do you take psych pills?

[Phil]

Originally Posted by KinkyVixen

Well Phil, I'm taking (I don't have the bottle on me so the spelling is probably going to be incorrect) citalopram? generic for celexa?

i dont know much about them hun, but heres a link :

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/30003676/

read it ALL ... its very informative. hope that helps.

[KinkyVixen]

Thanks SG...that's pretty much what I was guessing. She did tell me that it would take a few weeks for the pills to actually be FULLY into my system (so i didn't think i would feel them the way that i did) she also advised me to take them at night, because they will probably make me feel relaxed. I'm glad I took them in the afternoon, 'cause relaxed was anything but what I was feeling. I did notice that the side effects were normal, according to webmd...but I still didn't/don't like them. The side effects are lessening...but I can still feel the pills...and I still don't like them.
My guy friend, that i've been hanging out with everyday for like a month now started asking me if I had taken my pills...'cause he can tell when i take them...and he doesn't like them either. Oh well I guess. 3 weeks to my next appointment.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by KinkyVixen

.. she also advised me to take them at night, because they will probably make me feel relaxed. I'm glad I took them in the afternoon, 'cause relaxed was anything but what I was feeling..

I had a similar conversation with a work colleague about the drug were had both been prescribed. She said - "At least you'll be getting a good night's sleep now, the one thing I miss about not taking them any more" Riiiight. When I first started them I was twitching and gurning like a fool - tongue stuck to the roof of my dry mouth and eyes darting all over the place. It takes different people different ways I guess.

[KinkyVixen]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I had a similar conversation with a work colleague about the drug were had both been prescribed. She said - "At least you'll be getting a good night's sleep now, the one thing I miss about not taking them any more" Riiiight. When I first started them I was twitching and gurning like a fool - tongue stuck to the roof of my dry mouth and eyes darting all over the place. It takes different people different ways I guess.

Did you change meds or did you stay on them? And, how do you feel about them now?

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by KinkyVixen

Thanks SG...that's pretty much what I was guessing. She did tell me that it would take a few weeks for the pills to actually be FULLY into my system (so i didn't think i would feel them the way that i did) she also advised me to take them at night, because they will probably make me feel relaxed. I'm glad I took them in the afternoon, 'cause relaxed was anything but what I was feeling. I did notice that the side effects were normal, according to webmd...but I still didn't/don't like them. The side effects are lessening...but I can still feel the pills...and I still don't like them.
My guy friend, that i've been hanging out with everyday for like a month now started asking me if I had taken my pills...'cause he can tell when i take them...and he doesn't like them either. Oh well I guess. 3 weeks to my next appointment.

Hang in there...the side effects can be brutal when you first start, but they really will go away and you will feel better. Depending on the meds...the side effects of withdrawal are 10 times worse. One of my meds is effexor, with a half life of less than a day. If I miss a day due to not getting refilled in time or something, the following day I am sick as a dog until they get back on track in my system. Other SSRIs, like Prozac, have a much longer half life so the effects of sudden stopping isn't nearly as painful. Did you say what you were taking?

Also, sometimes it takes time to figure out what works best for you. If you think that they can be beneficial to you, stick with it because it's worth it.

Take care of yourself KV!

[Spexxvet]

KV, did you decide to go on medication after reading how many of us are users?

[KinkyVixen]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

KV, did you decide to go on medication after reading how many of us are users?

No Spexx...I actually tend to lean towards the leaders rather than the followers. Since I'm not quite sure about your intention with that question I'll let my guard down and answer honestly. I've been dealing with anxiety, amongst other things...like not relying on weed to calm my nerves and help me sleep, and to make me feel "normal". I had been doing really good...at least at not smoking...and then I kinda dropped the ball and continued on my path to self destruction. It had been a few weeks since I had seen my therapist, when I went in for my appt she had noticed the change and we talked about it. She thought that having anti-depressants to help me deal with the anxiety would help me to continue to stop using pot as my clutch.

And there ya go...

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by KinkyVixen

No Spexx...I actually tend to lean towards the leaders rather than the followers. Since I'm not quite sure about your intention with that question I'll let my guard down and answer honestly. I've been dealing with anxiety, amongst other things...like not relying on weed to calm my nerves and help me sleep, and to make me feel "normal". I had been doing really good...at least at not smoking...and then I kinda dropped the ball and continued on my path to self destruction. It had been a few weeks since I had seen my therapist, when I went in for my appt she had noticed the change and we talked about it. She thought that having anti-depressants to help me deal with the anxiety would help me to continue to stop using pot as my clutch.

And there ya go...

Just curious. I thought I needed them a long time before I started them, but I was always leery of the stigma attached - you know, the "people on pills are weak or crazy" kinda attitude that some people have. Only one of my friends or coworkers admit to being on medication. If I'd had a pool of friends saying what has been said in this thread, I would have started long before I did.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

I would have started long before I did.

Was reluctance to get counseling part of the puzzle as well?--for everybody, I'm not picking on spexx? Or can you pretty much say, "hey, I want some zoloft" and get a prescription?

[xoxoxoBruce]

My doctor, oops, Primary Care Provider, gives a written questionnaire.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

Was reluctance to get counseling part of the puzzle as well?--for everybody, I'm not picking on spexx? Or can you pretty much say, "hey, I want some zoloft" and get a prescription?

I talked to my doctor, who referred my to a psychiatrist. I was surprised that the interaction with the psychiatrist - it went something like this:

Dr: why do you think you need medication?
Spexx: because blah blah blah
Dr: ok, we'll start you on this. I'll see you in a month. If this doesn't work, we can change it.

No talk therapy at all. I had reluctance to therapy, for reasons similar to my reluctance to meds, but by the time I saw the psychiatrist, we'd been in family counselling with a psychologist for a couple of months.

[Phil]

this is a good info site too.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000520.html

[Shawnee123]

I want to thank everyone for your kind words and support. It means more than you could know.

I went to the library on Friday after I left work, went home, read a book, then slept for 15 hours straight (only one time waking up and falling asleep again.) Then I got up and read some more and fell asleep for another 2 hours. I guess I needed it.

I'm really trying to get a good attitude back. I think I should get a part-time job that I could spend a few hours at a day after this job. I need the money to get out of this financial hole. I don't want a job where I have to talk to the public; I get enough of that here...just something physical to also help me get some exercise and start paying things off. I had a second job for many years but it was all in restaurants/bars and like I said I don't want to deal with the public. Perhaps a temp service would have something.

I can't wait to get online at home again because I know I could have benefitted over the weekend from not only your input here but also the laughs I invariably get when I read your posts.

I'll probably be scarcer than normal as I try to get things straight with my work here...it just never ends and everytime we turn around there's a new problem or new grants to administer or something. I like the challenge but when I looked at my W2 it really hit home how much my wages are akin to highway robbery. Sigh...

You are all wonderful, and I again thank you for your support.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I want to thank everyone for your kind words and support. It means more than you could know.

I think I do know what it means, having had the same support myself - this is a good place. It is a shame you can't log on at home (same here) but you can stop by and just focus on a couple of threads if you're busy at work.

I found supermarket work reassuringly physical after sitting in an office all day. There was a lot of interaction with other staff members some nights, but none at all on others (depending on the section I worked on). They pay good wages too, if they're a supplement rather than your full time job.

Look after yourself, ok?

Originally Posted by KinkyVixen

Did you change meds or did you stay on them? And, how do you feel about them now?

I did have to change my meds to start with, but that was all the aforementioned symptoms plus a downturn in mood and an increase in suicidal thoughts. I stuck with Paroxetine because the symptoms were purely physical. It took approx 2 months for the symptoms to go away completely, but the major ones were gone well before that.

I went to my parents' while I was still suffering. Scared the hell out of them. What with the side effects and the actual depression they barely recognised me. I didn't find this out for months of course. Mum said, "I'm glad we saw you when you were like that. At least I knew that you were really ill" (she had issues about me being signed off work - didn't understand I was incapable of working until she saw me) "When you didn't want anything to eat I knew it must be bad"

That's Mums for you, straight to the point!

I have come off the medication. Unlike some posters, my depression is episodic not chronic and I didn't want to stay on them "just in case". Like Shawnee says, it's a choice I can make because I'm not currently depressed.

[KinkyVixen]

Originally Posted by Phil

this is a good info site too.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000520.html

Good info, good reads...thanks Phil.