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| Tarale Posts: 1536/2713 |
Well, here's some feedback and information on the medication I'm currently taking.
Edronax - 4mg (Reboxetine (as mesilate) tablets) Reboxetine is a NARI. Unlike SSRI type drugs (which work on seratonin) it works on noradrenaline. It's used for the treatment of clinical depression, panic disorder and ADD/ADHD. I currently take 4mg a day -- 2 in the morning, 2 at night (I split the tablets) The early side effects I experienced are that I was waking up earlier (a little bit too much earlier) and being bright and awake and alert... before I wanted to be. I was also having trouble sleeping. This seems to have settled down somewhat, and I'm sleeping well. The side effect I'm having more of is a bit of a dry mouth. However I'm not particularly bothered by this either as it's encouraging me to drink more water (which I haven't been as good with as I should be). I've experienced dizziness/vertigo also; but this is likely due to a Viral Infection that I seem to have gotten shortly after starting the medication. As I still have said Viral Infection (ears and nose and head still all stuffy and such) I'm still experiencing this a little, but it's getting better so I think this is an effect of the Virus, not the medication. Positive effects have been more motivation -- I've been motivated enough to start to re-learn PHP for example (although I get a little easily frustrated by it... it's a bit maths-y in spots for me). I've also been motivated enough to sort out a few other bits and pieces.  And exercise slightly more.
I've also been better with concentrating, although if I'm tired it still goes to pieces a little on me. 
And because I've been more motivated, I've achieved a few little things, which helps me feel a whole lot better
That's it so far. It hasn't been all that long since I started so maybe I'll see things improve further. |
| Sweet Kassy Molassy Posts: 431/886 |
I hate taking my meds too, and I've been off for ages because I can't find any that have side effects I'm actually willing to deal with...
But hey. If you're down and the pills help, what's so bad about it? I know plenty of people on meds for depresion. It's not weird or weak and it doesn't make you a freak. Help is good sometimes. Oh, by the way... how are the new meds working out? My symptoms are almost identical to what you've described... except after binge eating I also usually purge. If I get to the point where I think I need help again your input on meds you've taken would really help. |
| Tarale Posts: 1498/2713 |
Mine just made me fairly unfeeling and numb.
Not that I don't experience a lot of that due to the nature of Depression itself when it gets very bad, but it was nothing to the zombie-like existence I was living... |
| windwaker Posts: 135/235 |
Oh, good.
I know someone who went on SSRI's because he was literally on the brink of suicide. It saved his life, but he had to have such a high dose that he was on an overdose of it every day after a while. He said he got so paranoid that he couldn't ride a bus, because he thought that the people behind him would kill him if he didn't stare at them. |
| Tarale Posts: 1490/2713 |
Originally posted by windwaker No, SSRI's are not my only option, nor are they the option that my doctor's suggested. I'm on an NARI. I dislike SSRI's, particularly given my past experience with them. The NARI seems to bug me less thus far. |
| windwaker Posts: 128/235 |
Sorry for the bump, but are SSRI's your only option? If you're not experiencing drastic depression, I'd stay away from it.
If SSRI's are your only option, I'd find a new doctor. If you don't plan on staying on something consistently, see if you can get Xanax. It's a benzo, so you'll have some of the same effects, without the paranoia/inability to achieve orgasm/appetite issues. |
| Tarale Posts: 1467/2713 |
The benefits of light therapy seem to be fairly well known; and I can find lots of information about it. What I can't seem to find is either light box equipment or practitioners of light therapy around here.
I'll keep looking, but at the moment it's not looking good. I can find light therapists for dermatological purposes around; but the light used for mood purposes is different. In the meantime, while the weather holds out I'll try to go outside and get some natural sunlight. I don't expect it's going to last much longer -- tomorrow seems like it may be the last of it this week.... |
| Boom.dk Posts: 284/356 |
Originally posted by Tarale I once saw a program in television about light therapy. Being exposed to bright light 30 minutes to an hour every day apparently helps against depression. I don't know a whole lot about it, but I found this article: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050423/fob7.asp As I said, I don't know a lot about it, but it might work? |
| Jomb Posts: 315/448 |
12-13 hours is too much... there must be a chemical problem, i could'nt sleep that long even if i tried. 10 hours would be great though, I'm lucky to get 8.
I usually stay up till about 5 Am.. I do it because i work best at night when its nice and peaceful, no distractions, no loud noises, nobody bugging me. I can just focus on what i'm doing and get alot done. |
| Tarale Posts: 1456/2713 |
Originally posted by Jomb Not all that late. Somewhere between 10 and 12 weekdays (depending -- Scrubs is on on Monday at 11.30 so I stay up to watch that, but the rest of the week after around 10 I start making moves towards bed) and on weekends... well, around 12. I used to stay up till 3am, but now I'm of the opinion there's nothing worth staying awake for. 10 hours sleep is still oversleeping, but not as much as 12 or 13 hours. And when I oversleep I feel all heady and crappy the rest of the day.  8 hours is generally about right for me; and I hope for a return to that.... |
| Jomb Posts: 313/448 |
What time do you go to bed? I sleep till at least noon most days, usually more like 1... but i go to bed really late so i dont consider it over-sleeping. |
| Tarale Posts: 1454/2713 |
Originally posted by Jomb Provided that I don't have the last post in this thread, I can update it 
Edronax so far... the most noticable effect is with my sleep. I'm still oversleeping, but not as severely. I got up at 10am today for example, instead of 12pm or 1pm.  I did the same yesterday too. I hope it will become easier for me to get out of bed on weekdays too, to go to work.
I'm also moderately more motivated to do things like go for a walk, although the absolutely glorious (and unseasonal) weather we're having helps too. I'm still craving carbohydrate and sugar like nothing else though.
Mood wise, I'm still pretty "meh". It can take a while though for that to stabilise so I'll just keep plodding along in the meantime. |
| Jomb Posts: 310/448 |
You'll let us know how it goes, right? |
| Tarale Posts: 1453/2713 |
Well, I'm officially on Edronax now.
I will see how it goes.  Hopefully I will not need to be on it for the long term, and things will pick up soon. It's better than doing nothing. |
| Jomb Posts: 305/448 |
If its something different you may as well try it for awhile and then decide whether you like it or not. Maybe it will really help you, its impossible to say if you've never tried it. |
| Tarale Posts: 1451/2713 |
If anybody's curious to know what it is the doctor has recommended, it's called Edronax (aka reboxetine) and is part of a new class of drugs -- a NARI (Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor) type. The types of drugs I took previously were SSRI (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor) type (Sertraline (Zoloft) and Citalopram (Cipramil)).
It works by making sure that my brain doesn't simply store Noradrenaline, increasing the level of it in my brain. Noradrenaline is one of the chemicals believed to have an impact upon mood. Usually the focus for most Depression medications is the chemical Seratonin, and there are some drugs that focus on both Noradrenaline and Seratonin. I have Atypical Depression characterised by things like excessive sleeping, and increased appetite (particularly binge eating), and "significant social impairment as a consequence of hypersensitivity to perceived interpersonal rejection". People with Atypical Depression can also show interest or pleasure in things which is unlike most Depressive symptoms.
However, I find despite said interest, I then lack the concentration or motivation to follow through on said interests. I have been putting off watching Howl's Moving Castle because I've had an inability to concentrate and I'd like to be able to sit down and actually watch the movie without fidgeting and distraction. The problems with motivation and concentration might also be why I have had an inability to draw for a long time now too.
The NARI type drugs have been suggested because they are supposed to have better effects upon motivation and concentration than SSRI type drugs. They are also not supposed to impact as greatly on weight as the previous drugs I'd tried. Both SSRI's I had both had a very negative effect upon my concentration and motivation, as well as contributing greatly to me putting on 30kg (66lbs)
In short, it's proposed that such a drug will improve my mood, stop me sleeping so much, stop me binge eating in an effort to feel better, and help me with motivation and concentration issues. As all of the above are problems, it may perhaps be a positive thing. I guess I can always stop taking it if it doesn't help anyways. At the moment I'm thinking about it. I'm not really sure if I need it or not, or if things will get better, but if they continue on the track that they have been (ie, fairly slowly getting worse) then it might be considered as a part (not the whole) of some strategy to "pull myself up by the bootstraps" as they say. |
| Xenesis Posts: 127/200 |
Originally posted by Kario As disturbing as it may be, most emotions are thought to be simply related to various chemical levels in your brain. There's a reason morphine makes you feel good, you know, or why many drugs that you take mimic a similar effect to natural endorphins and the like. And I'd also say that it's pretty unlikely that doctors are pushing drugs around here for kickbacks. The big drug companies don't have complete control over our country...yet.  |
| Tarale Posts: 1450/2713 |
As Arwon has pointed out, I don't think Australian doctors really get kickbacks from prescribing drugs. I've checked this with a friend of mine who is a doctor and he thinks the idea is rubbish. So it's doubtful that both the doctors who have now made the suggestion are doing it for "profit".
Two seperate doctors have suggested it now. I'm not sure. They have some benefit, in that they stabilise things to enough of an extent for things to improve through other means. I don't believe that the drugs alone can "cure" or "manage" Depression -- it needs to be done in conjunction with something else. I'm not sure though at this stage if I'm serious enough to need it. Mostly I'm just... numb and apathetic. |
| Kingpin Posts: 518/709 |
Well, I met a guy with "depression." We started hanging out a lot, and apparently I'm a funny guy. Long story short, he doesnt need the medication any more, and he sells them to certain people.
I am not condoning the selling of drugs illegally, I'm just saying that pills usually are nothing more than a placebo at best. Sure, they do things to your body, but only because you want them too. Taking a pill for depression seems to be the same as taking a pill for sadness. Its an emotion. A pill doesn't take away an emotion. |
| HighSorceressDelial Posts: 23/26 |
It really just sounds like he's trying to push the meds on you to make a profit... (some doctors are 'persuaded' to push certain medications, I know there was a hospital somewhere around here that practically had a glass bowl just full of the meds they were giving away...). Just refuse them if you don't want to go back on them.
And try not to deny your depression. Think of it this way, depression can come and go depending on chemicals/situations/etc. and people who have had it in the past are prone to have it again in the future. Instead of being upset when it's back again, think of it as something that will run it's course, and then go away again in time. (and if it lasts too long, or is really bad, then you get help). Even if it's back now, it won't last forever. |
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