major depressive disorder like that requires medication for the best quality of life.
Therapy can help as a way of learning new coping skills for dealing with the symptoms of the depression, but it can not help someone with a troubled brain chemistry fix that chemistry.
I bought a 'happy light' about a month a go and sit in front of it for half an hour in the morning, because I think I am even more sluggish in the winter and get no light (building with no windows, low light apt, not outside much). I though I'd give this a month before starting any drugs just to make sure I can tell what if anything is having an impact. My winters being a bit worse does not change my life time history of being sort of...dysmythic or whatever.
I noticed a difference after the first week, then it seemed to subside - but I think there has been a bit of a net gain. Small maybe but there. So I ordered a smaller version for work so I don't have to rush around so much in the morning, trying to fit in the half hour of light time.
This week I started 150mg of Wellbutrin XL. My insurance doesn't pay for the brand name but I pd myself (135.00!!!) because I wanted to start with that, see if it has any effect and then if I want to continue consider a generic.
There seems to be a bit of an issue with this drugs generics with some people complaining of differences and some sort of investigation surrounding the 3 different companies making the generic.
I bought a 'happy light' about a month a go and sit in front of it for half an hour in the morning, because I think I am even more sluggish in the winter and get no light (building with no windows, low light apt, not outside much). I though I'd give this a month before starting any drugs just to make sure I can tell what if anything is having an impact. My winters being a bit worse does not change my life time history of being sort of...dysmythic or whatever.
I noticed a difference after the first week, then it seemed to subside - but I think there has been a bit of a net gain. Small maybe but there. So I ordered a smaller version for work so I don't have to rush around so much in the morning, trying to fit in the half hour of light time.
This week I started 150mg of Wellbutrin XL. My insurance doesn't pay for the brand name but I pd myself (135.00!!!) because I wanted to start with that, see if it has any effect and then if I want to continue consider a generic.
There seems to be a bit of an issue with this drugs generics with some people complaining of differences and some sort of investigation surrounding the 3 different companies making the generic.
Fingers crossed.
When I took it I didn't notice any difference between the generic and the real thing. It was switched by the insurance rules as soon as it came out. The mood stabilizer now... It clearly didn't work the same. The generics sometimes work okay on some and not on others too.
The first couple of weeks I thought I could detect a small but nice difference in mood and energy. While I could eat through it I wasn't as interested in food and my weight gain stabilized.
Then some side affects started.
-An intermittent roaring in my left ear (only ever my left which is odd, whatever). Sort of like the seashell sound. That eventually went away but I felt i could have lived with it anyway.
-I noticed that after long weekend driving tips I felt really sick. At first I didn't associate it with the Wellbutrin but eventually I decided that it was giving me some low level motion sickness even driving around town and 500 miles on a weekend just left me miserable like it never had before. Still, I could cope.
- Intermittent scalp tightening and numbness on the back of the head. This did not go away like the ear noise. It came on a few times a day and sometimes it was really really painful. I associate this sort of sensation with anxiety. I used to have a really stressful job and it would sometimes exhibit in this scalp sensation but never to this painful extent and I'm not stressed at this point in my life.
This caused me to go off. Since you can't cut up XL pills I just quit cold turkey. First few days I actually went back to the mildly elevated feelings of when I first started and then sort of lost. About halfway through the week one morning as I was getting ready for work I felt some exhaustion. And yesterday the ear roaring came back. I'm sort of assuming that this is due to the drug leaving my system.
Anyone know how long it takes to completely clear?
I'm kind of disappointed. The impacts weren't huge, like I still have sleep troubles, but I did feel it gave me a little more....resolve? energy? brightness?
Already, with no change in eating or other habits my weight jumped a few pounds
Not sure where to head next. During that stressful job period years ago I mentioned I tried Lexapro and feel no need to revisit.
Years ago in the mid 90s I briefly experimented with St Johns wort and then something else. I may give the St. Johns wort a try as the only other drug I'm taking is synthroid and it seems the main drawback is drug interactions but I dont see synthroid on the list.
The something else I wish i could remember - maybe that eSAM or SamE? Whatever it was I remember having a flash of intense anger over something that felt so foreign immediately stopped. I was thinking about trying the 5HTP stuff but it has some serious warnings/side effects issues and I'm a bit frightened of those alone and am not completely sure it wasn't what I tried before (was it around in the 90s?)
I wondered about smaller doses of Wellbutrin in the SR type (mutiple times a day) but am not sure and honestly I don't think I trust general practiceners to really know either.
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I have so far said, you know, I'm unhappy, unhappy with my life. I don't think that's a chemical imbalance in my brain and hence can't be fixed with a pill. 
