aglomentine (valdoxan) can you get from NHS

[Mackers123]

Hi all, I am thinking of trying Aglomentine but wanted to now if any of you have got this via NHS or private prescription in England?

Also, what do you think of it? I have heard it either works or doesn't but either way no real side affects.

Thanks

Yes, you can get agomelatine from the NHS but it would have to be from a psychiatrist as it’s less commonly used. In terms of side effects it can make you feel really sick and have headaches and insomnia. More dangerously, it sometimes causes liver damage. People on agomelatine have to have regular liver function blood tests. Can I ask, why would you want to be prescribed this rather than one of the more standard antidepressants?

Thank you for reply.
The feedback I've read was positive with hardly any side effects. I did read about the testing for liver damage but the tests are there to prevent any damage.
I have tried several standard ADs and none work I'm afraid.

Fair enough Your right that liver function tests would ideally pick up any damage before it gets too bad-however, once a blood test is picking it up that means that some damage has already happened. That's always worth bearing in mind. Regular monitoring is really important with this drug.
You say that you've tried several other ADs and that they haven't worked. Was that through your GP? If yes, then they should be willing to refer you to a psychiatrist for treatment resistant depression. Agomelatine is quite well known in secondary care and so they should be reasonably happy to prescribe.

I’ve had this on the NHS after most of the commoner antidepressants didn’t work. It also didn’t work longer term but didn’t have side effects for me. Psychiatrist prescribed.

It made my anxiety much worse. I couldn’t settle in it. Slept like a log though.

Thank you 😊

Some through GP, others psychiatrist. I've now got a private prescription and will talk to GP about this. I will definitely have regular blood tests. Thanks for advice

I'm hoping to sleep better 😴

Do you mind sharing which private psych / clinic you’ve used? I’ve reached out to a few today and waiting to hear back.

Sadly there is a lot of commissioning red tape around Agomelatine prescribing and every area varies (Devon don’t prescribe, but Kent & Medway will).

Do you mind sharing which private psych / clinic you’ve used? I’ve reached out to a few today and waiting to hear back.

Sadly there is a lot of commissioning red tape around Agomelatine prescribing and every area varies (Devon don’t prescribe, but Kent & Medway will).

I ended up having a breakdown on this, it's incredibly mild. My anxiety was too extreme for it to have an effect. Didn't have any side effects though, just had to have liver tests regularly

Have you tried an antidepressant with a mood stabilisers as an adjunct? That’s quite often prescribed in psychiatry. If you take a second generation ATP as the adjunct it will help you sleep. X

Sounds about right to me. Mirtazepine and fluoxetine or similar is a combination often used. Or an antidepressant and low dose of Quetiapine. Or even lithium, sometimes.

Agomelatin is expensive and the evidence base isn’t fantastic so some NHS trusts don’t use it at all. That being said, presumably some people will respond to it as it has been licensed, and side effects are usually mild.

Therapy is also important if antidepressants aren’t working. CBT, IPT, ACT, psychodynamic psychotherapy. Various options, some only available through secondary care.

Good luck OP, I hope things work out for you.

Sorry, above was in reply to Dogsarebetterthanhumans

Lithium and Quetiapine are meant to be helpful for treatment resistant depression. Also Lamogitrine l believe.

l’vr struggled with them all. Eventually hit gold on Venlafaxine.

Venlafaxine with Quetiapine as an adjunct is used for treatment resistant depression too.

pretty much any SNRI with Quetiapine

No I haven't, it's never been offered so wasn't aware. Thanks I will look into that

Are you taking Venlafaxine with something else? I'm on Venlafaxine now and it's made me more depressed 😔

I’ve been on agomelatine for eons. It was originally prescribed by a private psychiatrist but my GP took over the prescription. It works a bit for me but isn’t great. As in it makes me better but doesn’t make me well (a period of it taught me that).

What has been marvellous for my treatment resistant depression is vortioxetine. I can almost function now I’m on that too. I know data is not the plural of anecdote but a friend of mine who was very ill has also found vortioxetine to make a massive difference to her. Mine was suggested to my GP by a psychiatrist overseeing a drug trial I was on and I’ve been on it since. I felt effects within a week and haven’t had any notable side effects.

It might be another drug to look at OP

No just on its own. I felt rough during the first few weeks.