Help :(

[sam1234]

So I started taking citalopram on Thursday (it's now Sunday) I took two tablets before realising they weren't for me.. I kept being sick and felt so so unwell. Once I'd stopped taking them I felt quite calm, as though that awful overwhelmed sad/scared feeling in me had gone, it made me think the tablets had done something good obviously a placebo effect as they surely couldn't of worked that quickly!! About 6 hours later that feeling hit me so hard and sudden, it terrified me! I managed to get to sleep only to wake afew hours later and need to take a diazepam, which hasn't really helped :( I don't know what to do :(

[jbevis]

That nauseous feeling is a common side effect of those types of pills. Sometimes you just have to bull through them for a week or so and then they subside. If it is really that bad I would call the doc who prescribed you the pills and ask for their advice.

[ann007]

I lost 5-6 pounds when I started this med cause I felt so dreadful. It did go away after about a week. I lowered my dose per my doctor and that helped, I've stayed at the lower dose but could have gradually increased to help with the side effects. Good luck!

[phoenixphyre]

I know we all suffer from anxiety but did you hear about the recent medical release on celexa? Doses over 40mg have a high risk of heart failure. I am on half a tab but this still makes me worried.

[jbevis]

I know we all suffer from anxiety but did you hear about the recent medical release on celexa? Doses over 40mg have a high risk of heart failure. I am on half a tab but this still makes me worried.

That's why my anxiety is back now. My anxiety was managed for years on 60mg of celexa. After the release my doctor lowered my dose to 40mg and I started having panic attacks again. Now I've had to start a new med and I'm going through hell trying to get this managed again.

[ally]

Hi can I ask what med you are now taking? I ask because I'm really struggling, just been swooped from citalopram to escitalopram, started Tuesday night, but the nausea I've been getting has been with me weeks now? and it's actually worse? I do see a psychiatrist and gp and mental health nurse, I'm not sure of its the meds causing the nausea or the anxiety, I'm also having to take Valium daily at the moment, I'm concerned this is spiralled and I can't see a way forward, I use to take citalopram for almost 5 years and don't recall the side effects carrying on like this, but I was really bad last Xmas and eventually put off that and onto mirtazapine, this gave me terrible restless legs and nausea I persevered for 3 months and then put on citalopram now escitalopram which is 10mg, I just can't go on much more feeling this sick it's terrible. Dr won't prescribe anything or psychiatrist although now they are thinking of adding seroquel to the mix? can anyone advice here or speak from experience, I'm so very depressed too:( thanks

[jbevis]

Last week my doctor started me on 75mg of Effexor and .5 mg lorazapam to take every day until it begins to work. The only effect I have is that I'm dizzy, but I don't know which med is causing it at this point. I have to take the Effexor worth food too, otherwise I'll get nausea.

[jbevis]

Oh yeah and my depression is back too

[johnson2012]

I am on Zoloft daily. I forgot to take it for about a week. It felt like the flu x100, migranes, dizziness. I didnt know the side effects of some of these medications when they are stopped. I would deffinatly recommend talking to your doctor. I was eased onto zoloft slowly. It took me 4-5 medications to find one that works, which can be tough cause they usually take 2-3 weeks to make a difference.

[Judie]

Hi Everyone, I have posted several comments on other threads. I am quite familiar with anxiety and depression. Do anyone of you supplement your meds with 1,000 mg of Fish Oil. Omega 3's are your brain function vitamins. It yhas been researched and tested and has been found very effective in many brain > Topping the list is of couse is Alzheimers but as of late it has been proven to be as effective as many SSRI's for depression and anxiety. Also works on ADHD. Try it ! Currently this is the only thing I use for Anxiety/Depression. I have had a Panic Disorder for 29 years. I think all of you should consider it an adjunct to your current meds. Hey it protects your heart and lowers cholesterol as well. Basically it couldn't hurt right and may just help. Keep it in the Frig and get the oderless. I use Trader Joes, also studied and found to be the most effective. Good Luck

[Lin]

Dear all, I am not on any of the tablets you mention but have just stated a new anti depressant to the market called Agomelatine. I have just doubled the dose but hoping it is starting to work. I take 16 mg of diazepam every day to keep my anxiety under control and unless really down or something upsets me, it usually keeps me steady throughout the day. I also try other things like meditation, reflexology and essential oils and believe these type of things can help too.

[ally]

Hi I've been back to see the psychiatrist today, again I stressed how bad i'am with the nausea and anxiety, he wants me to double the escitalopram now to 20mg, he wants me to try this for at least 10-14 days, I'm worried this will cause more nausea, but he thinks it's mostly the severe anxiety causing the nausea and as I'm not responding well and the depression is really bad it needs adjusting, if this fails he's on about adding something called seroquel but in low dose to start with, if only this nausea would improve I've no desire to eat and get more agitated thinking about it and then more sick which does I suppose think it's anxiety caused? I'm worried about the double dose and when to take it? Taking the 10mg at night but I've also noticed I'm not doing that well at night in getting to sleep now? we do have a 2 year old who doesn't sleep well but despite this I'm wondering if it's the med, I only take 5-15mg of diazepram daily and the psychiatrist said he didn't want me on much more, but I see on here people take a lot more, and it's not the dr etc who is suffering and I feel terribly agitated, what does anyone on here advice? I'm so tearful all the time:(

[alankay]

That's a medium dose of diazepam. I take that now and again. If it's just anxiety you might be better off on klonopin or even ativan before an anti psychotic but I'm no M.D. Alankay

[ally]

Thank you, I'm struggling and I'm worried about this increase, I've take the double dose tonight? still not sure if I should be taking it at night or morning? Just wish this nausea would go:( they still insist its more anxiety doing it than the meds? it's bloody horrible, I dread the mornings well day in general I always wake up very anxious and agitated and nausea there, so then I get worse? Struggling to cling on here, all I seem to do is cry a lot in the daytime, I appreciate any help

[alankay]

Yeah I would do as he recommends and give it a fair trial. It's(nausea) probably all anxiety related. Alankay

[Lin]

Sorry you are struggling so badly - any change in tablets can make huge differences to youband you have to persevere even though really hard. Sounds like anxiety and depression right on top of you at the moment, so you need to try some sort of relaxation to calm yourself down until tablets etc start to work..Why don't you try some simple meditation - just sit quietly, only for 2-5 minutes to start with if that is all you can manage and just focus on your breath or on a word. It will help to calm down your breathing and thoughts and gradually if you can do it for longer each day it will help more. Worth trying if you are desperate at the moment.

[ally]

Hi have posted on here a few times, i'am now having to take the quetiapine started last night:( 25mg along side the 20mg escitalopram, and god did I know about it! they want me to double up each night over the next 4 nights till I get to 100mg but I don't think I will be able to that quickly, the horrendous tiredness is awful but I'm so agitated and more anxious have felt worse. I'm still suffering from terrible nausea and that is a major problem and not going, my own dr didn't really want me on it but the psychiatrist said its meant to help with the anxiety so to give it a go? I've been ill since last Xmas and this is really getting to me, I'm also having to still carry on taking the diazepram as he says I can't just stop that yet? I'm more shaky than ever and terrible palpitations, and so tearful, I've taken just one of the 5mg diazepram and feel like I'm not any calmer, I think I'm tolerant to it now, I'm so scared and my husband is at the end of his tether with me and not at all understanding, I have a 2 year old to look after as well as a 16 yr old and 12 year old too, I'm worrying all these tablets are not making me better just worse,:(

[femalebauz]

I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say other than I'll keep u in my thoughts.

[Lin]

Diazepam does not usually give you immediate relief but regular use during the day keeps you calm. I take 2 x 2 mg four times a day and stay calmer all day. When I was on temazepam before it used to calm me down straightaway so I slept but did not last long so I was anxious waiting for the next dose.
If diazepam not helping I should ask your Dr/psychiatrist if there is a tablet better for you.
You mention having a young child - have they checked your hormones - are you sure it is not post natal depression?
I have had post natal depression several times and get suicidal it gets so bad. It can make you want to stay in or another time hate being in.
This time I have a hormone imbalance during menopause and have had clinical depression and anxiety since march 2011 and spent 7 weeks in hospital.
Usually they can find an anti depressant to help you get through it until your hormones settle down.
However, this time my body has rejected the main bodies of anti depressants so struggled really bad this time for them to find one to help me.
Might be worth asking them to check your hormones.

[ally]

Hi I think they did do some tests, I've thought myself could it be post natal depression, my little one is 2, but I lost 2 babies early last year as week? I'm 42, and also wondered about the menopause, but dr said I'm not and I think he did a blood test too? I get a lot of conflicting advice! I'm now on the quetiapine but only managing the 25 mg so far not been able to double up and get to 100 mg like suggested, I'm worrying why the escitalopram isn't working yet, been on 20 mg since 14 April, and it's this awful nausea that will not relent? I've lost over 2 stone and I'm struggling. The anxiety is very high but again I get told to try to wean off the diazepram as Im hooked on them, again I don't know how to, I take 5 mg up to 2x a day, but my bodies definitely built a tolerance to them as I don't get a lot of relief:( that's why the quetiapine was meant to be introduced, I just feel a mess, and my husband is not at all sympathetic in fact he's lost his patience so many times and has been really nasty, my life just feels rubbish, I worry so much about the impact on my other 2 children, 12 and 16, i feel so guilty and just want some relief from this? Are you still taking the diazepram and how long have you been on them? xx

[Lin]

When I first thought I was menopausal the blood test said no, but then the next time I was pere menopausal which is the first stage. We then discovered by blood tests that my body kept going in and out of pere menopausal so this did not help with symptoms or treatment.
From 2008 - 2009 I tried two types of HRT which did not work, then I stopped and found some herbal tablets which helped, but in March 2011 got hit hard by clinical depression.
My psychiatrist tried to find an endicrinologist for me (someone who specialises in hormones) but was unable to find one so I see a gynaecologist instead. We have found that oestrogen patches work, and when tried without them for three days, completely flipped. Getting progesterone has proved difficult, two types of tablets have lowered my mood badly, so have now just had the mirena coil fitted to get the progesterone, so gynae is hoping that the small dose that will give me will not make my depression worse. But still waiting for body to settle down since having the coil fitted to find out if that will work. Gynae said he is stuck for ideas if the coil does not help.
My body just hates hormones!
Reflexology has proved really good, if you can find the right person for you, and has helped lots with my hormone problem and with my clinical depression and anxiety.

[Lin]

Ally, I forgot to say in last post that my husband is useless too.
During my past post natal depression bouts they have only lasted 5-6 months and he has just about been able to handle them and my depression.
This time because it is the menopause it has been over 2 years of clinical depression and anxiety and my husband is sick of it and can't handle it or me at all. At times I see hatred in his eyes. After 28 years of marriage, we are determined to get through it, and in my good rare times we acknowledge this. But on a daily basis my husband criticises and mocks me and is so unsympathetic. He can't handle me crying, or showing any symptoms of anxiety whatsoever.
When he got carer support two years ago when I was in hospital for 7 weeks, he was much kinder and sympathetic, so we have just asked for him to get carer support again because I really need his support at the moment and not getting any at all.
I have just had two knee operations and a gynae operation and have decided to return to work early because my husband works from home most days and I think the more we are together the worse we are.
We are going on a retreat together in May and then in June I am going on a retreat on my own so that he gets a break from me. I went on a retreat on my own last year for a few days to give him a break, but he was just as grumpy afterwards because he had been bored without me! You can't win! But hoping the retreats work better for our relationship this year.

[ally]

Thanks Lin, sorry your suffering still, we have a touring caravan and had booked just 2 nights tomoz n sat but I'm in such a state I'm dreading going, I've not managed to reach the dose they wanted me to on the quetiapine and just one 5 mg of diazepram aren't doing a lot, I'm so anxious and I'm not sure if it's the tablets making me worse or me too? It's been just over 3 weeks on the escitalopram now and the sickness is not relenting, I'm loosing weight quite a lot, my husband just doesn't understand and just says eat!!! he has his fishing and goes away quite a bit he says he has to get away, then in the next breath I'm a wreck and says I need to get my act together, no understanding at all, he thinks I just make myself worse, he's off down to Oxford next week for 2 days n nights! I really thought I'd be seeing some improvement on the tablets by now? I have the mirena coil too had it re fitted in feb this year and still having some bleeding at times, had it in the past too but I lost 2 babies last year and then all this re appeared, I just wish my appetite would improve and my mood, I've been crying lots today, got terrible Ibs too, I just feel bad if I don't go tomoz but bad anyway? being told I'm addicted to diazepram hasn't helped me, not sure of these shakes and palpitations are from that or the anxiety? life just feels such a struggle Lin xx

[ally]

Sorry meant to add too that yes my little one is 2 now, and the other two are 16 and 12, my husband took redundancy last year in the hope of setting up on his own but it's not happened and in some ways him being here for Charlie has been a blessing but I didn't expect to carry on feeling so ill? x

[Malyn]

Hi Ally

I sympathize you . I too have the same problem severe nausea. It started last October last year it's been 7 months. It started when I was so anxious stress at work. Started with nervous stomach. My doctor diagnosed me with Gastritis. I couldn't eat anything. Every time I put something in my stomach the nausea got worse. He put me on Pepcid and Protonix but it did not work right away. I couldn't work so I took a leave for almost 2 mos. I panic a lot when I am by myself at home and very weak coz I couldn't eat . I am very anxious and legs are shakey. The doctor prescribed me Zoloft which made the nausea worse and Insomnia for almost 3 mos. the doctor gave me compazine for nausea and it help but makes me tired and drowsy but after 30 min the nausea is gone and I can eat. But then after a few hrs the nausea is back as soon as I wake up. Actually I didn't go to work for a week again because the severe nausea is back. I been taking Zoloft for 7 mos but it is not helping with the anxiety and depression .

Like Linn I think part of this is menopausal symptoms. I research and nausea is a part of hormone imbalance. I get dizzy spells before and after my period too. I am home too right now bec of the nausea. Make you more anxious. I been sick for 7 mos and I had anxiety in the past but I don't remember being sick this long. Maybe the longest was 3 to 4 mos but after the medicine start working I am fine but now I been sick all the time and depress. I like to stay in bed all the time.

Don't worry the nausea will get better but every time you get really nervous they come back. Ask for Pep CID it helps with the acid reflux

[Lin]

Ally and Malyn

Do you know how to private message? Would you mind if we started private messaging each other?

It is so good to at last have found someone else with hormone problems it would be great to talk to each other, but with private messaging no-one else can see.

I will private message you both, not sure if can do both together or separate, and I think then it will be easy for you to respond.

[Lin]

Ally and Malyn

I have just sent you a joint private message so we can then talk to each other.

Lin

[Lin]

Thanks Lin, sorry your suffering still, we have a touring caravan and had booked just 2 nights tomoz n sat but I'm in such a state I'm dreading going, I've not managed to reach the dose they wanted me to on the quetiapine and just one 5 mg of diazepram aren't doing a lot, I'm so anxious and I'm not sure if it's the tablets making me worse or me too? It's been just over 3 weeks on the escitalopram now and the sickness is not relenting, I'm loosing weight quite a lot, my husband just doesn't understand and just says eat!!! he has his fishing and goes away quite a bit he says he has to get away, then in the next breath I'm a wreck and says I need to get my act together, no understanding at all, he thinks I just make myself worse, he's off down to Oxford next week for 2 days n nights! I really thought I'd be seeing some improvement on the tablets by now? I have the mirena coil too had it re fitted in feb this year and still having some bleeding at times, had it in the past too but I lost 2 babies last year and then all this re appeared, I just wish my appetite would improve and my mood, I've been crying lots today, got terrible Ibs too, I just feel bad if I don't go tomoz but bad anyway? being told I'm addicted to diazepram hasn't helped me, not sure of these shakes and palpitations are from that or the anxiety? life just feels such a struggle Lin xx

I thought something must have happened for you to have struggled for so long with it. I had a few miscarriages and each time my post natal depression got worse. It completely ruined our lives, and when I had the ectopic in 1996 my son, Matt, was 5 and he realised that I was in hospital because I was not well (had to go in because suicidal) so we realised that it was affecting our family lives so badly, plus the doctor said that he thought it was unsafe for me to continue trying to have more babies because the depression was getting so bad each time. So in the end in 1996 we gave up trying and apart from Pelvic Inflamation Disease have not had a hormone problem until now with the menopause and the depression is back with a vengeance.

I know what you mean about such a struggle, so many times over past two years I could easily have just given in. But we have to think of others and keep struggling.

I am lucky never had the nausea side effect, although Malyn says that she has it too. I don't think I could put up with the sickness as well as all the other symptoms!

Unfortunately, for me instead of losing weight I comfort eat and put all the weight back on each time I get this, when I have just battled to lose it.

Not easy about whether to go to a holiday etc or not. I must admit in the last two years I have usually taken the easy option and not gone, like already cancelled going away this Sunday, but sometimes afterwards I regret it.

Men just don't understand and my doctor says that no man will really understand unless they have had medical training, so although it is horrid putting up with them at times, I suppose we have to accept that they just don't understand.

Anyway, have Private Messaged you and Malyn so hopefully we can all chat and help each other.

We can struggle on together xxx

[jessy]

Hi there ,

I've just been sitting here in floods of tears & reading these posts . I am going through the very same difficulties you are talking about .

I've had clinical depression & anxiety for 16 years , I've got 2 children & suffered terrible pnd with both & now my youngest is 5yo & I'm still suffering .
Some of this is down to the things that were going on during my pregnancy & my marriage pretty much broke down when he was a baby , we stayed together, but I became more & more anxious & depressed & needed to take more & more lorazepam . I ended up in hospital , I was so desperate , the only way out I could see was to die & it's all I could think about .

I've been on so many different A/D's & non have really helped & some have been horrific !!! Quitiepine being one of them .

I managed to wean off the high dose of lorazepam which was HELL. I'm now down to 4mg per day , but it only curbs the anxiety , my current anti depressant is a very old one called Dosulepin but it seems the best out of a bad bunch of stuff I've tried over the years .

My marriage is suffering massively, I cannot be the mother I've always wanted to be , I'm very depressed but I can't tell my family because I've allready put them through so much & I know they can not do any thing & I can't upset my mum again,not after what I've allready put everyone through .

My husband & I haven't slept in the same bed for years & I've no sex drive at all . I'm snappy & my moods all over the place . I can't control my emotions . I push him away & my kids because I can't handle the way I feel .

I've no friends & I'm at home alone a lot . My husband runs his own business , he works A LOT . He try's to understand but he has lost it with me a few times , we talk about separating , but I don't know if that's the answer .

I hate what this illness has done to me & taken from me. .

I have stopped going to see my g.p & no longer see a physiatrist . I can't cope with any more pills & side effects & all to end up feeling worse . I've not found therapy helpful . I feel the nhs mental health team are so inadequate & I feel I am alone with this . I've asked & reached out for help in the past & it's made everything worse , ..

Scared & very lonely and no way out .

I deffinatly think my hormones play a part in all this .
I do not know what I'm going to do , the future is a daunting prospect .

I am helped by knowing I'm not the only one feeling this way ,

X jessy X

[Lin]

Dear Jessy
I feel so sorry for you and although it sounds horrible, it feels so good to me to at last have found other people who have been suffering the same as me.
I can't tell you how many times over the past two years, and the times before that, that I have thought about ending it and if it wasn't for my one son I was lucky enough to have had, I probably would have by now.
I am going out to Christian Meditation group now which I find helps me, but will private message you and if you private message me back we can really talk without everyone else being able to see our personal hells.
Lin x

[Lin]

Dear Jessy
I feel so sorry for you and although it sounds horrible, it feels so good to me to at last have found other people who have been suffering the same as me.
I can't tell you how many times over the past two years, and the times before that, that I have thought about ending it and if it wasn't for my one son I was lucky enough to have had, I probably would have by now.
I am going out to Christian Meditation group now which I find helps me, but will private message you and if you private message me back we can really talk without everyone else being able to see our personal hells.
I have just sent you a personal message so we make contact.
Lin x

[Malyn]

Hi Jessy

That's good that we found this free forum . Can't believe so many people have worse problems and symptoms.

I had anxiety and depression since I was 8 yrs old . It triggers when my Dear Grandma died. I used to make execuses not to go to school stomach ache, can't breath, depress and always scared until high school. I have a few good friends in high school but I never socialize. I excel in School had good grades and in honors but I was lonely all the time . I went away for college and never got depress actually I was very happy. Then after I got married and had a baby I first experience my panic attack on the freeway I was 28 yrs old since then every time I get stressed the anxiety panic and depression come back but never get so sick this long. So I know it's hormone imbalance .

What helps me a log is PRAYING to God for gift of strength that I can handle this difficulty I am experiencing again. I asked for healing in God's time. My doctor looked at my chart and she told me the last time I went to the doctor was 2007. So I was perfectly healthy until now.
I hope and pray that we all can survive this difficult phase of our life and I know we will. We got better before and we will get well again.

[Lin]

Jessy
I have private messaged you.
Do you want to talk direct? If yes, do you want to private message me back and we can talk.
Afraid taken my tablets wrong today and mood dropped badly during meditation group tonight, so if you don't mind can we talk tomorrow as it would be really good if we can help each other.
Lin

[jessy]

Maylin & Lin

Thank you for your reply's , I'm happy to talk direct & help one another .

Lin I have messaged you back & will talk to you when you feel up to it .

Xx

[ally]

Hi Jesse did you get my pm too? I'm here too for you whether it be pm or whatever, take care x

[jessy]

Ally

No I didn't get a pm from you x

[Lin]

So good to be able to help each other now because understand what going through with hormones, just helps knowing you are all there if need understanding and help.

[smurfychris]

Hey Jessy, really sorry to hear what you're going through, I promise just talking about is a big step and not easy if you're not used to it, normal people that just don't understand etc, but you're not alone, and as you can see you're in good hands, if you ever need a chat about anything I'm here also.

[ally]

Hi I'm struggling so much still, now increased the quetiapine to 75mg as of last night? I feel so low in my mood again, met with the lady from mind yesterday and whilst I'm with her I can some how feel rational but as soon as I leave I'm back to this horrible feeling, I'm so tearful and this sickness is really taking its toll now, why am I not improving with it? I feel like I'm never going to be better, and enjoy my family:( I'm so shaky today and having to decrease the Valium I'm not really sure how I should be doing it I dont seem to get any definitive advice about it, I'm only talking 2.5 mg once a day now I've increased the quetiapine? Is this right, along side the 20 mg escitalopram daily, I feel so lonely:( hugs to you all too

[Lin]

Dear Ally sounds like you need to go see your doctor or mental health nurse or psychiatrist, or whoever you see medically to get your medication sorted out properly. They should tell you exactly how to reduce doses etc and if sickness is that bad they must be able to do something else for you. Please go see someone and push for some good medical advice.

[jessy]

Dear ally ,

Please inbox me , I would like to talk to you about Quiteipine (sorry not sure on spelling)
Love Jessy
Xx

[ally]

Hi Jesse I have replied via inbox this morning x

[shaikhrahuf]

Dear ally ,

Please inbox me , I would like to talk to you about Quiteipine (sorry not sure on spelling)
Love Jessy
Xx

Check ur inbox for my msg

[Lin]

Dear Ally

Hope you have found the help you need or support on the forum which has helped you.

Lots of things you can do to help - either medication or other ways.

Lin

[jessy]

Check ur inbox for my msg

Hi , got your message & replied x