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Original poster

Message for toothache (or anyone) re. sepia

19 replies

kizzie · 23/05/2004 21:24

Hi - other MN's have just kindly led me to a thread where you talked about using sepia. Im really struggling with AD withdrawal and just wondered which make you used and what dose / how you took them.

Thanks for any info.
Kizziex

OP posts:
Original poster
kizzie · 24/05/2004 10:49

Just bumping this to try and make sure toothache sees it.
xx

OP posts:
Toothache · 24/05/2004 13:07

Hi Kizzy - Sepia worked wonders for me! I can't remember the brand name of the one I used, but it was in a bright green container. Boots also do the same in there own brand which is cheaper.

I can't take them just now as I'm pregnant. But will definitely stock up after the birth.

I used the 6cc dosage and took 2 pillules twice a day.... I also crunched a couple extra a day during bad times around my period time. If you need a boost purely around the time of your period then try the 30cc dose for the 5 days prior to it starting.

No idea how or why it worked for me, but it did. And it was recommended to me by my GP.

Good luck, hope things improve for you.

Original poster
kizzie · 24/05/2004 16:37

Hi Toothache - thanks for replying! i was really hoping youd see this After 3 yrs still find it staggering how much help and info is available on MN!

Can I ask you a couple of other questions?

Were your symptoms 'down' or anxious - or a bit of a mix of both?

How long did u take it for (can u just take for as long as necessary?)

Also - do you chew them/suck them /stick them under your tongue?? (Ive had a homeopathic remedy for something unrelated in the past but it was in a liquid form)

Thanks again (and good luck with the pregnancy!)
Kizziex

OP posts:
Original poster
kizzie · 24/05/2004 17:10

Sorry toothache - forgot one last question. In the other thread you mentioned another mumsnetter who had used sepia to get off AD's. realise you might not want to post name here but if you are still in touch with them would you mind passing on my username to them in case they might be prepared to talk about it.
Dont worry if not.
Thanks
Kizziex

OP posts:
Toothache · 25/05/2004 08:52

Hi Kizzie - I had PND which manifested itself as a black depression that consumed me, daily panic attacks and slight agoraphobia. I didn't realise they were panic attacks at the time, but looking back it fitted the criteria perfectly. I sometimes got so hysterical I actually wet myself. This went on for 18mths until my GP recommended sepia. By then the occurances had dropped from daily to weekly, but soon they were isolated to around the time of my period.

You can suck or crunch them.... doesn't matter. I found the crrrrunching therapeutic in itself though. As if I was taking my agression out on the pillule!

The depression eased and I found myself dealing with things better. It took a LOT to reduce me to hysteria instead of trivial things triggering it. DH noticed the difference within a couple of days of starting the sepia.

I am still in touch with the other MN'er so will pass on your posting name. Unfortunately she has stopped posting on MN though.

I hope it works as well for you as it did for me. And although it is marvellous stuff I really hope I don't need it after this wee one is born.... 10wks to go!

Original poster
kizzie · 25/05/2004 12:37

Toothache - thankyou so much for all the info!! I really really appreciate it.

Just about to print it off.

Im 3 weeks off the AD's now but still taking a very small dose of valium which Im weaning off (only on 1 1/2mg now - had to take it because of the severe reax to swapping from seroxat to prozac ) I think from what Ive read that its ok to take the sepia at same time though.

Good luck for the next 10 weeks! Ill be looking out for your birth announcement. Dont know if its any reassurance but one of my friends also had severe pnd with her first child and was terrified about it returning after her 2nd. She had the tablets waiting in the cupboard but she was absolutely fine. Her second child is nearly 2 now and it just never reappeared. In fact I went round one day to see her and found her in tears. I immediately thought 'it' was back but in fact she was crying because she felt so happy and was so relieved that she hadn't been affected 2nd time round .

Kizziex

OP posts:
Toothache · 25/05/2004 14:18

Thanks Kizzie... Let me know how it goes for you and good luck.

noddy5 · 25/05/2004 14:29

does sepia work for pmt?

Toothache · 25/05/2004 15:02

Noddy5 - Yup...

sleeplessmum2be · 27/05/2004 08:51

Toothache i've got 11 weeks to go and my homeopath has just prescribed me Sepia/ Are you a homeopath? Should i be taking it? I have taken remedies throughout this and my previous pregnancies for all sorts of stuff. Actually i took sepia last time too and i know others that did too!! Would love to know your point of view on this?

Toothache · 27/05/2004 09:03

Sleeplessmum2be - No I'm not a homeopath, but I discussed it with my GP, and the pharmacist in Lloyds and also the staff in Holland & Barret. They all told me that as they really don't know the risks associated with this particular treatment then it's not recommended in pregnancy. As with most things though, if they don't have evidence or research showing one way or the other then it's just matter of waying up the risks on a personal basis.

St Johns Wort is a definite NO when pregnant as it effects hormone levels (which is why it's so good for PMT etc). I s'pose the health professionals are thinking that perhaps Sepia works in much the same way.

sleeplessmum2be · 27/05/2004 09:20

thanks for that toothache, i was trying to be careful how i worded my posting so as not to offend or inflame anyone. Sentiments i still stick to if anyone disagrees. However, i have been into homeopathy for about 10-15 years and have have found it a blessing at times (as well as a huge frustration at others) My sil is a qualified homeopath although i do not use her apart from to steal remedies whenever i want and in emergencies at ridiculous hours of the night when my ds has been sick, hell what a sil's for. Anywyay i have been told numerous times that homeopathy is perfectly safe as it is such a miniscule dosage and works in completely different ways to any other 'medicine' I have also been told like you not to touch herbal stuff as it is too strong and to be really careful with aromotherapy. But as said before homeopathy has been fantastic for me, am taking sepia now! and have taken loads of remedies throughout this and previous pregnancy. There are also quite a few books written on homeopathy in pregancy. SOOOOOOO sorry this sounds a bit lectury but the reason for posting is that if homepathy has helped you (or anyone else) in the past and you feel that it may help again it should be OK. Ring Ainsworths or the Royal College of Homeopathy and ask their opinion. Basically you dont need to struggle. Hoping to help !!!!

sleeplessmum2be · 27/05/2004 09:23

by the way have been taking an remedy called Aranearum Tela 30c for last two week and have managed to step up my sleeping from approx 2-3 hours to 3-6 hours Not bad eh!! Yeh im also fairly cynical and i know it might be a coincidence but so tired dont really care whats achieved it.

Toothache · 27/05/2004 09:49

I'm showing my ignorance now as I assumed St.Johns Wort was also a homeopathic remedy.

sleeplessmum2be · 27/05/2004 09:57

no toothache it is a plant extract, ie herbal. Homeopathic remedies are so infinitesimal doses that many many people do not believe they work at all and therefore it is easy to see why others would be of the view that they cannot contraindicate.

Original poster
kizzie · 27/05/2004 17:36

Hi - me again.

I got the 'green' one toothache (Nelsons).
It says on the bottle - '2 pillules every 2 hours for first 6 doses then 4 times daily for up to 5 days or until symptoms improve.'

Is that how you took it (if you can remember)- or how you are going to take it sleeplessmumtobe?

Also Toothache - it sounds from your original note that you actually took it for quite a while (rather than just a few days???)

Sorry for all the questions - Im so careful about taking anything now after my run in with AD's.

Im so relieved just to have something to try. Just had a major meltdown this afternoon and sobbing for absolutely no reason. Still going to really try and stay off the AD'S.

Will probably try SJW before that but I know its quite strong and doesnt always agree with everyone.

The Homeopathy may not be quite enough though - noticed in you message Toothache that u were already on the mend when u started the sepia.

Anyway - sorry didnt meant this to be such a long note.

Kizziex

OP posts:
Toothache · 28/05/2004 10:27

Kizzie - I just took it for as long as I felt I needed to.
I was feeling a bit better, but only in the sense that the feelings of hopelessness and despair happened less often. For the first few months it was daily. And I often felt so suicidal I was scared of what was going on in my own mind! I used to phone DH at his work hysterical and beg him to come home right away. Sometimes I felt like running out of the house straight onto the main road with my eyes closed and just see what happened, I thought if a lorry hits me then so be it, if it doesn't I'll do it again tomorrow. Even typing that fills me with horror.... I can't believe I cared so little about whether I lived or died! Strangely I never felt any anger at my ds and I NEVER wanted to hurt him. I just loved him so much and thought he'd be better off with just his Daddy.

shudder<

Don't know why I just typed all that.... sorry for spilling my guts all over your thread.

Thanks for clarifying that for me Sleeplessmum2be.

Girly · 28/05/2004 10:48

sleeplessmum2be, would you mind if I emailed you about the Sepia in pregnancy, I would like to ask a few questions?!

Original poster
kizzie · 28/05/2004 11:38

Toothache - thanks for replying.
(The horror of it all is terrible isnt it.
Im so so glad that the sepia worked for you!!)
You must have only about 9 weeks to go now
Hope you manage to get some rest over next few weeks.
Kizziex

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