I have a question - I have been asked by my Psych to consider options for the next steps with my medication.
At the last session we stopped my Mirtazapine as it was not doing anything, and so was not worth the additional chemical (on top of the Venlafaxine I also take).
At the next session I need to consider whether I should be lowering the dose of the Venlafaxine - as it has made me put on a lot of weight, and potentially risk destabilizing as a result the little help it provides my moods.
My Psych also wants me to consider trying an Anti-Psychotic to help with the other symptoms I have alongside my depression and this is the bit I do not know much about and would much appreciate any opinions.
I only have mild symptoms at the moment - olfactory, tactile and auditory (sound of sirens, mostly) but at my worst I have quite distressing symptoms. These have previously always been explained to me as Psychosis linked to Depression.
Does anyone else here take anti-psychotics for a similar reason, and what ones and what are your experiences?
Am rambling, and not thinking straight. So sorry if that makes no sense. Will come back later.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
I just wanted to say take care with reducing Venlafaxine. Though, if it's not been side effects all through for you, it maybe won't be as intense [as it was for me].
Would you be taking the AP at the same dose all the time, or just when things flare up?
I take Quetiapine for delusions and mood. It does help with depression as well, but only as an add on really, useless without anything else really. My Psychiatrist adjusts the dose regularly, normally I'm taking between 200-300mg, but if I'm in a bad place he'll increase it too like 400mg-600mg. At higher doses (past 400mg) weight gain is inevitable, but its not as bad for it as the other ones are. It really helps with sleep as well, at even a low dose it knocks me out. It makes me sleep in a lot as well, but I've fixed that by taking it earlier. I can't really give an opinion on it, because it doesn't work for me anymore, another medication is messing with it, although I never noticed any dulling or zombie like feelings on it, even at high doses. Quetiapine/Seroquel is the flavor of the month with psychiatrists at the moment, so you might be given it (my psychiatrist has Seroquel branded stuff all over his office, from the tissues to a wooden photo frame...)
Sounds very similar to me... I am on top dose of Venlafaxine with no plans to decrease though, and was on mirtazapine too but stopped it recently for the same reasons.
Anti-psychotic wise I am on Olanzapine (Zyprexa) but I have put on a LOT of weight with the Olanzapine, which isn't great for the anorexia but hey.
Also on Pregabalin (for anxiety), Pyridoxine (for mood), and Diazepam/Lorazepam PRN.
Quote:
“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together.. there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. but the most important thing is, even if we're apart.. i'll always be with you.”
I just wanted to say take care with reducing Venlafaxine. Though, if it's not been side effects all through for you, it maybe won't be as intense [as it was for me].
Would you be taking the AP at the same dose all the time, or just when things flare up?
Katie, Thank you - I am very wary of reducing the Venlafaxine as I get really bad withdrawal when coming of meds and missing a dose of the Venlafaxine means I end up spending the day in bed/by the toilet.
If I do decide to lower it I may ask them for advice on how to as I can't afford time of work at the moment.
I am weighing up my options for the other meds. Especially since my body reacts so strongly to things.
Roiben
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Am a bad person for not telling someone the things I know so that they can fix it, but I am not sure they can fix it, or that they will believe me. Bad bad mouse.
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
You're not a bad person, honestly. I also struggled to accept the psychosis - depression is far more socially acceptable, I didn't feel I had to hide my feelings from everyone when it was depression. When it turned into psychosis, it was scary, but mostly because I had this preconcieved idea that psychosis meant 'properly mad', which is wrong.
As far as medication goes, I take Venlafazine and Olanzapine, which work for me, but have made me put on a ton of weight. There are quite a few antipsychotics you can try; Seroquel tends to be the psychiatrists favourite, but if you don't want to sleep lots/put on a little weight then Aripiprazole might be better. Olanzapine and Risperidone are also used regularly to treat symptoms of psychosis, however they can have the rather horrible side effect of increasing your prolactin levels, which is never nice. Trying an antipsychotic is probably a good idea, but make sure you do enough research to find the one that's right for you.
I do not like talking about the psychosis side much - shy away from it, actually - as I do not like the pre-conceived idea that if you are aware of it it is somehow not real.
I struggle enough with arguments with myself over what is and isn't real and it is hard to make myself consider some things as possibly not - Without people turning around and saying that must mean it is not psychosis... If it is not psychosis, it is real.
I am rambling. Have been struggling a lot this week, and things I have been hearing and reading just not helping any.
I am thinking of writing to the psych to ask which med they think is suitable for me, so that I can research that instead of the whole plethora available out there....
So confused and so guilty and bad. Sorry for rambling.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Yeah, abilify (I used to think it sounded like a spell from something like harry potter, haha). It's usually tolerated a lot better than most other antipsychotics, although it doesn't work for everyone (but the orally disintegrating tablets taste really good, as far as medication goes!).
I think asking your psych which medications are suitable for you is a good idea, and you will have plenty of time to research them.
Hi , I take abilify and fluxotine for my depression, with psychotic symptoms. I have to say, the side effects are minimal, apart from the weight gain. The abilify controls the worse of the psychosis, although some symptoms are still present which I dont tell the docs about. It also helps ( although minimally) control/ stabalise my moods ( I have traits of personality disorder). In my experience, its not too bad a combination.
