Psychotic Depression

[Inthedepths]

I hope this is the right place to post this.

After initially being diagnosed by a GP with bipolar, I had an appointment yesterday with a mental health specialist who diagnosed me with psychotic depression, as he could find no evidence of mania, or hypomania.

I am being given citalopram to treat it, has anyone here had any expereinces of this?

What reactions have you had from people when you have told them you are depressed? So far I have had a mixed bag, some good, some rather offensive.

 

[schizolanza]

When I tried citalopram it gave me sexual disfunction.I'm on mirtazapine now.
Good luck with it.

 

[Inthedepths]

Thats just great.

So far no side effects.

 

[schizolanza]

I get side effects from my other meds.Olanzapine caused me to gain 5 stone in less than 2 years.I'm diagnosed depression and paranoid schizophrenia.

 

[Inthedepths]

I suffer from paranoid delusions as well as depression. Im not sure if I am being treated for that though.

 

[iffybob]

My 2 bits........

After initially being diagnosed by a GP with bipolar,

A GP should not diagnose you, except for mild depression, listern to specialists.

I had an appointment yesterday with a mental health specialist who diagnosed me with psychotic depression, as he could find no evidence of mania, or hypomania.

Possible that you cycle at other times you may show signs of these things, and other times you wont, that why diagnosis "should" be done over a periode of time, not just 1 or 2 consults.

What reactions have you had from people when you have told them you are depressed? So far I have had a mixed bag, some good, some rather offensive.

Yep, this is my experience, I have learnt to "choose" who I decide to tell, and descuse these things with, not everybody is an idiot, but they do exist.

Hopr this helps ........ boB

 

[whatstheproblem?]

I took citalopram for 2 years and it worked really well for me (also have depression and supposedly paranoid 'delusions' (how do they know what Im saying isn't true!!!). No side effects other than loss of sex drive - had to change meds because my depression took over again a couple of months ago -currently on mirtazapine, but not sure it's doing me any good... In fact know they aren't! But stick with citalopram - it's a wonder drug! x

 

[Inthedepths]

I have a general belief that if I went to see 10 doctors, id get 10 different diagnosis.

That said, I can only go by what I am told. The GP I saw was very young, about my own age I think, so probably right out of Uni. Not that this automatically makes them bad, it just doesn't fill me full of confidence!

I did tell the specialist that my mood switches often at the drop of a hat changing a couple of times a day, but at other times can last for three to four weeks.

I am not sure how they decide if I am paranoid or not. I am perhaps unusually suspicious of peoples actions though!

 

[Apotheosis]

I am being given citalopram to treat it, has anyone here had any expereinces of this?

What reactions have you had from people when you have told them you are depressed? So far I have had a mixed bag, some good, some rather offensive.

My diagnosis history went like this -

Age 17 - Drug induced psychosis.

Age 21 - Psychotic Depression

For a time it was then classed as an 'Undiagnosed psychotic illness'

Age 25 (onwards) - Paranoid Schizophrenia.

When diagnosed with 'psychotic depression' it was treated with prozac & stelazine. I stopped both after a while. I was told, when I asked what it meant; that it was because I was depressed, but didn't realise that I was depressed! Go figure.

Psychosis is very much an umbrella term, but I soon realised that so is schizophrenia, in fact all MH diagnoses are umbrella terms.

The general reaction to my MH diagnoses & difficulties; has in general been social isolation & exclusion. There are a few good souls who see beyond all the MH stuff, & accept & like me for who I am, but I can't say that it's very many who do on a genuine & deep level.

 

[jamesdean]

When I first told them about whot I believed to be psychosis that I had been experiencing they were straight on the case n gave me olanazapine,and it was called psycosis in depression, which causesed me to become diabetic type 1 so then this was changed to abilify.
For depression I take mirtazapine which I could not live with out.

 

[Inthedepths]

I'm not sure citolopram is working, I feel really down today. Anyone any idea how long you have to take things before it starts working?

I guess I am lucky to work with someone who used to work in a mental hospital and his wife is a nurse in one. I have had a lot of support from him, it makes the actions of a petty majority seem less significant.

The paranoia comes and goes, and isn't especially linked to my depression. [at least I don't think it is] It just seems everywhere I look, people are doing their best to scheme and plot against me, preventing me from achieving things, replacing me at work

 

[jamesdean]

the thing is indepth the paranoia etc just becomes so normal to me that I sometimes forget whot it is but I do know from whot I see has the normal world it isnt normal at all.