Author Topic: Am I on the right meds?  (Read 6421 times)

Russell

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Am I on the right meds?
« on: July 23, 2014, 10:13:08 PM »
I have been on Citalopram 20-30mg a day for 2.5 years initially for anxiety. My anxiety has definately improved no end,but over the past 6 months my symptoms have changed and I find myself being swallowed by really black moods for 4 or 5 days when I literally don't won't to go on living and then it lifts and I feel happy,normal,just really good. This lasts for 3-6 weeks and then crash again. Went to my GP and all he was interesting in was did I drink alcohol with Citalopram. I have had 2 or 3 beers a night throughout the time I have been taking it,but these problems are nothing like my previous problem and are getting a lot worse. Over the last week I have been considering ending it all several times and don't know what to do when your GP is no help. BTW I feel loads better now so don't worry!

Pip

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2014, 10:35:04 PM »
Is there another doctor you can speak to at your surgery?

If there is you can request to talk to that doctor as there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.  At our previous surgery there were several doctors so it was pot luck who we saw but we could request to see a specific doctor if we wanted to.  The one we are under now we tend to see the same for consistency but again we can request to see another doctor.

With alcohol it affects people in different ways so you may be able to notice a change of mood when you don't drink alcohol and when you do.  Having a change of anti depressant can help or having a combination might be another option.  I hope you can see another doctor to get his or her opinion.

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2014, 11:33:38 PM »
Hi Pip,Thanks for the quick reply! I shall take your advice. Re-alcohol,I didn't drink alcohol for the first 14 weeks of this year and my problem was worse than ever,it really feels like some chemical imbalance and just frightened of how bad it may become. Doctor did give me a number for Solihull Healthy Minds,but they don't prescribe meds and are a group interaction therapy based organisation,which generally operate during normal working hours. As I work 36 hours pw and am not paid for appointments this is not really an option.

SteveW

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2014, 06:18:05 PM »
Hi Russell,

I thought I would post since I was a little concerned. When you were describing your symptoms there were elements that were characteristic of cycling mood disorders. GP's do diagnose these but I feel happier when it is a specialist in mental health that does it.

These days the place to go for that is your Community Mental Health Team. You can't refer yourself so it would need your GP. The CMHT for your area should consist of the whole range of different mental health services workers.

I would visit your GP and ask for a referral. The drugs used for cycling mood disorders are different to those used in ordinary depression and anxiety. So it is important to get the diagnosis right.
Sometimes the light is shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange, trip it's been

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2014, 06:41:18 PM »
Thanks Steve and Pip. There is absolutely a cycle to my moods. I literally felt the depression come on me last Friday night,in the way a cold comes on you. By Monday I felt as if I couldn't hold a conversation. Guilt,fear,no interest in anything,including food,bathing,reading etc. By last night I felt 100% better and now I feel fantastic! Positive,lively excited. I am interested in your comments and I will seek the help you mention.

SteveW

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2014, 07:04:06 PM »
It might be worth you Googling BiPolar 2 to get a bit of a feel for the symptoms. Bipolar can cause havoc in your life, especially the highs. I once knew a woman who suffered from BiPolar. She used to have a good job and had a whole collection of credit cards. One was empty but with a £15,000 credit limit. I watched as she managed to max out the card in an afternoon. Try and be as sensible as you can during the highs.
Sometimes the light is shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange, trip it's been

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2014, 10:10:05 PM »
Thanks for that Steve! Amazing! That is exactly how I feel,it's almost like a womans cycle. It happens roughly every 4-6 weeks,lasts for about 5 days and goes. Monday night I was planning the best way to die and 72 hours later I love my life. I now need to get some professional help before a low mood actually takes over. I honestly could see myself jumping in front of the train,clear as day,and it all made sense! Now I want to live till 100! Dude I am seriously messed up!

SteveW

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2014, 06:36:07 PM »
I wouldn't say you were seriously messed up, your brain chemistry is somewhat screwed but treatable. Mood cycling can get very rapid. I once admitted a guy to hospital who experienced the same sort of cycle you do but with one difference. He would go through the complete cycle 3 or 4 times in a day, every day. That is seriously messed up.

If there is anything you find yourself wanting to know, just send me a message.

Love

Steve
Sometimes the light is shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange, trip it's been

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2014, 07:51:23 PM »
Hi all! After finally getting to see a helpful doctor today I have been prescribed 37.5 venlafaxine,and to replace the citalopram immediately. What are your experiences of this drug?

Sweetpea

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2014, 08:56:47 PM »
Good to hear you saw a helpful dr.  Some seem to understand mental health problems more than others.  I am sorry but I cannot help with any info on the meds you are on now, but hopefully someone here can help.

S x x 
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SteveW

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2014, 09:33:15 PM »
Venlafaxine is a bit of a problem as drugs go. Firstly its side effect profile isn't too good. Headache and Nausea are very common.
Common as in 30% of people who take it for headache I think. If you want the percentages for all side effects I could probably find it for you.

The second problem is blood pressure. It has a tendency to cause sometimes quite significant rises. The thorough protocol is to
take a persons blood pressure before they start the drug and a short time after any dose increase.

The third problem is that it is a bastard to come off. It is easily the most difficult of all the anti-depressants to come off. Its signature withdrawal symptom is the "brain zap" which is a bit like an electric shock running through the head. It has a good few other withdrawal symptoms as well.

I have taken it myself until I got fed up with numerous bad headaches.

Did your GP give you a diagnosis ? I am sure he had bipolar well to the front of his mind. Venlafaxine in bipolar is'nt that unusual
but it isn't the first line choice. That is Depakote. But venlafaxine is as good to try for a first attempt as well as any of the other
mood stabilizers.

You have a wide range of doses to try. The maximum dose is 375 mg and 37.5 mg increases are pretty standard.

I hope you get on OK, though I would recommend getting a pack of paracetamol.

Love

Steve
Sometimes the light is shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange, trip it's been

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2014, 09:42:46 PM »
Thanks for that. I take ramipril for blood pressure as is! Sounds like the cons outweigh the pros. I am waiting for CBT counselling in October. Should I stay on citalopram until then?

SteveW

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2014, 05:55:49 AM »
Now you have the prescription for Venlafaxine I would be inclined to give it a try. The combination of Velafaxine and Ramipril is
unusual but maybe your GP thinks your blood presssure is so well controlled that he doesn't have to take it into consideration. You will discover what side effects if any you get and if you find them intolerable you can make a switch.

Citalopram does have a bit of a reputation for pushing people out of depression and into mania, but that is more therapist gossip than hard science. Citalopram has a few  problems of its own though, mostly sexual ones. I decline to go anywhere near the whole group.

I'm sure other people here will have taken Velafaxine. It would be a good idea to find out what take on the drug other people have.

Take care


Steve
Sometimes the light is shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange, trip it's been

Pip

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2014, 08:58:32 PM »
One side effect of Ramipril is a cough so if you do suffer with it get back to your doctor.  I take Amlopidine for blood pressure and was taking Ramipril until my husband was taking easy exercise classes with the British Heart Foundation and heart specialist nurses.  There was a session on drugs and that's when I found out about Ramipril.  I saw one of our GPs about it after getting advice from the nurse and he took it on board then gave me a prescription for Losartan (sp)which has stopped the cough.

Russell

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Re: Am I on the right meds?
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2014, 10:56:57 PM »
Started the new meds today. Sweating a bit, definitely heightened anxiety, but nothing unbearable. I will keep you posted over the first few days. Hopefully this should help me and others in this position.