2-1-00
Medications:
• Celexa 20 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
Comments and Complications: Due to lifestyle changes (getting up at 5:00 a.m. instead of 11:00 a.m.!), I reduced Trazodone by half. I began rigorous exercise program 2-14-00, but over two months experienced no weight loss.
Article Part 1: Taking Action Toward Health
Article Part 2: Setting Fitness Goals
4-13-00
Medications:
• Celexa 20 mg
• Ambien 5 mg
• Trazodone 12 mg
• Ionamin 15 mg
Comments and Complications: I am very discouraged over lack of weight loss from exercise (5 days a week, one hour a day); this cannot be accounted for entirely by replacing fat with muscle, as waistline remains exactly the same as it was before the exercise class began. Am also experiencing return of depression, the main symptom being lack of motivation and too much sleeping. The doctor suggested a switch to Ambien, which supposedly has a shorter half-life than Trazodone, and prescribed an appetite suppressant which, as a stimulant, should also increase energy level. The mix of 1/2 Ambien pill and 1/4 Trazodone pill was to taper off Trazodone.
One night of this mix was enough, however. I experienced significant drug hangover and went back to 25 mg Trazodone alone. The appetite suppressant originally prescribed was no longer available and Ionamin was substituted. Side effects of Ionamin were unacceptable (was unable to stay asleep more than 4-5 hours a night) and I dropped this after four days.
6-3-00
Medications:
• Celexa 20 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 100 mg
Comments and Complications: My depression has worsened. Doctor gave me a starter kit for Serzone, beginning with 50 mg/twice a day. Immediate hypomania, which began a gentle decline after about two weeks, and a bigger decline after five weeks.
June 14th Articles:
Part 1: Sidelined from Exercise
Part 2: Serzone Key Medication for Me?
Part 3: Plugging Energy Drains
7-20-00
Medications:
• Celexa 10 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 200 mg
Comments and Complications: I reported depressive slide but for some reason did not give doctor an accurate assessment of the decline. Doctor cut Celexa in half and doubled Serzone. Immediate crash into mixed depression.
7-24-00
Medications:
• Celexa 20 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 200 mg
Comments and Complications: I resumed 20 mg Celexa, confirming this with doctor 7-27. Improvement in mood took place over a few days, then leveled off. To date of this entry (8-16) I am at a level mood, neither manic nor depressed.
8-?-00
Medications:
• Celexa 10 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 300 mg
Comments and Complications: Started toward goal of tapering off the SSRI Celexa, since other SSRIs cause weight gain, and I continue to be depressed about my weight.
Article: Medication Roller Coaster
9-7-00
Medications:
• Celexa 5 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 400 mg
Comments and Complications: This was the next stage in the planned gradual shift from Celexa + Serzone to all Serzone. I am at this time not exercising at all due to persistent back problems.
9-14-00
Medications:
• Celexa 5 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 500 mg
Comments and Complications: I adjusted my own dosage of Serzone upward and suffered severe side effects as a result.
Article: Struggles Continue
9-19-00
Medications:
• Celexa 5 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 400 mg
Comments and Complications: Doctor advised cutting Serzone back. This resulted in some of the side effects disappearing, but not all.
9-?-00
Medications:
• Celexa 5 mg
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 300 mg
Comments and Complications: I continued to cut back on Serzone, first to 350 mg, then 300. The rest of the side effects eased but did not completely go away: I still saw motion trails when awakening and was somewhat lightheaded.
9-?-00
Medications:
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Serzone 300 mg
Comments and Complications: I ran out of Celexa and did not ask doctor for more. Rapid descent into depression.
10-10-00
Medications:
• Trazodone 25 mg
• Celexa 20 mg
• Serzone 200 mg
• Lorazepam .5 mg (as needed)
Comments and Complications: I saw doctor and meds were changed to July 24 levels with addition of an anti-anxiety medication. Rapid improvement.
Article: Disastrous Medication Changes (covers 9-14 to 10-10-00)
Medications in Bipolar Disorder: Trial and Error
• Prior to Diagnosis
• First Year of Diagnosis - May to December, 1999
• Second Year of Diagnosis - 2000
• Third and Fourth Years of Diagnosis - 2001/2002
• Fifth Year of Diagnosis - 2003
