Retrying medication

[The Stolen One]

I was wondering if there's any point in retrying medication you've already been on but stopped due to side effects?

A few years ago I tried dosulepin but had unbearable side effects from it (so drowsy I actually couldn't get out of bed, when I did I was falling everywhere and barely able to keep my head up...) but recently a rheumatologist is really really pushing me to try it again.
I'm very unsure about this, and my doctor has pretty much said it's up to me but he can't really go against the rheumatologist and advise against.
So I was wondering if there's any 'real' experience with re-trying meds that you weren't previously great; are you bound to get the same side effects or does it vary each time you make a new attempt at a drug?

Hope this makes sense!

[talaiporia]

I imagine things can change, but it's not especially common. I imagine though, it'd be worth a try because you'd know pretty soon if it was causing those effects and it would stop him pushing you to try it.

[Ballerina123]

It has never worked for me. I've tried meds a few times which I don't get on with hoping my reaction to them would change but it never did.

[sherlock holmes]

I'd say give it another go! But perhaps this time ask if there's any way you can start it even slower/at a lower dose than last time so that your body has more of a chance to get used to it and this might help combat side effects.

But I know how it feels, I had to stop taking carbamazepine due to the fact I could barely walk or speak I was so sedated. I couldn't say if I'd ever try it again.

[The Stolen One]

Thanks guys :) I took the lowest dose which is only a capsule so I can't make it smaller, but agreed with my doctor I'd take it 3 times a week instead of 7 so I always have a day inbetween if I'm reacting as badly

Now just to convince myself to actually swallow the stupid thing!

[sherlock holmes]

Is it available in a tablet or liquid form? That way you can get smaller doses by cutting the tablet or taking less liquid!

Taking it 3 times a week sounds helpful too.

[The Stolen One]

The smallest tablet is over double the dose of the capsule
My doctor looked up the liquid form but he said it's an amber drug so he can't prescribe it
So for now it'll have to be 3 times a week I guess!

[whirlpools]

It uas.worked for me before. When I was 17 I was put on a low dose of what I'm on now and I felt heavily sedated. I had a break from it and went back on it at a higher dose at 23 and now it's fine.

Good luck with taking the medication. I hope it brings you some relief.

[lozza]

if it helps I have tried fluoxetine 3 times now in the last 10 years. each time I was on it it worked for longer and longer before my body became immune to it and it stopped having an effect.

of course everyone is different but what do you have to lose by giving it another go?

[Pi.R^2]

I had the opposite- I went back on a medication I had previously been on and had side effects that I didn't get the first time round! So I imagine it could happen the other way round too. I hope that you get less side effects this time, and that the reduced frequency of the dose helps that too :)

[The Stolen One]

of course everyone is different but what do you have to lose by giving it another go?
I have days to loose by trying it!! Last time so drowsy I lost a week to it before I stopped taking it. This isn't mental health primarily, it's for my M.E.


Back with another question though!
So I eventually forced myself to take it last night to shut the rheumatologist up!
Maybe not as bad as last time but I'm too tired to do anything, watch anything etc!
So my question is how long do you push through crappy side effects for before giving up on it?

[sherlock holmes]

Give it 2 weeks minimum really, preferably a month if you can manage. Also the first few days are usually worse but then it gets better!