side effects

Anyone have alternating...um... gastrointestinal patterns when on Lamictal? Was one way for months now swinging the other way after increasing my dose. At least I hope it's Lamictal. And before you say it, it is doing wonders for me mentally so I won't switch or decrease my dose. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
#TheMighty #MightyTogether #Medication #SideEffects #gastrointestinal

Hello peeps. I am on Lamictal for BPD. I take 300mg a day, two doses of 150mg in the morning and in the evening. I have constant brain zaps as if I were withdrawaling. I also have shaky hands in the morning until I take my dose. I am thinking I need to lessen my dose even though it helps with my BPD better than any other type of medication. Does/has anyone else experienced this? #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Medication #MoodStabilizers #SideEffects

I've been having some issues with the psychiatric medications I'm currently taking that were prescribed by my psychiatrist. For example, lorazepam (Ativan) helps a lot with my anxiety, however, it makes me feel sleepy which is problematic since being alert during the day is important (especially with full-time college coming up soon for me). Then with antipsychotics, I need to take them but they also either seem to just knock me out and/or cause major weight gain (which is also unhelpful minus with my insomnia, but it causes extreme daytime drowsiness and I've also struggled with an eating disorder on and off for the past 11 years, so that can just trigger me to relapse into unhealthy eating habits).

I would ask my psychiatrist personally but he's very quick during appointments and basically just prescribes a pill then sends me on my way.

Anyways, to go back to the lorazepam/ativan issue, I also worry a bit about the addictive quality of that medication due to my addictive personality & tendencies both in the past and present.

But I don't know of a better alternative and I'm tight on money so (since most psychiatric medications are free in Ontario), my best option financially speaking is to take prescription psychiatric medications, since I don't have to pay for them. I'm on ODSP (Ontario long-term disability), so finances are extremely tight/I'm in poverty (note: I'm not being dramatic here, that is a genuine fact and you can look it up yourself if you don't believe me).

Anyways, basically my question is, how can I determine which psychiatric medications I should take when my psychiatrist isn't thorough or even borderline malpractices (and doesn't even give me drug info when giving me new prescriptions), and there's very long waitlists to get a new psychiatrist? Should I just call a pharmacist and see what they'd recommend maybe or should I not because psychiatric medications aren't necessarily their specialty (since that's what psychiatrists specialize in)?

I don't know what to do and I feel like my doctors don't either.

#MentalHealth #treatment #Doctors
#Psychiatry #Psychiatrists #Psychmeds #medications #MentalIllness #comorbidity #ADHD #Insomnia #SideEffects #comorbid #Anxiety #Mania

Ok- second post today. I’ve been sick for a long time, but I’m still managing to work full time and be independent. I think the hardest thing about chronic illness is that so much is out of my control. I worry because I miss a lot of work. I don’t want to be fired. On the other hand, I know I’m doing my best, and the days I miss are 100% necessary. So, if I get fired while doing my best, that’s really out of my control. But, in the US, there are such huge consequences to not being able to work, especially with so many health problems. I absolutely need health insurance or I will end up hospitalized and lose the stuff I worked so hard for (my house, pets). What do other people do? Why is our country like this?

A month ago, I started taking a new antidepressant at a low dose in combination with another one I've had for a while. Since then, I have noticed significant issues with water retention. My legs, knees, ankles, and feet get swollen, sometimes to the extent that they actually hurt. I have had some issues with swelling before when taking a long distance flight or bus journey (i.e. 10+ hours), so this isn't completely unusual. Also, it has been quite hot here this summer which could be contributing. Still, I've never had a problem like this before. "Dr. Internet" tells me water retention can be a side effect of this medication, but I would trust Mighty members more to know if this is all in my head or if this really is an issue that needs attention.

#Medication #meds #SideEffects #Antidepressant #Swelling #Depression #Anxiety #CPTSD

#SideEffects #AntidepressantDiscontinuationSyndrome
I truly have more side effects by using antidepressants. I don't think my doctor is convinced but I want to be off of them.
After 6 years Effexor 37.5 I quit cold turkey . Discontinuation syndrome was a living hell for me so I recently started 25 mg of Pristiq and I am visibly Dopey. It won't be like this always my doctor said. I guess I just have to live in a brain fog and hope it will pass. This is supposed to be helping me. I don't feel helped at all. I feel tired and groggy and wake up grumpy and angry and depressed. There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel right?

So I have virtually tried every class of antidepressant known. Tricyclic, ssris snris, mood stabilizer (lamictal). And if there is a side effect listed I'm going to get it. The only one I could tolerate for any length of time was Effexor. So I stayed on Effexor for about the past 7 years at 37.0.0.5 mg. This past year I began having extreme side effects. Terrible insomnia, profuse sweating, anxiety, pins and needles all over my body and digestive issues. Doctors began to treat each of my symptoms separately. So I got medicine to help me sleep medicine to help my digestion medicine to help my anxiety. Long story short I went into the hospital June 4th after very little sleep for 2 days and was off Effexor for 3 days and literally felt the best I had felt in my whole entire life. But that only lasted about 4 days.

37 Days Later with no medication and my withdrawal symptoms we're completely unbearable. My doctor said he has no experience with someone having side effects this long after stopping medication. I feel as though the medicine has changed by brain. The worst side effect of all was feeling as if someone was brushing every one of my nerve endings with steel wool. I couldn't take it any longer and was about to commit myself when I asked to be put on Pristiq 25 mg. It's been four days now and most of my physical symptoms have subsided or at least become less abrasive. I still have the insomnia and depression. Most of all my brain feels heavily medicated and I am out of work until I can get adjusted. Next on my list is to try Spravato. #discontinuationsyndrome #DrugDependence #SideEffects #medicat3d

#antipsychotic weight gain seems inevitable for most of us with #Schizophrenia . It’s one of the most common #SideEffects of our medications. It can be distressing and lead to multiple health issues, including diabetes ans heart failure.

But how do we talk about it in a healthy way? It seems that any time I talk about my weight gain, outside of speaking to my doctors about it, there’s a lack of support from family and friends because I sound like I’m complaining or being #fatphobic or contributing to #triggers for #DisorderedEating .

I gained 70lbs in less than a year. It’s uncomfortable. It was expensive to consistently purchase new clothing. My body is uncomfortably different.

Where can I go to for support without offending those I love?

I've really struggled with the side effects of Prednisone and how it's affected my moods and my physical appearance. How are some ways you've been managing with meds side effects ?
I stepped on the scale earlier this week and I'm 22kg above my target weight. Before I got my diagnosis and started my treatment I was already above my target weight and struggling to shed a few kilos. I've heard about counting calories and always thought it was overrated. I honestly did give up with my weight at one point but I'm ready to work towards my goal and be comfortable in my skin again, and in my jeans haha. I've started counting calories and I'm trying to stay fixed on doing a 30 minute walk every day. Counting calories allows me to still enjoy my sweet tooth cravings but now I'm more aware of what I put into my body and how I'm using my energy. I'm already feeling better for it. I'm very excited to see my progress over the next few months.
#Lupus #WeightLoss #sad #Weightissues #meds #SideEffects #Health #Exercise