Questions about antidepressants (Page 1 of 2)

Pam, many years ago I briefly tried Zoloft.  I took it for about a week and gave up for the same symptoms you described.  Plus, I wasn't going through a major life event at the time so I felt I could handle things.    I would try the half pill for a bit longer and see if the side effects go away.  You are dealing with so much it's worth seeing how it goes.  I hope it gets easier to take it.  I know you want to feel well!  Love, Pam

Pam, I've been on fluoxetine for some time, mainly for debilitating over-anxiety but I'm glad it's keeping depression at bay, too; I couldn't bear to go down that route again.

I think fluoxetine may be Prozac, but I'm not sure.

I don't remember bad initial side effects, but I do remember being told to start them very gently and not to stop them suddenly.

I do hope the symptoms subside quickly. Sending love and hugs to you all.

Jx

Hugs back at'cha, Gavin xx

Pam,
        side effects of nausea are common with ssri drugs like zoloft,this is usually short lived so it is a good idea to take half the dose for a few days.I will take two weeks at least to have an effect on your mood so whatever you are feeling its not the tablet!
    Most importantly though tablets are not enough on their own to combat a reactive depression.I think some counselling/talk therapy is helpful and one of the best ways to improve your mood is excercise,studies have shown that comfortable levels of excercise three times per week dramatically reduce cortisol levels in the blood thereby making you feel better and more energetic.
     But give the tablets a bit more time,really they just take the edge off things when they start to work            good luck                Janet

Pam,

My Doctor prescribed a small dose of Xanax for me.  I took a very small dose (once) a day but it was written for up to three a day.  It was just enough to take the edge off but didn't make me sleepy or drugged feeling.  You may just need to try something else.

There are numerous things available.  This one was perfect for me since I was not worried about driving while taking it.

It saved my sanity, made me a whole lot more effecient and pleasant.  I hate taking medications but it was a godsend for dealing with all of the stresses of this disease.

Don't give up.  My doctor was amazing and caring and knew exactly what was best for me.

Hugs!

Pam

Pam-I have taken Lexipro twice, same dose (10 mg)but major different reaction. The first time was recommended by my oncologist as a preventive. I had no side effects and never felt altered by it. The second time was after my second transplant and what a difference. My family and friends call that period "my lexipro time". I could sit in my chair (I couldn't walk) and stare at the wall for hours. Caitlin and Jeff became very frustrated and angry, because I was so "nothing", they threatenned to put me in a nursing home and I casually replied "Ok, do what you think is neccessary!". Cates and Jeff knew at that point we needed immediate medical help. My transplant doctors felt that this wasn't there area of specialty and sent me to a psychiatrist and he immediately weined me off it. I will always remember 2 weeks off being weaned off it (vert slowly), getting out of my chair and saying "I am back"!
Pam , the strange part was I  never knew I was gone. I never felt the symptons. I don't know why the 2 times were sooo different.
My best advice is talk  and talk more to your doctor, these are very dangerous drugs to regulate, they can have great outcomes but dosages are very tricky to get right.
Lots of prayers for you to keep the strength you show to Lauren-Cathy

Pam:
My doc prescribed Paxil for me and I had hallucinations the first night! I wouldn't touch them again if someone paid me. But I did recently start Xanax and it's saving my sanity. I only take a .25mg dose. I can take 4 a day but limit it to 2. I still get a little depression but it is helping a LOT. No more anxiety attacks and I think I'm more even keeled.
Good luck with the Zoloft. I have a friend who's been on it for a couple of years. I don't remember her having a problem when she started, but it's saving her sanity, too.

Tiff....is it Remeron?  And, why are you not sleeping.  Steroids?
Hugs,
Marion

I was also on Remeron Tiffany and what I liked about it was that the side effects helped me a lot during treatment.  Increased appetite and help sleeping at night.  Another good thing about it is that you do not have to wait for it to build up in your body to get the good effects and you do not have to wean off of it if I remember correctly.

I was told it was an "old" anti-depressant, but it definitely worked for me and i did not feel dopey or anything.  Taking it at night definitely helps.

After treatment for awhile I was taking xanax to help me sleep. 

Just remember that there are drugs for depression and different drugs entirely for anxiety.  I think during treatment I was depressed, but later on just had anxiety (thinking the worst, dreading scans,etc.)  Xanax is for anxiety, Remeron was for depression.

I personally think it's important to be diagnosed by a therapist so that you are getting the right drug to address the problem.

Well everyone, I have given it a week at half the dose and I am better with the crying. I don't have the outbursts of crying anymore. But, I can't stand the side effects. The nausea and headache are gone, but ever since starting this medication it feels like I have a rapid heartbeat. I am afraid I will have a heart attack or something. I feel it most up in my throat. I know, weird. Last night, my husband and I went to dinner and I felt really so strange. Like my body was going crazy inside and I had to take deep breaths to calm down. Calm on the outside, but freaking out on the inside. It is so hard to explain. I am calling Monday to see if I can be put on something else. I do not want to feel like that again. Thanks so much for all of your comments. I just hope I find something that works.

Love, -Pam

You are welcome and I will always have your back. I love you too. You have helped me and so many others more than you will ever know. Take care.

Love, -Pam

Lainy,  My 14 year old cat was put on prednisone and she is just like a kitten again! She is doing so much better. I told my daughter, who is suffering similar ailments to my cat, that maybe she should try prednisone and she said "heck no, way too many side effects". (She is an RN). It is too bad it causes so many side effects for some, because it is good at what it does! Anyway, I am weaning the cat off of it now so I hope it has done it's job. One day we will be free of cancer and other diseases such as MS and arthritis and we will no longer need "dreadnisone". Love and hugs. Nancy