Question:
Can we talk about medication please?
I've been posting on here, on and off, for donkey's ages. Those of you who remember me will know that I am one hell of an up-and-down moods kinda girl. I've struggled with my depression (self-directed anger), and for weeks and months at I time I have indeed won over the slimy lizard. However the bottom line is that I am wearing thin, and becoming exhausted because the low moods are getting longer, and the periods of being stable and contented are getting shorter - and the effort involved is too much, at times.
So.... this is the long way of saying... that... despite struggling against it for 3 years now, I have to accept that medication might provide some stability. With that stability I might have a platform which will allow me to resolve the underlying problems. I can't do that when I am up and down like a crazy thang.
So, over to you guys. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday. Advice? Websites on anti-depressants? Things I shouldn't let her give me? Things I should think about before I see her? Interesting anecdotes to share about the medication roller-coaster you've been on? Well, anything really. You can PM me if you feel more comfortable not talking about this in public.
Thanks everyone.
Ava
Hi Ava,
Firstly, I applaud your decision to take action and not let this illness beat you.
My mum has been taking anti-depressants for a few years now. Withoutthem she has no energy, she cannot sleep, she cannot eat and, to put it bluntly, she wishes she were dead. Depression is a horrible illness which affects not only the sufferer but loved ones too.
It took my mum a little while to find the right anti-depressant for her. This is the same for everyone. So please hang in there if you don't get the right medication first time. You WILL get there, I promise. Make sure to ask what side effects you should expect in the initial period.
My mum was initially prescribed Prozac whichshe reacted very badly to. The doctor insisted the side effectswould go away.This attitude just prolonged her suffering. It turned out she is allergic to Prozac. She was then put on Anafranil which has worked a treat.
If the side effects of the medication are really bad (you will know what's tolerable and what's not), go back to your doctor and insist on trying something new. It will take a little time for the anti-depressants to kick in but it will be worth it.
I hope you get put on the right medication first time. Best of luck for Friday.You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lots of love and hugs,
Suzanne xxxx
Hi Suzanne
This is just the sort of sensitive and generous reply that I've consistently got from folk on the boards. I've been away from it for a few months, and I feel guilty coming back to such supportive comments. Thank you.
I know that the side-effects are initially hideous, and that one is very lucky to get the right drug the first time. I promise you that I am sooooo close to cancelling the appointment and telling myself that I can get over this myself. The horror stories about side-effects make me wonder if I am strong enough to go through this... the trial and error of medication.
Thanks again Suzanne. And I am glad that your mum has found something that works for her. We are all different, and wouldn't it be wonderful if the same drug worked for all of us!
Ava x
Hi Ava,
talk to your GP about your concerns about which medication you are put onto. The more they understand the better they can match your needs. Have you also considered complementary help? It can not only help with the depression but with any potential side effects of medication.
whichever medication you take as has already been mentioned it will of course taken 2 or 3 weeks to kick in, so stick in there, you'll be feeling better soon!
Lisa x
Ava, you are strong enough, I'm sure of it. Don't cancel your appointment just yet. Take each day as it comes. You don't have to take any medication if you don't want to. If you do decide to take the medication just play it by ear. The side effects, if any, will not last long. And, if things seem worse whilst on the medication you can always go straight back to your GP and say you want to stop. If you do decide to cancel do not beat yourself up about. You can always make another appointment if you feel you can't manage.
Whatever your decision, you will always get lots of support here [sm=grouphug.gif]
Love Suzanne xxx
Lisa
Thank you for asking me if I have tried therapies. Yes I have. And each have helped (see the Addictions: How do you manage your addiction/s? thread). But the up and down nature of my moods mean that I abandon things when it all goes wrong. I'm fine when I'm good. I'm hopeless when I'm not. So, I'm not coming to this decision lightly. But thank you for asking.
Suzanne
Thank you! I will keep the appointment. My GP may well say 'no' and refuse to put me on antidepressants. Don't they always do what you don't want them to do!
It seems that everyone who takes AD's reacts differently, some people suiting some sorts and some suit others. Tends to be a case of try them and see how you get on. I'm not an expert on each of the medications, but I know that Seroxat was prescribed to someone close to me, based on the premise that it was "non-addictive" and had few side effects. In fact there were definitely noticable side effects and then it was not a pleasant time helping this person to come off them. The moral of this, I guess, is don't always believe what it says on the label or what the doctors have been told by the pharmaceutical companies.
If you can, have a friend or someone close to you who can be honest enough to tell you if there is not a nice side effect and is willing to help you back off these things if it seems necessary. It's not always something you will be able to notice yourself.
Make sure your GP keeps monitoring your progress too.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Thanks everyone. I am armed with all your advice, and that of the lovely people who PM'd me. I am still going to go for the appointment on Friday. I will still accept a script for AD's if they are given to me. But I think I am going to wait until things settle, before I take them. Perhaps by then I'll decide not to take them. I am really dreading the side-effects. And I feel that I need to be a little more settled before I impose such frightening side-effects on my body/mind.
Again, thank you.
Ava
ps. I have a question or two about EFT that I'll toss your way soon. I've been giving myself some, in a really pathetic half-hearted way, and would like to clear up some confusion. But I'll ask that question elsewhere.
I've been posting on here, on and off, for donkey's ages. Those of you who remember me will know that I am one hell of an up-and-down moods kinda girl. I've struggled with my depression (self-directed anger), and for weeks and months at I time I have indeed won over the slimy lizard. However the bottom line is that I am wearing thin, and becoming exhausted because the low moods are getting longer, and the periods of being stable and contented are getting shorter - and the effort involved is too much, at times.
So.... this is the long way of saying... that... despite struggling against it for 3 years now, I have to accept that medication might provide some stability. With that stability I might have a platform which will allow me to resolve the underlying problems. I can't do that when I am up and down like a crazy thang.
So, over to you guys. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday. Advice? Websites on anti-depressants? Things I shouldn't let her give me? Things I should think about before I see her? Interesting anecdotes to share about the medication roller-coaster you've been on? Well, anything really. You can PM me if you feel more comfortable not talking about this in public.
Thanks everyone.
Ava
Answers:
Hi Ava,
Firstly, I applaud your decision to take action and not let this illness beat you.
My mum has been taking anti-depressants for a few years now. Withoutthem she has no energy, she cannot sleep, she cannot eat and, to put it bluntly, she wishes she were dead. Depression is a horrible illness which affects not only the sufferer but loved ones too.
It took my mum a little while to find the right anti-depressant for her. This is the same for everyone. So please hang in there if you don't get the right medication first time. You WILL get there, I promise. Make sure to ask what side effects you should expect in the initial period.
My mum was initially prescribed Prozac whichshe reacted very badly to. The doctor insisted the side effectswould go away.This attitude just prolonged her suffering. It turned out she is allergic to Prozac. She was then put on Anafranil which has worked a treat.
If the side effects of the medication are really bad (you will know what's tolerable and what's not), go back to your doctor and insist on trying something new. It will take a little time for the anti-depressants to kick in but it will be worth it.
I hope you get put on the right medication first time. Best of luck for Friday.You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lots of love and hugs,
Suzanne xxxx
Answers:
Hi Suzanne
This is just the sort of sensitive and generous reply that I've consistently got from folk on the boards. I've been away from it for a few months, and I feel guilty coming back to such supportive comments. Thank you.
I know that the side-effects are initially hideous, and that one is very lucky to get the right drug the first time. I promise you that I am sooooo close to cancelling the appointment and telling myself that I can get over this myself. The horror stories about side-effects make me wonder if I am strong enough to go through this... the trial and error of medication.
Thanks again Suzanne. And I am glad that your mum has found something that works for her. We are all different, and wouldn't it be wonderful if the same drug worked for all of us!
Ava x
Answers:
Hi Ava,
talk to your GP about your concerns about which medication you are put onto. The more they understand the better they can match your needs. Have you also considered complementary help? It can not only help with the depression but with any potential side effects of medication.
whichever medication you take as has already been mentioned it will of course taken 2 or 3 weeks to kick in, so stick in there, you'll be feeling better soon!
Lisa x
Answers:
Ava, you are strong enough, I'm sure of it. Don't cancel your appointment just yet. Take each day as it comes. You don't have to take any medication if you don't want to. If you do decide to take the medication just play it by ear. The side effects, if any, will not last long. And, if things seem worse whilst on the medication you can always go straight back to your GP and say you want to stop. If you do decide to cancel do not beat yourself up about. You can always make another appointment if you feel you can't manage.
Whatever your decision, you will always get lots of support here [sm=grouphug.gif]
Love Suzanne xxx
Answers:
Lisa
Thank you for asking me if I have tried therapies. Yes I have. And each have helped (see the Addictions: How do you manage your addiction/s? thread). But the up and down nature of my moods mean that I abandon things when it all goes wrong. I'm fine when I'm good. I'm hopeless when I'm not. So, I'm not coming to this decision lightly. But thank you for asking.
Suzanne
Thank you! I will keep the appointment. My GP may well say 'no' and refuse to put me on antidepressants. Don't they always do what you don't want them to do!
Answers:
It seems that everyone who takes AD's reacts differently, some people suiting some sorts and some suit others. Tends to be a case of try them and see how you get on. I'm not an expert on each of the medications, but I know that Seroxat was prescribed to someone close to me, based on the premise that it was "non-addictive" and had few side effects. In fact there were definitely noticable side effects and then it was not a pleasant time helping this person to come off them. The moral of this, I guess, is don't always believe what it says on the label or what the doctors have been told by the pharmaceutical companies.
If you can, have a friend or someone close to you who can be honest enough to tell you if there is not a nice side effect and is willing to help you back off these things if it seems necessary. It's not always something you will be able to notice yourself.
Make sure your GP keeps monitoring your progress too.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Thanks everyone. I am armed with all your advice, and that of the lovely people who PM'd me. I am still going to go for the appointment on Friday. I will still accept a script for AD's if they are given to me. But I think I am going to wait until things settle, before I take them. Perhaps by then I'll decide not to take them. I am really dreading the side-effects. And I feel that I need to be a little more settled before I impose such frightening side-effects on my body/mind.
Again, thank you.
Ava
ps. I have a question or two about EFT that I'll toss your way soon. I've been giving myself some, in a really pathetic half-hearted way, and would like to clear up some confusion. But I'll ask that question elsewhere.
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