Am I being drowned in psychiatric drugs?

[Depressed Cat]

I suffer from major depressive disorder and have been suffering from the same for the past 15 years or so.

It's not continuous, for there are periods of severe depression interspersed with periods of normalcy or near normalcy. And the periods of severe depression can get so terrible that it pushes me to actively seek and acquire methods of CTB with hopes of ending the pain and suffering once and for all.

This is one such period. I was secretly looking to acquire a method of CTB, but my mother found out somehow and fixed an appointment with a psychiatrist.

This particular psychiatrist is an experienced one who has treated me before and I'm fairly comfortable with him (can't say the same about the other two psychiatrists I've been to before).

However, he has a tendency of prescribing a lot of medicines at once. For instance, I'm currently on a 20 day course of the following drugs:

Morning

• Lithium carbonate (prolonged release) - 450 mg

Afternoon

• Sertraline - 50 mg

Night

• Lithium carbonate (prolonged release) - 450 mg
• Mirtazapine - 15 mg
• Escitalopram + Clonazepam (combination) - 10 mg + 0.5 mg
• Clonazepam - 1 mg

I've used the generic names of the drugs, as the trade/brand names may vary from country to country.

Obviously, if they help me to get out of my situation of utter hopelessness, despair and misery, it's worth it. But am I being drowned in psychiatric medicines?

Anyone else here suffers from recurring major depressive disorder? What kind of drugs do you take to cope with it?

 

[TheBestUsernameEver]

I can't believe how many antidepressants you are on, to be honest.

This is just me, but I wouldn't allow myself to be on that many. I'd just have an antidepressant (sertraline has been amazing for me) and a mood stabiliser.
Plus maybe a sleeping pill if you needed it.

 

[montana007]

I can't believe how many antidepressants you are on, to be honest.

This is just me, but I wouldn't allow myself to be on that many. I'd just have an antidepressant (sertraline has been amazing for me) and a mood stabiliser.
Plus maybe a sleeping pill if you needed it.

Good point about all of the anti-depressants.

Without writing a thesis on this topic. The OP and anybody else would be well advised to find an online drug interaction checker. Drugs.com has a good one. Some of those are bound to be contraindicated. With each other. IfIhave a gap later or tomorrow I'll check them out and post the results. Although given the nature of these forums is there a point? Some interactions can be fatal. And some will make the situation worse when it comes to psychiatric issues. Worse still in combination they coul very well cause physical and long lasting damage in combination. What's worse being depressed or suicidal or physically compromised and then have to live with that and still not being able to suicide for the usual reasons cited here by most.

Here you go:

Drug Interaction Checker ← Quickly Check Your Meds

Use our drug interaction checker to quickly identify multi-drug interactions, including with alcohol, food, supplements, and diseases.

www.drugs.com

 

[TheBestUsernameEver]

Good point about all of the anti-depressants.

Without writing a thesis on this topic. The OP and anybody else would be well advised to find an online drug interaction checker. Drugs.com has a good one. Some of those are bound to be contraindicated. With each other. IfIhave a gap later or tomorrow I'll check them out and post the results. Although given the nature of these forums is there a point? Some interactions can be fatal. And some will make the situation worse when it comes to psychiatric issues. Worse still in combination they coul very well cause physical and long lasting damage in combination. What's worse being depressed or suicidal or physically compromised and then have to live with that and still not being able to suicide for the usual reasons cited here by most.

Here you go:

Drug Interaction Checker ← Quickly Check Your Meds

Use our drug interaction checker to quickly identify multi-drug interactions, including with alcohol, food, supplements, and diseases.

www.drugs.com

My main concern with all those SSRIs would be serotonin syndrome, though it would depend on what dose they are being prescribed.

 

[Smart No More]

All that benzo at night too. Have you been on those for some time? It's not the highest dose but it's hight enough. Equal or equivalent to 30mg diazepam/valium. If you're on those for a period of time they'll come with withdrawal symptoms when you either stop using them or 'outgrow' them. Benzo's tend to only work for so long and then no matter how much you take they bottom out and withdrawal is unavoidable. Does vary from person to person though. I'm not a qualified medical professional so it's far from my place to offer medical advice. I'm just observing and commenting from my own experience and view. He probably has a plan. It's just that all those meds scare me and I get why you're questioning it. I would too. Have you discussed it with him? Maybe it's worth bringing up.
I just read your post again and see that it's a 20 day plan. Seems like you're being treated for mania/manic depression.

 

[little helpers]

honestly it seems like a psych ward cocktail…super aggressive medication for the sole purpose of getting over suicidal ideation short-term. comically put, shrink is yelling "get stable, give me a smile, now go to bed and fucking sleep" with that medication list. dammit. I have a wild imagination.

since you posted it in the recovery section, I'm actually more curious what shrink is gonna do next. perhaps it'd be helpful to ask what he's planning to put you on long-term. or referrals he's thinking of. cuz he's practically doing a outpatient psych-ward solution, you get what I mean? also to echo everybody else, that's HELLA lot of SSRIs and benzos.

 

[t-rex]

Boy, that's a lot of medication.

Does the Lithium seem to help with suicidal thoughts? My doc told me it's supposed to, but when I was on it it didn't seem to work.

Have you ever tried an antipsychotic? I was put on one last summer when I was misdiagnosed with Bipolar II (actual diagnosis is depression), but I believe they can be indicated for depression as well. The one I was (and still am) on is Invega. I take an injection once a month. When I first had it it felt like I was on weed all the time, but with more clarity. My inpatient doc told me it would make me feel present, "well-edited", and galvanized. And so it did—for a while... lately I'm in a bad depression but that could be because I went back to drinking. Not a good combo when you are on so many meds. (I'm not on as many as you but I have a couple antidepressants in addition to the Invega.)

Anyway, not that you need to add any *more* drugs to your cocktail, but if your cocktail has not been working well, ask your doc about antipsychotics. I have tried a few besides Invega, and I would steer clear of Zyprexa (causes raised cholesterol and big weight gain) and Seroquel (causes sleepiness/zombiness). Could be worth a shot! If it works, maybe you could lose a couple of the others and pare down your cocktail.

 

[Timeless]

Talking about a pill pusher damn..

One SSRI with a sleeping aid like clonazepam should be enough. This is straight up over prescribing.
Has he got a clue what works or is his main protocol to give you everything in the hopes one of them works?

Lots of interactions , which make the SSRI'S work more then they should. Can be dangerous.

 

[little helpers]

how're you doing now with all these meds, OP? just checking in.

 

[Depressed Cat]

@TheBestUsernameEver
@montana007
@Smart No More
@little helpers
@t-rex
@Timeless
@gottago222
@Dragon's Heart
and everyone else

Thank you all so much for your concern, your kindness, your replies, your informative posts and your reactions. Love you all! ♥

---

@TheBestUsernameEver,
@montana007 &
@Timeless

You are absolutely correct! He has certainly over-prescribed.

And you're correct again - it did lead to a case of serotonin syndrome, thankfully mild only. I noticed my right hand trembling uncontrollably for brief periods.

I have now reduced the dose of Lithium carbonate, sertraline and escitalopram+clonazepam by half. I'm splitting the tablets and taking only half the prescribed dose. The hand trembling hasn't re-occured after that.

---

@Smart No More - Yes, the dose of benzo is indeed rather high, but I have been using the same clonazepam (0.5 mg) as a sleeping aid on and off before. So, this would be an increased dose.

---

@little helpers - Yes, without a doubt it is indeed a lot of SSRIs and benzodiazepines.

---

@t-rex - Lithium carbonate is supposed to help with suicidal tendencies. At least, that is what he told me. It's supposed to be the primary drug in the cocktail prescribed by him, and that's why I have to take it twice - once in the morning and once at night.

I have tried an anti-psychotic before (don't recollect which one, though). It was prescribed by a different psychiatrist I had been to before. And the anti-psychotic made things much worse. It not only did not help with the depression, but I also began to have anxiety attacks. Honestly, that was the worst I've ever felt - being depressed and having anxiety attacks. So I avoid anti-psychotics.

---

how're you doing now with all these meds, OP? just checking in.

@little helpers and everyone else - Surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, I'm doing much better now, thank you! The heavy cocktail of drugs prescribed by him seems to be working, to be honest.

I've not returned to complete normalcy, not yet. Still feeling a bit down, but I'm much better than before, thankfully! That indescribable feeling of utter hopelessness and terrible despair, and that sheer desperation of wanting to CTB have gone for now. I don't know whether it's the Li or the SSRIs or the tetracyclic antidepressant which did the trick, but the cocktail has certainly seemed to have done the job. So credit where it's due - the psychiatrist's prescription did work, even if the doses were excessive.

Oh, and another thing. I received my means of CTB recently and have stored it safely. I don't know if this has played any part in my feeling better.

 

[t-rex]

I have tried an anti-psychotic before (don't recollect which one, though). It was prescribed by a different psychiatrist I had been to before. And the anti-psychotic made things much worse. It not only did not help with the depression, but I also began to have anxiety attacks. Honestly, that was the worst I've ever felt - being depressed and having anxiety attacks. So I avoid anti-psychotics.

Dang, that sucks! Hasn't happened to me, the main downside to the Invega is weight gain. (They pretty much all cause that to varying degrees, except, apparently, Latuda.) The other thing they can cause is akathisia, that feeling of internal restlessness and needing to tremble/shake, like you have Parkinson's or something. Is that what you experienced? I have it mildly sometimes, pretty annoying but at my dosage it is manageable. Some day I'd like to work my way off Invega and drop these 30 lbs I put on.

 

[Depressed Cat]

Dang, that sucks! Hasn't happened to me, the main downside to the Invega is weight gain. (They pretty much all cause that to varying degrees, except, apparently, Latuda.) The other thing they can cause is akathisia, that feeling of internal restlessness and needing to tremble/shake, like you have Parkinson's or something. Is that what you experienced? I have it mildly sometimes, pretty annoying but at my dosage it is manageable. Some day I'd like to work my way off Invega and drop these 30 lbs I put on.

Yes, the anti-psychotic I was prescribed (still don't recollect the name) when I was depressed a few years ago led to a bad reaction and caused anxiety attacks. So that makes me very weary of anti-psychotic drugs.

What I experienced recently can't quite be called akathisia. Tremor, one of the common symptoms of serotonin syndrome perfectly explains what I recently experienced. I experienced it several times for brief periods in my right hand. It hasn't re-occured after I reduced the dose of the drugs, thankfully.

 

[Sherri]

You are taking quite a few pills ,but I'm not a doctor, but as a patient I had docs who gave me wrong meds for things I didn't have, to a point I couldn't talk and would stumble at night and morning, meds for schizophrenia when I don't have that disease, took me dozens of doctors to treat me like a Guinea pig to finally find one that got everything Right.I only take 3 different pills a day. But once again that's my situation. You can always ask for another opinion from another doc, this doc I'm seeing for the last 2 years was really embarrassed when I showed them the list of things I was made to take. He said why they prescribed you thus for you. You don't have any of that. I wish you well and hope you get better and if you see you are not ask for a second opinion. A big hug.

 

[Depressed Cat]

You are taking quite a few pills ,but I'm not a doctor, but as a patient I had docs who gave me wrong meds for things I didn't have, to a point I couldn't talk and would stumble at night and morning, meds for schizophrenia when I don't have that disease, took me dozens of doctors to treat me like a Guinea pig to finally find one that got everything Right.I only take 3 different pills a day. But once again that's my situation. You can always ask for another opinion from another doc, this doc I'm seeing for the last 2 years was really embarrassed when I showed them the list of things I was made to take. He said why they prescribed you thus for you. You don't have any of that. I wish you well and hope you get better and if you see you are not ask for a second opinion. A big hug.

I'm sorry to learn that you were treated so badly by different doctors. I believe psychiatry is a very complex/difficult branch of medicine and many psychiatrists simply don't have enough expertise/experience to diagnose and prescribe correctly. Psychiatric medicines, too, behave in very weird ways and have severe side-effects. As a result, patients have to suffer.

A few years ago, I went to a psychiatrist who prescribed drugs that didn't cure my depression, but caused anxiety attacks in addition. It's after that I came to this particular psychiatrist and he was able to help me.

I'm not sure if you read my subsequent update post in this thread, but these medicines are working, thankfully. Here it is:

Surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, I'm doing much better now, thank you! The heavy cocktail of drugs prescribed by him seems to be working, to be honest.

I've not returned to complete normalcy, not yet. Still feeling a bit down, but I'm much better than before, thankfully! That indescribable feeling of utter hopelessness and terrible despair, and that sheer desperation of wanting to CTB have gone for now. I don't know whether it's the Li or the SSRIs or the tetracyclic antidepressant which did the trick, but the cocktail has certainly seemed to have done the job. So credit where it's due - the psychiatrist's prescription did work, even if the doses were excessive.

Oh, and another thing. I received my means of CTB recently and have stored it safely. I don't know if this has played any part in my feeling better.

Thank you so much for your wishes. I wish you the best and hope you recover completely!

 

[noaccount]

@TheBestUsernameEver
@montana007
@Smart No More
@little helpers
@t-rex
@Timeless
@gottago222
@Dragon's Heart
and everyone else

Thank you all so much for your concern, your kindness, your replies, your informative posts and your reactions. Love you all! ♥

---

@TheBestUsernameEver,
@montana007 &
@Timeless

You are absolutely correct! He has certainly over-prescribed.

And you're correct again - it did lead to a case of serotonin syndrome, thankfully mild only. I noticed my right hand trembling uncontrollably for brief periods.

I have now reduced the dose of Lithium carbonate, sertraline and escitalopram+clonazepam by half. I'm splitting the tablets and taking only half the prescribed dose. The hand trembling hasn't re-occured after that.

---

@Smart No More - Yes, the dose of benzo is indeed rather high, but I have been using the same clonazepam (0.5 mg) as a sleeping aid on and off before. So, this would be an increased dose.

---

@little helpers - Yes, without a doubt it is indeed a lot of SSRIs and benzodiazepines.

---

@t-rex - Lithium carbonate is supposed to help with suicidal tendencies. At least, that is what he told me. It's supposed to be the primary drug in the cocktail prescribed by him, and that's why I have to take it twice - once in the morning and once at night.

I have tried an anti-psychotic before (don't recollect which one, though). It was prescribed by a different psychiatrist I had been to before. And the anti-psychotic made things much worse. It not only did not help with the depression, but I also began to have anxiety attacks. Honestly, that was the worst I've ever felt - being depressed and having anxiety attacks. So I avoid anti-psychotics.

---

@little helpers and everyone else - Surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, I'm doing much better now, thank you! The heavy cocktail of drugs prescribed by him seems to be working, to be honest.

I've not returned to complete normalcy, not yet. Still feeling a bit down, but I'm much better than before, thankfully! That indescribable feeling of utter hopelessness and terrible despair, and that sheer desperation of wanting to CTB have gone for now. I don't know whether it's the Li or the SSRIs or the tetracyclic antidepressant which did the trick, but the cocktail has certainly seemed to have done the job. So credit where it's due - the psychiatrist's prescription did work, even if the doses were excessive.

Oh, and another thing. I received my means of CTB recently and have stored it safely. I don't know if this has played any part in my feeling better.

Half is a big jump-down to make all at once! People commonly reduce by eighths or tenths at a time... That said I've done the cold-turkey thing myself, unpleasant but I powered through I guess. Good luck, with the benzos especially (escitalopram+clonazepam) I might go slower if I wanted to reduce any more.

 

[Pallf]

Hey friend, hope you're doing well.
That does seem like a lot of drugs. I'm technically on 4 drugs, but one is on an "as needed" basis.
If you can afford it, I'd get a second opinion from another psych about the prescription list, including the dosage and times of day you are supposed to take them.
Take care.

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

It's not the size of the list or the number of pills you take that indicates overmedication. It took me a long time to come to grips with my list, but it's the right combo for me,

What determines whether you're on the right meds is how you feel when you're taking them. If you feel sluggish and can't shake off your brain fog, you may be overmedicated. If you're feeling on top of the world and getting ready for world domination, you may be overmedicated.

If you're getting through each day - even if it is a bit of a struggle - you may be in the right neighborhood.

I would question the use of lithium which works pretty well as an antimanic drug unless he is prescribing it for its reduction in suicidal thoughts/ideation. That's why I started taking it and it worked well for me for that reason.

Unless you are truly miserable, I'd try the 20 days and see how it works. To me it seems a bit heavy for an everyday, long-term cocktail but I am NOT a doctor. If he tweaks it a bit after the 20 days, I'd likely keep going.

It's really not about the drugs themselves. They have differing properties for different people and I know almost no one with exactly the same med list.

It's really about how you're feeling, Let that be the judge.

Wishing you well!

 

[montana007]

My main concern with all those SSRIs would be serotonin syndrome, though it would depend on what dose they are being prescribed.

Yip. And therein lies the problem and why my being concerned. Serotonin syndrome can cause a stroke. And has in my case. So if there was any chance of my changing my mind on suicide that is now out of the window for sure. There is no way I'm am able to recover from this. And frankly it's depressing in and of itself to not be able to move or do things the way you used to. And in my case I am damn sure it was brought on by being over prescribed and chopping and changing anti-depressants by different GPs. Don't these people look at and know what they're prescribing? In my case not bitter with them as they were making an effort to I assume help as best they can. But that list of medications at the start of this post would have had me wondering and obviously did. The irony is that serotonin syndrome can be fatal. But what if it is not and you're left with more shit just to add insult to injury. Or worse still get fucked up so bad physically that you're simply incapable of going through with things due to physical and mental constraints. And thus being tied into this existence/body for decades maybe. That gives new meaning to pan and anguish in my opinion. Fortunately I have not reached that point so still good to go (no pun intended).

@TheBestUsernameEver
@montana007
@Smart No More
@little helpers
@t-rex
@Timeless
@gottago222
@Dragon's Heart
and everyone else

Thank you all so much for your concern, your kindness, your replies, your informative posts and your reactions. Love you all! ♥

---

@TheBestUsernameEver,
@montana007 &
@Timeless

You are absolutely correct! He has certainly over-prescribed.

And you're correct again - it did lead to a case of serotonin syndrome, thankfully mild only. I noticed my right hand trembling uncontrollably for brief periods.

I have now reduced the dose of Lithium carbonate, sertraline and escitalopram+clonazepam by half. I'm splitting the tablets and taking only half the prescribed dose. The hand trembling hasn't re-occured after that.

---

@Smart No More - Yes, the dose of benzo is indeed rather high, but I have been using the same clonazepam (0.5 mg) as a sleeping aid on and off before. So, this would be an increased dose.

---

@little helpers - Yes, without a doubt it is indeed a lot of SSRIs and benzodiazepines.

---

@t-rex - Lithium carbonate is supposed to help with suicidal tendencies. At least, that is what he told me. It's supposed to be the primary drug in the cocktail prescribed by him, and that's why I have to take it twice - once in the morning and once at night.

I have tried an anti-psychotic before (don't recollect which one, though). It was prescribed by a different psychiatrist I had been to before. And the anti-psychotic made things much worse. It not only did not help with the depression, but I also began to have anxiety attacks. Honestly, that was the worst I've ever felt - being depressed and having anxiety attacks. So I avoid anti-psychotics.

---

@little helpers and everyone else - Surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, I'm doing much better now, thank you! The heavy cocktail of drugs prescribed by him seems to be working, to be honest.

I've not returned to complete normalcy, not yet. Still feeling a bit down, but I'm much better than before, thankfully! That indescribable feeling of utter hopelessness and terrible despair, and that sheer desperation of wanting to CTB have gone for now. I don't know whether it's the Li or the SSRIs or the tetracyclic antidepressant which did the trick, but the cocktail has certainly seemed to have done the job. So credit where it's due - the psychiatrist's prescription did work, even if the doses were excessive.

Oh, and another thing. I received my means of CTB recently and have stored it safely. I don't know if this has played any part in my feeling better.

Well it's really my personal pleasure. And glad things are looking up. Best case scenario the rest of your life is good and salvageable and maybe there is fuck all wrong with you and the meds. could have been the cause of taking you down. Not unheard of. I have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that for myself something as dumb as Zopiclone for sleep at night took me down mentally. And in a very bad way. Although I am now done with the shit and nothing has changed. But in fairness there are other factors at play.

Suppose the real point here is that I doubt very much that any of us are here out of choice or want to be. Fair enough: there are probably more than a few who are around here but as a result of traumatic experiences in the past. But is blasting that all away with pharmaceuticals the answer? In my experience and until they come up with a permanent and lasting cure for depression and/or PTSD this shit just buys time and eventually comes back to but when you least expect it or want it to.

 

[montana007]

On a slightly more positive note (hopefully even helpful) (and I'm guessing this post of mine if going to be combined with the one above so I don't know you is going to see it as the below is not going to register as a new post on this thread).

For those that really don't want to be in the situation or have reached this point:

There is a lot of research going into alternate treatments for depression and suicide ideation.

Have a look around for Ketamine Infusion Treatments (although no matter what you find not a long lasting or permanent cure and requires ongoing treatment and that has all but been out priced putting it out of the reach of most).

Also a lot of research being done on the use of psychedelics for the same issues.

Feel free (if anybody actually sees this post) to ask for links and I'll post them. Not that I've resorted to trying either i.e. I honestly couldn't be bothered as I have other existential and pragmatic reasons for reaching this point. But I've read enough studies and articles and reports where people have gotten their lives back (that's the usual comment made). Also a lot of stuff on the micro dosing of Amphetamines (almost instant relief but can come with some unintended consequences i.e. could lead to abuse and open yet another can of worms that you'd not want).

And in addition: some interesting findings re: the use of SSRIs and benzodiazepines. It seems to have become a thing over the years for the medical profession to prescribe a course of anti-depressants along with a course of benzodiazepines for the same period. Benzodiazepines should only ever have been prescribed for, say, two weeks and that only to aid with sleeping difficulties and anxiety that may result when beginning a course of anti-depressants). Well surprise surprise: not only can SSRIs actually greatly potentiate the effect and strength and concentration in the body of benzodiazepines but they can negate the effect of the SSRIs as a result. In other words it's the benzodiazepines that are cauging or worsening the depression and causing suicial thoughts. How about that one? So then you're pretty much diagnosed with treatment resistant depression and started on yet another course/cocktail of shit when in fact it's the combination that's causing the depression and suicide ideation.

I"m not a medical professional just by the way. Just some sod that's spent years researching this kind of stuff.

ANyway. Maybe this gives somebody another shot at things and/or buys some time until life and mindset improves. Take it as a gift i.e. cannot give anything else and I ain't about to jump on the platitudes bandwagon either.

 

[Smart No More]

On a slightly more positive note (hopefully even helpful) (and I'm guessing this post of mine if going to be combined with the one above so I don't know you is going to see it as the below is not going to register as a new post on this thread).

For those that really don't want to be in the situation or have reached this point:

There is a lot of research going into alternate treatments for depression and suicide ideation.

Have a look around for Ketamine Infusion Treatments (although no matter what you find not a long lasting or permanent cure and requires ongoing treatment and that has all but been out priced putting it out of the reach of most).

Also a lot of research being done on the use of psychedelics for the same issues.

Feel free (if anybody actually sees this post) to ask for links and I'll post them. Not that I've resorted to trying either i.e. I honestly couldn't be bothered as I have other existential and pragmatic reasons for reaching this point. But I've read enough studies and articles and reports where people have gotten their lives back (that's the usual comment made). Also a lot of stuff on the micro dosing of Amphetamines (almost instant relief but can come with some unintended consequences i.e. could lead to abuse and open yet another can of worms that you'd not want).

And in addition: some interesting findings re: the use of SSRIs and benzodiazepines. It seems to have become a thing over the years for the medical profession to prescribe a course of anti-depressants along with a course of benzodiazepines for the same period. Benzodiazepines should only ever have been prescribed for, say, two weeks and that only to aid with sleeping difficulties and anxiety that may result when beginning a course of anti-depressants). Well surprise surprise: not only can SSRIs actually greatly potentiate the effect and strength and concentration in the body of benzodiazepines but they can negate the effect of the SSRIs as a result. In other words it's the benzodiazepines that are cauging or worsening the depression and causing suicial thoughts. How about that one? So then you're pretty much diagnosed with treatment resistant depression and started on yet another course/cocktail of shit when in fact it's the combination that's causing the depression and suicide ideation.

I"m not a medical professional just by the way. Just some sod that's spent years researching this kind of stuff.

ANyway. Maybe this gives somebody another shot at things and/or buys some time until life and mindset improves. Take it as a gift i.e. cannot give anything else and I ain't about to jump on the platitudes bandwagon either.

What's terrible about this is that many patients are instinctively aware of these issues but have been disregarded when voicing them. The prescribers are so pompous in their reaction to feedback from patients that they assume incorrectly that they couldn't possibly be wrong (or the patient can't be right). It's infuriating. I can't make any peace with it as they have the means to know and understand this. If it's clear to us then it should be to them. Highly irresponsible behaviour.

 

[montana007]

What's terrible about this is that many patients are instinctively aware ofvthese issues but have been disregarded when voicing them. The prescribers are so pompous in their reaction to feedback from patients that they assume incorrectly that they couldn't possibly be wrong. It's infuriating. I can't make any peace with it as they have the means to know and understand this. If it's clear to us then it should be to them. Highly irresponsible behaviour.

Well at least I know somebody received a notification of my ramblings. I was about to start a thread asking for technical help on this i.e. why, are posts added together if you're posting in succession instead of them being treated as seperate autonomous replies. It's particularly an issue if you're responding to different members and posts on the same thread.

I agree with all that you've said for sure. I had such an argument with a pharmacist not that long ago i.e. was self-tapering off of Alprazolam (which I'd done before) and she would NOT even entertain the notion of splitting the prescription into smaller and lower strength tablets so that I didn't have to inaccurately cut the higher strength tabs in half) I don't even know if she knew what I was talking about in tapering. Didn't look like it to me. Just wasn't fucking interested. And from what I've gathered: these people don't take kindly to Joe Soap (MAYBE knowing just a little bit more than them from experience or based on your own research). Seems to rile them. Like "who are you?" I guess you have to just go with your own instincts and stand your ground and do your own research. My last visit floored me i.e. the medical professional tells me not to worry if her current flavor of the month anti-depressant doesn't work and that we'll find something eventually that works. Meanwhile I'm going out of my head with deprression and wanting to call it quits. And not to mention that I'm footing the bill for her "experimentation". Some of this shit ain't cheap unless you're alright with generics (and even then it adds over time let's face it and meanwhile you're going downhill fast). But for any medical professional to prescribe a whole bunch of meds. without checking for interactions (and which as we know takes about five minutes to do) is pretty much unforgivable given the little to no effort required to check and theoretically they should know better i.e. last time I checked they study for this shit.

I've always had the theory that they will prescribe whatever the latest and greatest meds. that have just been delivered as samples by the medical sales rep. of the morning and who has just made the latest and greatest claims from the pharmaceutical company that they work for and without even checking. Call me jaded if you like. And which I will admit I probably am at this stage. Rant over. For now that is!

If you want to be really enthralled: then subscribe to all of the newsletters from that drugs.com website. There's not a week that goes by where there isn't an FDA warning and/or recall of a batch of meds. for a variety of reasons (dumb shit like mislabeling and incorrect strengths and dosages). It's mind boggling. To me anyway. One just assumes that all of this stuff is a perfect and controlled science. Doesn't seem that way to me. Not anymore and not of late.

 

[Depressed Cat]

An update @ all , the 20 day course of drugs the psychiatrist put me on ended recently and I visited him again. I explained that I was genuinely feeling better (with the sheer despair and desperation to CTB gone) and also mentioned the hand tremor I experienced.

He said that he could not take me off drugs just because I was feeling better and that I had to take at least a maintenance dose.

So, he put me on a 35 day course of the following medicines:

Morning

• Propranolol - 10 mg

Night

• Sodium valproate & Valproic acid (controlled release) - 300 mg
• Mirtazapine - 7.5 mg
• Escitalopram + Clonazepam (combination) - 10 mg + 0.5 mg
• Clonazepam - 1 mg

He has stopped the Lithium carbonate and Sertraline, reduced the Mirtazapine dose by half, continued with the same doses of Escitalopram & Clonazepam and has also prescribed Propranolol and Sodium valproate.

This feels like a much better cocktail, without excessive drugs that could cause serotonin syndrome. The benzodiazepine dose is still quite high, but I'm taking only half the recommended dose of Escitalopram + Clonazepam by splitting the tablets in half.

It remains to be seen if I can get back to near normalcy at the end of 35 days. I don't like taking too many medicines because of their side-effects.

 

[Sherri]

That's great that you got a second opinion, those meds are lighter you won't have many side effects. I'm happy for you.

 

[Depressed Cat]

That's great that you got a second opinion, those meds are lighter you won't have many side effects. I'm happy for you.

Thank you, Sherri! Actually, it wasn't a second opinion from a different doc. I went back to the same psychiatrist after finishing the 20 day course.

 

[Sherri]

Thank you, Sherri! Actually, it wasn't a second opinion from a different doc. I went back to the same psychiatrist after finishing the 20 day course.

Really happy for you. Hugs, keep it up. :)

Really happy for you. Hugs, keep it up. :)

Remember that usually escitalopram like most anti depressants take 3 weeks to reach its peak, so if it's working already it's fantastic.

 

[montana007]

An update @ all , the 20 day course of drugs the psychiatrist put me on ended recently and I visited him again. I explained that I was genuinely feeling better (with the sheer despair and desperation to CTB gone) and also mentioned the hand tremor I experienced.

He said that he could not take me off drugs just because I was feeling better and that I had to take at least a maintenance dose.

So, he put me on a 35 day course of the following medicines:

Morning

• Propranolol - 10 mg

Night

• Sodium valproate & Valproic acid (controlled release) - 300 mg
• Mirtazapine - 7.5 mg
• Escitalopram + Clonazepam (combination) - 10 mg + 0.5 mg
• Clonazepam - 1 mg

He has stopped the Lithium carbonate and Sertraline, reduced the Mirtazapine dose by half, continued with the same doses of Escitalopram & Clonazepam and has also prescribed Propranolol and Sodium valproate.

This feels like a much better cocktail, without excessive drugs that could cause serotonin syndrome. The benzodiazepine dose is still quite high, but I'm taking only half the recommended dose of Escitalopram + Clonazepam by splitting the tablets in half.

It remains to be seen if I can get back to near normalcy at the end of 35 days. I don't like taking too many medicines because of their side-effects.

Yep. That is great for you. Well done. And I'm sure there's more than a few around these parts holding thumbs and rooting for you. Problem is that you're probably going to have to taper off of the benzodiazepines. But it's not the horror that many would have you believe if done correctly and slowly. Some people read about the horrors of benzo. withdrawal and get scared to even try. Next thing they look and they're another decade down the line and it's obviously, by then, a lot more difficult and another decade gone and wiped out. Mind you: after only 20 days shouldn't be much of an issue really. Good luck.

Here's some info. and that your medical professional should at least know about and/or be familiar with (if not the manual then the tapering process)

benzo.org.uk : Benzodiazepines: How They Work & How to Withdraw, Prof C H Ashton DM, FRCP, 2002

Gradual reductions are the key. Go too fast and it becomes uncomfortable and can lead to relapsing and staying on the damn things.

And there's also recommended tapering schedules for various anti-depressants somewhere in there.

Sorry if you know all about this already. But some may not be aware.

 

[montana007]

And if I may be so bold as to observe and comment:

Based on your posts and efforts as detialed: maybe once you're over the 35 days and all these pharmaceuticals are out of the way we don't see you back here in the the same mental space (but a monthly report back to tell us how well you're doing would be appreciated). Now wouldn't that be something and something to look forward to maybe?

 

[Depressed Cat]

@montana007 , thank you so much for your kind words and informative posts! Yes, this forum has been a nice place of refuge for me, a safe haven where I find great support and understanding from like-minded people going through similar (or much worse) issues (mentally or physically). It's such a therapeutic thing to have access to such a place. Love you all! ❤

And if I may be so bold as to observe and comment:

Based on your posts and efforts as detialed: maybe once you're over the 35 days and all these pharmaceuticals are out of the way we don't see you back here in the the same mental space (but a monthly report back to tell us how well you're doing would be appreciated). Now wouldn't that be something and something to look forward to maybe?

I hope I return to near-normalcy in 35 days, but I don't think he'll stop the medicines even if I do, maybe he'll taper them off. That was the feeling I got on my last visit.

However, as I mentioned on another thread, unfortunately, my Major Depressive Disorder has proven to be a recurring one. I have no idea what causes or triggers it, but I've lost count of the depressive periods I've been through in the last 15 years. These severe recurring depressive episodes have turned my life into a wretched and miserable existence.

So no, I'm not going anywhere. I don't know when I'll have my next depressive episode even if I return to normalcy. It's a question of not if, but when, for this has been happening over the last 15 years or so.

Severe depression... recovery... near-normalcy... normalcy... severe depression... recovery... near-normalcy... normalcy... severe depression... recovery... near-normalcy... normalcy...
- this has been my existence for the last decade-and-a-half.

I'll be hanging around this forum irrespective of my mental state of being. I was a member of a hobby/special interest forum for ten years. I quit that permanently because of a serious disagreement with the moderators who ran that place. I was left without a forum to hang out on after that. And now I have found a new, much-needed space, ironically, thanks to the NYT's hit job.

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

Depressed cat-

I'm so glad you're feeling better! I think your new cocktail shows a lot of promise.

Keep in mind, it's always better to taper. If you search the web for the harm reduction project, you'll find a fabulous guide to doing so. It's in the public domain on purpose so that you can download and print it if you want.

I apologize if this has already been mentioned: have you tried TMS?

 

[Depressed Cat]

Depressed cat-

I'm so glad you're feeling better! I think your new cocktail shows a lot of promise.

Keep in mind, it's always better to taper. If you search the web for the harm reduction project, you'll find a fabulous guide to doing so. It's in the public domain on purpose so that you can download and print it if you want.

I apologize if this has already been mentioned: have you tried TMS?

Thank you, @UpandDownPrincess ! Yes, the medicines seem to be doing their job, so I'll continue with them.

Thanks for mentioning the harm reduction project, I'll check that out. Nope, I haven't tried Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy yet.