Long Term Anti depressant users - would you give me some advice please

[kizzie]

I hope no-one minds me putting this here rather than in mental health - its just that I'm looking for responses from the 'on tablets and well' ladies - and I know when Im ok I tend to be everywhere other than the mental health board. (And I know some of the lovely ladies in the past ive spoken to about this come on this board)

(If you cant face reading this whole post - and frankly i dont blame you- i'll put some pecifics questions at the bottom. Would really really appreciate any input x)

Long story short - i suffered severe PND nearly 11 years ago.(no previous history) Got well eventually on seroxat but then went through debilitating withdrawal several times. (in between times would be ok on relatively low doses of AD's)

Finally swtiched to a tricyclic AD (clomipramine)in 2004 and eventually did very well on that. Came off very slowly in 2006 but same thing happened. (not able to work /terrible depression & anxiety).

Back onto the clomipramine and after several months stabilised again. (50mg dose which then slowly reduced.)

Very well, happy, no anxiety, working full time in management job through 2008 and 2009 on 20mg and less.

Then end of Jan '10 cut down to 10mg and just crashed again. Had been really looking forward to this year - loads of fantastic things planned to celebrate my 40th. Work going brilliantly. Lovely times with my boys.

But now back to a shadow of self again .

So basically 3 weeks ago I went back up to 20mg (still a very low dose) because thats what I had been well on for 2 years. But still no sign of improvement.

I'm wondering if thats enough - or if I need to go higher to try and stabilise - or if once you reduce an AD you do run the risk of it not working again.

At the same time I've also started fish oils, a mult vit and doing breathing exercises twice a day.

Im past the point of worrying about withdrawal - or being concerned about taking AD's long term. I just need to get on an even keel.

QUESTIONS:

• Anyone taking a tricyclic long term - what dose do you take? Have you noticed it stop working after a while?

• Anyone taking any ANY Ad's long term - do you notice that you still have crisis maybe on a cyclical basis?

• Anyone who has reduced their dose - found that it did eventually kick in again - but it did take quite a while?

Sorry so many questions and so long x

Hi. I take prozac long term. I haven't reduced my dose so can't help on that aspect. I do have wobbles every so often, but have never had a full on months long crash, so am definitely much better on than off iyswim. Hope you feel better soon.

should have added - i will go and see dr eventually but to be honest they've never really been able to get the bottom of my 'chemical' issue so it tends to be guess work.

(Ive had counselling and the outcome of that was that the counsellor felt strongly that my problem was chemical/hormonal - rather than other issues.)

x

Thanks for replying TC - do you mind if i ask how long you have taken them for? (and is that the only AD you have ever taken?

Hi Kizzie,
I don't have any experience of being on TCAs myself but have been on citalopram on and off for the past 7 years. The only times I have felt low on them have been when on a sub-therapeutic dose (trying to minimise risk when pregnant or breastfeeding). I have always gone back on to a higher dose when my mood crashes to try and stabilise before attempting to reduce again after a few months.

Oh and I forgot to mention I know exactly what you mean about the mental health boards - I rarely go there when I am feeling well. I can almost use it as a marker that my mood is dipping if I start reading threads there.

Not same situation as you, but maybe try not to expect good results so soon after upping your dose? Also, even people who are not on ADs have mood swings of ups and downs, so try not to beat yourself up/have instant expectations. Sometimes things take a bit longer to re-adjust. Sorry if that sounds a bit of a lecture, just hoping you can be bit kinder to yourself. BTW I unexpectedly felt as low as can be around my 40th, how much of a coincidence that was I don't know.
Best of luck.

I've been on them since Dec. 2004. Had previously taken Lustral, Seroxat and Prozac (different docs I saw seemed to have their pet SSRIs ). On and off them like a yoyo over the course of 8 years.

Thanks TC

Cheery - I did think about the 40 thing but I had been genuinely really looking forward to loads of things. No hang ups at all about being 40 so dont think its that (but didnt think you were lecturing at all

When i feel like this it is totally different to lifes normal ups and downs. So eg. two years ago my sister went through a terrible series of miscarriages and I was so worried about her - but its what i would class as 'normal' worry and concern and I was still able to function normally.

Chewy toffee - thats exactly the same as me with the boards. Have you always found that youve been able to stabilise by going back up. I think ive just got scared that it wont work again.

bump

Just bumping for evening people. Thanks x

Sorry for the late reply Kizzie. Upping the dose has always worked for me. Don't see why it wouldn't work again but I know how these ideas can get onto your head when you are feeling low.

hi kizzie been on tricyclics for 19 years on and off. I have got to the point where i believe depression gets set in and when you have had a few bad times ,it rears its ugly head again. I dont beieve it ever really goes away...we just learn better ways of coping with the help from AD's

i seem to get more down from november to march and if i dont set myself any goals i get reallt down too. I use the tricyclics (surmontil for me) to help me sleep as i have a very bad sleep problem...i dont sleep.its no that i am anxious ,i just have permanent insomnia since i had my breakdown

Thank you both for the replys x