Anyone use antidepressants?

[Seasha]

Ah Casino~~~ I am so sorry that life has been so unfair to you. Getting po'd is a good outlet for your frustration!! Have you thought about getting a rollator walker or do you have one?

I resisted using one that I inherited, but boy, am I glad that I have it and use it plenty. You probably know that I garden and that's how I get out there now. (makes a great carrying case for my tools) My balance is lousy too - all the time! so sometimes a cane just doesn't fit the bill.

just something to think about.....maybe going for PT to have a professional help you learn ways of dealing with this?

and maybe you don't want any suggestions at all, but I just wanted to chime in and send you some big time (((HUGS)))

[CasinoKathy]

reply to Seasha

Thanks! Glad that the rollator works for you. However every step I take I have to be careful because the nerves on the bottom of my weak foot are all jumbled up and it feels like I am walking on rocks! This is what sends my balance crazy!

I cannot walk on the grass, no matter what I use. But I am still walking, for what it's worth!

[CasinoKathy]

follow up

Started last Thursday on the generic for Lexapro. Unreal but I noticed a difference within a day or so. I was talking alot more, not as moody and had an increase in energy.

Sure wish I had done this afew years ago! The old Kathy might be making a "comeback"! YEE-HAA!!!

[Seasha]

Wow! So happy to hear this Casino! I have missed your "YEE HAA's" Now when I see them in larger print and in bright colors, I will know you are truly on the road again!!

[Spydre]

I thought this was obvious, but at the time I posted, no one had picked up on it.

Kathy, it might just be the way you described your moods, but extreme highs and lows are suggestive of bipolar disorder.

In bipolar disorder, an unopposed antidepressant (an antidepressant without a mood-stabilizing med) is generally contraindicated because it can trigger or worsen manic episodes. Even if you don’t think your “up” feelings are manias, an antidepressant could turn them into manic episodes and you could find out about it in a really unpleasant way.

Because of the possibility of bipolar disorder, it’s a bad idea to just call your neuro or GP and ask for an antidepressant. The smartest thing is for you to be evaluated by a psychiatrist who can properly diagnose your mood disorder – whatever it is – and prescribe an appropriate medication. Or you could just let your neuro prescribe for you based on a phone message and take your chances…

I agree with this - I was dx'd bipolar in 2001. Technically, I was already on a mood stabilizer because I have epilepsy and was on Tegretol, but we switched it Trileptal for better control. I haven't had a manic episode that wasn't inspired by steroids in YEARS, I'm much more major depressive, enough that I'm on Cymbalta and Zoloft.

Being put on the wrong medication could literally shoot you through the roof, even with a mood stabilizer. I was initially put on Paxil, and two days later, I spent four hours in my bedroom crying, in what's called a dysphoric mania. I was immediately admitted into an outpatient program so my meds could be adjusted.

Unfortunately, weight gain is a common side effect - but the worst medication I've seen with weight gain, other than anti-psychotics, was by far Remeron. In a week I gained 20 pounds of water weight that I couldn't get off. In the end, I can't remember how much in total I gained, but when I was switched from Remeron to Zoloft, it all came off - again, within a week.