QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I had my first depression eight years ago. I had to take Anafranil with a dosage of 150mg, and I fully recovered. After seven months I gradually stopped it. However, depression occurred again, so I returned to Anafranil, but I did not benefit from it. Then the doctor gave me Prozac (40mg tablets), and 3 tablets of Aururix (350mg) (moclobemide). After nine months I gradually stopped it, but I got a more severe depression. I was given ECT (8 times). I fully recovered from that, then I took Prozac (20mg), but depression occurred again. My doctor then prescribed Seroxat (60mg) and Remeron (60 mg) (it is a very high dosage).
Now I am taking the previous medicine for the last six months, but depression recurs. What can I do? Can Remeron be increased to 75mg? What can be done? The only symptoms from the screening test are: Everything in unfinished piles, longstanding history of not being able to stay on task, easily distractible, hyperfocusing.
ANSWER:
According to what you sent me about the
screening test, you
almost certainly have
attention deficit disorder - ADHD (ADHD
criteria). A psychostimulant such as methylphenidate (Ritalin and others) and
amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall and others) could have a huge impact on your health.
Because of your ADHD, you have approximately a 50/50 chance of having the
BPD - borderline personality disorder. If this is the case, adding
Tegretol (carbamazepine) to Prozac will get you out of the depression very quickly.
Aururix (moclobemide) is a short acting MAO inhibitor, which is probably dangerous to mix
with other antidepressants.