Posted by vic80 on April 23, 2010, at 13:47:05
Dx: MDD, Anxiety
Rx: Escitalopram 10mg, Venlafaxine XR 37.5mg, Lorazepam 1mg, Eszopiclone 1mgI have been trying to look into REM sleep supression caused by SSRIs.
There has to be some link between between the use of SSRIs and sleep cycle disruption.
I think that the anti-depressant keeps one stimulated and awake.. while it strips one off proper sound sleep especially the much-needed rem-sleep. (though I have read about mild-depression alleviation through REM-sleep supression)Lack of REM-sleep OR lack of quality sleep caused by SSRI (and the over-prescribed 'z'-class sleeping pills to offset SSRI induced insomnia) could explain the fatigue and general malaise. could also be attributed to feelings of depresonalization, increased stress levels (high cortisol), dissociation, being in a daze, feeling drugged and a general impairment of cognitive functions like memory, diminishing effect on imagination and creativity, lack of introspective thinking, perhaps even hallucinations, psychotic symptoms - mostly symptoms closely associated with sleep-deprivation.
High stress hormone levels and lack of REM-sleep would also make one feel very irritated, agitated, dysphoric and impair one's judgement making suicidal thoughts more dangerous.
I have been having dissociative symptoms and a general feeling of being in a daze constantly, which my Psych. calls 'depressive symptoms' and his fierce loyalty to mind-altering chemicals prohibits him from being honest about the effect of the anti-dep meds he prescribes.
As far as my depression is concerned - much of the torture is caused by the mental-effects of my meds rather than the emotional aspect (which has been effectively flattened to zero).
Venlafaxine seems to be even worse compared to the escitalopram I have been taking for over 4 months.
Is it time for me to kick the pdoc? or should I just kick the meds (albeit slowly as have the former-ssri users urged with much caution and love)?
poster:vic80
thread:944730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100416/msgs/944730.html