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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jeninco on May 4, 2006, at 9:43:19
I just couldn't go on. The head aches and the constant nauseau, lack of sleep....and I don't like everyone telling me that insomnia isn't so bad. It is when you can NOT fall asleep on your own at all, and you have two little children to take care of. My insurance company is blocking my anti-insomnia medicine, when I can get it it makes me want to throw up...I have no support whatsoever from my doctor. None.
I don't know where to turn now except to find a new doctor that can help me explore *WHY* I can't sleep in the first place (and needed remeron), otherwise I'm doomed to be on this. The withdrawal was stronger than me.
Posted by jules354 on May 4, 2006, at 10:27:24
In reply to back on remeron-gave up, posted by jeninco on May 4, 2006, at 9:43:19
i'm so sorry, but i hope the remeron helps. sounds like you need a new doc who's more supportive.
if you decide to go off the remeron again, you might try a slower taper - Scott (SLS) had some really good recommendations on this board.
take care,
jules
Posted by SandyWeb on May 4, 2006, at 12:06:25
In reply to Re: back on remeron-gave up » jeninco, posted by jules354 on May 4, 2006, at 10:27:24
You're not alone. I'm going back on Remeron again as well. My suicidal thoughts were just getting too strong for me to control for much longer....and Remeron is the ONLY med I've ever tried (and I've been placed on about a billion, at last count (ha)) that broke the bridge between suicidal thought and suicidal action. I think it should be called the anti-suicide med.
Anyways, maybe we can help each other with the weight control. I went from size 7/8 to size 16 in 2 years. How about yourself?? And it has nothing to do with modifying my diet, as someone so helpfully suggested to me recently on another list I belong to. It has to do with edema, the evil I call "The Remeron Hunger", and also the snail-paced metabolism. You could probably eat one cookie at the start of the month, and FINALLY get it metabolised by the end of the month! Lol! But really......will-power is not the main factor in keeping your figure, is it?
I'm going back on Monday night since my little girl is visiting this long weekend. She's coming today at suppertime!!! Yippee!! I look forward to having her here! So maybe we can help each other SOMEHOW with being on this med.
Hope to hear back from you. Don't be sad. Sometimes we just have to do things that we honestly don't like the thought of, BUT.....it's for the best in the long run. And also remember....when you're stablized on the Remeron again, you will get your clear-thinking back again. That HAS to be a bonus, right??
Hugs,
Sandy
Posted by jeninco on May 4, 2006, at 13:03:30
In reply to Re: back on remeron-gave up, posted by SandyWeb on May 4, 2006, at 12:06:25
Thanks Sandy. I was worried about your post yesterday and glad to hear you're going to be okay. I don't know where to start wtih finding a doctor, I really think I have hormonal issues but don't know what kind of doctor deals with that. Clearly my current (soon to be former) doctor can't be bothered with me.
Now I'm wondering how long until the good feeling kicks back in. I didn't sleep well at all last night on a whole pill (maybe got 3 hrs). I've never taken more than that so I'm hoping my body will just stablize in a few days. Take care.
Posted by johnnyj on May 4, 2006, at 16:03:10
In reply to Re: back on remeron-gave up, posted by jeninco on May 4, 2006, at 13:03:30
Hello,
May I make an observation since I am a guy? My wife didn't start having issues until she was peri-menopausal. She had crying spells, and was agitated all of the time. It got to a point where I couldn't do anything and we fought all of the time. One day she found a tiny bit of dirt near the door and exploded.
We finally found a doctor who was very good. She could not tolerate birth control so she took "natural hormones" at a very low dose and she did improve. Due to fibroids, etc., she had a hysterectomy last fall. She is so much better and is enjoying life right now and is not upset with me, all of the time that is :)
My only suggestion would be to find a good doc that understands things. We first went to a female doctor and she just wanted my wife to start paxil or lexapro. That would have been a huge mistake as that was not the problem. Please find a women's clinc if you haven't already.
cheers
johnnyj
Posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 13:02:05
In reply to Re: back on remeron-gave up, posted by jeninco on May 4, 2006, at 13:03:30
Hi Jeninco,
If you would like to Babble-mail me, please do. I'll give you my regular email address, and we can try to give this second time around on Remeron a better shot!
Take care.
Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 17:24:18
In reply to Re: back on remeron-gave up » jeninco, posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 13:02:05
Just wanted you all to know that I went back on Remeron on May 3rd. I was off it for almost 1 month. I have to tell you......I feel SOOOO much better now. I was suicidal for the majority of that month, and I was bouncing around so much in my head that it felt like I was losing my mind! I was completely unbalanced.
I don't know why I would be feeling the effects of Remeron after only a few days back on it, but maybe my body just REALLY needed it. I can say this now, since the danger is past, but I was going to die without the Remeron. I went on it, in the first place, due to a suicide attempt and nothing else had EVER helped. But this med has saved my life a SECOND time....and I would have to be "out of my mind" (lol) to ever come off this med again.
And that was the only withdrawal symptoms I had....no sponge-brain, no pain, no insomnia, nothing......other than the suicidal thoughts rode that fine line with suicidal action. Oh, yes I forgot. I did have some kind of swishing sound in my right ear (very annoying), but that was it.
Just wanted to let people know that there's no shame in going back on the Remeron if it's saving your life!!!!!
Best to you all,
Sandy
Posted by musky on May 8, 2006, at 0:28:54
In reply to Feel SO Much Better!, posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 17:24:18
I would just like to say that since i have been tapering off the Remeron that I havent had nearly the freaky thoughts i had before.
I must also post that when I was on the 45mg dosage and even 30mg dose that I was totally freaked out with horrible very stong suicidal urges and homocidal urges... This drug is very very dangerous and I know this to be true as I have NEVER thought these thoughts in my life!!
ONce i started to taper these thoughts have DRASTICALLY gone away!!! That is proof enough for me to kick this sh*t.
I think the mind is so strong that when we BELEIVE something will help we actually make this happen... If someone tells you that a drug will help you you tend to psyche yourself up for that response.. Some reports are saying that the FEEL GOOD from some a/d is really just the high from the extra serotonin/epinephrine that is being pumped out due to the a/d effect on the serotonin system..(putting this roughly). No more than what your athletes get after a long distance run..
runners high..
When we get depressed coming off we tend to play mind games THINKING that we need the drug.. thats how the body works... just like the alcoholic or whatever it is that you do to feel better..
IM no doc, but again all these posts are suggesting people having MORE problems with the meds not less... and that we need to really try to help each other with coping skills than with meds..
If they are helping people,, fine I guess if thats what they want to believe.. different strokes for different folks..
All i know is that I have never ever been happy while on this med and the two other brief encountters with other a/d were exactly the same horrible side effects... and messing with my thought patterns... wished I had just SuFFered out my health issues on my own 3yrs ago instead of ending up down the road of a/d!!!
Boy have i learnt alot...
ONe thing that Remeron has taught me and thats to GET OFF of itSorry to ramble
Good luck to everyone... again if we tell ourselves we cant, we cant then guess what... WE WONT.... so thats why i keep telling myself I CAN
We didnt learn to first walk without trying..and falling first... the test is not the falling, but the getting up EVERY Time we fall... then we walk.
Remeron isnt the only prevention for S... there are so Many other healthy ways to beat s.. and depression /anxiety..
When they say that rEmeron stops the suicidal thoughts well ya,, it does all right ,, and stops all other thoughts as well... no thanks..
If i ever get that bad again,, which i dont plan to (depends on how my withdrawl goes). I will even go into the mts or where have you where I can not even attempt any thing to hurt myself...
sorry to even post this but I am very very frustrated at this whole thing and I know in my heart that there is more than one way to fight this ... like i said i never had to deal with these issues before .. this has been such a totally different world for me since starting with these drugs..
bye again!!Musky
Musky
Posted by jules354 on May 8, 2006, at 8:24:12
In reply to Feel SO Much Better!, posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 17:24:18
i'm so glad to hear you're feeling better! you've been in my thoughts.
take care,
jules
Posted by joslynn on May 31, 2006, at 13:14:13
In reply to Feel SO Much Better!, posted by SandyWeb on May 6, 2006, at 17:24:18
Hi sandy,
Like you, I think I have made my peace with being on this drug. (I am on a Remeron/Lexapro combination, which works well for me.) However, from time to time I feel weird about being on two antideps, and reduce the Remeron. In fact, I went without it for a couple years (while still on the lex). I seemed to be ok for most of that time.
But suddenly, when I had a falling out with someone, I spun out into depression and anxiety that was out of all proportion to the event, with suicidal thoughts, the usual physical symptoms I get from anxiety/depression, etc. Another episode, a severe one!
I added back in the Remeron quick and talked a lot in therapy, and the episode, though severe, was short lived. Remeron (with lexapro) seems to work well for me. It does make me extra hungry, and I have gained a few pounds, but I am still in the normal weight range for my height, just on the high end.
Anyway, just a few days ago, I got back into thinking, maybe I don't need the Remeron, and with bathing suit season coming up, I decided to taper off. Also, for some reason I have this rationalization in my head that if I was only on one med instead of two, I would somehow think of myself as more strong and "normal," whatever that is.
After a very tiny taper of 3.75 from my 15 tablet (meaning I took 11.25) for about 4-5 days, I was worrying and just getting a bad feeling, wondering, why am I cutting out something that seems to help me? Just so I can be a size 8 petite nstead of a 10 petite? Just so I can say I am only one one med instead of two? I do not have any bad side effects, suicidal thoughts, anger, etc. that some people have from this drug, otherwise of I would stop taking it.
So I decided I'm just going back up to my usual 15 dose of Remeron at night for now. In a year or two, I may try some changes, but right now, I think it's a good idea.
I do appreciate your post telling us there is no shame if we do take it.
And of course, for people who are withdrawing, for whatever their reasons, I support that wholeheartedly too.
I wonder though if I was feeling worried and irritable because of just going down from 15 to 11.25 OR because I was worrying about said decision, and feeling resentful that I feel shame about this.
(And also, resentful of society that makes me feel like I have to be skinny to wear a bathing suit.)
I have a 1940s hourglass figure, not fat but curvy in the bust and hips, and there was a time pre-Twiggy when that was ok! But I digress...
Anyway, thanks for reminding us there is no shame in either decision; to stay on or go off.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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