side effects too much to handle

[WH]

having been on medication for 6 months for stress at work, i am fed up with the headaches, drowsiness, nightmares, i feel worse that before!!! I am weaning down slowly, guess i may need something different.

[The_Real_David_Charles]

Dear WH,

Sounds like you are getting more stress from the side effects.  Your body must be intolerant of this medication else you would have absorbed the ups and downs by now.  I'm guessing you've done the blood tests and varied levels.

Aparts from more (or different meds) the one thing that would concern me was the excessive drowsiness and nightmares.  This equals no sleep which in turn will stress your body and mind out even more.  If you were in hospital the routine and boredom would give you (1) no stimulation, (2) easier sleeping patterns due to non activity choice, and (3) no access to food and drink from 8:30pm through to 6am when they run a small tea/coffee trolley in most wards.

And this is the key to stress - to reduce the factors.  Sometimes that means choosing a job for less money just so that you can have a balanced life.

Adios, David.

[jess334]

Hi WH. 

Have you spoken to your GP about your medication side effects?  Have you always had the side effects or have they just started?  Or have the side effects only started once you started weaning down? 

Definitely speak to your GP, especially if you haven't talked to him about coming off them.  

Medication is a tricky thing, I was on an antidepressant for 4 years before it stopped working for me, then I had to try two other drugs before I found one that worked.  I hated that time period.  It was awful, I had headaches, dizziness, brain zaps, nausea etc.  But I kept working with my doctor and psychologist and I finally found one that worked.  Now I can go to work every day and I'm happy more often than not.  

Keep going WH, you'll find one that works. 

Jess

[geoff]

dear WH, normally after about 4 weeks or even less than that if the side effects are not agreeing with your body it's always a good idea to go back to your doctor.

Obviously this medication is not the one to suit you, so please go back and get it revised, there will be one that helps you. Geoff.

[Ben_of_the_Plains]

Hi WH,

It's very common for these types of medications to have some side effects. Usually what happens is that person prescribing them, (in consultation with the patient) need to decide if the side effects actually outweigh the benefits - which sounds as though it may be the case for you with your current medication.

It's defiinitely worth considering seeing your GP or psychiatrist again to let them know what's going on.

It may take a bit of trial and error before you find the right one for you (and the right dose), and unfortunately it can be an uncomfortable process, particularly if the medication also comes with withdrawal effects.

Persistence is the key though, don't give up before you've at least given yourself the chance to see what other options might be available.

[WH]

i have halved the medication and now feeling much better, no more nightmare or headaches.

[simon81]

Hi Jess,

Im Simon and im new to this site but have found it really helpful. Like you I was on a medication (  which stopped being effective for me) my doctor has now prescribed a different one for me along with a sedative as I was having quite bad side effects increased anxiety etc, these side effects faded after a few weeks but I ve noticed minimal improvement in my depression and anxiety, I think the next step my psychiatrist will try is upping my dosage. It is comforting to know though that there are different meds out there which will work when others fail, It terrified me to think that because one ssri ceased working then all in that class may be ineffective,

[geoff]

dear WH, stay on the half dosage for awhile and if it is doing it's job that's great, if however you begin to feel stressed and anxious then increase it to three quarters, but check with your doctor first. Geoff.