6 weeks in

Yes definately going back. Already selected modules and project. Pretty sure I would have failed if I didn't take the time out so its definately helped. Did want to do some more work throughout the year to try and make it easier when I go back but haven't been able to do much. Especially after all the medication changes. Mind hasn't been clear at all and like you concentration has been pretty bad.

You're doing really well to study and work also. What are you studying?

take care

Accountancy for the ACA qualification, its really hard as you have to use all the books from previous modules plus 4 new lots of modules & they examine alot of topics in combination so I get all bogged down with about 10 thick textbooks & not knowing how to condense it all down! Its like being lost at sea and not being able to see land in any direction!

The concentration side effect was annoying. Did you experience that side effect every time you switched?

Are you feeling any better now? xxxx

I've only really had concentration problems on Citalopram. Although tbh my concentration is not good anyway. I keep drifting off in lectures and thinking about other stuff. Venlafaxine had worse side effects. Memory was terrible and brain just didn't seem to work right. Was like being disabled. Got off that pretty quick. I've been on Duloxetine for 3 days now. No side effects so far so just waiting for them to start working. I feel ok at the moment, managing pretty well.

Sounds like you have quite a challenge with your work. If struggling with managing it all is there someone who can help like an adviser. Maybe they can give you some guidance on a study plan or something.

No really as the tutors generally give mainstream advise, but i do not fall into that category so it is often not helpful. The institute who set the exams said I could just do one at a time, but the 2 up & coming exams are based on the same giant syllabus & seeing as Ive already deferred im going to try & sit both, as this year has been a complete write off, - spent the whole time battling to 'try' & study, so dont want it to be prolonged into next year as well if I can help it.

Although I do have to sit a case study next july, so if I fail one i could potentially resit it then. But if i fail my training contract with work will probably be terminated, as I have failed before & you only get so many chances..no pressure there then.

It's an open book exam but because I will litterally have to take a large suitcase full of books, i am trying to type up answers to past questions in a generic way, in a key file to use in the exam, in the hope that something broadly similar comes up. Its a risky strategy but its the only thing I can think of to avoid having to get bogged down digging out books in the time pressure exam, then not knowing how to put the relevant things into suitable words.

My memory has collapsed under the sheer volume of topics covered so I dont intend to rely on it at all.

I think other students prepare an exam file but then dont really use their notes at all. Unfortunately I dont think I can do this/or trust my own words in the exam.

I hope your new meds are better for you, I guess 3 days is way to early to tell.

Im planning to stay on citalopram until after the exams now as dont want another severe crash! My brain seems to be concentrating again, but I am still struggling to sit down & study which I think is due to lack of motivation & very little energy, I feel exhausted just sitting at my desk!

How long were you on the other meds for? Not long til you go back now is it September? xxx

yeah probably best to stick with it. Duloxetine seems to be the only drug which doesn't give me side effects. Still haven't had any.

Basically what happened with me was I took Mirtazapine for about 5-6 years and it was generally pretty good for me. There were some side effects. Mainly tiredness/sluggishness since its a sedative. Anyway this is why I wanted to try something different. Venlafaxine I only took for about a week or two. Citalopram I used for about 8-10 weeks I think. Have you been on any other meds?

Yes going back around 28th Sept. Some ways looking forward to it. Doubt I will when the pressure is on again though.

Hi Tony tony

Sorry for delayed reply, been on revision course for the exams im deferring this week (taking revision course 3 months in advance!) because im a snail lol.

How are you feeling this week, any different?

No not tried any other meds, although i would like to try one that targets not just seritonin. I was looking at some supplements online, they are fat burners essentially but they help with alertness/ concentration etc & these ones are supposed to boost nonadrenaline (called hydroxycut) thought it might be worth a try in the mean time, alongside citalopram?

Definitely in need of a boost. I've been not getting much sleep this last week with very early mornings & late nights to travel to Nottingham, and on wed night i forgot to take the tablet. On the way home the next day I was feeling a little low but that may have been due to tiredness & being stuck in traffic. Anyway I took the next one early that evening, but then today started getting teary by evening, & this is weird as I havent cried at all for a good few weeks now. So it made me wonder that maybe the Citalopram are working after all, if I dip from not taking them. Or maybe its just overtiredness.

Feel a little better from revision course, there is another week next week for the other exam. But its made me realise i still have alot of work to do but have abit more direction now, and i think 3 months will whizz by considering ill be working full time too, just hope i am ready by then. I feel like I have the brain of a slug. When I look at black text on white paper it always feels blurry like the white background is dancing/flashy bits on it, but its not my eyesight as I recently got glasses. Its like when youre really tired and start hallucinating abit. Maybe this is due to the concentration issues, not sure.

Not long until you go back in September, make the most of the time you have left! Will you be studying locally or have to move/commute?

Been feeling very low lately actually. Also quite tired and unmotivated in the day. Seeing some mental health care worker tomorrow.

Yeah have heard of hydroxycut as used by bodybuilders for weight loss etc. Well just make sure its ok to take with your meds. I know some things can be dangerous like 5htp. I think Ginseng and Ginko can be good for a bit of a boost. Suppose to help mental performance as well.

Its good to hear the revision course is helping you a bit. I hope this week is useful too. I also tend to get more down and upset when I'm tired but I think also missing one of these tablets can be noticable. That was one good thing about Mirtazapine, they stay in your system a long time so you don't notice if you miss one. Tbh I'm kinda wishing I didn't bother trying to change now and just stayed with them. Life has pretty much gone to peices since. At least I could study before. Can't be bothered to do any atm.

I think I know what you mean about the blurry text too. I have had problems reading but not just on this medication. Sometimes I read words and they just don't seem to register and I have to keep re-reading them. Other times it just seems to make my eyes ache. It may improve over time. I found it got much better on Mirtazapine after a while.

I will be studying at the Uni of East Anglia in Norwich. Its only half hour drive from where I live so no problems there.