Antidepressants

[skyfire322]

My neurologist and my GP both are pressuring me to go see a psychiatrist.

I have been prescribed four different antidepressants since I've been diagnosed (Zoloft, Prozac, Cymbalta, and Paxil) and I have had some pretty violent side effects with all four, so they've had to take me off.

I'm leery about going to a psychiatrist, because I'm concerned that they'll prescribe a different one, and I'll have the same outcome.

I've been thinking about this the past few days, and was wondering.... All of these are SSRI's. Do you think that the mix of anti-seizure plus an SSRI is causing this?

I know though that it's a long shot.

 

[Elsie]

I really doubt if antiseizure medicines mix well with antianxiety or antidepressants. I was prescribed lexapro. A small dose. I was a zombie, so I cut it in half, I cut that in half, then I cut that in half. I couldn't tolerate it. My neurologist said I should have done ok with it. Well I did not. I am quite stressed with life and a bit anxious and sometimes a bit depressed. Since I had such a hard time with the lexapro, I'm afraid to try anything else. She did also give me xanax but I am very afraid to go down that path. I just try to cope, and sometimes I don't do that well.

I hope you get yours figured out and feel better.

 

[jenagade]

They definitely mess with each other. I think they each lower the effectiveness of each other and increase the side effects. I was on Tegratol, along with Effexor which I've been on for about three years now, and they were playing nicely until I increased the Tegratol and then the Tegratol took full control, essentially rendered the Effexor completely useless I went from completely stable to full blown panic attacks within about 2 weeks of increasing, and that of course tipped the balance of the effect the Effexor previously had on the Tegratol, which shot the Tegratol up above the theraputic range and landed me with a bunch of wicked side effects from the Tegratol, so I had to go off it on to Lamictal and Keppra, but they seem to all be playing nicely again now.

On a side note, I have been through the gauntlet of anti-d's and Effexor by far has been the absolute best for controlling the anxiety and depression, its a restricted medicine here and you have to have tried at least 4 others before you qualify for it. I've been through Prozac, Lustral which I think is Zoloft, Quetiapine, Mirtazipene, Epilem weirdly enough - for anxiety not seizures and this was right before the seizures started so obviously no use treating me with those lol. I can't say I have had any really bad side effects, more annoying than anything, extra sweaty, dry mouth, headaches etc and they went away after time, but yeah my point is maybe find out about Effexor, its an SNRI rather than an SSRI, so maybe you wont be affected by the side effects as badly.

Regardless of all that I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist, because 1. they can work with your neurologist to get the balance right, and 2. they can rule out PNES

 

[skyfire322]

Thanks, jenagade!

I guess the reason why I'm really hesitant about going is because I'm just tired of being put on medication that just makes me feel worse than I was before.

 

[Bidwell]

Oh boy. I hear you. For your information, even if you were not taking meds for seizures, there is a significant percentage of people who do not tolerate the SSI antidepressants.[Why don't they say so?] I suggest that you go to the psychiatrist to find out about the psychiatric point of view and to find out what is offered. BUT I urge you not to fill any prescription [if there is a prescription] until you have done your research and thought long and hard about whether you want to take your chances. Also if you have a physician you trust who can give an opinion, that would be great. Take good care of yourself!

 

[Cint]

I suffer from depression, too. I used to see a neuropsychiatrist, specializing in mood disorders that accompany epilepsy. He originally said that Tricyclic's with the AEDs are the best way to go, but nothing seemed to work for me. So eventually I was put on an SSRI. The 1st was Prozac, which made me more moody. Now I take Zoloft and that seems to work for the most part. I occasionally have some down days.

Unfortunately, mood disorders are something that does accompany epilepsy, so try finding a psychiatrist familiar with seizures/moods. And some of the AEDs are also used as mood stabilizers, so ask about them. I was once put on Trileptal for my mood swings/seizures, but had to be taken off because of very low sodium imbalance that it can cause in some.

Hang in there!

 

[jenagade]

Thanks, jenagade!

I guess the reason why I'm really hesitant about going is because I'm just tired of being put on medication that just makes me feel worse than I was before.

Yeah I totally understand, I feel like if you picked me up and shook me I would rattle lol. The only other thing I could suggest is getting a blood test to check things like your B12, magnesium, iron etc levels, even maybe tweaking those things might improve your depression a bit and give you some relief without having to have more pills.

As with what Cint said, my neuro tries and put me on AED's which are mood stabilisers whenever I need to change, Lamictal is one of them, I've had Epilem in the past as well, ironically long before I started having seizures.

 

[marika853]

Antidepressants made me more depressed. Had to stop. I just take 5 mgs. of Lorezepam to sleep.
It's been said many times here, "We are all different!" We just have to keep looking for what works for Us and then stick with it.
Good Luck!
M

 

[Belinda5000]

I've been on anti depressants prescribed by my neuro, and when I went to see phychiatrist and said I would not go on another drug because I was already on Klonopin and Topamax he refused to see me. Phychiatrist I won't deal with . That was only a few of the drugs I was on at the time.

 

[Cint]

I've been on anti depressants prescribed by my neuro, and when I went to see phychiatrist and said I would not go on another drug because I was already on Klonopin and Topamax he refused to see me. Phychiatrist I won't deal with . That was only a few of the drugs I was on at the time.

Then why in the world did you go to the shrink in the first place? Psychiatrists WILL prescribe drugs! If you just want to talk about your problems, then see a psychologist, instead.