I am bp and add hd . I am on lithium 900mg efeexor 150 mg focalin 10 mg and seroquel at night for sleep. This depression has moved onto me. i try so hard to fight it. i feel like a failure. Please tell me you who have more of the depression side how to fight this.

Hi.....I do not have BP but my daughter does. I know that the depressive side is something that you don't have much control over. I have heard that avoiding anything that will further bring you down is good...do not watch sad movies instead get a light comedy. Listen to music that is lively rather than dramatic or sad. Exercise, particularly walking, is said to help out as well.

As much as you do not want to be around people do your best to do so. Being alone too much just leaves you with your sad thoughts that fill up your mind and any distractions will do you good.

I hope this helps somewhat and I am sorry that you are feeling this way. As I just wrote on Dee-nah's thread, this is only a temporary phase....you will soon be coming upon better days and this will not last forever.

Meanwhile....come here and post like you are and perhaps something somebody shares with you will have you feeling somewhat better.

Sending you lots of ((((HUGS)))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

Maybe you need to add an antideppressant to the mix? For short term relief exercise, sunbathing, & eating grapefruit are all known to be natural antidepressants. Good luck to you!

I hope you feel better soon, is it possible to talk to your pdoc about adjusting your meds?

Watch the grapefruit, I know I can't take it with my meds.

I hope you feel better soon, is it possible to talk to your pdoc about adjusting your meds?

Watch the grapefruit, I know I can't take it with my meds.

What's up with the grapfruit? I know I've cleared it with my Dr? But what happens?

I don't exactly know but there is a warning lable on my bottles for Lithium and Tregretol.

Grapefruit can cause an anaphalactic reaction (bad allergic reaction) which could have your throat closing up. Alot of meds when taken with grapefruit juice will have this reaction so be very careful....you may want to check with your pharmacist if you are unsure.

~ Goody:angel: :wave:

I don't know about the anaphalactic reaction but grapefruit juice reacts to some meds like Tegretol and lithium by changing the way your body metabolizes the medication and makes the drugs more potent. There is an enzyme in the stomach that normally breaks down the drug, allowing it to enter the blood stream slowly. But grapefruit and juice cancel out this enzyme, which results in the drug being metabolized much faster, which can result in toxicity in extreme cases.

Also, Effexor is an anti-depressant. My guess would be that you need a higher dosage of lithium or an additional mood stabilizer to help even out things. If you don't feel better soon, please call your pdoc.

Hang in there!
:wave: Tsohl

I am already on so many meds. Why Can I not get it together. Failure is how I feel. Where is the happiness?? I have so many things to be thankful for. Good husband good kids, I lost my father last year suddenly he was 60. Maybe it is because father's day is coming up.

Definitely could be, I know in a sense it's depressing me as well, my father has lung cancer so I want it to be the best father's day ever!

I don't get depression, I wish it never existed and if I found a way out of it I would share it with everyone. I too am on a lot of medications, I'm actually going through a med change now... I still can't find a way out!

I think you should call your pdoc, maybe he can take away something and add, or up your dosage??? It's worth a try, I know you want it to stop!