What ADs are best for exhaustion?

[PoopyFingers]

I have been prescribed the following ADs, not with good results as I am very very tired.

Sertraline - was unconscious within minutes of taking them, and can't really take care of kids in that state.

Citalopram - same, but I stuck with it for 6 weeks - I did have a bit of an improvement but GP advised that if the tiredness was going to sort itself out then it would do so well before 6 weeks would be up.

Lustral / Seroxat - didn't agree with me at all, gave me IBS and left me very jittery.

Fluoxetine - I was prescribed this 10 years ago, with good effect, and am currently on 40g after finding that 20mg was just not enough to lift my low mood. Now, I am exhausted (I found I had good energy levels when on 20mg though). Is the Fluoxetine likely to be making me drowsy, now that I have increased the dose?

I do tend to suffer bad exhaustion and hypersomnia when stressed, and am extremely stressed at the moment. I just can't be tired, as I have a 14 hour day with 2 DSs, 4 and 2.4, and have a great deal to do in addition to childcare.

Any suggestions?

I'm on 20mg of Citalopram and had to start taking it last thing at night due to it causing daytime tiredness when I had it in the morning. I'd been taking it for weeks before I realised that it was causing this and that I did actually have the option of taking it at bedtime.

I think the problem is not in the ADs, it is in the 'I just can't be tired'. 14 hours with kids plus extra make you tired, low mood and fighting low mood makes you tired. You are simply not well and tiredness is part of that. Can you make any changes to your daily life to give you some scope for rest. Just half an hour with a book can make a huge difference.

I agree with madmouse in that you have a lot to deal with. It might be worth checking your diet (if you have time:) ) as sometimes eating the wrong foods can make you tired and leave you deficient in vitamins.

Perhaps also get your iron levels and thyroid checked as both conditions can leave you feeling tired.

Thanks for all your replies

I have had thyroid, bloods etc checked - the exhaustion is all down to circumstances, but not helped by some of the ADs I've had lately.

DP commutes 6:30am - 8pm so it's a long day for us both, and DS1 (4) can be rather difficult (waiting for ASD diagnosis )

Diet is quite good - we're skint so no takeaways or anything, just nice home cooked food.

Also trying to prepare house for sale, as we wish to move closer to DPs work. It's a long, long day, and I get very little done - trying to paint the ceiling with DSs, 4 and 2.4 is not easy...

I too suffered from incredible fatigue of Fluoxetine, Citalopram, etc. The one that did not have this effect was Venlafaxine. It is also known as Effexor. It was certainly the best I took with regards to sorting the depression and not having the fatigue side-effects. Think carefully about it though and discuss it with your specialist and do some research first as it is notoriously difficult to come off of.

Have you anyone you can call on for help?

I am so worried about all you young people having to do so much, so many threads with so many people rushing about trying to cope with childcare, work, little money, no family living near, friends but they all work etc. etc. :(

midnightservant Yes, it's a sad thing now - my mum says when she was young everyone had family nearby, and you didn't need counsellors as everyone could talk to other women whilst hanging out washing etc

We have no family nearby, friends are all busy with their own DC / work etc.

This too shall pass - but bloody hell when.....!