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are you having trouble with anger and anxiety as you transition meds

Posted by kmilstein @kmilstein, Jun 6 7:29am

I've been rapidly transitioning medications in the past 7 months and experiencing great amounts of side effects including significant anxiety and anger. I only have a few people who understand, but a really good friend just doesn't get what I'm going through. I'd like some support or to hear of similar experiences.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

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margaretallen | @margaretallen | 1 day ago
In reply to @rashida "@margaretallen I am sorry to hear about your brain injury. I believe there is an organization..." + (show)
Profile picture for rashida @rashida

@margaretallen I am sorry to hear about your brain injury. I believe there is an organization for brain injury rehab/support so if your doctor can refer you to one for some therapy that might help in faster recovery. Give yourself time on the 100mg. dose and only increase it if you feel the need.

If it is any help (i,e., knowing), my family doctor assured me Zoloft is one of the more tolerable antidepressants with fewer to no side effects. She was right about the Zoloft. I only took myself off it because I generally am functional with depression and just needed it temporarily while I was going through a situation I felt I couldn’t handle. Once I was able to handle my situation with some counselling I felt confident enough to go off it, but I did taper off it. I had started off with just 25mg., for about a month, then increased to 50mg. on which I stayed through the winter (which is my worst time every year anyway), so I really only needed a week to taper off it, at the rate of 25mg. a week.

If you live in the States, here is a link for brain injury support that may be of some help to you.
https://www.braininjuryhope.org/brain_injury_sssociations_alliances.html

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@rashida I am in Canada but I have a lot of resources here and I'm starting cognitive behavior therapy tomorrow I just get so discouraged that after 9 months I still don't feel that great. Zoloft has kicked in a bit but not much yet because I'm at 125 starting tomorrow.

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maryjjeandennis | @maryjjeandennis | 1 day ago
In reply to @lisalucier "@maryjjeandennis - I also hope it works for you again. I have found that going on..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@maryjjeandennis - I also hope it works for you again. I have found that going on and off or tapering down and titrating up really tests my patience. It takes a long time. Fortunately, when I went on buproprion (Wellbutrin) years ago, the pharmacist alerted me it may be necessary to wait a few (emotionally bumpy) months till my body leveled out and we would know for sure if it worked or not. It did finally work well for me, but I think it took about 5 months. Sigh.

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@lisalucier I have another question , was this the first time on the drug or restart. My restart on Paxil they assure me it’s working but it’s rough. I will see this through. It worked so well before and I am seeing positive signs but the waves and adjustments are brutal.
Mjdennis

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 21 hours ago
In reply to @maryjjeandennis "@lisalucier I have another question , was this the first time on the drug or restart...." + (show)
Profile picture for maryjjeandennis @maryjjeandennis

@lisalucier I have another question , was this the first time on the drug or restart. My restart on Paxil they assure me it’s working but it’s rough. I will see this through. It worked so well before and I am seeing positive signs but the waves and adjustments are brutal.
Mjdennis

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@maryjjeandennis - that was my first time on buproprion (Wellbutrin).

Are you finding the first weeks are different this time you are going on paroxetine (Paxil), then?

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maryjjeandennis | @maryjjeandennis | 19 hours ago

Yes, returning to Paxil for a second time is much more difficult. I was off 60 days so that may be the reason. I’m surprised it took you so long if this was your first time. Thank goodness it worked for you. Thankyou for your responding so quickly!
Mjdennis

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rashida | @rashida | 8 hours ago
In reply to @maryjjeandennis "Yes, returning to Paxil for a second time is much more difficult. I was off 60..." + (show)
Profile picture for maryjjeandennis @maryjjeandennis

Yes, returning to Paxil for a second time is much more difficult. I was off 60 days so that may be the reason. I’m surprised it took you so long if this was your first time. Thank goodness it worked for you. Thankyou for your responding so quickly!
Mjdennis

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@maryjjeandennis I do better on brand name meds than generics. I think generics have more fillers than brand names do, and it is the fillers that generic companies use that cause problems for me. I avoid most medications for his reason, as I do not have extended health care so have to take generics when prescribed any medications. I am convinced that in my case it is some non medicinal filler ingredient that affects me negatively, not the actual main ingredient. I just have to figure out what that ingredient is. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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rashida | @rashida | 7 hours ago
In reply to @margaretallen "@rashida I am in Canada but I have a lot of resources here and I'm starting..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretallen @margaretallen

@rashida I am in Canada but I have a lot of resources here and I'm starting cognitive behavior therapy tomorrow I just get so discouraged that after 9 months I still don't feel that great. Zoloft has kicked in a bit but not much yet because I'm at 125 starting tomorrow.

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@margaretallen it’s great that you are going into cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)! I think that will do better for you than any medication alone so you are off to a good start with both the CBT and Zoloft! Give yourself at least three months to see results - could be sooner!

Check out this Canadian link for more information on brain injury too.
https://brainhealthnetwork.ca/brain-injury-canada/

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