Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Taz2]

I believe that if anxiety and panic disorders are caused by the body being unable to hang on to enough seratonin then the prescribing of an SSRI can be really necessary. Just as some people need to have B12 injections to avoid pernicious anaemia so, some of us, do need to boost our levels by stopping seratonin being reabsorbed. My son is one of these people. He has tried life without an anti depressant and that "life" becomes impossible. He (and I) are really grateful that there is something out there which means he can lead a normal life. Working, socialising, sleeping well and just enjoying each day. It's not ideal, obviously, but it's also not ideal that people have to resort to taking heart medication, insulin, blood pressure medication etc. when parts of the body are not working properly in order to live a full life. Disorders of the mind and mood need addressing by medication in a lot of cases. It's a shame that the side effects are so tricky, though, at a time when anxiety may be through the roof.

What worries you about having to stay on it Sarai?

Taz x 

[CLKD]

I have to take a low maintenance dose of AD for Life.  Fortunately the drug seems to stabilise my brain chemistry for several years before I need to change for another type.  Initially I fought the thought but once I accepted that the drug helps then I got on with Life.

Anxiety is for me completely separate. It can overwhelm me within seconds.  Being given coping skills helped initially but now I have to carry an emergency drug in case.

[Sunnydays]

CLKD. are you able to share what the emergency medication is for the anxiety?

[CLKD]

When I remember 

Valium as necessary worked

[Sunnydays]

Thank you everyone for your comments. He has started on the Sertraline, with an increase in dose as prescribed by the GP. He is happy in himself taking them  - side effects have been nausea mainly but now he has one whole tablet, 50mg, a day, he is having trouble sleeping at night and frequent bouts of diarrhoea. Has anyone experienced similar and found that it tailed off? Other than this, they seem to be suiting him, but such loose bowels each time he eats aren't going to do him much good.
Thanks again.

[dazned]

It's still very early days in starting medication things should settle down in the next week or so ,it's good that he's feeling OK in other ways i.e. mood so that's a big positive. 

[CLKD]

If you think about a puppy - once it's fed it is put out to pee/pooh immediately i.e. food triggers the digestive system.

Anxiety can do the same.  Encourages the gut to work over-time.  How much does the dashing to the loo bother your Son? 

[Sunnydays]

Mmmm I think it's one thing having slightly loose bowels but having water stools leaves him without energy. Plus potential embarrassment when out! I don't think it's anxiety causing it; the tablets seem to be having a positive impact but causing the diarrhoea.  It is listed as a side effect especially in adolescents.

[CLKD]

Does he drink with the medication?  Otherwise why would it affect adolescents in particular  ?

Doesn't sound 'normal' to me ……… hopefully the better mood will outweigh the runs?

[Mrs January]

Hi there Sunnydays

I have two teenagers at home a boy 18, a girl 17, earlier this year I paid for counselling for my boy, they had their brother die in Sept 2014.

My motto, on hour at a time if that's what he can manage or a day or more given this situation. College can wait? or else try part time? leaning is life long, he may manage afternoons perhaps.

Young minds is a good website for resources, Try to cut out alcohol, it is a depressant after all so will cause him to spiral. Good sleep if he can, good food, lots and lots of hugs and understanding.

Life is hard for our youngsters at times. Sod what is the norm at this time, do what he needs hour by hour of day by day.

I hope it helps

Mrs January xxxx

[Sunnydays]

Thanks CLKD, as you say hopefully the two will balance out a bit!
Mrs January, thank you for sharing such personal information. I will look up young minds. He has tried conselling but wasn't comfortable with it - it doesn't mean we won't try it again. And yes, I totally subscribe to sod the norms!

As for alcohol. I completely agree; a few weeks back he was just about ticking over and 'working with' his anxiety, starting to get out a bit and meet friends, however a couple of lads nights out drinking sessions seem to  plummet him into deeper anxiety. So we were back to square one, but we're on the right track now I hope.
S x

[CLKD]

You could ask him how he feels alcohol affects his mood?  Also, tell him that however much it seems important to fit in I never did: I didn't drink, shop lift etc. even if my 'friends' did …….. in fact when they went into a pub or headed for town I sent them on their way  and they were still friends.  It may be worth while printout out too that friends might prefer not to drink if 1 of them suggests having a night out with the intent of avoiding alcohol 

However, there isn't much apart from tea/coffee in a Pub that I fancy  ……….. orange drinks can become boring.

[honeybun]

He is a teenager and they want to do what teens do and that includes going out with pals and probably having a few too many.
He will have to find ways round this but it's not easy.
Teens need mates, but he will get there eventually.


Honeybun
X

[GypsyRoseLee]

I took sertraline years ago when I had PND. Initially I took Amitriptyline for the PND because I had some issues with nerve pain too. I found the Amitriptyline very good and especially good at improving my sleep. The downside is that you feel slightly dreamy all the time, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if you suffer with anxiety.

But then a new GP decided the Amitriptyline was too old fashioned and swapped me to Sertraline. I didn't like it nearly as much. It made me feel wired and irritable all the time. I was on 50mg. After 8 months I swapped to Prozac which was no better. So I just went cold turkey and stopped.

Last year my GP started me on Sertraline to help with my anxiety and mood swings. I could only stick it for 26 days. I reacted badly to it. Felt much, much worse. So jittery and suddenly had insomnia. Could barely eat. Within a week I was having very dark frightening thoughts. But I think this is a rare reaction.

Went back to GP who agreed that I could swap to Amitriptyline which worked quite well.

[GypsyRoseLee]

And, yes I do remember it also gave me diarrhoea too. I lost about 7lbs in 2 weeks. Food tasted very odd and anything sugary or greasy made me heave. Very strange.