Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: SadLynda on November 23, 2015, 05:23:43 PM
-
Most of you know I had great effects from the Accupuncture. However, we can no longer afford it :(
This week has been awful. Today I have spent in tears (again) most of the day and have the most awful headache that I am on day 3 of now. My mood is appauling, everything is taken to heart and dwelt upon for days, everyone hates me, my self esteem is rock bottom and the mere mention of Christmas is enough to send me into a total rage.
Already have my appointment made for next Wednesday which was just for VA - but now I am thinking the time just might have come for AD's. DH says it is not the answer and will just make me numb, I said I want to be numb I dont want to feel this anymore. Before anyone says it, if I am offered HRT (this time) I will rip her arm off and have that too.
I took Fluxotine for PND and a few years after that, but had no experience of anything else. Do they all come with massive side effects? I need to hear some great success stories please.
-
Hi Sadlynda
I'm on fluoxetine - just increased to 30 mg from 20mg and I'm ok ish. Only just seen increased so Hoping for an improvement. My depression is complicated and results from major surgery going wrong plus meno so not sure if I'm a good example!
My husband has recently been prescribed setraline and in all honesty we are having complete nightmare but again I don't know if that's just down to the tabs although they all take weeks to work and some say the anxiety gets worse before it gets better.
Sure someone else will be along soon with some good advice xx I really sympathise it's horrible and I feel the joy has gone out of my life x
-
Hello
I took Prozac for PND years ago. It didn't make me feel happy and cheerful. But it did stop the feelings of overwhelming anxiety and the chaotic, negative thoughts. Yes, it did make me feel rather numb and detached. But that was preferable to how I had been feeling, frankly.
Plus, it allowed me to function again (prior to taking it, my lovely Mum had to come every day to help me take care of my baby). Through functioning again and getting on top ify life again it helped me to start to recover.
-
Sometimes you just need the awfulness to stop for a while to get some breathing space :-\
Did you get my PM Grl ?
-
Sadlynda
I am going through the same at the moment and I was wondering if I'm bordering on depression but then a lot of personal things have happened in the last 4 months to make me feel depressed so unless there isn't a reason why you feel the way you do then I think that's the time to see help I wouldn't like to start anti deps if you can help it amytriptine just makes you drowsy but that's just my opinion I am on hrt patches can't say it helps with moods but it does help with hot sweats by the way I Am not looking forward to xmas either be glad when it's over
Hope you feel better soon
Js
-
I was recently given a low dose of Citalopram for my anxiety but it is also helping me with a low grade depression that I didn't even realise I had until it started to shift.
the first 2 weeks were unpleasant and the anxiety was worse. I woke in the night with panic attacks, which i had never had before, and had horrendous dreams. I rang and spoke to the surgery who advised me that if the side effects got worse or didn't start to get better by the weekend to go back in and see the doctor.
I took it a day at a time and after 5 days of side effects they started to get less. I have been on it for 5 weeks now and still sometimes get a blip and it has not taken everything away but it has enabled me to cope. A family weekend was tricky and I am best when in my familiar routine but there has been a shift, as though my brain is being rewired. It is not a cure but a tool to help. I am also waiting for CBT to go alongside it.
I am glad I tried it and stuck with it as I was in a sort of limbo before I took it.
Good luck, hope you find something to help but I think you will have to persevere with some side effects at first.
-
thank you for your experiences and sympathies it helps :'(
Js - there are other factors too that we are trying to deal with.
-
I'd be lost now I think without mine,and I wasn't depressed just anxious and panicky,I say just that's an understatement :-\
-
Your DH needs to :-X :-\ He knows how you feel does he. :-\ He knows what relief ADs can give does he :kick:
Considering it can take 10-14 days before ADs kick in; and considering you may need to have a few different types B4 you find one that kind of suits; the sooner you begin the sooner you will get relief.
Some have side effects, others don't. Some people can tolerate those side effects ……… I take 5mg Escitlopram every night and have to 4 Life. It keeps my brain from being 'sad' and if my brain starts to feel lower than I am comfortable with, then I up the dosage to 5mg in the morning too. For me it's not a cure, in that some mornings I feel hung over but that doesn't last for long but it is better than not being able to leave my bed :'(
If it allows you to see the wood for the trees, other issues might fall into place!
-
I know how you are feeling I am going through the same, I have just been signed off work for 4 weeks and have been given fluoxetine.
I was very reluctant to start AD's and was worried about the side effects, but felt I needed to try something to see if it makes me feel better.
I am only on day 3 so can't tell yet if it's working, but anxiety is less but then I'm not at work!
It may be worth giving AD's a try as no one needs to feel so low and crap!
Hope you get something sorted soon.
Take care
Nikki
-
Hello SadLynda, I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so awful - I can understand how horrible it is as I am currently going through depression again (that's why I haven't been on here much recently). As CLKD mentioned, Escitilopram is good & I found it to be quite fast acting - even 5mg stopped panic attacks for me. Unfortunately, I cannot take it anymore as I now react to it but that's just a specific problem I have with some meds. I would still definitely recommend it.
Wishing you all the best for your appointment with the gp :bighug: xxx
-
I'm on 30mg of escitalopram and also a mood stabiliser but I still feel anxious, low and panicky
-
For how long have you been taking it and when?
-
Do you mean me CLKD?
If so I've been on it for the last 10ish years not always at that dose, I was on 30 or 40 mg when I had my breakdown 3 years ago, they tried me on several different AD's none of which made a difference so I decided to stay on the escitalopram but by then the max dose had been reduced to 30mg
-
I am on 40mg fluoxetine a day. I thoroughly recommend it. No side effects. I still feel aware and connected to the world but everything feel back to being easy and straightforward. When I got depressed, every thing was difficult, dark and exhausting. Took a couple weeks to kick in fully.
-
Chi Chi - I did mean you. Have you had your thyroid function tested recently, that can cause low mood, a feeling of being cold as well as anxiety. I take a beta-blocka at night (40mg) to ease anxiety surges. Have you tried Rescue Remedy?
The brain can become used to a particular AD - which is why I changed after 8 years on one which began with a 'G' but can't remember the name.
-
Yes had thyroid tested, all 'normal'
After the breakdown I was given propanol to take, think I took it once or twice? Either didn't like the feeling on it or it didn't do much I can't remember.
Rescue Remedy got me through my driving test 12 yrs ago ;) I wasn't nowhere near as anxious back then though, I've tried it since but it barely scratches the surface now.
There must be an AD that can do more for me, but which one that's the problem.
I've been thinking of asking to try amitriptiline (don't think this is one I've tried)?
Not sure if I tried fluoxetine LeeJane but I'll def look into it thank you, glad it's working for you :)
-
BBs are used to lower heart rate. Which can ease anxiety surges. I think there are several types on the market. When do you discuss with your GP again?
-
Hi Chi Chi so sorry you are having a tough time. I have been on Citalopram for a few years now since I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. It took up to 4 weeks of side effects but I am so glad I persevered. I'm not sure how awful I would be without it. Sometimes I do feel a bit detached but defo not numb. I feel loads of emotions, but I don't feel anywhere near as low and sad.
I have endured all sorts of menopause effects for several years now and have decided to give hrt a go. Been on it for two weeks. I feel a bit spaced out at times, and get adrenaline rushes, palpitations and dizziness, but I'm not aching as much, fewer hot flushes and even better moods.
Give ADs a go they may really improve your life. Good luck!
Jan
-
I had fluoxetine (Prozac) years ago but I wasn't menopausal or anxious then. I have been on the Citalopram now for five weeks and am feeling steadier. I am going to try increasing the dose again in line with the GP's recommendation. I have to approach drugs very slowly and cautiously as my system is very sensitive. However I still need to take it alongside a very low dose of propranolol as, so far, it has not dealt completely with my anxiety. the two together are more effective.
My anxiety and depression have taken a lifetime to get me to this point and I realise these tablets are not a quick fix or even a cure but a tool to help me unravel all the knotted ends of my mental well being.
-
Chi Chi, I am on the same thing. Most of the timid I am ok but when the hormone imbalance kicks in they just tide me over until I feel a bit better. Am trying to sort out the hormones😕
-
What dose are you on charliegirl?
-
Hello SadLynda, I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so awful - I can understand how horrible it is as I am currently going through depression again (that's why I haven't been on here much recently). As CLKD mentioned, Escitilopram is good & I found it to be quite fast acting - even 5mg stopped panic attacks for me. Unfortunately, I cannot take it anymore as I now react to it but that's just a specific problem I have with some meds. I would still definitely recommend it.
Wishing you all the best for your appointment with the gp :bighug: xxx
thank you, feeling really rotten today.
-
I seem to remember reading that Escitalopram is better for generalised anxiety but it is a lot more expensive so the GPs first AD of choice is the Citalopram.
-
That's what one of the GP's at my surgery told me, she asked if I would try citalopram (this was ages ago) so I agreed but after a few weeks I didn't like it, felt a bit too stimulated on it so went back and told her I wanted to go back to escitalopram luckily she agreed. I was told they're very very similar but esci is a slightly 'cleaner' drug less side effects etc
-
It's the same family ;) …….