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[Babsm67]

Hi,  I read the thread about duloxetine and wondered what experiences others have had of AD's & whether anyone has had any success without debilitating side effects.  I have been advised by a gynae gp that I saw a couple of weeks ago, to use oestrogel (1 pump) just for the 2nd half half of my menstrual cyc!e due to an extreme drop in mood.  However, I have reached a point where I really do need some additional help as we go into winter.  Every winter (and sometimes on grey days), my mood drops & I become more prone to panic attacks - this has been going on since I had my children but with perimenoause, it is worsening &, 2 nights ago, I fe!t like I was on the verge of having a panic attack.
I used to take escitilopram, which worked for many years, but last year, I had to stop taking them because I could not sleep & my eyes became red, sore, dry & itchy.  Tried setraline a few weeks ago - took 25mg & fe!t 'spaced out' so stopped those quickly.  Now going to try halving the tablet again to see if a lower dosage will help.  Pretty desperate for something now as I do not feel I can carry on like this  X

[Briony]

Took Citalopram (sp?) years ago for anxiety. Had two days of feeling spaced out, then felt fine. In fact, so good I was scared to come off them for years! (Just took 5mg to keep me ticking over!). No issues coming off it.

Took Amitriptyline for nerve pain. After a week, I felt dreadful - dizzy, tingling, panicking. Made me sooooo tired too. This quickly settled and I  felt OK, but didnt really help the pain. Mentally, I was steady anyway so it made no difference to my mood. Easy to come off it.

Switched to Duloxetine to help the back ache/nerve pain- see my posts in the other thread. Never again.

Lots of people I work with take either Prozac or Citalopram longer term, and seem happy with it - perhaps a little scared to stop it.

Will be interesting to hear others' experiences.

[Briony]

I think they are supposed to have an effect on balancing hormones but don't quote me on that.

That definitely rings a bell. Isnt it meant to help with sweats? Also recommended for severe PMS, I think?

[thorntrees]

When I began to be  bothered by sweats day and night and also anxiety about 2years post memo my GP suggested citalopram might help-HRT not an option. I was a bit reluctant but decided to give it a go, did have some start up effects for about two weeks but once settled  gradually noticed the daytime sweats decreased. I only take a low dose-10mgs and have been on it about 2years now and definitely feel less anxious and more able to cope.Night sweats are also less severe. Will have to try coming off at some point but for now GP and I both happy to keep it going.

Thorntrees

[honeybun]

I've only tried one AD and never again.....anyway that's not what I came on to say.

If you are effected by low light levels that effect your mood then you could be suffering....well partly anyway...from Seasonal Deffictive Disorder....SAD.
You can buy special bulbs and lights to help with this. Have a Google.

I'm not saying this will solve all your issues but it is something that effects a huge number of people so may well be an idea to do a little research.


Honeybun
X

[CLKD]

I have a friend with great success using a SAD-light.  When I sold 1 at auction 3 people were after it and it went for more money than I expected to get for it 

I have bumped my thread re depression too.

I have also told recently about my experiences with medication.  If you look at my profile you can track my statements as I can't remember where I put them 

[CLKD]

VitD may well impact on SAD.

[Babsm67]

Hi Ladies, thanks for your replies which have been very helpful.  I will look into the SAD lightboxes - I did hire one years ago but had trouble sleeping (again!!).  I remember trying Prozac when my daughter was a baby & I felt fantastic initially but suffered an upset stomach which, I suspect affected the absortion & I started getting panic attacks again so was put on Seroxat for 11 years on & off.  They stopped working, so I took Cipralex (escitilopram) & they were brilliant for preventing panic attacks.  They worked until last winter, when the eye problems & insomnia flared up.  Tried Dosulepin in May - worked initially to help sleep but felt like a zombie during the day, the weight piled on & the sleep effects wore off.  Got through summer with the odd valium or betablocker but feel I need something else now.  I do also have the option of trying the small dossge of oestrogel during the 2nd half of menstrual cycle this month but don't know yet if this will be enough.
Interesting point about the vitamin D- I looked into what foods contain it (oily fish are a good source & cod liver oil).  Perhaps I should get a blood test done. As my husband said tonight ' It is getting worse - get it sorted'.  xx

[MIS71MUM]

Just a thought, and a bit cheaper than hiring a lightbox, how about trying EPA fish oils. Known for helping beat depression and good for sleep.

I used to have a lightbox but if you use them too late in the day, they can affect your sleep.

[Babsm67]

Hi, Mis71Mum - thanks for that tip about the EPA fish oils.  Think a trip to our local health food shop is in order - they are very good in there & should have the supplements I need. X 

[Hurdity]

Hi,  I read the thread about duloxetine and wondered what experiences others have had of AD's & whether anyone has had any success without debilitating side effects.  I have been advised by a gynae gp that I saw a couple of weeks ago, to use oestrogel (1 pump) just for the 2nd half half of my menstrual cyc!e due to an extreme drop in mood.  However, I have reached a point where I really do need some additional help as we go into winter.  Every winter (and sometimes on grey days), my mood drops & I become more prone to panic attacks - this has been going on since I had my children but with perimenoause, it is worsening &, 2 nights ago, I fe!t like I was on the verge of having a panic attack.
I used to take escitilopram, which worked for many years, but last year, I had to stop taking them because I could not sleep & my eyes became red, sore, dry & itchy.  Tried setraline a few weeks ago - took 25mg & fe!t 'spaced out' so stopped those quickly.  Now going to try halving the tablet again to see if a lower dosage will help.  Pretty desperate for something now as I do not feel I can carry on like this  X

I am sorry to hear about your mood dips MadBloss but if these are cyclical ie hormonal, and your gynae has recommended oestrogen a couple of weeks ago then please do try this first - are you in UK? Top gynaes' eg Prof Studd thinking is not to use ADs for hormonally responsive depression and especially mood dips,but to use oestrogen as you have been prescribed. Regarding the SAD issue - that's something else and why not follow the other suggestions before trying ADs if you can - especially as you have suffered unpleasant side effects from these?

Eleven years ago I suffered horrendous night sweats, that left me without a proper night's sleep, for more than a year.

The result was I had a total melt down.

My Doc put me on fluoxetine (prozac) and a sware it saved my life.

I only took a low dose (20 mg) for 6 months, but it was enough to get me out of trouble.

Am taking them again at the moment due to several family troubles, including bereavement but am confident they are doing the trick.

The only side effect I ever had with them was heartburn, which I cured by taking them after meals with a small glass of milk.

I think they are supposed to have an effect on balancing hormones but don't quote me on that.

Sorry to hear about your previous menopausal symptoms and also recent bereavement Prajna.

Current thinking - as given in the draft NICE Guidelines soon to be published is not to offer women ADs as the first line of treatment for flushes and sweats - but to offer HRT instead, of course provided the woman is not medically contra-indicated and therefore unable to take HRT. For such women these (SSRI's such as fluoxetine) are the prescribable alternatives which are known to be effective.

From what I read as Briony says Fluoxetine may help with pms as it is affects progesterone metabolism but doesn't balance the hormones as such. As far as I can gather there are trials currently being undertaken?

Hurdity x

[Winterose]

also have a look at L 5 HTP - its a supplement but amazon have it and it gets great reviews.However you must check other medication that you may be on.  Also get a vit d spray - sub lingual with vit K2 - you need the K2 to absorb the D -

[CLKD]

People usually have the light box in the room where they spend most of the time.  If working away from home, using it in the evening should be fine.  I have a low light level in the night so that I don't have to shock others when I switch on. 

[Babsm67]

Thanks everyone, for the tips   
Hurdity - yes, what the gynae GP has recommended ties in with Professor Studd's way of thinking.  I have come to the conclusion that many AD's do not suit me. I think I have reacted to the !atest one I have just started trying & actually felt WORSE for the very short time I was on it.  My mood is just starting to lift but it is now day 8 of my cycle so this is unusual as it used to lift sooner than this.  I will be starting the oestrogel (1 pump) on day 14 & just hope it works.  Need to do some research about the supp!ements & lightboxes - will be looking online at lots of articles tonight!  .  Xx

[MIS71MUM]

Good luck!

After 2 really gloomy days in Sheffield, where we've had no daylight whatsoever, I'm considering hiring a lightbox myself.

Do you mind me asking what you meant my feeling worse on your AD? I feel exactly the same about mine!!!