[garden gal]

I ran out of money this week, and couldn't afford to refill my main antidepressant (Viibryd). I asked some relatives for help... they are financially wealthy and have seemed glad to help me out when I have had times of financial crisis in the past. I ran out of my med on Thursday, and left a message asking them for help Thursday night. It seems that for whatever reason, they are declining to help me. Whatever. That's their business. But, now I've missed 3 days of my med and am starting to have discontinuation syndrome (dizziness, electric shock sensations in my face, etc...). I worry that I might soon be in danger of having increased symptoms (I was hospitalized in late August/early September, and have gotten stabilized on this med. I've tried about everything else.)

It has just been a frustrating several days. I was also physically sick the last several days, and had to figure out how to access health care with no money. I put literally just a gallon of gas in my car last night so that I'd be able to get home from work. I don't get paid until 11/1. I have food in the house, and won't starve or anything... but I am just soooo frustrated about having already missed 3 doses of this medication. I'll call my psychiatrist tomorrow (monday) and see if he has access to samples or anything to get me by for a few days. It is maddening how precarious mental stability is with depression. I'm working hard at making this work (I washed my dishes for 3 hours today, cleaned my disastrous kitchen, and made a tasty dinner out of random things I found on the shelf.) But the medication thing is hard to work around. I'm getting sick of these electric shock feelings in my face!

Thanks for listening.

Garden Gal

[Sam2]

Garden Gal,
Did your relatives tell you that they wouldn't help you this time, or did they just not get back to you? If they just didn't get back to you, try to get ahold of them again. If you can't or they told you outright that they wouldn't help, get yourself to the emergency room. Bring your perscription vial so they know exactly what and how much you are taking. There is usually a psychiatric resident or clinician on call, and they can probably give you enough of your medicine to get you through til you are able to cover your regular perscription.

I wish there was something more I could do for you. Coming off medications abruptly when its not your choice can be pretty miserable. There is no reason why you should have to go through that.

Sam2

[carebirdy]

I've been there. I hope you get your meds soon. I know it is hard to work without meds but without work there is no money for meds. It's a vicious cycle.

[garden gal]

Thanks, Sam2 and carebirdy.

I was finally able to get my meds refilled, and am feeling quite a bit better. I may write a letter to my pharmacy (which is part of the same hospital system where I was recently an inpatient) about how not giving me my medications because I could not produce the $30 copay on the spot is not a very efficient way to save money... as it created a very real risk of my being rehospitalized (which could have led to thousands of dollars in hospital bills that I would likely struggle to pay). Anyway, maybe I'll find the time and energy to write that letter, and maybe I won't. But, I am really glad to be feeling better.

[WiShEs.Of.ThE.hEaRt]

Hi garden gal. I know being off meds that you take everyday is terrible. I once stopped my meds because I thought I could do everything on my own (I have MDD, SI, and server anxiety) needles to say that was not the case. Everything went down hill very fast. A week after I stopped them I was back in a psychiatric unit for almost two weeks. I felt so hopeless without them but I didn't want to be on them anymore. I couldn't think straight and little did I know I was slowly killing myself.

I am so glad that you were able to get back on your meds. ((((garden gal))))