How to Cope when Switching or Adjusting Meds

[BamBam]

@Light-worker - thanks for the tips

About me - I'm currently coming up on an antidepressant, or trying to come up more accurately.

If this one doesn't work I will need to change classes of medication, meaning I will be completely without an antidepressant for a brief period.

Since depression can get troublesome for me, I would appreciate any advice as to whether this is something that people have done in the community or whether it should really be done in hospital.

[Mazarita]

Hi @BamBam,

Welcome to the forum. I'm diagnosed bipolar but depression has been the major feature of it throughout my life (I'm in my 50s). I'm currently off my anti-depressant medication and will most likely be starting a new one after I see my psychiatrist tomorrow. I came off the med after being on it for a few years and wanting to see what I was like without it at this point. It's been a difficult couple of months emotionally without the medication but not completely unmanageable.

In fact I've even been able to take some other steps to help myself during this time: joining this forum, starting a free online program of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MoodGym), getting out of the flat more than I was doing, walking almost every day, getting into a more regular sleep pattern. On the other hand my inner life is really too difficult to proceed without the anti-depressant so I will welcome the return of some extra support in that direction.

My understanding is that it's usually not necessary to be hospitalised when changing anti-depressant medications. But this may depend on the severity of your symptoms and your personal thoughts and feelings about it. I'd probably be guided by the advice of my health professional. I hope this helps or is of interest. Best wishes.

[Crazy_Bug_Lady]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread, but it's relevant to me right now, and I wasn't keen on starting a new thread...

I am on two different medications. One mood stabiliser, one antidepressant.

I little over two weeks ago my PDoc said I needed to drop my antidepressant to half a tablet, as she felt the dosage was a bit high (given the mood stabiliser helps the depression).

Cut to now. I've been feeling a bit edgy the last few days. Yesterday at the farm I was feeling miserable and really irritable. I was in tears. I nearly went home. I have *never* been that bad.

Today I went home from work 2 hours in. I couldn't stop crying. I had seriously been crying for an hour. because a little mouse bit me.

Sorry for babbling. I have been crying on and off all day, forgot how exhausting crying can be...

Is this a side-effect of cutting back the antidepressant?? Should I stick it out??

Help me.

[Mazarita]

Hi @Crazy_Bug_Lady, coming down in dose of an anti-depressant can indeed be a rocky road for a little while. Hopefully you are doing it very gradually. When do you see your PDoc again? If I was in your shoes, and the appointment was not very soon, I would consider contacting them or making an earlier appointment to discuss the reactions to the drop in dosage you are having. Sending hugs your way.

[believeinme]

Hi Everyone, 

I've switched recently back to a MAOI that has diet requirement of low tyramine foods.  I can't find anywhere (including my doctor) that will tell me whether or not I can eat homemade banana bread (since it's made with overly ripe bananas) or hoisin sauce. Does anyone out there know?  

Thanks! 

[CherryBomb]

Hi @believeinme,

I wish I could give you an answer to your question, though I thought I should let you know that in the SANE Forum Guidelines we ask members to not share information that might be perceived as medical advice. This is because everyone has a unique set of factors that are associated with medication (diagnosis, interaction with other meds, general health and so on), so it's important that you speak with a health professional about it. 

One service that might be helpful is NPS Medicinewise, you can call them on 1300 MEDICINE. 

Hope you find an answer!

CB

[Crazy_Bug_Lady]

@Haether the Guidelines need to be followed. While I understand where you're coming from, I also understand why we are not supposed to give advice.
If we (contributors or mods) discuss diet/medication etc and another person gets sick (has an adverse reaction etc) then Sane may be liable.

[Crazy_Bug_Lady]

@Mazarita I am so sorry!! I didn't see your reply to my panicky message.
Thank you so much for replying. I'm pretty sure we talked on the 'Night Shift' thread.

Either way, PDoc put me back on my old dose and upped my mood stabilizer. I'm feeling a fair bit better now.
😀😀

[Mazarita]

That's awesome to hear that you are feeling quite a bit better now. Yes, we did also talk on the Night Shift that night. Thanks for getting back to me here though too. 🙂