Living with Anxiety and depression

[Zoostar84]

This is my first post with Beyondblue

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression since 2004.

This year has been very difficult for me. Earlier this year I was feeling
very drowsy every morning and stuggled to push through the mornings. I had run
out of my thienobenzodiazepine a couple of days before I was to see my
psychiatrist. I noticed I was not feeling drowsy during these couple of days
and I told my psychiatrist and he was happy for me to discontinue my thienobenzodiazepin
. He prescribed me a tricyclic antidepressant that has been used for decades. One
day at work I had went to the toilet and felt a sensation like I was on a
rocking boat. I went back to work and just froze. My manager wanted to speak to
me in a private room and I felt very unsteady. I went to the tea room and layed
on the couch. I later found out my blood pressure was low and I nearly passed
out.

I saw another psychiatrist whilst my psychiatrist was away in April. He
prescibed me a serotonin-nrepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). I was keeping
fit and healthy. I go to the gym three times a week most weeks. At times I felt
a throbbing sensation and sharp pain in my forehead. I felt something was not
quite right. My psychiatrist increased my SNRI dose. I went to the
pharmacist and looked at the SNRI dose that I was being dispensed and
questioned the considerable increase in SNRI dose i was being dispensed. I spoke to him the following day and there
must have been a miscommunication between the psychiatrists because i was being dispensed the starter dose since April and he thought I was taking
more. Knowing this he increased my dose until my next appointment.
I now keep a diary of my prescribed medications.

Mid september I had close to a week off from work as I woke up every morning
at 3:30-4:00 with heart palpitations, my head feeling a bit fuzzy. I'm back at
work now. I went to see my counsellor last week and she is very worried about
me. I have lots of people that support me including my family, girlfriend, and
work colleagues. My counsellor gave me a mental health number for someone to
talk to in an emergency situation. I am having currently having difficulty
concentrating, memory loss and feel very absent minded.  I dont feel I am
currently on the right dose of medication or right type of medication. I am
trying to manage my stress levels, but every day is difficult.

 

[geoff]

dear Zoostar, thanks for coming to the site.

Sometimes people have to try many different antidepressants (AD) before they get the one that not only suits them, but also makes them feel better.

Personally I tried at least 6 or so after all the side-effects made me feel awful until eventually my doctor who was also my psychologist found the one that suited me, and I have been taking it for over 10 years, although the dosage has been increased, so unfortunately you have to keep trying them.

I know it's a real pain, but once you have the one it will make a big difference. Geoff.

[Zoostar84]

Hi Geoff

Thankyou for your reply.

I have lost count of how many antidepressants I have tried. I was on a different type of tricyclic antidepressant for close to five years. Up until about 4 years ago that seemed to work best for me until I went out one night, got intoxicated and had a minor panic attack a week later.  I learned from my panic attack that if something was troubling me I had to speak to somoene. Despite being very uncomfortable to talk about it I felt better afterwards. Something that I may consider a big issue may only be a small issue to someone else. Having a close network has definately helped..even if they don't really undersatnd what i'm going through. That medication I was on was not having the same effect anymore and it was time to change medication. I decided it was best for me to longer drink alcohol. I have not since had a panic attack (touch wood).