Anti depressants

[KP1]

I am on venlafaxine xr which has been increased this week to 225mg.
Previously I was on a high dose of citalopram 60mg and relapsed badly on this.
The next one the psy wants to try if this higher dose of venlafaxine doesn't work in 6 weeks or so is ciprimil which sounds very much like citalopram to me.
What ads have other people found works for them?

 

[Fedup]

Me ........... none.

Been on fluxotine, Sertaline, Venlafaxine, Citalopram, over the years . Currently on Escitalopram & don't really rate them either.

 

[intelgal]

Ciprimil is the Brand name for Citalopram .. like Prozac is for Fluoxetine. Companies usually only hold a licence for so long before it can be manufactured by other companies which uses a Generic name.

Currently on citalopram myself, been on Cymbalta (Disgusting stuff) and Fluoxetine

 

[honeyquince]

Hi there,

I'm currently on 375g of Venlafaxine backed up with Lithium, Mirtazapine and Flupentixol. It was only when my psy added in the mirtazapine that I noticed any difference. I had been on mirtazapine as a stand alone AD but it had done nothing. I have been labelled as drug resistant. While I did notice some difference my mood still fluctuates wildly and has most recently been on a downward tack.

I've never been on citalopram but have heard mention of it quite a lot on the forum - generally seems to be positive response.

I've also been on olanzapine (horrible weight gain !!!) and fluoxetine (the first drug I tried) with no noticeable effect.

Appart from the weight gain whilst on olanzapine I haven't noticed any other side effects - maybe the only good thing about being medicine resistant.

At the moment I guess I'm broadly positive about the cocktail that I'm on now as I do have some better days.

 

[jamesdean]

i was told yesterday that abilify is now licenced in america as an anti dpressant because of its great oualitys n no side affects

 

[Apotheosis]

i was told yesterday that abilify is now licenced in america as an anti dpressant because of its great oualitys n no side affects

Sorry about this, but it's not true to say that Abilify has no side effects.

Psychiatric drugs - especially anti psychotics have the potential to be highly damaging. It may be that some drugs have less in side effects in more people - but all psychiatric drugs have the potential for some very serious & in certain cases life threatening side effects.

Side effects of Abilify;

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

* Dizziness

* Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

* Anxiety, restlessness and agitation (akathisia)

* Sleepiness (somnolence)

* Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)

* Headache

* Blurred vision

* Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)

* Fatigue

* Gut disturbances such as constipation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting

* Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

* A drop in blood pressure that occurs when moving from a lying or sitting position to sitting or standing, causing dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

* Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity (extrapyramidal effects)

* Increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia)

* Seizures

* Increased salivation

* Pain in the muscles

* Prolonged erection (priapism)

* Increase or decrease in body weight

* Abnormal heart beats

* Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or pancreas (pancreatitis)

Also this site is very good for more in depth information; although for some the author appears to be controversial.

http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=50&Itemid=37

 

[KP1]

what type of anti depressant is abilify and do we have it in the UK?

 

[Apotheosis]

what type of anti depressant is abilify and do we have it in the UK?

Its an Anti Psychotic

Manufactures site -

http://www.abilify.com/abilify/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

A more critical look -

http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=187

 

[KP1]

Ah well thats why I hadn't heard of it. I have not been prescribed any of them yet.

 

[Apotheosis]

Ah well thats why I hadn't heard of it. I have not been prescribed any of them yet.

If I was in a position to I wouldn't take anything which I hadn't already found out as much information on as I could. I have been a guinea pig too much already.

 

[KP1]

I agree with you there. The trouble is its in a crisis that these things often get prescribed when we are desparate and vulnerable.
If I told the cmht what was really going on in my head I would be permantely in hospital because nothing has really changed much.

 

[jamesdean]

i'm only posting what the psyciatrist told me

the trouble is like my doctor says 2 many people read 2 many of the leaflets n it worries people 2 much, my dad is the worst 4 this n then he gets himself in a state worrying about the side effects i have enough trust in my doctor 2 not read the leaflets unless i feel something isnt quite right n if i do read something that dosent sound right i will ask him about it n usally he will but my mind @ ease n explain it in a much more rational way n most of the time he will double check my medication so has he puts it he dosent kill me, i think the trouble with a lot of people they get 2 much information from the internet, something that i refuse 2 do i trust the doctors they've done the training n i do know they can make mistakes, i have my medication checked all the time n i've never once had a side effect from abilify n its also better than olanzapine because u dont have the weight gain n its helped with my psycosis tremendously i swear by it.

 

[Apotheosis]

I agree with you there. The trouble is its in a crisis that these things often get prescribed when we are desparate and vulnerable.
If I told the cmht what was really going on in my head I would be permantely in hospital because nothing has really changed much.

I don't trust doctors, & for good reason I think. I was completely honest only once with a psych - I lay my cards on the table one time in hospital - never again - they were no help - increased my meds to ridiculous levels - & it was a battle to stop them giving me a long course of ECT & to get out of hospital. I would never have got out of hospital in the first place had I been honest.

Each to their own - But I for one know enough about meds, especially anti psychotics to know how damaging they can be, both long & short term. I have put in a lot of effort to be on a single med & low dose & even this I take very reluctantly; simply because I cannot access the alternatives with a lack of finance. If I had money in the bank it would be different.

But I agree KP1 - when in a vulnerable & desperate position it is unfortunately & wrongly very difficult to get an objective perspective on meds; & make personal & informed decisions, the best I do is to educate myself as best I can on all angles to this complex & wide subject.

 

[Apotheosis]

the trouble is like my doctor says 2 many people read 2 many of the leaflets n it worries people 2 much, my dad is the worst 4 this n then he gets himself in a state worrying about the side effects i have enough trust in my doctor 2 not read the leaflets unless i feel something isnt quite right n if i do read something that dosent sound right i will ask him about it n usally he will but my mind @ ease n explain it in a much more rational way n most of the time he will double check my medication so has he puts it he dosent kill me, i think the trouble with a lot of people they get 2 much information from the internet, something that i refuse 2 do i trust the doctors they've done the training n i do know they can make mistakes, i have my medication checked all the time n i've never once had a side effect from abilify n its also better than olanzapine because u dont have the weight gain n its helped with my psycosis tremendously i swear by it.

If it works for you & you are happy with the meds then that is really all that matters. In the past I used to worry about meds, I don't any more, but I still try to get all the information & angles on this as I can. I accept the prescription of a med in my current circumstances - & most of the time I try to have a positive attitude to it. In the wider picture I think meds are far to highly & widely prescribed.

 

[jamesdean]

i do understand Apotheosis

once a ward sister got me 2 agree 2 take steriods any way i was very vunerable @ the time n didnt quite understand whot was going on any she must have been the because the dosage was increased 2 some ridiculus amount she must of beenthat i didnt know which planet i was on n i just believed it was right n so in the end when my toilet was over flowing with lentils i just chucked the steroids down the toilet n then i went completely radio rentals 4 about a month n had the priest coming in2 my house n allsorts u just wouldnt believe the euphoria[of it all even with the greatest imagination i had ornaments summersolting round the rooms i had plants that would b in 1 room nthe next thing they would b in a differant room, i honestly thought i had been shot dead ther was a whole host of things, some of it 2 evil 4 words all because i belived her! but i still trust my doctor, it would b interesting whot other people think/COLOR]

 

[honeyquince]

Hi there,

I really trust my doc when it comes to drugs - he seems to really know his stuff. Whenever I've been prescribed anything new, as said before, I've been at crisis point and so haven't given a monkeys what they give me. I always check the little leaflets but only to see what harm the drug can to do me as part of my SH and to see what potential there is for OD. A bit sad really.

 

[jamesdean]

like wise honey

that was my game 4 many years i used 2 calculate how many less tablets i would need if i could get the dose increased, u know i should say this in private really but whot about the prospect of insulin i thought 2 myself i dont need tablets no more just make sure i use enough n i did c on doctors bbc1 some 1 use insulin 2 od/COLOR]

 

[honeyquince]

... this is why I'm only allowed 14 days worth of tablets (but they miscalculated on the venlafaxine and give me too much each time so I'm building a little stockpile).

Thanks for sharing James - yet again I feel a bit more 'normal' if you know what I mean. Great to know that there's someone else out there who has the same experience!

 

[Solihull_boy:)]

Doses of tablets

I have been prescribed what I percieve is a light dose but I bet this is the way medication starts for all?

 

[Dollit]

I don't know whether it's because I'm the sort of person I am or that I've always had some good doctors & consultants but I've always been able to negotiate over what type of medication and the dosage. The medication and the back ups I have now we have discussed between us and agreed upon them. A few years ago I took a medication break which was planned and agreed upon by my whole team. I've been seriously ill (about 20% on the GAF scale at one point) but I've always been given input into what I've been prescribed.