Depression or something else?

[Yumm]

I have depression-like symptoms which is why my GP referred me to a psychiatrist.  The symptoms include lack of motivation, moodiness, difficulty getting up in the morning, difficulty concentrating, etc.  These symptoms last for one to two weeks and then go away and then I feel good/normal.

I have tried Pristiq, St. John's Wort and Wellbutrin, each for an extended period of time as prescribed by the psychiatrist.  None of these medications alleviated my symptoms.

The psychiatrist then prescribed Adderall (amphetamine salts).  I do respond to Adderall.  An hour after taking between 10 to 30 mg of Adderall the symptoms are significantly alleviated, meaning I regain my mental energy.  Unfortunately, the positive effects of Adderall are not long lasting (only 2 to 3 hours).

Based on my lack of response to depression relieving drugs and my positive response to Adderall do you think that my problem is depression-related?

[Hensley258]

As Left coast mentioned in her post above. This could be related to depression other than Uni-polar depression. In terms of bi-polor most people are familiar with Bi-polar 1 and 2, although very recient discoveries in Psychiatry are starting to discover that there may be many other types of bi-polor dissorder. These in psychiatric terms are now being described as Bi-polor NOS - as in NOt Otherwise Secified.

When people traditionally think of Bi-polar dissorder they automatically think of people that cycle from weeks of uporic highs and very depressive lows, but this is actually more the exception than the rule in terms of bi-polar.

They cycling can be more rapid and not include energized uporic feelings, but rather a type of agitated, anxiety filled hypo-mania.

There are many drugs that can help with this type of Bi-polar condition. Lithium, Lamictal, combined with a mild ant-depressant to level things out.

Get a second oppinion from a good psychiatrist.

[LeftCoastChick]

I just rechecked your symptoms, I would actually get a second opinion, you may not have depression, but one of the bipolar disorders, a more complex mood disorder. I get the same moods as you and go up and down. Do you get angry easily or lose patience? Do you have more then 2 episodes like this a year? I would look up BP and see if other symptoms match. Now this is only a guesstimate and an opinion, but I found that once I got the diagnosis, all of my symptoms get addressed.

[LeftCoastChick]

It's hard to tell, I would follow what your psychiatrist is doing, though I'm not sure why he doesn't have you on an anti-depressant, you've only been on 2 out of +100 out there. Stimulants only have a limited effect, long term wise, it's a stop gap situation. I would bring it up with your pdoc. We can't diagnose you here, if you are concerned I would get a second opionion. Did you press him/her for a stimulant? What type of depression and how long have you had depression for? These are just some of the factors.  I have refractory depression and have tried 20+, I've finally found a good combination of meds that work fairly well, I still get periods of depression, but I'm far from getting thoughts of suicide now.  I had to move out of the SSRI type meds as well as tricyclics into the Mood stabilizers, which are more tried and true of most of the meds out there.  I will never again go on a med that's advertised and under 5 yrs on the market.