Venting Medication Frustrations

[Rocksandsand]

So I went to my GP because everyone around me is saying I need it, and he is super lovely, but he recommenced me on an antidepressant that I have already been on (I've tried every single antidepressant on the Australian market except for one tricyclic and the MAOIs which I refuse to touch).

I feel like I am just repeating history and going through the motions now. I am classed as treatment resistant, so why am I being told to just repeat the antidepressants that we know don't work? I feel like my GP is just as lost as me right now. I haven't had a consistent psychiatrist - just randoms - so no professional has ever had the sense of obligation that comes with someone being 'their patient.'

I just feel so hopeless. I wish I could just receive psychiatric palliative care until I CtB... I wish I could just explain to everyone I care about while I am alive that I love them and it's not their fault.

Assisted dying laws recently came into effect in my jurisdiction but they don't apply to mental illness. I almost feel like starting a legal challenge to the laws to apply to depression and mental illness before I CtB so that I at least make a difference to other people who are suffering.

 

[mathieu]

Why do you refuse to touch the MAOs? I have been on Parnate for a year or two. It's not so bad. I wouldn't say it has more side effects than SSRIs, no side effects for me in fact, and you don't really need to follow the dietary restrictions. I've ignored them completely nothing happens. I can't say it really works. I'm here aren't I? But it might be worth a try. I've tried most of the newer meds. No tricyclics. I'm told they're bad for bipolar patients. I'm wary of anything that causes weight gain any how.

 

[Rocksandsand]

it's actually the dietary stuff that put me off - are they myths? I am very wary of weight gain too... Seroquel made me gain 65kg which just fucked my mental state more ehh

 

[mathieu]

it's actually the dietary stuff that put me off - are they myths? I am very wary of weight gain too... Seroquel made me gain 65kg which just fucked my mental state more ehh

Yeah, they're basically myths. Parnate actually doesn't cause any weight gain. I'm wary of it too currently battling enormous AAP induced weight gain. I'd recommend it if you're wanting to try another AD and are treatment resistant. The bad thing is there are lot of drug interactions and because of it being not a very common med it has mysteriously gone out of stock till october. Sounds like you're in my area so that could affect you too were you to want to try it.

 

[Tabbyql]

it's actually the dietary stuff that put me off - are they myths? I am very wary of weight gain too... Seroquel made me gain 65kg which just fucked my mental state more ehh

Same with me :(

 

[k75]

I'm also treatment resistant. My psychiatrist arranged for me to have genetic testing (GeneSight), which my insurance paid for. It's actually pretty cool. It kind of gave us a blueprint to experiment with. Have you ever looked into anything like that?

 

[Rocksandsand]

Genetic testing isn't a big thing in Australia unfortunately