[sewerrats]

Reading a lot of post , a big percentage are in fear of taking there meds a natural reaction . But that fear can stop your progress if every time you take them you go into a panic and wait for something bad to happen. You must have been at your lowest to ask for them in the first instance so you have done the worst part. So think of it that way , some people are the opposite and feel relief has the first pill is taken , not from the pill but the fact they taken the first step . IMAGINE side effects and you will get them even if you don't , you near on always get worse before better, usually toilet department or cramps or sickness they should pass , If not see you doc or ring them. But remember everything takes time , it seems months some time it is but there is nothing to do but front it out best you can. But don't scare yourself out of feeling better.

[marmaduke]

IMAGINE side effects and you will get them even if you don't

Agree. If you look for the worse you will find it, be optimistic.

[gayleggg]

I never fear meds. I'm so depressed, I'm glad to take any chance of getting better. If there are side effects I can't live with, we change them. I rarely have side effects other than drowiness with some. Unfortunately, none of the seem to help either.

[Altered Moment]

I agree. The first time I went on meds (Effexor) almost 20 years ago was the first time I had ever reached out for help in any way. It was a huge step. I believe it played a huge role in me getting clean and sober shortly after that.

Alot of people don't want meds and I don't advocate they should go on them if they don't want to, but if you reach out and go on a med you have to stick it out.

I think that if you start on a med you have to give it three months at least to give it a chance to work and to get over the side effects. All the pdocs I have had don't mention side effects because they know alot of people will get them just because they mentioned them. Some people totally avoid going online and looking at them because they know they tend to be hypochondriacs. I have always adjusted to the side effects and I have been on many meds. There are a couple that I have just learned to live with.

[sewerrats]

Thanks for this since. I am getting truthful answers I salute you . Its common you will be bad at the start of meds jesus something is invading you brain like paint balling zapping the bad guys. But the bad guys fight back you just have to hope yours wins, I takes a lot for me to throw in the towel on a med, I have done don't get me wrong. But so long has you not continually worse than what you were at the start thrash on i say till the end of the trial . I and a few posters have waited at least 12 weeks for a good reaction but when in comes its a good one . If it don't chalk it down has a full yes full trail that did not work then never try it again period. And don't take meds for side effects other than over the counter headache tablets or you will end up with list of side effect meds that stop on there own given time

I was severely paranoid when the doctors first tried to medicate me, it wasn't until sometime later when I essentially said to myself "I don't care what they're up to I don't want to know." that I really became compliant in that respect.

To an extent I agree that certain minor side effects are fairly normal for most meds, and if we stick with them awhile, even those issues resolve. However, some side effects are not tolerable even for short periods of time, and what different people can tolerate varies for many reasons and that needs to be respected.

For instance, I rarely have side effects, and when I do they generally don't bother me much or they go away fairly quickly. But a few times I clearly knew I would not be able to tolerate the side effects. Some people have no problem with a bit of a tremor or blurred vision and will manage with it, but I'm an English teacher. Being able to write and read are non-negotiables for me. My pdoc understands and respects that and works to find different alternatives. Another person who struggles with weight issues in the first place may find weight gain intolerable as it may actually make those issues greater, while someone else isn't bothered by gaining some pounds. As in all things, it is very individual.

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

To an extent I agree that certain minor side effects are fairly normal for most meds, and if we stick with them awhile, even those issues resolve. However, some side effects are not tolerable even for short periods of time, and what different people can tolerate varies for many reasons and that needs to be respected.

For instance, I rarely have side effects, and when I do they generally don't bother me much or they go away fairly quickly. But a few times I clearly knew I would not be able to tolerate the side effects. Some people have no problem with a bit of a tremor or blurred vision and will manage with it, but I'm an English teacher. Being able to write and read are non-negotiables for me. My pdoc understands and respects that and works to find different alternatives. Another person who struggles with weight issues in the first place may find weight gain intolerable as it may actually make those issues greater, while someone else isn't bothered by gaining some pounds. As in all things, it is very individual.

This is true. I tried Wellbutrin once and absolutely could not tolerate it and quit after two weeks. There are some major side effects that the manufacturer even says to quit taking it if you have them.

[onionknight]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

As truthful as results of Crimea referendum! SALUTE.

BRILLIANT! I was going to say the same thing, except I was going to phrase it as: "sound like Putin." You beat me to it.

[onionknight]

But disdain for censorship in order to support your point aside, side effects aren't the only thing that can "go wrong" with meds. I lost a year and a half of my life (and counting) because antidepressants wrecked my brain (and losing your sense of self and direction when you are 22 and right out of college is devastating, let me tell you).

It's a reality that medication make some people worse and prevent them from recovering. If you truly care about the possibility of everyone leading their best life, you'd understand that. Also what side effects someone is willing to tolerate and to what extent is completely subjective. Everyone should have the chance to make their own trade offs.

Coercing someone by telling them "it isn't that bad" isn't consent, and it isn't going to lead to the therapeutic relationship that extends itself to healing. Sorry, not sorry. If you really want to help someone, you need to validate their fears and choices.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

To an extent I agree that certain minor side effects are fairly normal for most meds, and if we stick with them awhile, even those issues resolve. However, some side effects are not tolerable even for short periods of time, and what different people can tolerate varies for many reasons and that needs to be respected.

For instance, I rarely have side effects, and when I do they generally don't bother me much or they go away fairly quickly. But a few times I clearly knew I would not be able to tolerate the side effects. Some people have no problem with a bit of a tremor or blurred vision and will manage with it, but I'm an English teacher. Being able to write and read are non-negotiables for me. My pdoc understands and respects that and works to find different alternatives. Another person who struggles with weight issues in the first place may find weight gain intolerable as it may actually make those issues greater, while someone else isn't bothered by gaining some pounds. As in all things, it is very individual.

OCOURSE nobody disputes your post, tremor and blurred vision are quite common in most AD.s so I salute your shrink for finding a med for you without these side effects if permanent, you are talking permanent not start up are you. If it was the only med that worked for you what would you do, some people may give up work with those 2 side effects sooner than suffer debilitating depression Has you say everyone is different in the levels of there illness and the level they will go to receive any kind of relief.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by onionknight

BRILLIANT! I was going to say the same thing, except I was going to phrase it as: "sound like Putin." You beat me to it.

I was told to block the 2 posters to stop arguments , waiting for me to post and attacking everything from my dyslexia to what I eat gets to be a pain every post . It was tag team wrestling ,only 1 team had 2 in the ring all the time

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by onionknight

But disdain for censorship in order to support your point aside, side effects aren't the only thing that can "go wrong" with meds. I lost a year and a half of my life (and counting) because antidepressants wrecked my brain (and losing your sense of self and direction when you are 22 and right out of college is devastating, let me tell you).

It's a reality that medication make some people worse and prevent them from recovering. If you truly care about the possibility of everyone leading their best life, you'd understand that. Also what side effects someone is willing to tolerate and to what extent is completely subjective. Everyone should have the chance to make their own trade offs.

Coercing someone by telling them "it isn't that bad" isn't consent, and it isn't going to lead to the therapeutic relationship that extends itself to healing. Sorry, not sorry. If you really want to help someone, you need to validate their fears and choices.

What we on about hear, the thread was talking mainly start up side effects , you no the ones the disappear in time stick to the thread, You had a bad time on meds , why didn't you stop taking them. 1to 1 counselling may have been your best road. I wasn't the shrink that screwed you with wrong meds blaim them and your medical team, near everyone that want to try a med is scared. I am trying to put there mind at ease about start up effect , long team effects like yours and mine were cause but us and shrinks, we wasn't force fed meds so don't blaim everyone else if it goes pear shaped

[ChangingMyMind]

Time to see how well I can deal with a new medicine. I shouldn't look up the side effects but I know I will... doc wants me to try Pristiq... she did some genetic testing and said the results point to Pristiq as the best option for me with Wellbutrin following. Pristiq is pricey so I hope it works!

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

Time to see how well I can deal with a new medicine. I shouldn't look up the side effects but I know I will... doc wants me to try Pristiq... she did some genetic testing and said the results point to Pristiq as the best option for me with Wellbutrin following. Pristiq is pricey so I hope it works!

Wow they actually did the genetic test. That is awesome. My pdoc told me they were going to get that soon.

I am confused about the difference between Pristiq and Effexor. I know that Pristiq is the active metabolite of Effexor which means that when Effexor hits your body it turns into Pristiq. I don't know if Pristiq has an active metabolite or not or if they both end up with the same chemical in your brain. I am going to have to look into that.

Pristiq was just Pfizers way of getting a new patent and marketing a new drug that wasn't really new. Called a me too drug. Like I said it is just the active metabolite of Effexor. So if it is to pricey maybe generic effexor is an option.

No don't read the side effects.

[ChangingMyMind]

Well she said the genetic test said Effexor would be horrible for me and that Pristiq is cleaned up Effexor. I'm a bit anxious about it because of all the bad things I've heard about Effexor. She did day that other patients have tolerated Pristiq well and that she only prescribes Effexor as a very last resort. I'll can only try it and see. I know that Lexapro is basically Celexa cleaned up but it does not work for me like Celexa and doesn't make my sleepy like Celexa... So I know even though a drug is pretty much the same it doesn't always react the same for everybody.

[Altered Moment]

Well when they say "cleaned up" I am not really sure what that means. Less side effects? I don't know that that has been clinically shown. From what I can tell it is the same chemical that hits the brain. O-desvenalfaxine the active metabolite of Effexor. Pristiq does have a better coating for extended release. It could be that venlafaxine has other active metabolites besides 0-desvenlafaxine that cause more side effects. Some people say they do better on it than Effexor. I have taken Effexor many times for long periods and never had any problems. I also took Pristiq for a year and I did seem to do better on it. So who knows.

Pristiq vs. Effexor | Psych Central Professional

[Altered Moment]

You have to keep in mind how much influence a company like Pfizer can have on pdocs. You wouldn't think it would be that much but it actually is in a lot of cases. My brother in law was a drug rep for Pfizer and used to push Pristiq big time. I used to argue with him about why should I pay more for Pristiq when I can get generic Effexor. He made all his company line arguments to me but in the end he said there is no difference.

[Altered Moment]

Well she said the genetic test said Effexor would be horrible for me

I just don't see how this could be. How could a genetic test say one is good for you and one is horrible for you when they are the same chemical.

Don't get me wrong I am not at all telling you to take Effexor and not Pristiq. I hope it works very well for you. I believe you can get discount cards for it too.

I am just basically arguing with myself.

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

I just don't see how this could be. How could a genetic test say one is good for you and one is horrible for you when they are the same chemical.

Don't get me wrong I am not at all telling you to take Effexor and not Pristiq. I hope it works very well for you. I believe you can get discount cards for it too.

I am just basically arguing with myself.

They can't. At least from what I have read. I guess that's why they send them to professionals to be analyzed. Good thing to know.

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[ChangingMyMind]

I am not sure how the testing works. It has something to do with how I metabolize the medicine. From what the tests show I metabolize Celexa and Lexapro pretty quickly and should be on a higher dose however I am likely to have side effects. Effexor came up as high in side effects so not recommended. My psychiatrist said Pristiq is listed as a medicine that I should do well on without side effects but she also said Wellbutrin was second on the list so I could try that as well. She acknowledged that Pristiq was expensive so was suggesting Wellbutrin to save money but ultimately I said I would try Pristiq because for me it's about trying the medicine that will give me the most benefit with the least amount of side effects regardless of cost.

I have an appointment with her on Monday so I plan to try the medicine over the weekend and see how I feel. When I see her I am going to ask more about the testing and see if I can have a copy of the results (even if they are in doctor speak).

She suggested taking Lexapro at 5mg with Pristiq for a few days to help ease the switch over. Does that sound reasonable? I've never taken two ADs together so I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not.

[Altered Moment]

I have always started the new one right away and tapered off the old at the same time. No problem. I would be very interested in seeing those test results. I think it has to do with which enzymes in the liver your genes code for. I am still confused about the pristiq Effexor issue.

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[ChangingMyMind]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

I have always started the new one right away and tapered off the old at the same time. No problem. I would be very interested in seeing those test results. I think it has to do with which enzymes in the liver your genes code for. I am still confused about the pristiq Effexor issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, I am also confused by the Pristiq/Effexor piece of it too because she did acknowledge that Celexa was not good for me and Lexapro was in that same range and I know those two are pretty much the same. She explained Lexapro and Celexa the same way she did Pristiq/Effexor... saying that Lexapro is just the "cleaned up" version of Celexa. So why would Pristiq be so different from Effexor if it's just the "cleaned up" version when Celexa and Lexapro have the same relationship as Pristiq and Effexor yet they fall into the same category on my genetic test.

I am now thinking I should wait to talk to her again first before taking the Pristiq. Ideally I'd like to see the report first. Wellbutrin might be a better option for me as I did really well on Celexa for 7 years (minus some acceptable side effects) and Wellbutrin is an SSRI. I was on Cymbalta for 3 months but after that it stopped working for depression and I believe that is an SNRI like Pristiq.

[Altered Moment]

The celexa must have quit working, it happens. I think Wellbutrin is in a class by itself and not an SSRI. Not sure about cymbalta. Don't go by me I am not a psychopharmacologist. There may be metobolic differences we don't understand. I could not handle Wellbutrin as it got me so wired yet I have done the best on SNRI's.

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[Altered Moment]

You can't compare celexa and Wellbutrin they are two different animals. Cymbalta is an SSNRI. So pristiq or Wellbutrin? I dunno. At least it is a more educated guess with the genetic test.

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