Knowyourmeds

I have been wondering why I wasn't seeing the benefits of my geodon (60mg at bedtime) when I ran across a post in a support group for mothers with mental illness that I help admin. This person was asking what they could eat that would help their body properly absorb it but wasn't doo high in calories. I was confused because I take mine with food (a banana or fruit of some kind). So, being thr giant nerd that I am and research junkie as well, I began looking it up in medical journals and forums. Here's what I found out.
A. No matter what the dose you take, nor how often you take it the caloric intake is the same for full absorption.
B. Said caloric intake is usually cited as being at or around 500 calories, including fats because they speed up the body's ability to actually absorb the correct dose properly.
C. If you take less than 300 calories with the medication you are actually getting half the dose prescribed and doubling the dose will not help.

These are the facts as I have found them in several journals and studies. Stay on top of your meds, be your own advocate and learn all that you can about how each medication works! #MentalHealth #advocateyourself #Knowyourmeds

I have been wondering why I wasn't seeing the benefits of my geodon (60mg at bedtime) when I ran across a post in a support group for mothers with mental illness that I help admin. This person was asking what they could eat that would help their body properly absorb it but wasn't doo high in calories. I was confused because I take mine with food (a banana or fruit of some kind). So, being thr giant nerd that I am and research junkie as well, I began looking it up in medical journals and forums. Here's what I found out.
A. No matter what the dose you take, nor how often you take it the caloric intake is the same for full absorption.
B. Said caloric intake is usually cited as being at or around 500 calories, including fats because they speed up the body's ability to actually absorb the correct dose properly.
C. If you take less than 300 calories with the medication you are actually getting half the dose prescribed and doubling the dose will not help.

These are the facts as I have found them in several journals and studies. Stay on top of your meds, be your own advocate and learn all that you can about how each medication works! #MentalHealth #advocateyourself #Knowyourmeds

Day 44 without Zoloft. Finally my life is starting to get back to normal (or actually, what is normal?). For years I wanted nothing more than to just feel, feel pure happiness, pure sadness, life in general with all ups and downs. It took a nervous breakdown/collapse to realize that something needed to change. Trust me I went through hell. Doctors have failed me (surgery, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, countless bloodtests and scans, And x amount of ‘suspected’ conditions and diseases). I barely had any day where my digestion was even just ‘alright’ (sorry for the tmi), slipped into anorexia, then bulimia and 3 years on them into severe social anxiety. So 7 years passed, 7 miserable years, where everything went only down rather than up. I saw countless psychiatrists but nobody really cared to actually help me, it was like ‘oh you can’t sleep, lets give you zolpidem’ or ‘you suffer from anxiety, let’s give you some xanax’. Along with the beautiful med-cocktail, the only thing that helped me was alcohol, as I was in survival mode rather than living my life mode. Now third attempt to get off zoloft, 44 days later, I still suffer side effects but I know it’s worth the pain. All I needed was a professional that actually cared.

I am not saying antidepressants should be banned, or don’t benefit anyone, but I am saying that it is an absolute tragedy how they are handed out to nearly anyone. People need to be educated about the harmful potential consequences they have (not just the side effects). And before you judge me for this rather harsh post, I want you to know that I was 15 when I was put on them. I have Adhd and PTSD, but I only ever learned to suppress it, instead of learning how to cope it. Which I find is unacceptable.

My heart is going out to everyone that is fighting everyday with an invisible illness! We are all heros and that’s why we should build bridges instead of walls, help the other people understand us.
Ps: and yesterday I ate my first grapefruit in 7 years, and it tasted soooo gooood!

#Zoloft #Sertraline #InvisibleIllness #Knowyourmeds #Medication #dontgiveup #Antidepressants #Depression #Anxiety