Change from Imipramine to Quetiapine.

Hello Jenny,

Apparently Imipramine is a very "old" tricyclic and he thinks that a newer and in his words "cleaner" drug might help. The depression I get around October until April still comes and I have been on almost evey different type of anti depressent, tricyclic and anti-psycotic except Lithium. This is day two and i have been in bed two days with mind banging headaches and feeling sick but also got very emotional and crying so chemicals are changing mood, hopefully I will feel better after a few more days and the headaches will go. 

Hi there - I do hope that the q works for you PP - is sounds as if you may have exhausted the choice available. i do wander though whether there has been a lack of creativity going on though as regards options. Have you seen psych about your mood disorder? I know for me over the years the only relief i have have is via a combination of drugs i.e two SSRI together ? I know one person whose life has changed with a combination of 'lithuim' and a small top up of Q. Do you have SAD? I have not had a diagnosis of this but I have a light box for the Autumn and Winter which really helps. Let me know how you get on with the Q? u may also  be suffering from withdrawals from the other drugs as the effects can last quite a long time. Something I did not know too much about until i came on this site, take care J

Well it is day 5 and I had a severe panic attack, anxiety and feelings of self harm so I called my GP who took an hour to call back but has now prescried yet another drug and to stop with the Q! I called my local private healthcare centre to try to arrange an urgent appointment with a Psych as I can not wait any longer for an NHS referral and hae to see someone qualified in the next few days, No doubt the new drug will sedate me although my body seems to react in the opposite way to all the drugs, the Q has not sedated me at all, still not sleeping and worse now than before. WHY is is so hard to get help fast when you are feeling so desperate you want to take a razor blade to your arms to stop the pain?

It should not be this difficult to get mental health for anyone, especially when you are not in the frameof mind to fight for it. 

If your having those feelings and not getting quicker help, maybe you could just go to your local ER.

I've had those attacks before it very difficult and for me a grate deal of pain and fear accompanied it.

I hope your able to get help quicker or can make it to the ER. Prayers.

Hi  PP - sorry but glad that you are off the Q, what have they given you instead? What do u think you need? maybe a relaxing medication may be better than all these anti-depressants that do  not seem to work for you? I hope that private treatment is a better option for you - but you know they only have the same meds to dispense?

have you had any counselling or therapy? wandering whether this might be a better place to spend the cash longer term? Have you ever been given a diagnosis? not saying that this is always correct. In a way it does not really matter as mental/emotional pain is bad whatever the docs say. it sounds as if the mix of pills were having some kind of stimulating effect which is great for increasing impulsive behaviours and panics. Have u ever been on Escitalopram.? This is supposed to be quite good for some kinds of panic disorder, think they may have a more powerful affect than citalopram, though it can all be a bit hit and miss. Hope that you are over the feelings of the last few hours - not good - are us still at home all day? Jen

Hi Sharla,

I have suffered for so many years the doctors dont listen and just give me about 5 minutes, tell me to go back on Prozac and dont do anything else. I seem to react the oppostite to everyone else as on Prozac I am shattered instead of bouncing off the walls. The sleep issue is chronic so this new doctor is actually doing something to see if changing meds will help.