Anyone Feel Yucky About Taking So Much Medication?
Since I was a teen, I have struggled with depression, PMS and seasonal depression along with my ADD. Over the years, I have dealt with one symptom at a time. First, the PMS and depression, then, the ADD. For a long time, I took Prozac and Wellbutrin to get through the Winter. This seemed to work to eliminate the depression, but I never got anything done because I was all over the place.
Over the summer, I eliminated the Prozac and tried Wellbutrin and Adderall. I didn't want to take so many meds and this combo was great until the seasons changed. Lately, I've been off-and-on depressed and really irritable. This is usually how the seasonal stuff usually begins. At first, I blamed it on my husband. This worked for awhile, but it's not just him making me crabby. I've been a jerk to the kids too.
I think I have to talk to my doctor about adding Prozac again. I hate taking all this medication. Just wondered if anyone felt the same.
Heather
Over the summer, I eliminated the Prozac and tried Wellbutrin and Adderall. I didn't want to take so many meds and this combo was great until the seasons changed. Lately, I've been off-and-on depressed and really irritable. This is usually how the seasonal stuff usually begins. At first, I blamed it on my husband. This worked for awhile, but it's not just him making me crabby. I've been a jerk to the kids too.
I think I have to talk to my doctor about adding Prozac again. I hate taking all this medication. Just wondered if anyone felt the same.
Heather
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Irvine on
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hello:
I am only taking a stimulant as of right now however next week i go back and like you i think i need something too.. winter has always been bad for me!! I am fearful to "try" something else as i didn't like the side effects of the antidepressent however now that i know i am suffering from depression and it is ADD i think i feel better but we will see.. I think if you feel that it all worked you have to do what you have to in order to be sucessful.. if you had diabetes and you had to take lots of meds to control that would you feel as bad about it? probobly not.. i understand the stigma attached to this stuff but we have to remember this isn't in our control!!! I also take a thyroid med which is fine with me because it is natrally in our bodies but i do have issues with taking my ritalin so i hear what you are saying!! Good luck and keep me posted!!!
Sarah
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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on -
I can relate 100%!!! I have been diagnosed as bipolar with PTSD and ADD and I am on a veritable pharmacy...I think 8 drugs total is how many I take in a day. I have come to realize that about 80% of my "problems" are ADD related and am weaning myself slowly off of the other medications because I think I am on too high of a dose of many of them and the side effects are worse than the illness in some cases...I hate taking medications and wish I needed none, but I am sure I will have to be on some medications forever, I just think smaller doses would be appropriate.
Its hard to know whats right and whats best, but you know yourself better than anyone else, so trust your instincts when it comes to medications and if you dont need them then dont take them. Depression is very difficult and can be debilitating if not treated properly so you dont want to just let it go too long, but I would ask the doctor about natural alternatives if possible, there is a good pill that my husband takes, its called SamE and he can buy it at any drugstore or vitamin store in the vitamin section and it has all but eliminated his depression without needing to take an anti depressant drug, he got off his Effexor and started taking that and has done pretty well since. Its not perfect but its not a pharmaceutical drug and its a lot cheaper than the antidepressants are as well.
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well we will have to see what the doctor has to say next week!!! here in canada things work differently and you can get some things here and others you can't! i was on effexor for a while but didn't like it all it made feel worse!!! we have talked about paxil or prozac if needed.. however paxil made me gain a ton of weight ick... so if anything i think i might try prozac or try a new stimulant drug! I am not sure.. too much stuff to think about with christmas coming as well!! too over whelming!!!
take care
sarah
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Permalink Reply by Heather B. on -
Hi all,
Just an update. I did re-start the Prozac and have felt much, much better already. I think, for me, the Wellbutrin and Prozac seem to help each other work better. On Tuesday, I couldn't stand to look at my husband, really thought he was a absolute jerk. I was sharp with the kids an pretty miserable.
Today, my husband isn't such a bad guy. I know I've been much nicer to the kids. It's remarkable how "They" got their act together since I started the Prozac!
Sometimes I worry the anti-depressants dim my true feelings. Like I become something of a Zombie and don't really feel the stuff I am experiencing. I'll probably forget this tomorrow, but I can, see this week, how the medicine doesn't turn me into a Zombie, but lessens my overreaction to life. I can convince myself and others how the world will end because of my strong overreactions to stuff. The medicine gives me the ability to slow down and consider the situation with a more level head.
Take Care,
Heather
Sarah Irvine said:well we will have to see what the doctor has to say next week!!! here in canada things work differently and you can get some things here and others you can't! i was on effexor for a while but didn't like it all it made feel worse!!! we have talked about paxil or prozac if needed.. however paxil made me gain a ton of weight ick... so if anything i think i might try prozac or try a new stimulant drug! I am not sure.. too much stuff to think about with christmas coming as well!! too over whelming!!!
take care
sarah
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way to go heather!!! i called the doctor earlier today and am going tomorrow!! decided i couldn't wait any longer to see him!! i am hoping to either change meds to something different or go on a bit of prozac... i too think my husband is a jerk these days too!!! lol
thanks for sharing!!!
sarah
Heather B. said:Hi all,
Just an update. I did re-start the Prozac and have felt much, much better already. I think, for me, the Wellbutrin and Prozac seem to help each other work better. On Tuesday, I couldn't stand to look at my husband, really thought he was a absolute jerk. I was sharp with the kids an pretty miserable.
Today, my husband isn't such a bad guy. I know I've been much nicer to the kids. It's remarkable how "They" got their act together since I started the Prozac!
Sometimes I worry the anti-depressants dim my true feelings. Like I become something of a Zombie and don't really feel the stuff I am experiencing. I'll probably forget this tomorrow, but I can, see this week, how the medicine doesn't turn me into a Zombie, but lessens my overreaction to life. I can convince myself and others how the world will end because of my strong overreactions to stuff. The medicine gives me the ability to slow down and consider the situation with a more level head.
Take Care,
Heather
Sarah Irvine said:well we will have to see what the doctor has to say next week!!! here in canada things work differently and you can get some things here and others you can't! i was on effexor for a while but didn't like it all it made feel worse!!! we have talked about paxil or prozac if needed.. however paxil made me gain a ton of weight ick... so if anything i think i might try prozac or try a new stimulant drug! I am not sure.. too much stuff to think about with christmas coming as well!! too over whelming!!!
take care
sarah
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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on
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Good for both of you!!! I have been on the same ADD medication since I was diagnosed but we have upped the dosage, but I cant take stimulants so I dont have many options, and I am already on anti-depressants and they didnt do much of anything for the ADD symptoms for me...but I am glad they are working for both of you, thats great news!!!
Sarah Irvine said:way to go heather!!! i called the doctor earlier today and am going tomorrow!! decided i couldn't wait any longer to see him!! i am hoping to either change meds to something different or go on a bit of prozac... i too think my husband is a jerk these days too!!! lol
thanks for sharing!!!
sarah
Heather B. said:Hi all,
Just an update. I did re-start the Prozac and have felt much, much better already. I think, for me, the Wellbutrin and Prozac seem to help each other work better. On Tuesday, I couldn't stand to look at my husband, really thought he was a absolute jerk. I was sharp with the kids an pretty miserable.
Today, my husband isn't such a bad guy. I know I've been much nicer to the kids. It's remarkable how "They" got their act together since I started the Prozac!
Sometimes I worry the anti-depressants dim my true feelings. Like I become something of a Zombie and don't really feel the stuff I am experiencing. I'll probably forget this tomorrow, but I can, see this week, how the medicine doesn't turn me into a Zombie, but lessens my overreaction to life. I can convince myself and others how the world will end because of my strong overreactions to stuff. The medicine gives me the ability to slow down and consider the situation with a more level head.
Take Care,
Heather
Sarah Irvine said:well we will have to see what the doctor has to say next week!!! here in canada things work differently and you can get some things here and others you can't! i was on effexor for a while but didn't like it all it made feel worse!!! we have talked about paxil or prozac if needed.. however paxil made me gain a ton of weight ick... so if anything i think i might try prozac or try a new stimulant drug! I am not sure.. too much stuff to think about with christmas coming as well!! too over whelming!!!
take care
sarah
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Permalink Reply by Janet Wood on -
I feel the same way. I was on prozac and addreall, paxil and adderall and for many years now lexapro and adderall. Recently they added abilify. Still not sure if this is the right medication for me. Each one has it's ups and downs so I can't decide whether or not I am satisfied with how they are working...IMAGINE THAT... I can't decide..lol. My whole life is a matter of " I can't decide". Sometimes I just want to get off of all of them.
Here is what I daydream about. A big cruise for people with ADD/ ADHD who wnat to try more natural ways to treat their ADD. There are many fun ADD things to do on this cruise but there are also brief resource centers for learning more about our ADD. There are gourmet chefs who cook higly nutritous meals according to guidlines about foods that are best for our ADD. There are personal coaches to help us exercise more and get into shape. Exercise is suppose to help ADD and depression and PMS. Silly, but I think about this alot. I guess that's just one of my ADD traits....day dreaming about weird things.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Nichols Pekarek on -
Heather,
Brain chemistry is a pain isn't it?! I am doing o.k. right now with Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Ritalin. I skip the Ritalin if I have a migraine, and I have tried to wean off the Wellbutrin. Although I can function without it, I am WAY more prone to get depressed and blame others if I let the Wellbutrin drop. So I take it for my family and those I love.
Occasionally I feel rebellious and go off my meds. Then I get sick, or depressed, anxious, &/or overwhelmed. I just remember that balancing my brain chemicals is just as important as a diabetic balancing their insulin.
Keep checking with your doc. to see if you need to change/reduce your meds though. You are so great for getting help for yourself!!!
The kids are painting & decorating the tree...that sounds scarey...oh yeah-I started getting a roast ready...and this is WITH ritalin this morning!
Peace and prayers,
Cindy
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Nichols Pekarek on
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This kind of vision is part of the gift ADHD people have. We just need to hook up with the do-ers/organizers. We need all kinds. Your vision for this place sounds like something we should really go for. Start poking around, just for fun, and discover some resources you could use on your magic cruise.
:)
-Cindy
Janet Wood said:I feel the same way. I was on prozac and addreall, paxil and adderall and for many years now lexapro and adderall. Recently they added abilify. Still not sure if this is the right medication for me. Each one has it's ups and downs so I can't decide whether or not I am satisfied with how they are working...IMAGINE THAT... I can't decide..lol. My whole life is a matter of " I can't decide". Sometimes I just want to get off of all of them.
Here is what I daydream about. A big cruise for people with ADD/ ADHD who wnat to try more natural ways to treat their ADD. There are many fun ADD things to do on this cruise but there are also brief resource centers for learning more about our ADD. There are gourmet chefs who cook higly nutritous meals according to guidlines about foods that are best for our ADD. There are personal coaches to help us exercise more and get into shape. Exercise is suppose to help ADD and depression and PMS. Silly, but I think about this alot. I guess that's just one of my ADD traits....day dreaming about weird things.
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Permalink Reply by Janet Wood on
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Thanks Cindy, Merry Christmas. We do need to get with the doers and organizers. We also need to work with each other and help each other by sharing ideas and venting. I am so happy I found this site.
Cindy Nichols Pekarek said:This kind of vision is part of the gift ADHD people have. We just need to hook up with the do-ers/organizers. We need all kinds. Your vision for this place sounds like something we should really go for. Start poking around, just for fun, and discover some resources you could use on your magic cruise.
:)
-Cindy
Janet Wood said:I feel the same way. I was on prozac and addreall, paxil and adderall and for many years now lexapro and adderall. Recently they added abilify. Still not sure if this is the right medication for me. Each one has it's ups and downs so I can't decide whether or not I am satisfied with how they are working...IMAGINE THAT... I can't decide..lol. My whole life is a matter of " I can't decide". Sometimes I just want to get off of all of them.
Here is what I daydream about. A big cruise for people with ADD/ ADHD who wnat to try more natural ways to treat their ADD. There are many fun ADD things to do on this cruise but there are also brief resource centers for learning more about our ADD. There are gourmet chefs who cook higly nutritous meals according to guidlines about foods that are best for our ADD. There are personal coaches to help us exercise more and get into shape. Exercise is suppose to help ADD and depression and PMS. Silly, but I think about this alot. I guess that's just one of my ADD traits....day dreaming about weird things.
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Vielleux on -
Heather have you had your vit. D levels checked? I know that can contribute a lot to SADD. I know I'm struggling with my anxiety lately. I just can't find a good med for it. SSRIs and SNRIs just don't work as well as I would like them to, and so dealing side affects isn't worth it to me. Thank goodness I seem to have a handle on my depression, psychotherepy has really helped me with that, but our solution to my depression, going back to school, is causing my anxiety to go through the roof. I've also noticed that with the holidays and school approaching my ADD symptoms are really bad, and I'm really worried that I'm going to get overwhelmed in school and that will also make my ADD symptoms worse, and in turn my anxiety will get even worse. I see my psychiatrist next week, so hopefully we'll be able to figure something out. Right now I'm just on a bunch of vitamins and Adderal XR.
I can totally relate to thinking my hubby is a jerk lately, and to being crabby and irritable. This seems to be my constant state of being the last year. This is why I have even considered being on meds in the first place, I don't like being this way and it's not fair to my family either. I've got some great things going for me right now. I wish I could just sit back and feel happy about it, and not have such horrible anxiety that is related to my ADD. :( Sorry I'm rambling, it feels good to write about this, though, to people who understand. :)
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Permalink Reply by Emily on -
I LOVE my medications! They improve my life dramatically!
I am however careful not to be disrespectful or careless in regards to them, they are powerful things after all.
Be a partner with your Doctor and work as a team to find a balance that works for you would be all I have to offer as far as words of wisdom.
good luck :)
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