I had an appointment with my psychiatrist yesterday, for the first time in a while. I'm supposed to see him regularly, but I'm just not that good at waking up in time for appointments and such.
He's a really nice man, and apparantley a very good psychiatrist, but I was worried by how freely he hands out drugs. Generally I am doing okay, I'm pretty stable and have been for a few months; I stopped taking anti-psychotics quite a while back and have actually been fine without them (not to mention feeling much better physically!).
He asked me if I see my friends a lot.
I said quite a bit, but sometimes I don't bother because I get a little anxious.
He responded by prescribing me Venlafaxine.
He asked me if I slept well, and I said I tend to stay awake late, and he prescribed me sleeping tablets. I used to have such trouble getting these, even when I hadn't slept for days!
He asked me if I was paranoid, I told him I was a little, and he prescribed me Quetiapine.
He didn't even enquire any further than that.
I probably should have asked more questions, but he's the professional & has such a good reputation, and I didn't want to make a fuss. He also emphasised that it was important we worked together, so I didn't want to argue with him really!
Er, sorry that was so long!
Should I be worried? Or have I given him reason enough to prescribe those meds? And does anyone have any experiences of Venlafaxine they could share? Quetiapine I'm not too worried about, as I've been on it before at the maximum dose & this is a lot lower, even though it didn't work at the max so I doubt it's going to work now?!
I think it's worrying how quickly psychiatrists hand out medication and I don't personally think he had enough reason to be prescribing strong psychiatric drugs like this. But it doesn't surprise me. It's still up to you if you take them.
What sleeping tablets did he put you on?
I haven't taken Venlafaxine but I do know that it's very difficult to come off of. The withdrawal symptoms are really horrible and still present even if you follow a weaning off plan. So that's something to keep in mind, plus it never seemed to help the two friends I have who were on it but that's not to say that it'll be as useless for you as obviously everyone responds differently.
You might react differently to the dose of Quetiapine that you have been put on because of the gap since you were last taking it and the fact that your symptoms won't be exactly the same as before.
Although he said it was important that you work together, that wouldn't mean that if you expressed not wanting to take the meds, it would count as arguing. He would then be able to suggest alternatives or ask you what your concerns were about the meds and such which would be working together: discussing your care.
Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do you want?
Hmm. My response would be to wonder, why 3 medications, when all those symptoms could potentially be covered by one - a sedating anti-depressant for example.
I was on venlafaxine for a year. It wasn't the medication for me, though, as I had all manner of side effects and it barely touched my depression, which was very deeply embedded. I was taken off it after just over a year, and changed to mirtazapine - but I was on both during the transition period to boost me out of the worst of my depression.
Wow! From what you said it sounded like you didnt give alot of info to be getting 3 meds in one go. My psych only gives me one at a time because "we need to see what works and what doesn't".
If you're taking sleeping tablets AND quetiapine I dont think you'll ever wake up Well I wouldnt as quetiapine is very sedating on me.
Its important you let your team know what treatment you would prefare as its YOU who's getting treated. Do you feel you can cope without them all? I think you should ask more questions next time you see him?
Ive never been on venlafaxine but Ive heard its quite hard to come off. xxx
Psych's are often told to use more of certain medications when it's not being prescribed enough for the manafacturers liking.
They promote new meds too, my psych gave me a Depakote branded info sheet about bipolar once. Bit biased really and put me on it at the same time. It was rubbish.
Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do you want?
My psychiatrist would also never prescribe more than one med at once, otherwise if you had bad side effects you wouldnt know which tablet was the problem.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Thanks for responding guys :]
I'll probably give him a call in the morning and discuss it with him. If I can get the guts haha. But his response will probably be the same: "I value your opinion/experience, so you should value my expertise"
Maybe start with one, probably venlafaxine 'cause that looks like the one that will help the most.
I also have the problem of not being able to get the meds anyway, 'cause well I don't want my parents to know I'm taking them after telling me today how proud they are that I stopped meds, so I need to go to the pharmacy in secret but I never really go out by myself and it would be kind of obvious because the pharmacy is the only place that I could go to and be back within 20 minutes :x
Also, Stellata, You could be right, I know you're not a doctor or anything but do you know of any sedating anti-depressants other than mirtazapine?
I'm on venlafaxine at the moment and have been for ages. It was at 225mg but as I was taken off all my meds in hospital I was only put back on 150mg. I don't think it work's for me at all and has horrible affects when I forget it.
Quitiapine just zombified me so I was taken off it.
I'm also on zopiclone which IU'm ment to take every other night but if I do when I don't take it I don't sleep. Literally.
The world is just illusion always trying to change me.
You will find wonder wherever you can, and spread joy whenever you are able.
I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that had long appeared dead, divide within me. - Frankenstein.
I am on venlafaxine and quetiapine, and although I have always had trouble sleeping, have never been given sleeping pills...instead a hefty dose of quetiapine.
I would maybe speak to someone, if you are okay on the meds than fine, but it does seem slightly concering that he has dished all that out to you so quickly.
Good luck.
Something has changed within me, something is not the same, I'm through with playing by the rules of someone elses game. Too late for second guessing, too late to go back to sleep, its time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap....
Somethings I cannot change, but till I try I'll never know...
***
Big hugs to all my friends on here, thanks for your constant support - love you guys
Well I wouldnt as quetiapine is very sedating on me.
