Posted by tina on July 10, 2001, at 11:49:29
In reply to Redirected: Advice wanted for newcomer, posted by Dr. Bob on July 10, 2001, at 9:45:34
You need a new doctor. This person sounds like a control freak. Doesn't want you to educate yourself about meds on the internet? I can understand the apprehension surrounding the internet and getting information but it's not like you can get these drugs without going to a doc and getting a prescription.
I am on amytriptiline as well and have gained weight and have had NO desire to exercise or eat right. I wondered if it was the amytrip doing this to me and you've made me feel so much better so thank you. I used to be an exercise freak and only eat healthy foods but since being on the amytrip, I've been a couch potato with an ever-growing ass...LOL!
As to getting off the amytrip, I think you should go pretty slow. Weaning off a TCA can cause nausea and tremors etc. Laying off one half to one pill every few days or even a week at a time is probably slow enough but if you feel any weird effects, you should slow down even more. Listen to your body.
I don't know anything about St John's Wort except that it acts the same way in the brain as some AD's so a normal AD washout period should be observed I would think.
First things first though, get a new doctor if you can.
Good luck
tinac. > [from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/tele/20010601/msgs/46.html]
>
> > Hi
> > I'm new to these pages and want some advice. I have what I think is called reactive depression. I've been through a few mega-traumas and upheavals in the past few years. I've coped, but if I get a bit extra on my plate, (nearly always workplace stress)
> > I get a visit from the "Black Dog".
> > Last year, the wading through treacle effect of the black dog got too much, so I went to see my GP. She prescribed Prozac...this gave me panic attacks and anxiety, so I changed it to Paxil after about three weeks. The Paxil was OK, but I could only tolerate half a tab, or else I got sick. It gave me headaches, but took away the depression. I found I became very foggy mentally after a while and my memory wasn't what it should have been. I came off the Paxil quickly (the withdrawal was horrendous!!!!) and managed medication free for a few months. Then stress at work and bang! the black dog came back. This time I got put on amytriptyline. This made me sleep......boy, did it make me sleep! This was lovely for a start, but I've become fed up of feeling sleepy all day, craving sugary foods and piling on the weight. Before the amytrip. I enjoyed physical activity, but my drive to do this (and diet!) has vanished.
> > I went to see the Dr. today, and it was the same idiot that diagnosed my daughter as having flu, when in fact it was a virus that killed her two days later. Needless to say, my confidence in him is not
> > exactly..err...great.
> > I'd done some research and said I wanted to come off amitrip. and try either Reboxetine or Venlafaxine. He said that he wouldn't prescribe those and all he would give me was Lofepramine.
> > I asked why and he said that the others were "too expensive" and "where did I find out about them anyway?" When i said the Internet,I got such a black look!
> > I wanted to know about coming off amytriptyline and withdrawal symptoms. He wouldn't (couldn't?) tell me and said to go straight onto Lofepramine.
> > I left, clutching my prescription, which I haven't had filled. I have decided to come off the amytrip. and try St. Johns Wort. I'm going to see a herbalist on Friday about this....needless to say, I'm worried whether the advice I get will be valid.
> > So, HELP! Can someone tell me -
> > How to come off amitrip and wot the side effects will be. I'm going to try half a pill every three days - is that OK?
> > Is Lofepramine any good and will it turn me into a half asleep Zombie like amitrip?
> > How long will I have to wait before starting the SJW?
> > Is the SJW any good for reactive depression?
> > Wot is good for this type of depression if SJW isn't, so I can go and see a (different!!!!) GP about it.
> >
> > Sorry about the rambling,
> >
> > Vixis.
poster:tina
thread:69585
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010708/msgs/69608.html