arthurdigbysell

I'm dysthymic and have had the occasional major depressive episode on top of it as well. I've tried a laundry list of different meds, I have a history of addiction and I have chronic pain since my vertebrae fusion but that's pretty well managed now. I've been on parnate (80mg/day) and lamictal (300mg/day) for about 6 months and they help a lot with my anxiety but only a little for my mood.

My psychiatrist wants me to taper off the parnate and try nardil instead, and if that doesn't work, start ECT treatments.

I have a couple of concerns: I'm terrified of going off parnate as I'm reasonably sure I'll get worse; I'm skeptical of nardil as most meds have done nothing for me, and I'm afraid of ECT because I don't know how it will affect my functioning.

Has anyone had any experience with any of these? Has anyone found any kind of significant relief foom dysthymia? I never want to do anything, I never have fun, and I don't really have any kind of hopes or aspirations beyond just feeling better. Psychiatrists and therapists always tell me about how I'll get better but it seems like empty consolations to me.