Week 3 and a bit... :(
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello all.
I'm actually looking for a bit of reassurance.
I was on Mirtazapine 15mg for 6 days and on a increased dose of 30mg for 19 days.
I am sleeping now most nights and my appetite has increased a little. My anxiety and expression have decreased a tiny bit but nothing major. I still feel very anxious,negative and depressed when I first wake.
I've had some ok days and some bad days but haven't had no days where I'm feeling and thinking " normal" or believing that there is a end to feeling like this.
Am I expecting to much too soon?
I would appreciate some good feedback as I thing my mind is a little to fragile right now to hear any horror stories.
Thankyou xx
0 likes, 27 replies
gillian20097
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dave1948 gillian20097
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gillian20097 dave1948
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I really don't know what to do tbh. I just feel so very lost and scared.
I was in Citalopram before and it made my anxiety a million times worse.
I want to give this my beat shot because really don't want to have to start all over with another.
I wish with all my heart that I could wave a wand and make us all better xx
vivien58797 gillian20097
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gillian20097 vivien58797
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I really do want to give them a fair shot because I am seing improvements in some ways. I guess it's because of the 8 week on Citalopram and then 3 weeks on Mirtazapine and I just feel nothing is going to work. It's been 11 weeks of hell.
xx
norma72045 gillian20097
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gillian20097 norma72045
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NickOliver gillian20097
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I am no expert but anti-depressants rather than stimulating you have the effect of deadening your emotions. We get depressed IMHO because we are too sensitive to outside stimuli and the initial treatment is to improve one's mood by deadening one's reactions - well this effect.
Once your mood improves then you can be gradually weaned off the med (any anti-depressant). I was in hospital for a long time 7 years ago.
It sounds to me like your symptoms are much less severe than anything I had. But what you describe is, I would suggest, fairly normal.
I hope this helps.
Nick
gillian20097 NickOliver
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My depression is always brought on by anxiety.
I hate that my thought process isn't what it was,,that normal thoughts like doing the washing up or making the tea aren't coming naturally but the negative ones are overwhelming me.
I've tried distraction. I've tried pushing happy,smiley thoughts into my head,I've kept busy,I've tried relaxation teqniques and right now nothing seems to be working.
My doc said this is all the natural process and it will all fall into place eventually. I wish I had his confidence xxx
NickOliver gillian20097
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You might try doing things like Sudoku or other games - even playiing Scrabble with someone - even keeping on patients dot co dot uk keeps your mind active.
A few years ago I was going to a fairly advanced French class at the CityLit in London with 20- or 30-something City lawyers etc - combined with the fact that I hadn't spoken French for a long time I found the class very difficult. I was able to do the exercies at home but it was unable to think on my feet. I don't know if you are British and on one occasion we were asked by the tutor to think of a celebrity that we would like to meet. I couldn't think of anyone - I might have said George Clooney or David Beckham - but I could only think of Andrew Neil he TV political presenter. People laughed. He was considered so naff and I couldn't think of anyone else and say someone more cool. It was fairly painful as you can imagine.
More rcently this year I organised a French conversation class on a Sunday morning. Of course, speaking a language one has to be on one's feet. In fact, I organised the class and we met then at a local park cafe. I found that when I even took the mirt in the evening that I couldn't think of the right word - although at the time my French was rather rusty. Only when I didn't take the mirt the night before did this correct itself. I have just left the group after a stupid disagreement with an oaf, but I was able to hold forth using the vocabularly that I knew.
About 3 years ago I remember complaining to my GP about my memory. At that time I used to go to a weekly pub quiz. I used to pride myself for coming up with the answers to fairly obscure questions, yet the answers just would not come in the short time required.
I have a Maths degree and I would pride myself on my intellect and yet I suppose felt that I was losing my grip.
Now I am off mirt, quet, Lithium and Prozac things are great. But I wouldn't be in my current position without them, I believe.
But I do sometimes get very depressed but these are more reactive. But I was advised not to work agaiin (I was 55 at the time - I am now 60) as when one is working you might be upset by some action of another person - this might not be intentional on their part). At work you can't go home and get away rom the source of your "irritation" and even if you did the person or the work is there the next morning.
But, look, I was in hospital for 8 months 7 years ago and I was given ECT at the end of that time. I was therefore seriously illl even when I came out of hospital, so they had to try anything to get me better. Only now am I well to the extent that unless I told people they wouldn't know. In fact, I am only now going to things,like social events, where people don't know and, I don't think that I am a "Martian".
I don't want to go through all the things that I have been through because I will find it upsetting.
I have no idea what your diagnosis is, but I would say to you or anyone else here is you have to decide whether the effect of the drug is worse than the illness. When I was transferring from Lithium because it was killing me ie it was effecting my kidneys my psych gave me the data sheets of quetiapine and chloropromazine (I think) and asked me to decide which I wanted to go on, looking at the side effects. Fortunately I was in a state of mind that I could do this - my sister is a GP so that I talked to her as well.
gillian20097 NickOliver
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NickOliver gillian20097
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georgiabarton gillian20097
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gillian20097 georgiabarton
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Im probably expecting to much and should be glad of the slight improvements.
I just feel so detached and scared the majority of the time. Hoping that each pill I take will be the one that tips the balance to me feeling normal again xx
patricia85842 gillian20097
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I was on Venlafaxine 75mg for 11 years and never ever had any side effects. From time to time, usually about a year or so, I would come of them. I would cut down on them and I have never had any trouble with withdrawing. After a while the depression would raise its ugly head again and so I woud go back on them.
As I said I was on it for 11 years but two years ago they just stopped working. My GP tried me on several different ADs but to no avail. Then last November she prescrbed Mirtazapine 15 mg. They worked more or less immediately. I thoought it was the wonder drug! However, they to stopped after 3 months. My doctor then upped the Mirt to 30 then 45 mg but no luck. Various people on here said I should give the drug time to take effect. I gave each dose nearly three months but I was still bad. I should say that I don 't suffer from anxiety just the depression
My GP then said I should go back on Ven.and put me up to 225 which was horrendous.
I then asked if I could go to our local hospital and see a psychiatrist as they are supposed to know more about the drugs. Anyway long story short the Psychiatrist prescribed 15 mg Mrt. and 150 mg Venlafaxine. I said but they both stopped working and she said sometimes they don't do so well singly but they make a good combination. I walked out feeling it was a waste of time but to my joy they started working in three days. and I was completelyt back to normal. I wwas told that GPs aren't allowed to combine only Psychiatrists but I don't know if that is true. After 2 years of trying different drugs I am a happy person again.
Love
Pat x
gillian20097 patricia85842
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Ive heard many people had great results with combining two meds. I think I will give it another week and half on this dose(that will be 5 week in total) and speak to the doc if I'm still not happy.
I am so pleased that your life has turned around. Successful stories of healing make my heart smile and gives me hope xx