Posted by crittercuddler on December 13, 2008, at 16:11:33
In reply to Re: SSRI insomnia, restlessness, poor concentration, posted by desolationrower on December 13, 2008, at 15:16:31
d/r -
Yes, I would agree that my OCD is making it very difficult for me to get on and stay on a medication.
The SSRI situation is real and not caused from medication fears (the insomnia, restlessness, and other stuff I mentioned), but I would agree that the OCD has likely caused me to stop many drugs other than SSRIs before I gave them an adequate chance. Just about every drug I take I have a lousy reaction to... I feel really doped up, or I feel blank, or I can't think very well, or I have insomnia... etc... etc... It is very much a catch 22. I desperately need a medication to help me, yet without a medication I find it nearly impossible to cope with any moderate side effect. I become so scared that the drug is damaging my brain and it really puts my OCD fears about losing my mind into high gear. I also just have poor coping skills I am sure. I don't think "hey, I can make it through it". I try to think positive but I always end up stopping the med as a compulsion. I don't know if I am having odd reactions or if reaction to the drug is normal. All I know is that to me it feels extreme and I can't imagine living that way for days on end.
I realize in many ways I am working against myself. But I have tried outpatient treatment with a wonderful OCD therapist (but my severe depression was undermining my therapy as I was not medicated and the therapy wasn't helping me get medicated), I tried Klonopin to get on an anti-depressant (that is why I got on it in the first place), and I have generally been trying on my own will power to get on an SSRI for 3 years now. It is an awful nightmare. I can't break the cycle.
Which antiglutamergic drugs do you suggest? Are any even available in the United States? I don't want to take an Opiod. I believe that will open the same can of worms and carry the same risks as a benzo.
I was given trazadone in the hospital, to try and help me sleep when they were trying to get me on Paxil. It didn't do a lick of good. With the Paxil in my system I couldn't sleep even with Klonopin, Trazadone, and Vistaril. The insomnia is SOOOOO bad. I only tried it that one time in the hospital though, just one dose, and I am sure it was like a smaller dose, like 100mg or something? I am not sure of the dosing.
I don't think combining and SSRI with another anti-depressant would help. I just can't tolerate the SSRIs.
Thank you for your suggestions. Hoping to hear back from you about the drugs that work on glutamate. I know that they are focusing on that now in OCD research, right?
poster:crittercuddler
thread:868434
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081204/msgs/868554.html