Seroxat

[3plus2]

Don't think I like this :( also posted in general health. Googled it says weight gain some up to 3 stone ! And highly addictive ! I'm feeling sick and dizzy right now I will not be taking any more of this stuff

[Flickdrinkwater]

I was prescribed it years ago, I took it for a day, walked into the nearest pharmacy and handed it in to be destroyed. It made me feel dizzy/slightly high, and is massively addictive, there was a panorama programme on it shortly after, it was scary!

[3plus2]

That's the same as me they are awful I feel totally zonked out ! I was told they are safe when breast feeding but my LO has slept nearly all day these are going straight back! Did u find anything that worked better?

[Clarella]

Be careful just stopping this drug suddenly, I had it years ago and had to be weaned off by taking a liquid form that could be slowly reduced and beta blockers to counteract the rushing feelings I got. Ironically the beta blockers have since been fabulous and I've taken them from time to time over the last 15 years, however no idea if you can if bf and can't take in pregnancy. You must ask to try other drugs and follow advice ok.stopping esp with seroxat x

[3plus2]

I've had one I'm too scared to take another

[Clarella]

I know that they say you've got to keep going with ads for a few weeks to get into them and feel the benefits but seroxat is notoriously difficult - I'm not sure stopping after one is too bad but I REALLY don't want to give 'medical advice', just my own experience. Are you worried they are affecting Lo? There are 'discontinuation' side effects with seroxat but no idea if one could do it. Could you call an out of hours gp service? alternatively try a late night pharmacist for advice? I've personally never reacted well to prozac, seroxat or citilopram (sp?) though the last one I tried for only one weekend, called out of house gp feeling wired to to moon and similar to seroxat and was advised not to take any more. As I said, beta blockers (and cbt) worked a dream for anxiety for me (a half day slow release one, 80mg) BUT - I have no idea about bf, going to ask about it and beta blockers myself, but have been told sertraline can be prescribed in preg and bf I think. You do need to speak to a professional really though xx

[3plus2]

Yes I can't look after a baby in the state I was in I was just really not with it! Also the baby slept all day and her eyes looked glassy. My gp dismissed this as nonsense some help she is. I'm going to have to battle through alone

[Clarella]

Hmm, not good at all - tbh I'd maybe ask to be referred to a perinatal psych consultant or at least a second opinion - is it for pnd or anxiety? I don't know much but have been suffering from AND but mainly extreme anxiety, Ive been given an appointment with a perinatal mental health consultant who knows all about the drugs etc in pregnancy and bf - sertraline was suggested as well as something else I can't remember the name of. I've managed without but was willing to find out more about trying these if struggling after pregnancy so I've got the choice (or if ok to use beta blockers if needed.) I thought seroxat tended to be used for anxiety (though depression too) but there are definately other drugs that can be tried. This other drug that was suggested for anxiety can be taken as and when its needed not daily (wish I knew what it was!)

I never technically needed antidepressants, they didn't diagnose my underactive thyroid for a year when 20 and its wobbled again during pregnancy - can cause low mood, depression and anxiety too. Very common after pregnancy, have you been.checked?

Hope you're ok op xx

[3plus2]

No it hasn't for a while but always come back normal . I have anxiety aswell where I get so worried I get sick to the stomach and I think I also have pnd as I'm getting very snappy and have no motivation at all

[Clarella]

Can you ask for a referral for perinatal counselling or normal cbt and look at other meds for the anxiety? Perinatal referral would be quicker. Anxiety is quite a complex thing and causes depression. I never understood this till did some cbt. I needed the beta blockers too and had no side effects at all from these. They also gave me a book sort of for homework called 'overcoming anxiety' (there's a whole series) which the nhs use and recommend you can get from library or on Amazon. My anxiety had flared during pregnancy as the thyroid has and I've had to revisit the book and am.getting support from perinatal but so far avoided drugs. Ask again for a thyroid test to be on safe side too. You may find they recommend you keep going with the ads but I do understand how the side affects make you feel xx

Also try www.pandasfoundation.org.uk

[3plus2]

Thank you I will look into all of the above. I had a bit of a panic attack in the shops today :( I kept going light headed then thought maybe I had a brain tumour it was really horrible I've never had this before as bad as it was I'm now scared to go shopping :/

[Clarella]

How are you today op? Have you been back to the doctors?

[3plus2]

Not too bad, no not been back they are hopeless it's hard just getting an appointment! I'm trying to keep busy and seems to be helping ......

[Clarella]

Think about changing docs and maybe try that book from the library - I've never done the book thing before but that made a lot of sense. There's some online things too, ill try and find the links. The only thing I do know is that for many women with pnd and actually for anyone with depression (inc anxiety based) is that anti ds can work very well, you may need to try a couple before finding the right one and they can take a good few weeks to properly kick in. They don't work for me but I know many people who found they did. Look after yourself and stay strong - distraction by keeping busy is good xx

[Clarella]

Google moodjuice, 3plus2, its an online cbt resource. Also the mind website has lots of helpful resources and factsheets.

dunno if this helps but....Anxiety controls our perception of stuff and this in turn feeds the adrenaline and fight/flight response which in turn affects perception of things again, so the cycle continues. This also affects seratonin levels in the brain. Then problem solving skills (rationalising and tackling things that life throws at us) break down as smaller and smaller triggers kick start the fight/flight response - then hey presto you can.go 0 - 60 with a random panic attack which appears to be unrelated to anything and out of the blue on top of which the physical symptoms (blood pressure, light headedness, sickness) further frighten us - its a massive cycle and it begins to engrain its self into your daily life - basically a habit of crooked thinking. Cbt can.help break it back down to route causes and help to re learn thinking skills, challenge perceptions and find ways to deal with intrusive repetitive thoughts. (distraction good) This in turn slowly helps to lessen adrenaline surges. Adrenaline can hang about in.the body for some time following a surge. Depression is something different but anxiety can trigger it too - we loose confidence and self esteem when worrying and panicking for example. I'm not v good at following all this myself all the time tbh but after learning all this I found that both recognising symptoms and at the moment revisiting some of the perception stuff is helpful. It takes buckets of time too so be patient and take it a step at a time xx

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1849010714?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Don't take too much notice of amazon reviews, it won't all apply to each individual persons difficulties. There's examples of being scared of dogs - but just replace that with other things personal to you. try a library and there will be other books too that might help. Sod the stigma and make out you're doing an essay at college ;) xx