topic Side Effects of Medications in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 09:54:23 GMT

We need to talk about this.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 08:01:26 GMT

I lost my post 🙂

Briefly - 17 years on anti-depressants - tried them all.

Many side-effects - agitation, mania, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, no feelings, nausea, headaches etc etc.

Many doctors and many psychiatrists - not one talked about side-effects or interactions with other medications

Flat mood for over 15 years. Last time for sex, year 2000.

Fast track to 2012. Accident and prescribed another anti-depressant to help with pain and sleep - result Serotonin syndrome which is life threatening. NOT a pleasant experience.

My background is research - I have discovered many things - long term use of anti-depressants not good. What have these drugs done to my mind? I know what they have done to body.

More to come. We NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

Thanks

Leon

Side Effects of Medications

vip — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 22:42:38 GMT

Hi Leon I was on a particular antidepressant 3 years ago that doctors werent 100% sure but may have contributed to me attempting suicide. Anyway I have come off them slowly and now I am not on anything but i have been on medication on and off for 22 yrs. My gp and psych thought it was time to clear my mind and body of all medications also put on stacks of weight which only through the help of my gym i am starting to lose slowly. Its a really hard to know about all these drugs we put in out system and what they do long term ect you read the phamhlet that comes in the antidepressant box and think wow. Anyway unfortunately lots of people have to take this medication for the rest of their lives even people who have diabetes or high blood pressure ect they do too. I suppose its the risk you take if you suffer with something . I meant people with high blood pressure or diabetes take their own medications not antidepressants. Yes would be interesting if you get any more responses is someone has a pharmacy or medical degree to respond back.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:54:20 GMT

Hi Nes

Thanks for posting.

I am really impressed that you weaned yourself off them! And exercising 🙂 And your medical practitioners helped you. Fantastic.

There is a growing research base on the long term use of these medications.

I will be posting more about my 17 year journey.

Cheers

Leon

Side Effects of Medications

vip — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:44:22 GMT

Looking forward to what you post next thanks Leon

Side Effects of Medications

vip — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 23:39:58 GMT

Sorry Leon my last post made no sense. I meant looking forward to reading what information you have for us . Thanks

Side Effects of Medications

Shock — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 00:19:34 GMT

I'm pretty immune to anitdepressants - as in they dont really do anything for me.

Only two I have tried have had side effects.

Side Effects of Medications

geoff — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:00:59 GMT

dear Leon, one point I would like to make is that when we are taking antidepressants our immune symptom becomes used the amount we are taking so then it needs to be increased, just as mine had to recently, so it had to be increased to have the effect.

It's no different than to someone who drinks alcohol, where at first one glass would be enough, but as time goes on you need three glasses to have the same effect. Geoff.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:54:09 GMT

Hey no need to apologise 🙂

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:57:01 GMT

Just need to add something. With the S Syndorone, the extra anti- depressant was on top of a medication used for neuropathic pain which impacts on the receptors as well.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:57:58 GMT

That is a good point point Geoff. Thanks

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:59:18 GMT

Yes that is the hard part for research. We all get different effects I think.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 01:07:51 GMT

The story continued. First I want to say I do not blame my Doctors at all. Many do not know about the long term effects.

In 1997 I had an important overseas trip which would boost my career. Because I was going to a country where these type of drugs were unknown, I could not risk being caught with anything! So I stopped. At that time no-one was really talking about WITHDRAW ( it is called something more ambiguous in the literature;) ). Well it was he'll for me! In the end I smuggled them in just so I could hold myself together. With the benefit of hindsight, both were dumb things to do - just stopping and then smuggling!

Side Effects of Medications

Samm — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 01:45:19 GMT

Hi Leon,

Yes we need to talk about the side effects, and some GP's do know some of the side effects, but the first time I went on anti-depressants it knocked me off my feet for six weeks, it was like I couldn't get out of bed!

The ones I'm on now make me mainly feel queezy ... a little "out of body" and sometimes numb, though I don't know if there is any that are any better. I just know that I can't deal with the depression and anxiety without the medication - I have tried by weaning myself off, but back on, as I couldn't cope!

Look forward to hearing from others.

Samm

Side Effects of Medications

geoff — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:55:20 GMT

dear Leon, a couple of points, the antidepressants I take are SSRI and from memory I think you take these, correct me if I'm wrong.

These are for depression, anxiety and to help with OCD.

This medication is something that our immune system has to learn how to tolerate and either accept or do nothing, and that any side effects are minimal.

I had been thinking about going for a holiday OS, and with the amount of different pills I take I will have to get a letter from my doctor authorising me to take them into the country, plus I will need a suit case to carry them all. Geoff.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 02:22:45 GMT

A suit case 🙂 I no longer smuggle mine.

Side Effects of Medications

leon007 — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 02:27:52 GMT

Hi Samm

I have had similar effects. However I know weaning off is hard to do. Please chat to your medical practitioner - it maybe that another will help more.

I do know side-effects wear off after a while - but it in no way diminishes what you are experiencing.

I have not been able to wean myself off. BUT that is my aim. I will this time work with my psychiatrist!

Wish you well

Leon