Brit Posted February 4, 2013 Posted February 4, 2013 This became my last resort recently, I had enough of not being able to function, so am taking a antidepressant, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine, professionly prescribed to help get me going. I have been taking the Antidepressant for 3 weeks now, and feel more depressed then ever, I have never had any high periods throughout the depression, just very low. I still feel extremely depressed, but as if I am lying on a glacier, myself and the pain on top, and all my coping mechanisms below the glacier, out of reach.....I am not numb to my pain, but numb to reach out for music, reading, interests that would help lean my thoughts elsewhere. Anyone do well on Antidepressants or worse? I will give it some more time, but am so miserable in this current state. I read it may get worse before a big rainbow may appear and you feel better.
Author Brit Posted February 4, 2013 Author Posted February 4, 2013 If anyone has experience with Antidepressants please reply, I so wish this to work, but have not been able to move for 3 days.
xpaperxcutx Posted February 4, 2013 Posted February 4, 2013 Are you seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist? Also what kind of antidepressants are you taking? I used to be on Prozac years ago but the dosages were low and I was put on a med timeline where I would increase dosage every two weeks until I reach a certain amount. I can say this, don't rely on drugs too much early on as it takes time for them to come into effect. If your are feeling down, you absolutely need to talk to someone. I used to see a therapist who was kind enough to take me in twice a week instead of once a week and my medical insurance was able to cover me. If you have good insurance find a therapist or counselor who do hourly sessions and who are willing to listen. You want someone who can empathize and not lecture you. Also if you have any free hotlines in your country where you can call in for free and talk to someone, please do. The worst you can do is be by yourself and close yourself up. I really hope you get better.
Author Brit Posted February 4, 2013 Author Posted February 4, 2013 Thanks for the reply, this is not new the depression and the isolation, the antidepressant is new, is an SRRI, and nauseous 24/7, no appetite, and it has been only 3 weeks, did you feel better eventually, any energy?
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 This is sort of what I worried about when I first started taking my anti-depressant 4 weeks ago. Zoloft (which is an SSRI). I was lucky. I was prescribed 1 pill per day, but I noticed in the instructions it said the recommended dosage is 1 pill for depression and half a pill for social anxiety. I was never sure if I was depressed or anxious (assumed both), so I decided only to take half a pill each day, and it’s been working quite well for me. I got mild nausea and very slight stomach cramps for the first 3-4 days, and also each night I’d wake up shaking for about a minute before feeling normal again. I also felt kind of “floaty” mentally and physically, but all of this passed in a few days. Now I can’t really feel anything much of a difference from before I was taking them, except I no longer feel ridiculously unhappy and tense all the time. My thoughts no longer circle around on themselves obsessively about my ex and our situation when he left me. I’ve read it’s very common to feel MORE depressed when you first start taking anti-depressants. Apparently side effects (and all of your symptoms are mentioned in the common side effects for my own anti-depressants as well) tend to last from the first week up until 4-6 weeks, and THEN you will start to feel much better. However, if you DON’T start feeling a lot better in the next week (if you can hold on until then?), go back to your doctor because it’s also common to have to try a few different medications and combinations of medications before finding the right one for you. A question also - you're on an anti-depressant AND a benzo? Hmm. The benzo may be making you feel really lethargic. They can hit some people pretty hard and take all their energy. I'm concerned that you're on amphetamines too...I wasn't aware this was a prescribed medication. Good luck!
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 You seem to be doing much better than me. I am taking Prozac. I have severe nausea 24/7, but it does say it should get better with time.....a skeleton from no appetite. I will give it some more time, it helps with your anxiety? I have been feeing uneasy....an uneasiness with the amphetamine, will talk to therapist about that and maybe switch to Vyvanase... I was just so amped for some sort of breakthrough....a lifting. I feel numb to all my interests but not to the deep depression. And still zero energy....very leaden still.....
todreaminblue Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 I felt totally numb on meds,i was on antidepressants and an anti pyschotic, I have started taking meds again, i am extremely low i have three weeks plus for them to work have decided being numb fro a while might be the best option for me, They make me very tired, and yes doesnt take the lowness away i am guinea pigging the new one they gave me which is a combined anti depressant and anti pyschotic......my creativity has gone already, its strange that it takes so long for them to work but the side effects happen immediately...or maybe i have just given up ...dont know....tell you i three weeks plus if the new concoction works or i am worse........deb
Jake0711 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 YES. i am currently on lexapro for 2 weeks and truthfully i feel amazing. no low points yet and i have just recently got dumped after a year of dating. was very depressed and these seem to have helped alot.
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 Yes, my sense of humor, wit is gone or dulled, the benzo however is my saving grace at night...it relaxes me, feels good, if the side effect was not knocking me out for 8-12 hours depending on if 2-4 mg, chomping on those all day would be my cure...if formuated with minus the sleepiness.
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 Why am I still completey leadened....I am failing at life/living...I needed to simply pay some online bills....and the steps to do that seemed to daunting:(
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 You may be right, just caught that with the benzo....it may be the culprit that is making me soooooooo tired...drained, maybe halfing the dose. The amphetamine is to make me have energy....athough it is not working how it should be.
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 I felt totally numb on meds,i was on antidepressants and an anti pyschotic, I have started taking meds again, i am extremely low i have three weeks plus for them to work have decided being numb fro a while might be the best option for me, They make me very tired, and yes doesnt take the lowness away i am guinea pigging the new one they gave me which is a combined anti depressant and anti pyschotic......my creativity has gone already, its strange that it takes so long for them to work but the side effects happen immediately...or maybe i have just given up ...dont know....tell you i three weeks plus if the new concoction works or i am worse........deb What do you take the mixed pill for if you wish to share?
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 One more question, I enjoy having a spirit once in awhile, and have read to be careful when taking antidepressants....has anyone had a problem with that...I will experiment at home first, just one glass or two (really all I need if ever socializing) to make sure it does not impede my senses to much.
todreaminblue Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 What do you take the mixed pill for if you wish to share? schizo affective disorder so they say plus diagnosed with clinical depression...its actually a pretty bad mix to have, wont go into the reasons why,its a bit of a battle and it was triggered externally,anyway i understand your finding simple tasks daunting,i end up with a pile of unopened mail i ferret it away luckily i have a supportive family so i am ok......i am functioning......what side effects have you noticed coming up?
todreaminblue Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 One more question, I enjoy having a spirit once in awhile, and have read to be careful when taking antidepressants....has anyone had a problem with that...I will experiment at home first, just one glass or two (really all I need if ever socializing) to make sure it does not impede my senses to much. Dont drink at all, renders the anti depressant ineffectual
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 I’d still consult with your doctor before “adjusting” anything you do with your meds. Try halving the benzo though if you want to. Do you ONLY take it at night? If so, you said it makes you feel good. I assume it makes you feel warm and cosy and sleepy so everything else (the problems) aren’t as “close” anymore. It’s a relief. If you take these in the day, or if their effects last into the day, you will probably feel very zombie-like, tired, dopey, lethargic and that thing you said about even paying a bill online being daunting, this is how I feel when I’m over-tired. The amphetamine is to give you energy, eh? Hmm. That’s interesting. I’m of course not a doctor, but I still find that odd. I’d think that if you’re not alleviating the mental / emotional unhappiness and anxiety you have (either with life changes, counseling or other medications), taking amphetamines would either not work at all like it’s supposed to, or it’d give you energy but it’d be NEGATIVE energy because you’d still not feel motivated or “alive”. You’d just feel restless and uncomfortable and not relaxed at all. Yeah, my meds (Zoloft) is apparently used for depression AND mild anxiety (particularly social anxiety). I’ve always been prone to social anxiety and mild anxiety (manifesting itself in extreme self consciousness, mild OCD symptoms and a general over-thinking / worrying state of mind) and mild depression (which manifests itself not in typical flatness mostly, but more that I can’t deal with normal things like showering everyday – I do DO this, by the way. I don’t smell, I assure you. Lol – and working a proper full time job, as well as avoiding household chores. I can’t deal with things that don’t make me at least slightly happy and haven’t been able to for many years, long before my current situation), and my ex leaving me 2 months ago (as well as being on a constant emotional rollercoaster for 6 months previous) left me with such acute symptoms, I went on the medication. I just wanted relief from the nausea, total lack of appetite, chest pain (all due to intense stress and tension) and the sadness, crying, lack of wanting to do anything (depression), as well as the constant churning and repetitive thoughts (anxiety). And it’s worked. Thank god. 1
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 Good thinking....I bet the benzos are overlapping into the day...about to fall face first now in a slumber....need to start tapering down, will call MD. I do not have a history of depression, and felt I did better before therapy and starting all these meds over the last couple years. I will give it a few more weeks and if it continues....will seek advice.
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) Has there been a specific event in your life that has caused you to go on these meds? If so, how long has it been since it happened, or is it ongoing? I know you mentioned you have had the depression problems for a while (well, you said the feelings weren't "new"), but you’ve only recently gone onto the meds so that’s why I ask about a specific event. You also said you did better BEFORE therapy? How come you commenced therapy? What I’d recommend for you is… - Therapy (yes, I know. lol. You said you felt better before the therapy, but I still think if it's the RIGHT therapy, it will help) - An anti-depressant that is fairly mild, and that you stick with it for at least 6 weeks to make sure it’s really working and has stabilized in your system. If after this time it’s still making you feel terrible and unstable emotionally, go back to the doctor to try something else. Keep doing this until you find one that helps you feel more on top of things. - I’d lose the amphetamines altogether. I don’t think this helps, but again, I’m no doctor of course! Lol. - The benzo, I’d be careful with. They’re very addictive and can “change” you in terms of becoming a “zombie” more so than SSRIs. - Don’t taper off anything without consulting your doctor, be completely honest when you do talk to your doctor and tell him everything you’ve been feeling. There’s no rush to taper off anything anyway really. Some people do best on medication for quite a long time and that’s ok if it’s right for you. - When you DO taper off, do so SOOOOOO SLOOOOWLY. Seriously. The effects can be horrendous if rushed. Edited February 5, 2013 by stevie_23
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 Long story and many poor choices and other non related and related bad occurences happening in my life. I started different meds, a couple years ago, on the benzos for 2 years, and yes I cut cold turkey for 2 days once, not knowing that it is a bad idea, head was wrapped around a toilet vomiting non stop and muscle/joint pain spasms....I just know this leadened depression has to go....you can only be this way for so long.
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 I don't know whether what you're feeling is depression or if it's the effects of the meds you're on, particularly the benzos. Some anti-depressants are supposed to give you more energy (in a subtle way), so this would be contradicting the effect of the benzos, which make you sedated. Also the benzos would be contradicting the amphetamines as well.
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 I don't know whether what you're feeling is depression or if it's the effects of the meds you're on, particularly the benzos. Some anti-depressants are supposed to give you more energy (in a subtle way), so this would be contradicting the effect of the benzos, which make you sedated. Also the benzos would be contradicting the amphetamines as well. I think it is a combination of it all, and hope to figure it out. I really want the antidepressant to kick in. Keep my fingers crossed. I have been basically dead for a couple years...I can wait it out to figure it out.
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Ok. Yes, wait for the anti-depressants to really kick in. They may not have yet. Sounds like they're still trying to stabilise. Also, you may be expecting SO strongly for these meds to be a "quick fix" that when they weren't making you feel much better right away, you got even MORE depressed because you were disappointed, and then add to that the side effects which would get anybody down, so...yeah. Go to your doctor as soon as possible, ok? Tell him you feel "dead" and lethargic and lacking in life and motivation to do anything and live. Tell him you fall asleep during the day (if you do. I think you mentioned that before). If he mentions tapering off the benzos or switching to another type of med, ok. If he mentions keeping the benzos and increasing your amphetamine dosage, I would not be happy with this. Oh, and apparently Prozac has more side effects than some other anti-depressants...just something I've read.
Divasu Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 The amphetamine is a psychostimulant (an 'upper') Benzos are sedatives (a 'downer') And SSRI (Prozac) is an 'anti' depressant Talk to your doctor further about the combination of psychoactive drugs you are taking... That may be part of the problem and, what were you diagnosed with exactly and what is your medical history? Aside from that, typically, the side effects of starting a new antidepressant are at heightened levels initially, but taper down as you become adjusted to it. The initial side effects tend to subside after a period of time but are totally dependent on how each individual responds/reacts to the specific medication they are taking as each person responds differently to different antidepressants. But you see, now you are taking a benzo (a depressant/sedative) to help counter the side effects. It may be wise to let your body first adjust to the antidepressant before pumping other drugs into your system that you may not even need... If you don't suffer from anxiety/seizures/insomnia in general, there is no reason you need to be on benzos. If you are experiencing insomnia from the antidepressant, a better alternative would be a low dosage of Advil PM an hour or so before you go to sleep. My mother was on a combination of many different similar medications similar, for years. She was basically incoherent, a vegetable. Since she has been tapered off of them through inpatient care and now, ongoing outpatient therapy, her overall mental health is so much better. (Keep in mind, she was abusing Xanax for years (taking up to 10 Xanax per day/1 mg. ea AND something like 500 mg. of opiates on top of it). She was benzo free for 6-7 months and was recently prescribed by her Psychiatrist a benzo (Clonazepam) for 10 days as she suffered an anxiety attack). Explore your options with your doctor. I hope you feel better soon. 1
stevie_23 Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 I totally agree with this post! ^^ Also, regarding the possible insomnia from the anti-depressant, my doctor told me to take one per day at night before bed, but the pharmacist told me to take one in the morning instead because it may cause insomnia. I had insomnia as a kid and did NOT want to go back there again, so I've been having them in the mornings and haven't had any issues at all. I really do feel that you should taper off all but the anti-depressant meds and see how you go.
Author Brit Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 Thanks to all! I was not thinking about it that way, was so fustrated in myself and really giving up...hating myself for being so depressed, non functional, difficult to explain. I do think it is the Benzo.....I think it has been doing all the nasty side effects all along.....being so hazy...tired, no energy. I was not thinking of it at all, esp. the possibility it was making me feel sluggish all day, I figured it's effects would have been worn off by morning. You all have helped alot!!!! My thanks to you:)
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