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[Clovie]

Hello

I posted a while back about my feeling very down despite being on HRT, and I needed to pluck up courage to see a doctor (I have a horrid fear of going to the doctor) and got some great support on here. Thank you.

I'm determined to ask for help at long last,  and have now written down a spiel which I can hand over to the doctor if and when I get flustered or start panicking or crying. 

I'm going to be proactive so have written I'd like to try an antidepressant, but not an SSRI as those have never worked for me the few times I've tried them before, after PND etc.

I've read about a few different ones which MAY be suitable, given my personal medical needs,  obviously as decided by GP.
Ideally I'd like to kill a few birds with one stone... mood elevator+ sedative for sleep problem + pain relief for a long standing issue.
2 out  of 3 effects preferably.
 

Can anyone comment on their experience of any these drugs please?  Or suggest something that works for them?

Dosulepin
pregabalin
Amytriptyline
Duloxetine

Thank you. 

[babyjane]

Amytriptilene ticked all those boxes for me but did make me woozy the next day. Dosulepin works well for a friend of mine. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is a relative of Fluoxetine (Prozac) and an SNRI. I did try it but didn't like it but it is a very personal thing and what suits one might not suit another. Amytrip is an older medication so tried and tested.  Just my 2 pennyworth.  Good luck.

[Briony]

Like BJ, I found Amitriptyline to be very sedating (too sedating for me) and made me want to eat 24/7. However, I know someone else on here who took it for PND and had pleasing results.

I took Duloxotine for pain relief, but had a nightmare with it (ended up in casualty at one point!). Starting it is not too bad (as long as you dont take 90 mg on day 2 like I did!) but coming off it is much harder. The lowest dose is 20mg and you cant easily split capsules, so people end up counting beads. Do look at these sites: http://www.cymbaltawithdrawal.com   http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Advisor.../UCM172866.pdf

I found this (Cymbalta/Duloxetine) much harder to take/come off  than Fluoxetine, which I took for a short time for PMS.

I wished I'd taken Gabapentin or Pregablin afterwards, as I know people who've had good results from it, but at the time, I was worried about taking an anti covulsant.



Good luck.

[babyjane]

Gabapentin made me sick.  I have tried so many different medications about 10 years ago and didn't do well with any of them.  I suspect it was because I didn't really need them as I was not depressed, the GP just didn't know what to do for me.
Recently I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and given low dose citalopram.  I know it is an SSRI but once the side effects calmed down it is the first time that anything has helped.

[lancashirelass]

Have ypu thought about counselling or cbt before taking meds?  Im not an fan personally of antidepressants i think they are dished out very easily.  Cbt can really help in particular to change your thinking/behaviours worth a try

[babyjane]

CBT is very good, I did some recently.  It gives you a good tool for coping with situations and stresses in the here and now.  Unfortunately the roots of my anxiety go very deep so I have been referred on for more in depth therapy but I still use CBT techniques on a day to day basis.

[anna123]

I've been on and off anti ds for years, none of which worked.

Only since being correctly diagnosed with anxiety and not depression ( amazing how  many docs fail to recognize the difference and prescribe accordingly) and being prescribed citalopram has my life changed.

My friend has been on cymbalta and gabapentin for a couple of years and is now having real problems. Think these are serious dosages for severe depression and pain.

It's good to have an idea of what might work for you but do have an open mind with your doc. Therapy, counselling and cbt are excellent suggestions.

[dazned]

Im on mirtazapine for insomnia and anxiety,palps,etc. Works for me but as you can see from replies everyone is different .

[orchid]

Hi Clovie its been Dosulepin for me all the way, it's an old Trycyclic like Amitriptyline. I am so sensitive, the SSRI's made me sooo anxious, as did Mitrazepine when increased to 30mg. Trazadone 50mg was ok, but felt dizzy when writing (sounds silly I know) I have no side effects at all with Dosulepin, slightly dry mouth the first two weeks, that's all. Like we say, we are all different, but I hope this helps. Like Babyjane i have been referred for more in depth CBT for my anxiety, which is long standing. Good luck Hun, lets know how you get on, hope you're feeling better anyway! X

[Clovie]

Thank you everyone, for replying!

Some food for thought here for sure.

As for counselling, well I went to the surgery a year ago when I registered here, had a panic attack in waiting room, explained I had a fear of coming to doctors and was offered  an appointment for counselling to address this fear, but first needed to see a psychiatric nurse (that's how they do it here)........ SIX months later, yes SIX months, I got a call. 

In the meantime my fear of doctors had got worse waiting and waiting, made worse by my being literally bombarded with appointments to go for screening for - cervical smear, mammogram, diabetes check, bowel cancer check, asthma review, HRT review, large packages with forms to fill in as I had been chosen for TWO national long term health surveys.
This was THE very worst thing that could have happened for someone like me    Needless to say I've attended none of these, which isn't like me as I am normally up to date with my smears etc despite my fears.

During the last few months though my HRT began causing major PMS type symptoms, anxiety issues and insomnia on top of my fears about health and the doctors - hence why it has all come to a head now  and me needing to see someone and to get meds in the ridiculously long waiting period.    OR I'll ask to be refereed to see someone privately

Aww I feel awful again now just typing all that out. I feel nauseous. 

[dazned]

 

[daisie]

hi clovie  ..you sound just like me .i hate going to the doctors i always make a late appointment so my partner is here to take me ..as far as the antidepressants go iv been taking amitrityline 7 years they are good to help with sleep do put you weight on tho  and cause drowsyness in the mornings does wear off during the day ,i take 50mg at night ..i have tried to get off them but always found myself going back on them iv tried ssri but i cant stomach them they make me feel sick  but amitriptyline never did they are given for pain as well it would be worth you trying them and see. its the longest one i have ever been on x daisie

[SadLynda]

Hope you can find something that suits you, sounds like you do need something to help.  I was the same with doctor, just didnt bother to go anymore till I had too, then the experience was so awful I changed GP (again), just been today and more chilled than I have been for years.  Also just had my Setraline dose doubled to 100g as the anxiety is still there, but nothing like I was depression wise, this is another SSRI but suits me a lot better than the fluxotine I had with PND 24 years back.

[CLKD]

Those aren't familiar to me.  I had to begin treatment for depression in 1989.  It was Trial and Error (long story short) until I found a drug which didn't make me nauseous.  I now take 5mg night and morning of Escitalopram as well as a BB at night.

If I get break-through depression I up the dosage and add 5mg AD at night.

One needs to take ADs for at least 5-6 months initially as 1 doesn't always notice benefit for 9-12 months.  I have to take a low dose for Life.

[Clovie]

Thank you all once again, points noted.

Wow CLKD, 9-12 months? that's brutal.