It’s strange how the same drugs affect people so differently. I just started on Prozac after avoiding antidepressants for years. The main side effects I’ve encountered are lowered but still functional libido, less emotion in general, but for me that’s a relief right now, as I was at a point where almost all my emotions were negative and obsessive, and speediness, which has lessened since I started taking the pills.
I’ll second what Legomancer had to say about caffiene. I feel much more energetic during the day without it, and I’m able to sleep better at night.
pldennison, I know you don’t want to go down the therapy road, but quite a few sources are of the opinion that therapy in conjunction with medication has a higher rate of recovery then either method as a standalone. It might be worth a try, and you can always back away from it if it feels overly uncomfortable. Also, your Doctor may want to try you on some different medication. I wish you well.
You might try an antihistamine like Benedryl. I understand that this is used in hospitals to help patients sleep. It’s not as strong as a sleeping pill, but it generally works for me.
Effexor sounds interesting. I’m going to look into it although biggish piles (60mg/day) of Prozac seems to work pretty well. And my GP (been taking this stuff so long I don’t need a shrink anymore) is openminded when I suggest changes in my meds. “I have found you asthmatics pay closer attention to what works and what doesn’t than anybody.” Obsessive asthmatics especially, I suppose, although there is nothing quite like death staring you in the face whenever you mow the lawn to make you REAL aware of what works.
I don’t know how Effexor and booze mingle, but when I first went on Prozac I was a REALLY cheap date. One glass of champagne and I didn’t feel like I could drive for three hours. That’s gotten better/worse but I still don’t push my luck.
december, I have read on Dr. Andrew Weil’s site that antihistamines can exacerbate existing depression, so I would investigate to see what other sleep alternatives were available. Then again, that’s only one cite, and it may not be much of an issue.
Effexor, seroquel, depakote, lorazepam here. Glad to see I’m not the only medicated doper.
I too have the dreams as you describe. Sometime they go on for so many days that I fear going to sleep. You’r right that they really aren’t nightmares but really weird vivid stuff.
As for the withdrawl from Effexor: It’s Horrid. I’ve been off it twice to try different medications and both times I was sick as a dog for over a week. The first time I was flat on my back for days and couldn’t even have driven myself anywhere. I did take lots of bynadril (sp)that did help the withdrawl symptoms.
Depakote makes my hair fall out and I am really pissed off by this. But in order to be sane I have to take it. (Big Sigh) I used to have beautiful hair and was very vain about it.
I want to slap whoever came up with effexor and depakote really, really hard.
PLD I feel fo you man. I have suffered from depression my whole life and have been unable to do anything about it. I took Elavil for a while in the mid 80s, then I stopped for fear of becoming addicted. I go through intense periods of suicidal depression where nothing seems to be worth lving for. i’m in one of those right now.
I hope things get better for you with your drug regimen. I wish I had something useful to tell you.
A couple of people have mentioned Trazodone, so I thought I’d chime in. I have a prescription for it. I would be VERY careful with the stuff. I may be hyper-sensitive to it or something, so I suppose YMMV. However, the commonly prescribed dose puts me to sleep for two entire days. I’m unable to get up in the morning, falling asleep at my desk, SERIOUSLY debilitated by the sleepiness side effect.
Also, one of the common side effects with trazodone is…you guessed it…bizarre, vivid dreams. Sure, you sleep great when you take it. All you can do is sleep. But if you’re already having trouble with disturbing dreams, this is NOT the med for you. Of course, I’m not your doc either, maybe he/she would disagree. But I tend to think not.
I’m surprised that so many posters find the more vivid, bizarre dreams that so many meds cause disturbing. I honestly find them quite enjoyable. I’ve been a 500 lb praying mantis on the rooftops of Philadelphia, wizards of every variety, myself but with a totally different relationship to the universe, werewolves, a man in a werewolf costume, and a bunch of other things. Often, I go through all of the above in the same dream. What is it that you find disturbing?
I don’t get it, either, Doc. I miss 'em since I stopped taking Trazadone, although it did leave me sleeping at my desk after a half dose the night before. Another of it’s “negative” side effects is “prolonged and painful erections.” One guy’s pain… And they weren’t painful, but they sure did last!
I’ve been taking Zoloft for about 4 or 5 months. I started off on 50mgs and I had the usual first-time side effects - I was also very hyperactive and would stay up very late. I also noticed that I started talking to myself. I also had the strange, scary dreams.
I’m now on 100mgs and I’m not depressed anymore, but I am rather anxious and pouty. I tried going off Zoloft for a week, but I started getting palpitations and dizziness, irritability etc. I hope I’m not stuck with Zoloft for life.
Let’s see… currently I am happily psychiatric drug-free. However, I have been a walking psych experiment. In the past ten years I have been prescribed: (in a vague order of appearance) Lithium, Haldol, Prolixin, Ativan, Wellbutrin, Desipramine, Tegratol, Depakote, as well as the nasty tasting substitute Valproic Acid, Serzone, Paxil, Neurontin, Risperdal, and I am certain I am forgetting a few. I have also had ECT (shock therapy) and I don’t care what anyoen says… its not any good for you… well at least not for me. I lost memory and cognitive thinking skills. I have been med-free for almost 3 months and am doing quite well with my decision. I still am under a doctor’s care and see my therapist weekly but they are all very supportive of it at this time. Hopefully I can continue indefinitely without meds but I do not rule them out across the board… my mental health is a definite priority.
Hmmm… well, it depends on how you define bizarre or enjoyable, I guess. I’ve had non-drug-induced freaky dreams my whole life.
But, somehow, seeing people I know strung up and dangling by nerves ripped from their skins while flying motorboats hit them and cause them to swing back and forth from pine trees in my front yard… is just not enjoyable. And, rather disturbing.
I think I should meet Stephen King, and when he gets writer’s block, he can call me, and I’ll say, ‘all right, I’ll go take a nap and get back to you.’ And then he can give me some money.
[bit of a hijack, but it was asked…]
I’ve found that dream content doesn’t really have all that much effect on whether a dream is fun or not. I’ve had some dreams where nothing particularly disturbing happens, but I wake up scared and depressed. I classify those dreams as nightmares, no matter how innocuous I remember them being. Conversely, I’ve had dreams where the most horrible, disgusting things happen that are actually a lot of fun at the time. I think that’s what’s so weird about dreams… All your feelings, experiences, and common sense go out the window and the end result is that when your brother is turned into a monstrous eggplant you think nothing of it. Even if you don’t actually have a brother.
Oh yeah, the worst dreams I have ever had occured during withdrawal from Paxil. Not only did I have horrible nightmares, but it gave me stomach pains and this horrible depression that would last throughout the day. That was pretty rough.
