Getting Used To New Medication

[Domestic Goddess]

I've recently had my anti depressant dosage increased and am feeling sleepy all the time. Is this permenent of will things improve? It's ok while it's half term, but next week I have to get up early and can't see how I'm going to manage it. I'm sleeping till 10am, having a nap 1pm - 4pm and then going to bed at 10 pm. I actually enjoy all the sleep as it takes me away from my NFH, but it is a big barrier when I have things to do.

Even when I'm awake, I'm constantly yawning. I'm also finding it hard to concentrate hard enough to type here on the forum.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[Eeyore]

Sometimes sleep is good for you, you're body is telling you what it needs, and although you may feel sleepy at odd times of the day, I'd say it's the drugs, and your body' way of healing itself :) Do the tablets say drowsiness is a side effect?

Lots of people nap every day and still go to bed quite early, my dad always had a nap for as far back as I can remember :) If you really want to fight it you can try and do something that requires concentration, but IMO, go with it, sleep, won't do any harm at all

If you're really worried, you could always mention it to the doc.

Take care

[tact77]

Hi DG

You will find that as time goes by you wil adapt to the increased dose and not feel so tired. But in the meantime sleep as much as you want. The Spanish always have a siesta so why not you!

P.S. You can always use it to your advantage if there is a nasty job around the house thats needs doing...just fall alseep :bigeyes:

[phantos02]

All this talk is putting me off going to my GP now (no - I still haven't gone even though I feel worse than ever).

Do all antidepressants do this, I couldn't afford to be asleep at work (much as I would prefer it).

[smoo22]

Hi DG

Please don't worry - I found the same thing. I think it is supposed to be more common with SNRI type meds (the ones that affect both seratonine AND noradrenaline, rather than just the SSRIs which are serotonine-specific). I did get over it, although I have to admit it took quite a few weeks - just go with it for now, don't expect the sleepiness to wear off too quickly or you will just worry. If you're still the same in about 6-8 weeks, ask your doc to maybe try a different type of med for you (SSRIs did nothing for me but SNRIs were great - maybe the other way round for some people). I still get the urge to fall asleep at precisely 3.30pm every day, and lose concentration if I can't, so I just don't arrange anything important for those times!

Glad to have you back anyway, just don't overdo it and try to make the most of hte times that yo do feel up to doing things.

We are all thinking of you and wishing you better, cyber-vibes, cyber-vibes.... :D

[Lady Penelope]

:) Hi DG,

I think the others have said it all really, the medication does take time to take effect, mine took up to a month when I was on them. Though mine were very low dosage.

You just chill out as much as you can for this week and see how it goes next week after half term, maybe then go back to your gp if you are still worried.

Big cyber hugs to you and all

:friends:

LPxxx

[sp54]

I'm with the theory it's your body telling you to rest. Don't fight it. Once you get to next week you will start to adapt gradually.

I feel sleepy at 3pm every day too. Maybe it's a NFH victim thing!!! :hihi: :lol:

[Domestic Goddess]

Phantos, I hope my post hasn't put you of anti-depressants. I am on quite a high dose as well as other meds to help beat my agrophobia. Your first given dose would be a lot lower and only raised to a higher level if you ask for it to be.

I think my need for sleep is stress related, my body just wants to switch off and recharge. I might take next week off work and see how I feel.

When I first started them last year, I didn't feel sleepy at all.

Please give them a try - you sound so sad.

hugs

DG
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[phantos02]

Oh DG, even though you feel down yourself you are still giving encouragement to others, you are so kind :)

I do feel there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel now. We are very nearly there with our house move so barring any last minute hitches we should be gone in a couple of weeks. Then I will concentrate on finding a new job as I feel that is actually upsetting me more than the NFH at the moment. It's difficult to get out of bed in the mornings, I really have to force myself to get dressed and get on the train. And when I'm here I find it so suffocating I have no concentration level at all (hence me visiting NFHiB quite often during the day!).

I know it sounds like I am making excuses not to go to the Doc's but I am hoping I can beat these feelings by making some positive changes in my lifestyle.

[Domestic Goddess]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phantos02 @ 28th October 2005 - 9:36 AM) 139373</div>
I know it sounds like I am making excuses not to go to the Doc's but I am hoping I can beat these feelings by making some positive changes in my lifestyle.
[/b]


Sweetie, we will support you in WHATEVER you decide is best for you. If making these changes works for you, then that is great! :thumbs: I just wanted to make sure I hadn't put you off seeking medical help through my grumbling!

Hugs

DG
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[Miss Understood]

DG. Didn't realise you suffered from agrophobia. I suffered dreadfully from it for about 4 years. Didn't actually go down the medication route though I did speak to my doctor a couple of times and spoke to a psychiatrist a couple of times (who was, really, at the end of the day, useless). I put up with it for ages. Shopping at expensive corner shops because I couldn't face the supermarket without going off into a panic attack. Being unable to do anything really, but go to work at the same time, sit there, work and come home at the same time. Then locked myself away. As long as it was routine, I was alright - just.

I was always alright driving the car on routine trips but couldn't cope with long journeys (even to see family) or public transport or anything.

All came to a head one day when my daughter's school called me at work to come and collect her because she had, of all things, nits!

I drove home and parked up because you weren't allowed to park outside the school. The school was only a four minute walk away from my house. I got out the car and just couldn't do it. Went indoors in floods of tears and already half panicking over the thought of just walking up the end of the road and round the corner. Ended up phoning the school and finally telling them my problem. The secretary was so sweet and actually walked my daughter home in her lunch hour.

It was then I decided I really did need help. After all, if I couldn't pick my children up from school outside of normal routine hours I decided I really wasn't a fit mother.

Decided I didn't really want to do the doctor/tranquiliser route (and no, I'm not knocking anyone who does that, just I don't like taking tablets - not even aspirin). So, I went to, believe it or not, a hypnotherapist. A lady called Tina. I always say she was the lady who saved my life. I had three or four sessions with her. All this subconcious rubbish stored up from my childhood came out over those sessions and it helped me realise where I came from and the influences which had been affecting my thought processes. I haven't had a panic attack since.

And, in the ten years since those sessions, I've done a lot of public speaking on controversial subjects in front of some very hostile audiences, appeared on both live and recorded television and radio (and in a speaking role - off the cuff type news/discussion programmes). I do still have my off days - particularly during the recent London bombings when I'm using the tube almost daily but I have cracked it.

Keep at it girl and, if you can, do try and find a qualified and reputable hypnotherapist. It really, really did work for me.

MU

[Miss Understood]

Oh, and as a post script, I am a woman working in a very male, strong personality, dominated industry these days. Consequently, I have to, quite often, stand up for myself and my authority.

If any of my male colleagues discovered I've been an agrophobic, they would not believe it. The new male starter tour of the office by an existing male colleague goes. so I've been told, along the lines of "there's the bogs, there's the coffee machine - the restaurant's that way - oh, and that's MU, you don't f*ck with her" !

I still haven't worked out if that's a compliment or not!