How can dysthymia depression be managed?

Question

Hello doctor,

I love myself and think I am a great guy, but feel no one else sees that. I have feelings of pending failure, feelings of inadequacy, fear of rejection, fear of police, fear of persecution, lots of mental ambition but no energy to actually do anything because I am convinced I would fail, near constant nightmares about being in jail often without knowing why or being hunted down by people determined to kill or imprison me again without knowing why. Occasional ED which I attribute to the antidepressants, obesity, cholesterol and sleep apnea, and fear of emotional intimacy and talking about my private self.

I have been diagnosed by the VA with dysthymia depression and at a non VA psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt with PTSD, which the VA says I am not. My research tend to point more towards C-PTSD and I have an inability to trust people especially authority, I often feel as though there is an orchestrated conspiracy against me, but grounded enough in reality to know that makes little sense, but often cannot shake the feelings and have a number of instances in my life that simply reinforce that thinking. I fear criticism and rejection from those I should be closest to like my wife and mother. Desire intimacy but have none, being more emotionally intimate, but not cybersex just erotic conversation, with strangers on the internet because of anonymity. I never use my real name online. That is background information.

Anyway my question is about the medicines but it just seems like so much and I tend to distrust the VA doctors but have no other healthcare options. Just looking for someone else's opinion.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Yes, you are on right medication. Bupropion is a good antidepressant and very safe although it can cause insomnia, anxiety and dizziness as side effects in few patients but it would decrease on its own. Sertaline is an SSRI drug. As an antidepressant, Sertraline is so potent at stimulating the brain that it can cause anxiety with initial use. But it goes off after some time.

Using a Benzodiazepine like Alprazolam for the initial 10 days of treatment with Sertraline. Once you get used to it you may taper the Alprazolam and stop it. Sertraline would continue. You can talk to your psychiatrist regarding this. But you have to comply with medication and you have to reduce your weight.