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Struggling going back on medication

Jessie394
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi,

I've just started going back on a low dose of anti depressants and I'm really struggling.

I'm having some terrible side effects. Nausea, light headedness, sudden and overwhelming waves of anxiety and depression.

I was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences and how long they lasted for.

Any help or advice would be very greatly appreciated.

Thanks, J x

5 Replies 5

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

dear Jessie, I'm so sorry for this as we know it's a pain in the neck having to go through all the side-effects once again, so I wonder whether it's the same type you were on before.

If the previous one you were taking was a SSRI and now this one is a SNRI then our body can cope with one type but not the other.

This is just thinking aloud here, however all the side-effects that you mention can settle down within a week or so, but if they do have problems for you sexually, then I would go back and get them changed, because this will never get better, it's one problem that won't change.

There is medication that can counter any nausea, or an injection of the same medicine, but it needs to be taken daily or every few hours, which I can't remember, but personally it only made me throw up, which of course made me feel better, however it doesn't happen with everybody.

I would keep in contact with your doctor, who will probably say that it will settle down, which it may, but if it hasn't within a week or so, then they should change it. I wonder why you weren't given the previous AD, or have you changed doctors. but as you are on a low dose it has to suit you because it may need to be increased. L Geoff. x

Downbutnotout
Community Member

Hi Jessie. I am very interested in the answer to this as I am going through the same now also. Ive just started with a low dose today. The waves of anxiety are terrifying and then I get really tired and dizzy.  I've been on medication before but don't remember this! Perhaps I should go back to the docs and get a previous one as Geoff suggested. Not enjoying this at all. Hugs to you Jessie. 

Im not sure if I'll continue meds tomorrow if this doesn't ease. Hope your symptoms do. Just remember there are at least two of us quite scared at the moment and going through the same thing kind of together. It WILL ease. Hang in there with me xx

Downbutnotout
Community Member

Further to my earlier reply, I was just wondering if anyone experiences a wave of heat  coming up from the stomach flooding the chest as a side affect of antideppressant med. This in turns causes me panic. Ive had this before when I took a codeine tablet with a previous antidepressant and was a lot more burning and so I assumed it was nasty interaction of drugs causing it. But in this case I've only taken one med.

Anyone else get this? Does anyone know what it is? Or is it part of anxiety?

Not sure I want to go through all this again tomorrow

DBNO x

Hi DBNO,

It makes me feel better knowing that I'll have a friend go through this with me. Its hard to describe to people who haven't been through it before.

I haven't experienced the burning sensations that you've described, but my nausea doesn't seem to want to stop. I'm hoping it's just while my body gets used to the medicine. I have follow up appt with my doctor next week, so I'll be able to talk to him about the feeling I'm having then.

In the mean time I was thinking of keeping a diary of what I've been going through mentally. I thought it might be a cathartic thing to do - to get it all down on paper.

My thoughts are with you DBNO.

Best of luck and wishes, J x

Jessie394
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Geoff,

Thank you for replying! It means a lot that you took the time to do that.

In regards to your query about my medication I'm taking the same medication as I was last time, but it's been about 3 years since I've had to take them. I'm taking an SSRI but I can't remember the side effects being this bad last time. But perhaps I've forgotten what it's was like.

As I said to DBNO I have a follow up with my doctor next week, so I'll definitely remember to bring it all up with him. I'm hoping it only lasts a week!

Thanks again for replying!

Best wishes, J x