Advice on meds from any seasoned campaigners

[Gordon64]

Hi

Firstly thanks to everybody who has posted replies to my previous threads-being on here has made me realise that I am not alone in this and that we can all support each other through the tough times.

I am having a hard time meds wise just now-nothing seems to be agreeing with me-too many side effects-just to clarify what I've been on recently-Mirtazapine, Sertralene, Prozac, Citalopram. Suffice to say have had problems with all of them to greater or lesser degrees..

I DO realise meds are a highly individual thing AND am not asking you to prescribe me! That's my GP's job I know.

But are any of you out there able to give advice on any med that's worked particularly well for you? What I'm looking for is one with not too horrendous side effects that won't zonk me as I'm desperately trying to keep myself in the workplace at the moment. Also that won't leave me too "emotionless" and zombie like.

Know it's a tall order and understand if I'm asking the impossible (I probably am!) but you've all been a great help so far and I'd appreciate it. Also any feedback on preferences for SSRI v SNRI meds?

Thanks for reading anyway-we are all in this together.

Gordon

[Gordon64]

Meant to say you can add Duloxetine to the list of ones I cannae stand!!

[JaneC]

Hi again Gordon :hugs:. I've had a spell on an SNRI, reboxetine, but didn't find it the most helpful for me. However, as you know, that doesn't mean it wouldn't work well for you, and I didn't have any side effects from it. I'm wondering if you might ask about the possibility of being referred to a psychiatrist, who are supposed to have a lot more expertise with meds? I had a very good spell on a tricyclic for a while, but doubt my GP would ever have prescribed it. Not that I'm recommending TCAs, very heavy on the side effects for me, but maybe a little thinking further outside the box might help x

[Gordon64]

Hi again Jane

Thanks for the info-I would certainly consider all options at the moment.

I will see how my next GP visit goes but it has given me something to think about.

Thanks again

Gordon

[JaneC]

No worries Gordon, I just wish you lots of luck. As someone who has been fortunate enough to experience life-transforming benefits of medication, I hope you find yourself in the same position soon!

[KK77]

I really sympathise, Gordon. It's so confusing and frustrating and we naturally want something to work quickly, but what you must bear in mind with ANY med is that side effects are usually transient. At the time it feels like they'll never go but if you don't give the med a chance to settle you'll never know whether it's right for you or not. Of course if side effects are intolerable or serious you should make an immediate appointment with your GP and discuss this. However, most side effects diminish as your body starts to tolerate the drug.

I had a terrible time when I started sertraline. I was ready to give up but having been on so many others I was determined to stick it out, and apart from a few lingering, persistent side effects which are more of a nuisance than a hindrance, all the really nasty ones have disappeared.

So my point is that whatever med you decide to go on next, I would advise that you give it at least 4-6 weeks before you come to a decision. (Ideally, your doctor should be encouraging you to stick it out unless he thinks otherwise.)

I would advise that you book a double appointment with your doctor and go through all your concerns re side effects and as Jane says if necessary get a referral to see a psychiatrist.

I don't think it would be right for me to recommend a med. Sertraline has been the best out of a bad bunch for me but only after a lot of persistence and patience.

You will get there in the end and you'll find loads of support here.

[Gordon64]

Thanks again Melancholia

I know you are right-I have to give them a chance-it's just such an inexact science isn't it?

The weird thing is I was on Prozac for many years and seemed to tolerate it quite well, however having tried it twice recently I just seem to be going to the loo every 5 seconds.

I think the best thing for me to do whatever GP advises is to ignore horror stories and just go with the flow-it certainly must be better than this constant shifting from one to another.

Interesting what you say about Setralene-I just found they wound me up even more but given a bit more time they might have worked for me.

Anyway thanks for taking the time to reply.

G

[joannap]

hi - i have tried quite a few ssris and all apart from prozac made me feel a hundred times worse for at least 2 weeks before the benefits started (slowly) to kick in. this last time - i have been through a terrible anxiety patch without altering/adjusting medication - i have long thought that a lot of what we think is improvement on ssris is down to acceptance (not all perhaps but a great deal) - that i know i am going to feel really bad until they kick in so sort of give in to it all. it took me as long to improve naturally with consciously deciding to accept/give in to it as it takes on meds (4-6 weeks) proving that it can be done.

there is nothing wrong with taking meds if you feel they help but i think that the stress of will they/won't they work/endless doctors appointments etc just piles on even more stress than trying to work through it yourself. having said that - knowing what i know now has come through experience and trial and error and i did feel like ssris were life savers at the beginning when i was a novice but not now so they do have their place x

[Gordon64]

Hi Joanna

Think you've been reading my mind!!

The whole business of trying to find the right one and the anxiety that causes (not forgetting I have to make yet another GP appt tomorrow) makes me wonder if it's not better to work through it without them

But it scares me not to have my medicinal "crutch".

I have been undergoing therapy plus cbt and the question I'm asking is am I strong enough to do this on my own.

When the price you pay is (in no particular order) vomiting, night sweats, diarrahea, frequent urination (very on Prozac), and a variety of other nasties then I do wonder if it's worth it.

But the fear of "crashing" is almost as bad-also so many (well-meaning) friends have different opinions and aren't scared to vent them.

At the end of the day though the only person who can decide is me-no-one forces me to pop the little devils in my mouth.

Thanks again

Gordon

[Gordon64]

Meant to say Joanna have used anti-deps on and off (mainly on) for some 20 years so am fairly experienced on them myself. Would love to break the cycle. G

[joannap]

Hi G. I too have used anti depressants on/off for over 10 yrs but am weaning myself off my 10mg ssri because i came through a really bad patch after "crashing" with acceptance. if you really do not feel the meds are benefiting - why not try weaning yourself off them? a good way of not "crashing" is to work out what your triggers/warning signs are and even if you have a crash - accpetance will go a long way to dealing with it and you can always go back on meds.

i have found that the more i have got to know myself/the more i get to know about anxiety/depression - the more i can deal with it myself. much of coming through my last set back with acceptance was the fear of getting back into the medical system and trying yet another ssri and having to cope with the side effects and i thought - right i am going to do this. i must admit that i did feel intense determination and although in the early stages - i nearly gave in and went to the gp - i think it was the right time for me to really get to grips with accepting it and working through it and it sounds as though you are reaching the same stage xx

ps - i found the homeopathic remedy aconite helpful and also bach flower remedies x

[Going home]

Just to add that some pharmacies give out generic meds as opposed to the 'real thing' to keep costs down. For example, I take a beta blocker called propranolol and now I insist on taking the Half-Inderal version which is the real deal and not the generic version of it which can go under a few different names. Before I knew about this I couldn't understand why I was getting alot of side effects on one but not on another seeing as how they were all classed as propranolol. The doctors don't know which one the pharmacist will choose when writing the pescription, but you can request that they specify a non-generic med....this might help with some of the side effects.

Anna xxx

[Worrier]

Hi there,

Just wanted to add that I was on Lexapro (Escitalopram) for about 2 1/2 years and thought it was the best thing ever. Never had any side effects and absolutely no problems weaning off from it. It is an SSRI.

Anyway good luck with whatever you decide to do/try next.

Natalie x

[Danath]

yeah man, good to see you're being level headed and making a rational deduction on what your next step in finding a soloution to your problem is, (thoguh of course meds arent the soloution, merely a crutch but selecting one that helps you is certainly on the path to recovery)

but it is always true to say, whatever works for you, its hard to recommend even for those who are professionally qualified to do so (my doctor has said this himself, and hes a great guy.)

I see like myself you've tried different things, I'm quite settled on amitriptyline and gabapentin at the mo, these are a couple of meds that arent usually directly used to treat anx, (except i think they sometimes use amitriptyline of label for sleeplessness associated with anx and for PTSD).

I take both regularly and both my doctor and my freinds have noticed a marked improvement in my anxiety (I was diagnosed by a psychiatric consultant with generalised anxiety disorder). Sure, I'm not fearless or anything and i still get my daily dose of anx, but i think they've certainly given me a great boost back into doing things like holidays and suchlike which are a great help on my road to recovery.

Naturally, I can't say whether these meds would help you man, but i'm simply answering your question from a 'hard campaigner's' point of view

you must always listen to what the doc has to say of course, and you are always entitled to a second opinion, or a reference to a specialist.
I am none of the above, and my advice is purely non-professional, but I hope it has helped you on the eternal quest for answers

best wishes

Dan

[Gordon64]

To all who have been kind enough to reply-I appreciate all your responses and there is merit in each one.

I guess you'll have realised I'm in a bit of turmoil at the moment-I am down to a low dose of Mirtazapine at the moment which is really just giving me sedative qualities rather than any anti-depressant ones. It seems to be keeping me "ticking over" though.


I spoke to my counsellor today and have come out of that feeling more determined to do things my own way. My big fear as Joanna touched on is the dreaded "crash"-I've tried out various meds of late and don't think my head is "clean" so how much of that strength and determination is within my psyche and how much is chemically assisted? I do feel that like many others I have been to Hell and back depression wise and kind of believe like Joanna that at the end of the day if I "crash" then I just go back to the GP and admit I was wrong and that I need to take my medicine as it were.

These are only my thoughts-meds work for many people and I would never dissuade anybody from going down that path-I may have to continue on them myself-but I have become increasingly disillusioned with the constant cycle of SSRI after SSRI, throw in an SNRI and mix it all about. It scares me a bit I must admit.

But as Danath alluded to along with others it is for us each to find our own path to dealing with this-I am 45 and learning new stuff about myself and the human condition all the time.

Your responses really are appreciated-good luck to all of you however you choose to deal with your anxieties etc....

G