depression, not bi polar

[turboducky]

My wife suffers from depression.  She is not bi polar or suicidal.  She never shows any signs of mania.  She does suffer from bouts of "psychosis" which get very bad.  She hardly knows who she is during the episodes.  I believe they are termed "psychosis" because they do not know what else it is.  Xyprexa is what appears to work to cure the psychosis.  (I sometimes wonder if the psychosis will clear itself without medicine.)  Maintenance doses of xyprexa are causing too many other medical problems.  Rhabdomylisis, elevated blood sugar, fatty liver and raised enzymes, tremors.  Lots of people have died from taking xyprexa.  

The psychiatrist wants to try abilify.  It can also cause similar side effects.  Just not as bad.  I started giving my wife sam e after stopping xyprexa.  Her mood and other physical symptoms are better.  I want her to just take the sam e and to re-start taking her cholesterol medicine again.  Her current cholesterol numbers are terrible without taking the cholesterol med.  She was taken off of it because the rhabdomylisis.  Her rhabdomylisis numbers are still bad with just the xyprexa.  I want a new test done with cholesterol medicine and no xyprexa.  I suspect that it will be OK.  I suspect the xyprexa is the main cause.  I plan to wait 3 to 4 weeks before taking a new test to clear her system of the xyprexa, and to get the cholesterol medicine into her system.

I do not want her to have any more bouts of psychosis.  Therefore, I want to have her take the maintenance dose of abilify like the psychiatrist wants.  Can she also take the sam e along with abilify?  It appears that sam e has been used safely with SSRI's.  I am also hoping that her blood tests will be OK when taking both together.

[Peter Forster]

There shouldn't be a problem taking SAMe with Abilify... but SAMe is definitely something for your wife to discuss with her psychiatrist. Sorry to hear about her experiences with Zyprexa. It can be an amazingly effective drug but it also has some very difficult side effects.

[Jaquta]

It is obvious that you have concerns for your wife and for her health.  I personally think that you should allow her doctor to treat her.  I think it can be damaging when spouses take on this responsibility.

Has your wife tried psychotherapy?  This can sometimes tease out the main reasons for the depression, etc.

I don't know about Sam-E but I have heard that taking stuff like St John's Wort at the same time as medication can be dangerous.  I would clear any drug or medication with her doctor first.

Some of the symptoms you describe also makes me wonder if she could potentially benefit from making some simple lifestyle changes.

I hope you both get through this OK.  Don't forget to put supports in place for yourself during this time.  Caregivers can be affected as much as the individual at times.

Good luck and take care.