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Anyone Successfully Treated For Treatment Resistant Depression?

Posted by jseabass @jseabass, Jan 4 6:41pm

I am 65 years old, and for 25 years been suffering from treatment resistant depression and anxiety. Five psychiatrists and numerous meds with no or little short succes. I am currently back on Lexapro 20mg and Xanax. My doctor wants to raise it up to 30mg which I hear is not recommended. If anyone out there knows a med or treatment to help cure my TRD and anxiety I will be forever grateful!

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jseabass | @jseabass | 2 days ago
In reply to @yram "@jseabass Me too. Right now I am recovering from a broken hip and chronic back pain...." + (show)
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@jseabass
Me too. Right now I am recovering from a broken hip and chronic back pain. I feel trapped. I don't want to live like this. I have terrible time being positive. My mind likes to go to negative all the time. Suffered from depression all my adult life. I keep praying . I know God loves me

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@yram
I am a 65 year old man. I too struggle from pain. I have chronic post op nerve surgery pain and am on oxycodine and morphine that only mildly helps. This pain has tremendously exacerbated my many years of depression and anxiety. I am literally broken down physically and mentally....I am now out of desperation trying TMS for the depression. I have just been advised that acupuncture properly done can be very helpful with many types of pain including the type you and I suffer from. Additionally I was told it can also be helpful for depression and anxiety! I will be contacting a acupuncturist this week to incorporate it in my attempt to try and put my life back together...
Good luck my friend and please consider trying acupuncture yourself.
Be well!

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indyanthony | @indyanthony | 2 days ago
In reply to @jimhd "I'm looking at my options for treatment resistant MDD, ECT, TMS, Spravato, Psilocybin, whatever might relieve..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jim, Volunteer Mentor @jimhd

I'm looking at my options for treatment resistant MDD, ECT, TMS, Spravato, Psilocybin, whatever might relieve the depression, anxiety and PTSD that I've struggled with for more than 25 years. The problem with TMS is the hour drive each way, and even more, having to stop Wellbutrin and Klonopin, both of which I've taken for 20 years. I'm afraid that stopping (tapering) them will put me back in the suicidal, deeply depressed place I was in when I started them. ECT is the definitive treatment, but my wife objects strongly to it. She only sees the possible negatives, and it makes me feel like my mental issues aren't important enough to risk any possible side effects. The ECT is only a 30 minute drive from home, and only 6-12 treatments, as opposed to 30 TMS treatments an hour from home.

I reacted badly to Ketamine, given to me post surgery last year, and my wife thinks that Spravato would cause the same dissociation, even though the dosage is a fraction of the Ketamine pain medication I took.

At this point, it seems that my only option is to trudge on. I'm just tired. At this point, TMS is too much of a commitment, Spravato may be contraindicated because of my reaction to high dose Ketamine, and Psilocybin is still in the experimental stage. Unless there are other treatments for treatment resistant MDD, that leaves ECT as my best option. I'm not afraid of the possible side effects, but I have to decide if I want to do it in spite of my wife's objections.

It's hard to make these kinds of decisions when a person is truly depressed. But the decision has to be mine, hard as it is. I know I can't be forced to make a decision that I'm not comfortable with, or be told a treatment I select is out of the question. At 75, and being of sound mind, it's still a challenge.

Jim

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@jimhd that does sound very challenging. I am rooting for you to make your decision based on what you feel is right for you. Your wife’s feelings matter in your relationship, but in the end, it’s you who has to live your life. You can start something and not continue it, by the way. I mean you could try Spravato and just see how it goes. If it’s not working out, you can just stop doing it. Or you could start tapering off those meds so you could try TMS, and if you start going to a dark place, you can restart the meds. I hope that is helpful.

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thisfatoldlady | @thisfatoldlady | 2 days ago

I also have suffered from chronic depression for decades, with treatments working short term and then not working. I'm on Escitalopram (generic for Lexapro) 20 mg, and it seems to be taking the edges off of the depression for the most part. For anxiety, my doctor prescribes gabapentin - twice a day. And it really seems to help - the weirdest thing is I was a life long nail biter; got on the gab and I no longer have any urge to bite my nails. As I am sure you are aware, there are approximately a bazillion anti-depressants out there; when one stops helping, try something else. The doctors don't really know why some work and others don't - it's all very individualized, so you just keep trying until you find one that works (for however long it works, and then it's time to try again). Good luck.

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jseabass | @jseabass | 2 days ago
In reply to @jimhd "I'm looking at my options for treatment resistant MDD, ECT, TMS, Spravato, Psilocybin, whatever might relieve..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jim, Volunteer Mentor @jimhd

I'm looking at my options for treatment resistant MDD, ECT, TMS, Spravato, Psilocybin, whatever might relieve the depression, anxiety and PTSD that I've struggled with for more than 25 years. The problem with TMS is the hour drive each way, and even more, having to stop Wellbutrin and Klonopin, both of which I've taken for 20 years. I'm afraid that stopping (tapering) them will put me back in the suicidal, deeply depressed place I was in when I started them. ECT is the definitive treatment, but my wife objects strongly to it. She only sees the possible negatives, and it makes me feel like my mental issues aren't important enough to risk any possible side effects. The ECT is only a 30 minute drive from home, and only 6-12 treatments, as opposed to 30 TMS treatments an hour from home.

I reacted badly to Ketamine, given to me post surgery last year, and my wife thinks that Spravato would cause the same dissociation, even though the dosage is a fraction of the Ketamine pain medication I took.

At this point, it seems that my only option is to trudge on. I'm just tired. At this point, TMS is too much of a commitment, Spravato may be contraindicated because of my reaction to high dose Ketamine, and Psilocybin is still in the experimental stage. Unless there are other treatments for treatment resistant MDD, that leaves ECT as my best option. I'm not afraid of the possible side effects, but I have to decide if I want to do it in spite of my wife's objections.

It's hard to make these kinds of decisions when a person is truly depressed. But the decision has to be mine, hard as it is. I know I can't be forced to make a decision that I'm not comfortable with, or be told a treatment I select is out of the question. At 75, and being of sound mind, it's still a challenge.

Jim

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@jimhd
Hey Jim,
I'm 65 years old and seem to have had the same horrific past 25 years of failed depression/ anxiety treatments / meds.
Out of desperation I am trying ETS. Ughh it's a 1/2 hour ride five days a week for 36 sessions. I am currently on my 14th treatment. I don't notice any improvement yet although they told me any possible improvement would be after 20 -25 weeks...I have been in a really bad way giving up hope that I will ever be able to live a normal happy life. If this doesn't work I will have no choice but to try the few options left: ETC, Spravato.
God bless, and I hope what ever treatment decision you choose works for you! Should you get good results with a treatment PLEASE LET ME KNOW...

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jseabass | @jseabass | 12 hours ago
In reply to @yram "@jseabass Me too. Right now I am recovering from a broken hip and chronic back pain...." + (show)
Profile picture for yram @yram

@jseabass
Me too. Right now I am recovering from a broken hip and chronic back pain. I feel trapped. I don't want to live like this. I have terrible time being positive. My mind likes to go to negative all the time. Suffered from depression all my adult life. I keep praying . I know God loves me

Jump to this post

@yram
God does love you. I try to believe that as I try to navigate my similar journey.
Be well!

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