I take a small amount 1/4 tablet for sleep and it does give seem very weird dreams at times.
**The Mental Health Thread**
- Thread starter Gabbatek
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I take a small amount 1/4 tablet for sleep and it does give seem very weird dreams at times.
Soldato
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Okay, I see. How do you find Clozapine out of interest? I presume psychiatrist's tried a number of different antipsychotics to help with the psychosis element of schizophrenia before moving you onto Clozapine?
Sorry for being nosey and you don't have to answer of course.
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I even take 7.5mg in the day if my anxiety is bad and it seems to help, wouldn't do that if you're just starting it though as you'll be a sleep.
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I tried upping to 7.5mg at night and it did not agree with me. I had bad restless legs and felt awful only managed two nights at 7.5mg. I think my limit is 3.75mg especially now as I’m starting Low dose Escitalopram as well. It’s one of them things I suppose it works for some not others trial and error as always with these meds.
I have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. I've been on just about all the antipsychotics you can get, sometimes two at the same time. The only one which has worked is clozapine.
Since I switched over to clozapine, lithium and venlafaxine, things have improved massively.
The main problem with clozapine is the regular blood tests which can be annoying, and if you get a red blood result (low white blood cell count), you need to stop taking it instantly, no matter if it makes you worse. Thankfully that hasn't happened in the last year.
Soldato
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That's great to hear you have found a combination of medication that is effective for your particular set of difficulties. Excellent stuff.
I hope your blood test always come back as fine as well.
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Caporegime
Restless legs is terrible. I’ve had that a couple of times lately and it’s as bad as toothache (almost)
Soldato
My call with the doctor is tomorrow - must admit I am quite anxious about it now! As it was me who has came up with the idea to switch to Escitalopram, I am not a doctor obviously, and no doubt they will ask me "why Escitalopram?" when there are others, including the potentially obvious choice of Citalopram, who both my friend and partner have both had in the past and seem to give good feedback about - I would say i'd let the doctor just tell me what they think , albeit before Sertraline they tried with Prozac, which a friend in the NHS basically said it was because that's the cheapest tablet 
D) so it's generally a first offer! I only had sertraline as I told the doc could I try that instead.
Either way it would be a low dose to start (5mg Escitalopram or 10mg Citalopram).
Thinking back to starting sertraline (started on 50mg) I do remember experiencing some quite big highs in terms of being excited about things again and happy / less bothered about trivial issues, but that did wane over time, to the point as above it makes you question yourself on whether it runs out / works anymore.
Re drinking on antidepressants, I am not a massive drinker but do enjoy a bottle of red shared at the weekend and the odd beer here and there, I never really found much issue with that on sertraline, perhaps my mood was lower the following day but I didn't especially notice, I guess everyone is so different, hence the side effects being so scary to read about! (Being 'numb' / lack of sexual interest etc on Escitalopram seems to be a common one I've read about - yikes!)
D) so it's generally a first offer! I only had sertraline as I told the doc could I try that instead.Either way it would be a low dose to start (5mg Escitalopram or 10mg Citalopram).
Thinking back to starting sertraline (started on 50mg) I do remember experiencing some quite big highs in terms of being excited about things again and happy / less bothered about trivial issues, but that did wane over time, to the point as above it makes you question yourself on whether it runs out / works anymore.
Re drinking on antidepressants, I am not a massive drinker but do enjoy a bottle of red shared at the weekend and the odd beer here and there, I never really found much issue with that on sertraline, perhaps my mood was lower the following day but I didn't especially notice, I guess everyone is so different, hence the side effects being so scary to read about! (Being 'numb' / lack of sexual interest etc on Escitalopram seems to be a common one I've read about - yikes!)
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I tried a few in the beginning and found Escitalopram far more tolerable out of the bunch but everyone is different. The side effect lists for these meds gives me mega anxiety but as my Dr said once “Have you read the paracetamol leaflet”. Unfortunately the only way to know is to try…
Hope your chat with the Dr goes ok and you can come up with a plan that suits.
Hope your chat with the Dr goes ok and you can come up with a plan that suits.
Soldato
Very good point re paracetamol leaflet! 
Thank you, keeping fingers crossed for you all as well that things improve.
Thank you, keeping fingers crossed for you all as well that things improve.
Soldato
This is a great point! When I read the side effects list for my ADHD medication it included complete opposites too:
- Decreased interest in sex
- Prolonged erections
- Inability to develop or maintain the above
- Depression
- Being unusually excited
So yeah it can be a scare story, reading all 3,024 possible side effects. Try and remember many of those are 0.01% chance or less. "Up to 1 in 10,000 people".
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Soldato
I think if you’re going to read all the side effects it’s also worthwhile understanding what it takes for something to be listed as a side effect, for context.
Soldato
Doctor called this morning, has suggested Citalopram 20mg, when I said should I start with 10mg, they said '10 won't really do anything' - brutal but honest I guess! Wondering whether to just start on half the tablet (10mg) for a week then up to 20mg to ease in so to speak!
They said they will call to review in 3 weeks which seems quick.
They said they will call to review in 3 weeks which seems quick.
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Soldato
I feel like there's 2 contradicting concepts here - you're suggesting taking a lower dose than the Dr recommended but also saying they seem to be moving quickly.
I expect if you take their recommended dose, after 3 weeks will be a good time to check in and see if you're having side effects or feeling ok. They won't be reviewing to see if you're magically cured, they will be checking that everything is alright
Soldato
LuckyBenski - fair point!
Strange a Dr would say 10mg won’t do anything as it’s the starting dose of the drug. Usually you start low to see if side effects are tolerable then increase gradually until you notice they are working. We are meant to follow our Dr’s advice so would do as they have advised just be mindful it’s a big starting dose.
Hope they work for you..
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I had to come off Mirtazapine, it was turning me into a zombie! Having said that, the MH "specialist" started me on 20mg in addition to the 20mg Escitalopram I was already on. Seeing the comments here I can understand why I felt like I did.
I'm only using it to help with Diazepam withdrawal. Once I'm off the Diazepam I'll stop the mirtazapine. The Anxiety from Diazepam withdrawal is unbelievable, trust me I want to be zombified right now.
Hope it goes smoothly for you. When I came off Escitalopram/Mirtazapine the anger was unbelievable. Eventually had to go back on Escitalopram so had 3 weeks of horrendous nausea (now over). Going on/off medication is always tough. Best wishes.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
I have now upped my Escitalopram to 2.5mg feeling a bit rough in the afternoons and very anxious in the mornings still. Need to give it a bit of time to settle down and see how it goes.
Have a full spine MRI on Friday which is causing my Anxiety to spike a fair bit so hard to know whats what at the moment.
I have now upped my Escitalopram to 2.5mg feeling a bit rough in the afternoons and very anxious in the mornings still. Need to give it a bit of time to settle down and see how it goes.
Have a full spine MRI on Friday which is causing my Anxiety to spike a fair bit so hard to know whats what at the moment.