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Terrible sleepless night after first cipramil any advice

39 replies

breakfastfairy · 21/11/2006 09:53

I tokk my first cipramil 20mg yesterday at midday for depression and anxiety. I felt dreadful all day and last night lay away panicking and having horrid dreams/memories. Im scared to turn into a zombie on the tablets, I have had some great happy times without them but I am struggling with overload worrying, paranoid thinking and irrational thoughts so it seems I need something. Any advice on these side effects ?

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breakfastfairy · 27/11/2006 12:34

thanks for your messages, I have been on my own this morning, went to town something I normally love, felt that was too much and panicked and came home. Parents coming this afternoon, seems like Im counting the minutes till Im not alone again, its like torture, does everyone feel like this with depression, its exhausting and terrifying. I was calmer at the weekend when husband here with me, normally Im quite happy for him to get from under my feet !

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KezzaG · 26/11/2006 17:46

I have only just had time to catch up with this BF, I am glad to hear you have persevered and things are a little better.

I bet more people than you realise have suffered with depression, so rather than think you less capable Im sure some of them will recognise the illness for what it is and sympathise.

I hope you carry on feeling better.

bakedpotato · 24/11/2006 13:50

You sound like you're doing brilliantly today; that's great news.
No one will think less of you for being ill. They'll see what a horrible time you are having ATM and anyone with any insight will wonder how on earth they would get through it.
They'll also be so glad to see you getting better.

fizzbuzz · 24/11/2006 11:39

Completely normal -it will go. I remeber when I was like this, went out for meal with dp and was absolutely terrified all night, although nothing to be scared off (well the waiters might have been a bit scary

He also had to sleep cuddling me tight all night in case (get this) I floated off somewhere.. (what the....?). So not just you. It all seems laughable now. But not at the time..

It will improve, I promise

breakfastfairy · 24/11/2006 10:44

thanks for your support, I am feeling slightly calmer now, my husband went back to work for the morning today as I have not wanted to be alone since Monday, more like terrified of being alone. I have been on my own since 9am when I dropped my dd at nursery and even tho I have those negative thoughts physically I am calmer, perhaps the tablets are starting to calm me down its day 5 now of the citalopram. I have a panic when he left for work and tried to phone lots of people and then the panic lessened and I managed to get on with the trip to nursery. This sounds so pathetic these things I normally just do, Isuppose it really is an illness. Slightly embarrased that lots of people close to me have seen me in this way and think I am less capable

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fizzbuzz · 23/11/2006 13:24

Breakfast Fairy it will improve. Just give them time to work. I remember been too scared to take sertraline, and sitting there with it in front of me for ages. However by end of first week anxiety had improved and by end of third week had practically gone.

If it really is too difficult, switch to one of older tca drugs. I'm on amitryptiline and it is very calming and makes me sleep well.

I've taken sertraline, prozac and doithiapen(ad junkie...)but current drug is best.

You will feel better I promise

bakedpotato · 23/11/2006 10:51

x-possed, b-fairy.
So sorry to hear things still vv hard.
Depression came in waves for me too, and I found that so painful, never knowing if I was out of the woods.
If you feel sadder than ever and less able to cope it's worth going back to GP and saying that... Yes you should expect some sideeffects but you shouldn't be feeling worse. (A doc told me this when I was very reluctant to come off the sertraline. I'd assumed I had to feel worse before I got better.)
Thinking of you, keep at it... You're taking action, that's a massive achievement considering the way you're feeling. You won't feel like this forever. Promise.

bakedpotato · 23/11/2006 10:41

Alexa, my anxiety got worse when I was on sertraline.
I then switched to dosulepin/dothiepin which is not an SSRI and had no sideeffects (apart from very deep sleeps ).
How are you, breakfastfairy?

breakfastfairy · 23/11/2006 10:38

I am managing to sleep now last night got 5 -6 hours, the depression is still here, it comes in waves, Im on day 4 of the citalopram 10mg my GP said the 20mg was making me jittery which is true but I suppose the scary feelings of being unable to cope are greater in some ways. If I think about my life at the moment it seems pointless and tiring with no pleasure and that makes me even sadder, I suppose thatis just depression. There are things Ineed to change but i cant think anymore, this seems to big this time. hope it gets better as I havenever been unable to cope with looking after my 3 year dd before.

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Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 21:48

I took 50mg of Sertraline for the 1st week, &
was lucky cos only had v.mild sleep problems. Took 50mg for 4 months & have been on 100mg for past 6 months & had no adverse effects.

Sex life still good, better than when I wasn't on the AD's, & i've always been prone to insomnia but certainly no worse on the Ad's than b4.

fizzbuzz · 22/11/2006 21:31

Breakfast Fairy, I had this on sertraline. Terrible anxiety and couldn't sleep.
Doctor told me after this to take 1/2 dose for a week, and then move up to full dose.
He also said they often prescribe valium for the first four weeks on ssri's as they can cause anxiety at first. I took Valium with sertraline for first four weeks. At the end of that all the anxiety had disappered (I think by 3 weeks), and I felt much much better, but still didn't sleep.

I switched to one of the older ad's as the ssri's revved me up to much, and killed sex drive stone dead.

alexa1 · 22/11/2006 21:12

is setraline an ssri?

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 21:09

Think Prozac is an ssri too

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 21:08

SSri's- yeas I think they are the new breed of Ad's.

Something to do with Seratonin, but not sure of the whole title!

alexa1 · 22/11/2006 21:06

sertraline - is it an ssri? and prozac?
ssri's are the new anti-depressants i believe.

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 21:04

I would definately rate Sertraline.

I did not want to go back on to AD's cos I felt i'd been off them for so long, taking them again would feel like weakness.

My quality of life & my dd's quality of life are greatly improved by my now being mentally stable (i.e on AD's) I want to get up in the morning to take her to baby gym & I want to take her to the park.

Taking AD's isn't a sign of being 'Mental' or 'Weak Minded' Depression is an illness, an illness which can kill if left untreated. Seeking the help you need when you feel so low is the hardest & most strong minded thing you'll ever have to do.

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 20:58

Prozac & Seroxat were the 2 which really worked
for me. But cos dd is still feeding taking them isn't an option (they are both used by b.feeding mums, but Sertraline is the safeest AD to take when bfeeding, so thats the 1 i'm on)

On both Prozac & Seroxat I felt very wierd & spaced out for the 1st week of taking them, after 7-10 days felt bloody wonderful.

You have to give your body time to adjust to the chemicals floating around in your blood system, if your depressed you have a chemical imbalance, it'll take time for that imbalance to right itself.

alexa1 · 22/11/2006 20:57

a few people have mentioned sertraline. it sounds like a good AD. people on here recommend it.
could i ask my GP for this AD. is it the new type ssri?

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 20:52

Should have added I have had some V.nasty side
effects with certain AD's (seeing Mr Men & thinking I was driving Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to name but 2!)

It can take a while to find one which suits you.

alexa1 · 22/11/2006 20:51

i felt awful. had nighmares, couldn't sleep, was breaking out in sweats. i just felt worse than i orinally felt.

Adorabelle · 22/11/2006 20:49

I'm 30 now & since the age of 16 have been on
7 different AD's.

Since having dd my depression/anxiety is nowhere near as bad as it has been in the past but I felt myself slipping a bit a while ago.

I'm now taking 100mg of Sertraline daily, sounds alot when you think an average dose of Prozac is 20mg. But I told my GP I was b.feeding & she said this dose wouldn't have any effect on my dd at all. You can safely take upto 200mg Sertraline daily, it works for me.

earlysbird · 22/11/2006 20:48

oops, sorry!

earlysbird · 22/11/2006 20:48

I wonder what it is in them that makes you feel weird - I got all sweaty, heart was pounding, felt like it was going to burst out of my chest! I hardly slept all night. What did it do to you, if you don't mind me asking?

earlysbird · 22/11/2006 20:48

I wonder what it is in them that makes you feel weird - I got all sweaty, heart was pounding, felt like it was going to burst out of my chest! I hardly slept all night. What did it do to you, if you don't mind me asking?

alexa1 · 22/11/2006 20:41

earlysbird - citalopram made me feel terrible so i am now taking escitalopram which doesn't seem as bad. the pharmacist told me that escitalopram is a modified version of citalopram. weird isn't it?