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Mental health

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Original poster

Should I up my medication

89 replies

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:10

Have suffered with anxiety based depression for as long as I can remember. Anyway since my dd has been born and the stress of dealing with all of the special needs issues my gp put me on ad's last June. I am on Dithiopin 75mg. Went back to see her in December as I was feeling very low and broke down. She asked me to up the dose to 150mg as the dose I was on was to get me started and wasn't a theraputic dosage.
I am so scared to do it incase I am on them for the rest of my life. I know I still need them and don't feel 100% right in myself.
Why am I feeling this way?

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Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:13

hi hun, sorry you're feeling so down..heres a big hug.............
my doc has just put me on lustral(sertraline) which is also for anxiety as well as depression.
ive had 4 others that havent worked so dont be afraid to ask for a change..good luck

miam · 31/01/2005 21:15

Blossomhill, so sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment. I'm afraid I have no experience of the medication you are on so can't give you any advice. Could you phone your doctor to discuss the concerns you have about upping the meds. I'm sure she would put your mind at rest. xxx

vict17 · 31/01/2005 21:15

Hi Blossomhill. I don't have any experience of this myself but do through my sister and her husband iyswim. I think it's a good idea to follow the instructions given by your gp. My brother-in-law has stopped taking his ad's a couple of times and it had disastrous consequences. Since he has been following his gp's advice he is much better. Have you had any counselling?

Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:15

Thanks evesmama {{{}}}

How long have you suffered with it Evesmama? (if you don't mind me asking )

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Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:16

The thing is I am putting on weight and I have heard they can do this. I have already put on a stone and really cannot face putting on any more!

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vict17 · 31/01/2005 21:18

I think I would feel the same in your situation but thinking rationally I guess your state of mind is much more important than how much you weigh - but then the two are so intricably linked - arrgghh, such a tricky one. Perhaps talking it over with your gp - they might have an ad that doesn't mean putting on weight?

Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:20

found it hard even before dd born and when she was i had no help AT ALL(dp was v.v.nervous around her as she was so tiny), then after 9 months, i realised it wasnt the baby blues and bit the bullet and went to doc.
i put weight on with fluoxetine and as im already fat, was annoyed that doc(woman)didnt inform me that they were also used to treat bulemia, so would make me hungry!!!, maybe yours are similar????google their name and see thats all i did.
now my doc(man) will try anything to get me back on track as he's a family man and is lovely, but unfortunatly, he wont use his magic wand on me

Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:23

I will look them up Evesmama thanks

I just feel like eveything piles up and I am so, so disorganised and all over the place. Sometimes I just hate being me and wish I could be a stronger person

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Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:29

it must be 'a typical' symton of pnd/anxiety as thats how i feel too..and worse as im sure you do, but you just dont talk about it do you?[, well im here if you ever need a chat..wont be on much longer tonight tho as jaw aching(abcess), but am heres most nights

vict17 · 31/01/2005 21:34

This may sound obvious but have you tried a to do list before you go to bed? Even if you do just one of the things on the list you'll feel that little bit better. Also make sure you get some fresh air, even if it's just walking to the local shop and back.

Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:35

yes, i agree, getting outside makes a HUGE difference to me..have often gone out in pouring rain, with dd under rain cover and me getting soaked and 'woken up'!

vict17 · 31/01/2005 21:36

I know I should go out every day but I have to really force myself sometimes. I'd much rather sit at home in my pj's. When you don't have any where in particular to go it's really hard to make the effort isn't it?

Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:36

Yes I do Vict. I have to work so hard to be organised but I manage to run a house. Get both children to 2 different schools, looking spotless I must say. My head just feels so scrambled and if I concentrate on anything for too long it really hurts!
Evesmama - thanks I just want to feel normal again and I do have good periods but feel pretty bad at the moment (although have come on today and that doesn't help, have terrible - want to crawl in a hole and die type PMT)

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Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:37

I do have to do the school run and often do a bit of retail therapy as that always cheers me up

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vict17 · 31/01/2005 21:38

I think you are doing a really good job in getting the kids to school. It's the little everyday things that get overlooked that should make you feel proud. But it's so hard to acknowledge them isn't it?

Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:39

have you tried homestart(dot co dot uk i think)
i have a'helper' coming round weekly, they can do allsorts to cleaning, listening, keeping kids amused etc..think you could do with a little help hun
and also you might benefit from speaking to your hv, who could put you in touch with a psychiatric nurse, who ive found to be a great sounding board and they also have the knowledge to help you

LittleMissHappy · 31/01/2005 21:45

I've been on 150mg Dothiepin for probably 10 years now. They keep me well and the way I look at it is that I'd rather take them and feel well, than not take them and be depressed. I have tried coming off but got depressed again, it might be due to stress at the time, or maybe I would have got depressed anyway, I don't know but I do know that I never want to feel like that again. I don't get any side effects from them, and they help me get a really good sleep at night.

75mg isn't a therapeutic dose as your GP said. I have done extremely well on 150mg. My GP talked about putting it higher if I got PND, which I didn't. Maybe they gave me some protection from it. You aren't necessarily going to be on them for life, you can always reduce and come off, and if they don't suit you try another type, but at least give them a go at a proper dose.

And don't worry about how you're feeling, it's because you're down.

PS: I'm a regular but have changed my name.

Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:45

am off for the night now hun(said i was only staying till 9pm, you know what its like
speak to you soon and take care honey, ill be thinking of youx

Original poster

Blossomhill · 31/01/2005 21:49

Ah thanks Evesmama - you are a real sweetie xxx
Littlemisshappy - thank I should try the 150mg but just feel like I will become hooked. Although have to be sensible and realise that I can't go on like this.
Saw a CPN 2 weeks ago and she said that I wasn't severely depressed and referred me for counselling. The minute she started saying did I resent my daughter (who has sn) I really thought no this isn't for me. How could she say that I resent my daughter!!!!

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Evesmama · 31/01/2005 21:52

oh im sorry your cpn was like that, mines lovely and is really helpful, im am careful what isay as i dont want her to think theres'problem', but although its her job she is nice, could you not try for another cpn?or dya think counselling would work?tbh, thats more or less what my cpn does??hope you have a good day tomorrow hun.xxxxx

LittleMissHappy · 31/01/2005 22:04

I can understand your reservations, but they aren't addictive. The way I look at it is that if I was diabetic I'd take insulin, so this is no different.

I do understand how you're feeling though - it's the pits. The list and getting out each day are good suggestions. I can remember being virtually housebound as it was just too much to get dressed and go out. And the fuzzy head sounds very familiar too. It sounds like you're doing extremely well given how you're feeling.

mishi1977 · 31/01/2005 22:14

BH
I am sorry about the cpn being so crap hun...ive been lucky as mine is lovely.. but at least she is referring you for ocunselling which should help even if u can pinpoint why u feel so bad
I have suffered depression on and off most of my life but am now classed as severly depressed and having anxiety as I dont go out much for fear of people outside basically, suicidal and s/h...have been on a number of different meds and am currently not on any (got pg nov but lost pip last month)but i am due to start psychological therapy next week so shall see where we go from there...anyways rambling....i would take the meds as gp prescribed as once at a theraputic level u should notice a big difference however i wouldnt just do meds alone as otherwise u will never find a solition to ur probs..am here if u wanna chat
feel free to cat me...cos i dont go out am usually around..lol

Evesmama · 01/02/2005 09:24

just pooped on b4 dentist to see how your feeling this morning??

kizzie · 01/02/2005 12:04

Dear Blossomhill - You sound as though you are doing a brilliant job considering how bad you are feeling.
I agree that maybe you should follow the drs advice about the medication but i also understand your worries about always having to take medication forever.

This is my big fear. I have taken AD's for 5 years now after PND. Am on quite a low dose now but dont seem able to stop completely. the way Im trying to come to terms with that is to not rely on the medication completely.

So Ive learnt lots of relaxation exercises, read a lot about CBT and try and use the techniques, have changed my working hours, keep an eye on my diet etc etc

I hope you start to feel better soon.
Kizziex

SPARKLER1 · 01/02/2005 12:06

BH - GP started me on ADs a couple of weeks back and told me yesterday that if needs be he can increase the doseage next time I go back. It worried me for a moment but then I realised that I really need to sort myself out at the moment - am so fed up with feeling low. I shall do whatever is necessary now and worry about the other things later. You sound a bit like me - don't hold back if you think they'll help.

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