Med for anxiety and agitation/restkessness

[Vicss]

Anyone have any success stories of any antidepressants who have helped with the above? I’m really struggling with the above but cannot manage to stay on a med long enough due to side effects (Particularly increased anxiety, agitation and twitching) but I’m also not sure whether the side effects are just the initial increased anxiety...if anyone could share their experiences of a med that has helped them with anxiety/agitation and restlessness and they have managed to get through the initial increased anxiety that may have appeared to worsen these problems for a while until it got better it would give me hope 😫🙏 xxx Been a long intense 19 months of constant agony x

[Marnie22]

Hi. I have had good results with Venlafaxine in the past. I also wanted to mention some other thinks that could help:Talking therapy that focuses on changing thinking and behaviour patterns, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. This can be accessed either through your doctor or by self referral - search online for Talking Therapy in your area.

There are also online articles and exercises which can help.

This is a site recommended by the NHS:

getselfhelp.co.uk/

This is because anxiety manifests itself in a particular way of thinking and we can become trapped in it.

Different types of relaxation and self hypnosis.

If a person can physically relax, the nervous system will automatically then help their mind to relax because of the way that they are linked.

There are lots of relaxation videos on YouTube, but here's a couple of suggestions - the first one is a lady we use at my Headway group. She has a whole channel on YouTube and there are lots of good videos:

youtu.be/JPO-qHKdbZ0(Not working as expected?)

This is another video:

youtu.be/MR57rug8NsM(Not working as expected?)

There are loads online, it's just a matter of finding one you like. It can also be very helpful to find one that is designed to relax you as you go to sleep. It will give you a better quality of sleep. I use one regularly.

Best wishes. 🌼

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

Thank you so much this is really helpful!! I may be trying venlafaxine next - I think I struggle with meds as when it initially increases my anxiety it also initially increases my physical agitation so I feel very restless and physically have to keep moving. Did you have this initially? Did it help to calm you down physically and rest/relax more? I am worried that venlafaxine May affect me from sleeping properly as I’m currently sleeping really well at least off meds. Did you end up taking Mirtazapine also to help you sleep?...as that disagreed with me. What were your side effects and what dose where you on and was withdrawal bad??

I really appreciate your help and would love your reply to help me work out my next approach as I’m seeing the psych in 4 hours.

Much love ❤️

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

Hi. I had no agitation problems. I have been on different dosages of Venlafaxine at different times, but I only had sleep issues on 225mg, not on lower dosages. This is because Venlafaxine works on serotonin when on lower dosages, but then works on noradrenaline at higher doses. I believe that's why higher dosages can affect sleep. Never tried Mirtazapine, I was put on Zopiclone when I had sleep problems - not a good idea. I can honestly say that self hypnosis sleep videos on YouTube have helped me with sleep better than any medication. Not sure which medication you were asking about with regards to withdrawal.

Hope this helps.

Hope your appointment goes well. 🌼

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

Thanks 😊....I can see from a lot of comments that people have terrible withdrawal problems from venlafaxine - did you? Xx

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

Also were you on it for anxiety, depression or both? X

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

Hi. I am still taking it, but there was a time when I had to come down a long way from 225mg to a lower dose. I did this in stages with a couple of months between each stage and I was supervised by my psychiatrist. I don't remember any terrible problems so I can't have had a bad time with withdrawal symptoms. It's much worse if I don't remember to take a dose for a day - as Venlafaxine has a short half life, missing a dose can make you feel ill by the afternoon. Once I missed two days through being very unwell - I really felt ill from that then. Overall though, Venlafaxine has been incredibly helpful to me. I remember when it first worked for me, I couldn't believe that I could experience every day without terrible, crippling anxiety.

I think I was given it first for anxiety and depression.

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

Thank you. Sounds like it would really be worth me having a go as my situation is extreme. Thanks so much for your time. Xxxxxxxxx take care x

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

I really hope you get some relief. I know you have a lot to deal with, but it would be good to hear how you get on. Take care. 👍

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

I will certainly let you know if I start to get better. I have totally lost hope unfortunately 😔

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

*Trigger warning*

Please don’t lose hope. I really believe there is a way for everyone to heal. 🌼

I know you are very busy right now, but have you ever considered looking into why you have anxiety and what the root causes are? I had problems for decades and then learned about the causes when I finally ended up in a suicide respite centre four years ago. Since then I learned that I have Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and that was at the root of all my mental health problems. I have been having effective treatment, (EMDR therapy,) and it has been life changing.

Past experiences are very often the cause of anxiety and depression. Repressed emotions are very potent and can be damaging a person even when that person is not aware of them.

Sorry to go on, but there will be a way forward for you. Please don’t give up.

Let me know if I can help, or just moan at me if you need to. 🌼

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

I came off a med I’d been on for 10 years under the advice of a doctor and it all went downhill from there and the side effects are so tough that when I re-tried it I just couldn’t get back on it. It causes severe agitation and I just couldn’t sit or stand still and had to pace around all the time. Unfortunately NHS psychiatric services have discharged me with a plan I can’t follow and refused to have me back. So I’m working with a private psychiatrist who is kindly seeing me free as she is very worried and can’t get me back into services. I have got to the bottom of my issues but still struggle and unfortunately don’t have the opportunity to go to a centre to have proper services such as intensive therapy. My father died suddenly when I was little and we moved from a life abroad to the UK but my mum was very dissociated so I kind of brought my self up which meant that I always struggled with social anxiety and then my mum died too. My daughter left home and that has triggered my loss issues - I’m having therapy but not EMDR...I wish I could have that! I believe I also have post traumatic stress disorder too for a number of reasons.

Thank you for giving me hope that means a lot. I think I may try venlafaxine but worried that it will make me numb and dissociated as off meds I have just started feeling less dissociated which is a massive hurdle. Do you think that’s likely?

I really really appreciate your support - you’re very kind xxxxxx

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

Well, when I started taking Venlafaxine and had been on it for a bit, I asked someone I was close to if I seemed different on it. (I didn't feel different, except for less anxious.) They told me that I did seem different, and said, 'You seem more yourself.' They clarified that I seemed just like me, but more able to be me because I was so much less anxious.What I suggest is that you do a bit of online research on Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (as from what you said it could be a possibility,) and note down the main criteria. You can then add some of what you have experienced etc. and match it up with what you have found out.

You could ask your GP to help you get an appointment with someone who could do a proper assessment for C-PTSD. (Or you could see a psychologist privately if your GP isn't helpful.)

One massive problem with getting diagnosed with Complex PTSD is that if the medical professional you are seeing isn't trained /familiar with this, they see the symptoms - e.g. anxiety, depression etc. and treat those, but they don't understand that Complex PTSD is causing those symptoms. So, however well meaning a doctor is, they might not recognise it. I saw some good GPS but none ever recognised I had Complex PTSD. It took me having a brain injury and seeing a neuropsychologist before I was diagnosed.

I don't know if you are familiar with PALS, (Patient Advice and Liaison Service,) but they are a free service in every area that supports patients who are having difficulties with the NHS. They take up your case and know exactly who to contact to get things sorted out. I have been helped by them many times - once I managed to get twice as many therapy sessions as I was going to get once they contacted the right person. They could help you either with getting back into your local mental health services or in getting access to a formal assessment for PTSD. Just Google PALS and add in your area.

I understand it can be really difficult to get help - Trigger warning - I told a locum psychiatrist that I was seeing that I had suicidal thoughts - and I had told my doctor who also let the psychiatrist know - and the response was to discharge me from the service. No risk assessment, no signposting to other support, nothing. Once I was a bit better I did a full formal complaint against them. That was when I found the suicide respite centre. Just in case you ever need it, they are called Maytree and have a website. Their number is 0207 263 7070. An amazing organisation that set me on the right road.

I am going to send you a link to a video I found really enlightening.

Thank you for your thanks. I can't bear to think of you suffering when there are things that can help.

🌼

[Vicss in reply to Marnie22]

Gosh thank you Marnie. You give me hope. I’m off meds but it’s not going to work so I’m going to have to bite the bullet and stick through the difficult aspect of meds to get to the other side - I have given up 20 meds but I will have to now knuckle down and crack through. The meds scare me as I feel all over the place on them but I only give them a month tops due to side effects.

Yes that happened to me Marnie psych services knew I was suicidal and discharged me on a plan that was impossible to carry out. They left me without support which is why I have a private psych even though I can’t afford it. I would complain through PALS but I haven’t got the energy or focus but my psych is thinking of complaining to CQC. She thinks it’s disgraceful and negligent. I’m not in a state to just leave me to work it out.

I have rung the centre you recommended and left a message for them to call me so thank you!!!!

Look forward for the link.

Vices 💕💕

[Marnie22 in reply to Vicss]

Here's the video.......youtu.be/CHm2gTkNQxc(Not working as expected?)

🌼

[Pairofboots]

Hi Vic, I have had some success with a concoction of medication. It took about seven years to stabilise me. I would be cautious about naming particular medication as people react to different meds in different ways.

I am now slowly, with the support of the Dr reducing some of the medication that has effectively done its job and is surplus to requirement.

I've got to admit that the first seven years were difficult, for the large part I was incapable of logical reasoning, and unfortunately lead to persons that I thought were supportive taking advantage and making less than good decisions on my behalf.

I did have quite a few crisis over the seven years, and as you describe it, in hindsight, was like living in agony.

You do need someone that understands brain injury to treat you. The causation of your anxiety, agitation, and restlessness is the injury, which is different to someone who doesn't have a brain injury. Generic mental health services, approach symptoms like this as an illness, when for us, they are a symptom caused by the injury.

I would ask to be referred to a neuro-psychologist and a neuro-psychiatrist, they approach the symptoms from the injury.

Headway can give you support, contact their helpline, details are pinned to this page.

Keep in contact, and let us know how you are going.

Best wishes 🍀

[Vicss in reply to Pairofboots]

Hi thanks so much! I don’t have a brain injury but I do know that my anxiety increases my physical agitation so if I get more anxious I end up more restless and physically agitated and need to keep moving. I do find people talking about their different meds helpful - could I at least ask if venlafaxine, duloxetine or clomipramine were some meds you took as they are some the psych has mentioned.

Psych services have discharged me and I have a private psych who is putting in a complaint to the CQC as I’m left on my own struggling without support.

Thank you 💕

[Pairofboots in reply to Vicss]

I am a retired RN (MH), so you will appreciate that I can only generalise about medication and not make recommendations.

Venlafaxine and Duloxetine is a SNRI, it reduces the rate of absorption of noradrenaline and seretonine, allowing receptors in the brain time to utilise noradrenaline and seretonine.

Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant, it works similar to SSRI and SNRI in reducing the reabsorption of seretonine and noradrenaline, allowing receptors in the brain to utilise noradrenaline and seretonine. It acts on a broader, less targeted approach.

As I said above, it took some time to stabilise me. You may find similar.

Most medication is titrated to a therapeutic dose, this may take a number of months to achieve. You should start to experience improvement in your mood and a reduction in anxiety from around a month of commencing treatment. Supervision may be required until a therapeutic level is reached, this would normally be by a family member living with you, or by regular face to face contact by a CPN. Other medication maybe required as an adjunct until a therapeutic level is attained.

Tricyclic antidepressants generally have the risk of more side effects as they are less targeted. But all antidepressants carry a risk of side effects.

SNRI and SSRI are possibly more effective for anxiety type symptoms. Tricyclics are an older form of antidepressant and in general are more appropriate for depression without anxiety type symptoms.

This is based on my own knowledge as of this time, and maybe challenged by professionals.

I hope this gives you some answers, if you have any specific questions, I will answer if I can, but you should seek advice from your consultant, they will be able to answer queries in relation to your individual needs.

Regards 🍀

[Marnie22 in reply to Pairofboots]

Hi. With respect, Venlafaxine is an SNRI. It works on both serotonin and noradrenaline, depending on the dosage.

[Pairofboots in reply to Marnie22]

Hi, with even more respect, you are spot on, my mistake, I will correct the above. Thank you Marnie x

[Marnie22 in reply to Pairofboots]

No problem. 😊

[Vicss in reply to Pairofboots]

That is a fabulous answer - so grateful. Perhaps it’s about time I did try venlafaxine properly as it really is anxiety that is my greatest difficulty. Thank you soooooo much xxxxx

[Pairofboots in reply to Vicss]

Welcome