I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: paddbear0000 on October 03, 2007, 12:24:34 PM

Title: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 03, 2007, 12:24:34 PM
I don't think I like the Lexapro. 1.) It's not really helping my anxiety attacks. I'm trying to study for mid-terms, but I'm still having a few anxiety attacks. They're more like anxiety issues, than full blown attacks this time, but it's not good enough. 2.) I still feel depressed a lot. I'm not crying every day and at every little thing tho. Plus, I actually feel like going out now once in a while, but I'm still having mood swings (and no, it's not PMS!) and 3.) Still, no interest in sex whatsoever. my husband is getting very annoyed at this point. To be honest, so am I. I think I'm going to talk to my primary care doc instead of my neph and see if he'll put me on something else (my neph is useless).
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Roxy on October 03, 2007, 12:26:50 PM
Paddbear, how long have you been on the meds exactly?
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 03, 2007, 12:30:18 PM
About a month I think.
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Roxy on October 03, 2007, 01:32:34 PM
You might want to give it just a couple more weeks to see if things get better. I'm not sure how it is with lexapro, but sometimes the meds take a mth or more to really get working, or the dosage adjusted etc. I'm sorry that it's not working out for you so far and I know how frustrating it can be. Just like any other meds, it can also take trying a few different kinds to get the right one, so hopefully you find the right one for you.  I hope things get better very soon.  :grouphug;
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: keefer51 on October 05, 2007, 02:16:52 AM
Paddbear, I took Lexapro for a couple of months and it did nothing for me. Sometimes i wonder if there is a drug to help me. I have been on many of them and nothing has worked. I am a male and my sex drive is nill. I am only 52 and shouldn't feel this way. Although there are pills to help the drive has to be there.
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Ken Shelmerdine on October 05, 2007, 07:48:52 AM
I take an anti depressant called Citalopram. It works for me. I used to get panic attacks which were so bad that it gave me an irregular heartbeat (AF) for about 48 hours after an attack. After I'd been taking them a couple of weeks the panic attacks stopped anf so did the AF.
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 05, 2007, 02:08:13 PM
I take an anti depressant called Citalopram. It works for me. I used to get panic attacks which were so bad that it gave me an irregular heartbeat (AF) for about 48 hours after an attack. After I'd been taking them a couple of weeks the panic attacks stopped anf so did the AF.

I never heard of that drug before. I'll have to ask my doc about that. I see my general doc in about 2 weeks and plan on talking to him about this as my neph, I have decided, is an idiot! By then, I should definitely see some improvement in the lexapro if there's going to be one. Thanks!
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: fluffy on October 06, 2007, 04:11:05 PM
im 24, and i have the same problem no interest in sex and no sex drive. im  on celexa for depression and for anxiety i usually take my grandmothers clonazepam, they help alot
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: KR Cincy on October 08, 2007, 08:34:31 AM
Celexa killed my sex drive, but Lexapro has been great. You may want to talk to your docs about the dosage...supposedly 10mg is pretty mild...won't handle major depression, but it's enough for me to keep my head in the game. The side effects of Lexapro seem so minimal compared to some of the other meds that maybe just a little bit more will do it for you.
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 08, 2007, 11:50:46 AM
In regards to sex drive, has anyone found a drug besides laxapro, that hasn't killed it? And what is it? I'm getting very frustrated about this aspect with the lexapro, especially since I am newly married! My husband's not happy either!  :o
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: boxman55 on October 08, 2007, 05:26:19 PM
I'm 24, and i have the same problem no interest in sex and no sex drive. I'm  on celexa for depression and for anxiety i usually take my grandmothers clonazepam, they help alot
Hey Fluffy- be very careful with the clonazepam it is very dangerous to stop taking it without slowly reducing the dose first. Don't stop "cold turkey" my farther did and we had to put him in a mental health ward for a few days. He went totally nuts with his bipolar disease...Boxman
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Romona on October 08, 2007, 06:22:28 PM
I just started Welbutrin. I'll let you know in a few weeks how I feel. I think it maybe helping a little already.  :)
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 09, 2007, 05:48:05 AM
I just started Welbutrin. I'll let you know in a few weeks how I feel. I think it maybe helping a little already.  :)

That's what I told my doc I wanted, but he ignored me completely!  :boxing;
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: GuyIncognito on October 09, 2007, 06:17:05 AM
Who should I talk to about going on Anti Depressants, my Neph or my GP.... I've been contemplating it for awhile now.
 I come from an Irish Catholic family and as such the words Depression, Physiologist and Mental Health are dirty words, allot of the Fam. thinks you can cure what ails you with Irish Mist.
Does anyone else find the Fall to be an extremely hard time... mentally speaking??
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: MyssAnne on October 09, 2007, 06:58:00 AM
For me, it's February. End of January, into February. It's not til we get into March that I get out of my slump. When i get seriously sick, that's the time it happens. For me, Fall is a positive season!  It's cooler, so the humidity goes down, and I can be outside more!
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: KR Cincy on October 09, 2007, 07:05:47 AM
Guy...fall I'm good with, winter is tricky.
As for getting the Rx, I'd go with your GP...they have more experience with these drugs (and they usually have samples so you can test drive one before ponying up the co-pay!)
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 09, 2007, 08:59:47 AM
Guy...fall I'm good with, winter is tricky.
As for getting the Rx, I'd go with your GP...they have more experience with these drugs (and they usually have samples so you can test drive one before ponying up the co-pay!)

I tried going to my gp about this the first time too, but he blew me off. All of my docs kept telling me to discuss it with my neph!
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: MyssAnne on October 09, 2007, 10:54:34 AM
Grrr... Padd, it's time to throw a TEMPER TANTRUM!!!!  I'm actually not kidding. You're getting the run around, you do NOT want to waste your time because someone does not wanna listen to you. So MAKE them.  Twits.   You need Nina there  (and KitKatz!) to do some yelling for you!!! :boxing; :boxing;
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: fluffy on October 09, 2007, 06:05:32 PM
no worries boxman, i dont use the clonazepam regularly, only if im having bad anxiety. i take the celexa every day tho
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: angela515 on October 09, 2007, 07:03:00 PM
I'm 24, and i have the same problem no interest in sex and no sex drive. I'm  on celexa for depression and for anxiety i usually take my grandmothers clonazepam, they help alot
Hey Fluffy- be very careful with the clonazepam it is very dangerous to stop taking it without slowly reducing the dose first. Don't stop "cold turkey" my farther did and we had to put him in a mental health ward for a few days. He went totally nuts with his bipolar disease...Boxman

I never knew that boxman... I took clonazepam for a long time in 2005 for RLS, nobody told me about stopping it slowly.. so I just stopped suddenly... thanks for the info  :thumbup;
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Black on October 10, 2007, 08:45:28 PM
Maybe seasonal depression is making it worse?

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2300/2361.asp?index=9293

http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/depression/a/seasonal.htm
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: fluffy on October 11, 2007, 09:41:10 PM
yeah, its much easier to get depressed in winter:p  such a grim season
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: paddbear0000 on October 12, 2007, 08:12:00 AM
My depression is the worst during the winter. The gray skies and cold, dreary days don't help.
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Black on October 13, 2007, 03:00:18 PM
My depression is the worst during the winter. The gray skies and cold, dreary days don't help.

Have you tried the light therapy recommended for Seasonal Affective Disorder?  It is believed to work because the light exposure increases the serotonin levels.  I keep full spectrum light tubes in my living room and kitchen all year long and I haven't needed antidepressants in years.  One of the few things my previous GP did right was suggesting I try the lights.

http://www.psychiatry.ubc.ca/mood/sad/pcp_sad.htm
Title: Re: Anti-depressant update
Post by: Jannie on October 14, 2007, 04:35:49 PM
My doctor just wrote me a prescription for Zanax for my dialysis anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes.