where do i turn next?

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AdRaMeLeCh_    Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:05 pm 
 
hello came across this place last nite ,have had depression for 2yrs but lately have felt really bad..I have no get up and go simple tasks like cooking i get wrong,cant even sit n type without crying....All i think about are ways ta die its cosuming every moment ... Have recently been to docs and after 2 yrs of taking 20mg of fluoxetine he upped it to 40mg dont know if this is what is making feel so suicidal?....... had to see a CBT yesterday but as he had to do a risk accessment on me first he said he doesnt think this wuld be the best therapy for me so back to square one i suppose, plz can someone help me just dont know what to do anymore thanx sue x
 

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Tigger   Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:13 pm 
 
No matter how bleak life feels at the moment don't give up. It will take a little while before the increased dosage of your medication kicks in.
 

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AdRaMeLeCh_    Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:01 pm 
 
have been back to docs and he changed my tablets... Now on 30mg of mirtazipine take em first time tmorrow nite dont know if they will be ok .. thx for the replying to my first post havnt been online much thx sue
 

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Ezel   Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:46 pm 
 
 
Hi Sue,

To echo what's already been posted it will take time for the meds to help so hang on in there.

Pip
 

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amy   Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:35 pm 
 
hey sue

I've been on fluoxetine for three years... then a couple of months ago I felt no effect, so I stopped taking it. I ended up in hospital last week after taking a paracetamol overdose...

however, I've been researching new medication etc, as I'm seeing a psychiatrist on thursday, and it turns out there's a lot of studies that show SSRIs (e.g. prozac) can stop working after so long, and some studies have shown it helps to continue taking them but to have an add-on of another kind of antidepressant... this is what I'm going to talk to the psych about on thursday....

amy x

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happychick    Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:25 am 
 
Hi Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about your overdose, you must have been feeling so desperate and felt there was no way out which I totally sympathise with. Interesting what you said about meds not working after a while as since November last yr I feel like mine (Sertraline 150mg) have not been working I've been taking them for 8 yrs now but more bad days than good. I saw my dr yesterday who suggested that I swich to another SSRI (Ciprilopram) think thats the right spelling, I have collected my prescription but have not taken it yet as feel v scared about the transition period as dont want to end up feeling worse than I already do, what do you think?

You and I know that this will pass eventually and the world will seem a brighter place we just have to ride it out for now taking one day at a time, sending you a big hug x

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happychick  Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:33 am 

Hello Sue, I've suffered with depression for 8 yrs now since my father died I know how hard it is at times, like you, for me even doing the simplest of tasks I find totally daunting, cooking, cleaning, making a phone call, collecting my child from school - I find the whole playground/parents thing a total nightmare when I'm feeling low, I have nothing to say to anyone feel that its all closing in around me and can't wait to get back home again to my sanctuary.

Just remember that you are not alone and there are people out there who understand and are going through exactly the same as you it will pass it always does just dont expect too much of yourself when you're down and don't do too much just the bare minimum is fine x x

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amy  Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:09 pm 
 
hey happychick/all

one of the things I found out when doing the research was not only that SSRIs can stop working to the full extent after a length of time, but that sometimes it helps for you to continue on it while also taking another antidepressant at the same time. it's known as augmenting - i.e. the new one helps the old one to work to a fuller extent.

I've never had Ciprilopram, you don't mean citalopram do you? I tried that but found it made me more drowsy than stimulated, which is the effect I wanted.

The transition period might be weird and scary, but, I think if you take a positive attitude to it, you might find that you experience some psychological effects of knowing you're on something new until the physical effects kick in... kind of like a placebo I suppose, but if it helps it helps. they all take time to work, you just have to remember that eventually it will work, and that's something to keep you going.

I've just been to see the psychiatrist, and feel quite positive about it all now, I had a really long chat with him about medicine, and we've decided to try me on venlafaxine. it's different to fluoxetine and citalopram in that it reuptakes serotonin AND adrenaline, so I think it's quite a good one for people who need a stimulant rather than a sedative.

according to wikipedia (my best friend when it comes to researching depression and medicine!) venlafaxine is used to treat major (clinical) depression and anxiety and it works better than fluoxetine.

venlafaxine is an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor):

The SNRIs were developed more recently than the SSRIs and as a result there are relatively few of them. However, the SNRIs are among the most widely used antidepressants today because they have demonstrated slightly higher antidepressant efficacy than the SSRIs (apparently owing to their dual mechanism) and because their side effects are slightly less severe in comparison to the SSRIs as well.



so I'm positive in thinking it'll work better for me than fluoxetine (SSRI)

we'll see, and I'll certainly keep you posted on its effect and how it makes me feel...

if anyone wants to add me on msn to chat send me a private message

amy xx