antidepressant’s

[Jpdee75]

I have tried loads of antidepressant’s and can’t find one that I tolerate. I started another over three weeks ago called vortiixetine a fairly new one with less side effects but my anxiety is through the roof and I have interest in nothing and all the other depression symptoms, I couldn’t cope anymore so I tried another antidepressant I’m actually worse off now. I’m running out of options does anyone else struggle with this?

[JizilcaAegir]

I was prescribed Venlafaxine and was told by my consultant that I would need to take them for at least 6 - 8 weeks before I would know how they were working, or not. So perhaps you just need to persevere a little longer x

[Pairofboots]

Hi Jp, most antidepressants take a minimum of four weeks to have an effect from when they are titrated to a therapeutic dose. In many cases there will be a period when it is important that the individual is closely monitored as there maybe some disinhibition leading to risk behaviours. Many can cause changes in appetite, sleep, anxiety, toileting in the short term as the body gets used to how they work, this usually settles down, only if these effects don't ease it would be considered as not being tolerated. With modern antidepressants usually when people have problems it is due to the dose being increased too quickly. Sometimes other medications can be used to limit the effects of unpleasant effects. Hope this helps 🍀

[cat3]

It took almost a year for me to hit upon a compatible SSRi. I persevered for weeks at a time with Venlafaxine, Cinnarizine, Reboxetine, Sertraline and several others, the side-effects of which (dizziness & visual disturbances) kept me housebound.

But our differing physiology means that any one of the above could be 'The one' for thousands of other folk. Just as the one which I was finally prescribed (Paroxetine), and which completely turned my life around for the better, might not suit many others.

Those months of trial & error were challenging, but within two weeks of finding one which suited me (& with minimal side effects) life was good. It has helped me through serious illnesses and other traumas for the past 30+years.

I truly hope you'll persevere Jpdee, and that you'll find one which greatly improves your quality of life.

Cat x

[Leaf100]

hi jp

Also remember eating properly , sleeping, fresh air and a bit of exercise (if you can manage...even if it is just derp beathing) can help more than you might think.

Meditation can also help. Meditation is sometimes hard for people with bi. There are guided ones and ones based on breathing - look up 'square breathing ' for example.

There is also another technique based on tapping , one version is The Emotional Freedom Technque or EFT.

Some people find listening to binaural beats helpful.

Sometimes herbs, like tulsi tea, can help a lot.

These techniques are known to neuro psychatrists snd psychologists so have a chat with yours re supportive options if you have not done so yet.

I am very sensitive to medications and many just don't work for me, the side effects are intolerable. So, I have to rely more on the other stuff and if you keep trying things you will find things. My thought is often it is not one thing but a combo.

For example, in the past I found I could take a very low dose of ativan to break a cycle of anxiety - once only though. If I took it more than once, it triggered depression.

Cold water swimming also works for some. If you are not able to manage that, a cold shower might help.

Just keep trying different things and talking to your specialist. Some of these ideas may not be a match for your particular situation. Also, drugs come in families, so they will know if you need to try something in a different family.

Take good care and let us know how you are doing.

Leaf

[Painting-girl]

Hello J, I sympathise with having anxiety, it is grim - and with the anxiety- making times we're living through lately ( covid, war, cost of living) really don't help matters. Mine spiked up again - ostensibly worrying about fuel and food costs - last night.. so had a bit of a sleepless night, which is really pretty unusual for me these days. Don't forget that depression and BI symptoms do overlap considerably. (Though as a cohort, we are also quite prone to depression, and you have done the right thing to seek help. )

I wonder who is prescribing your antidepressants? The rule with BI is 'start low, and go slow' - so a lower starting dose than the rest of the population, and a slow increase (while being closely monitored, as Pairofboots says). GPs aren't always as aware as we might like- the specialists in drugs for brain injury are neuropsychiatrists - if you can get referred to one? Plus mine was really helpful about impressing on me that the key thing to getting better was to manage my fatigue well. Despite my complete apprehension about seeing 'a psychiatrist' (because I thought it meant the neurologist had decided it was 'all in my mind' ) out of everyone I'd seen to that point, he was the most clear and pragmatic about all the wretched and weird MTBI/ post concussion stuff I was experiencing, being down to having a brain injury -which was anxiety reducing on its own.

Seeing a neuropsychologist alongside the drugs is a massive support - mine helped me wean off the drugs ( no side effects) .

It doesn't work for everyone, but I found a mindfulness based stress reduction course (MBSR) locally early on, which the neuropsychologist that did my testing recommended I try, which I found helpful - on a pragmatic note, being trained to recognise what's happening in your body is helpful to recognise the onset of fatigue to be able to do something about it, and I still find the 'body scan' exercise useful for brain breaks. (I still actually do best if I do one a day) but the aim of these practical secular courses is equip you with a range of techniques that you can pick and choose from.

I think what I'm saying, is try and ignore any preconceptions you have, and try more than one thing,to find what suits you - and to get hold of 'neuro' specialists if possible. I think this can be an ongoing thing to handle, even if I'm not on antidepressants now, because my neuropsychiatrist mentioned in passing that I had an increased sensitivity to stress (which seems to be accurate. I think it's because my planning skills altered).

Plus do be kind to yourself, because apart from the struggles of brain injury - which are quite enough on their own, we are living through quite unprecedented times of change and disruption - and everyone in the general population seems to be affected to some underlying degree as a result. I guess you are also dealing with the effects of having been assaulted in the first place?

Keep in touch - and let us know how you get on?