Can I Use Valerian With Bupropion and Lorazepam

Some of the people nosotros interviewed had been prescribed other medicines alongside an antidepressant, or in place of one. These included sleeping tablets, medicines to convalesce anxiety, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers.

Sleeping tablets

It can be difficult to know sometimes whether difficulty sleeping is a side effect of antidepressant medicines, or a symptom of depression. Caroline's depression is triggered 'by not existence able to sleep properly therefore not being able to cope very well' while Sonia attributed her insomnia to the effects of fluoxetine.

Sleeping tablets (hypnotics) may sometimes exist prescribed to assistance ease short-term insomnia. Doctors are cautious about prescribing sleeping tablets. They but assistance to initiate sleep and don't care for the cause of insomnia. People diagnosed with depression who are experiencing bug with sleep may be given an antidepressant which has drowsiness or sleepiness as a side effect just sometimes doctors may prescribe sleeping tablets for a short time to help establish a sleep routine. Doctors guidelines recommend prescribing the smallest effective dose possible for the shortest length of time necessary (for no longer than a week). In some cases, the GP may suggest merely taking the medicine two or iii nights a week, rather than every night. Sleeping tablets tin crusade side effects such every bit feeling 'hungover' or drowsiness during the day (see 'Telling the difference between depression symptoms and antidepressant side effects').

There are 2 main groups of sleeping medicines, Benzodiazepines which include temazepam and loprazolam, and non- benzodiazepine hypnotics (also commonly known every bit Z drugs) which include zopliclone, zolpidem and zaleplon. Even so in that location is no firm testify of differences in their furnishings and all three Z-drugs deport warnings nigh their potential to crusade tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Some older people said they had been prescribed sleeping tablets over prolonged periods in the past. John who is at present in his fourscore's took a benzodiazepine medicine (Mogadon) for many years and he said they were prescribed freely when he was younger. Michael is in his seventy's and has taken antidepressants for a almost of his developed life. Sometimes he has had problem sleeping, just he avoids taking sleeping pills because he knows how addictive they can be. 'I won't take a sleeping tablet because next affair I'll get hooked on them'.

When Dina first went to see a medico some years ago complaining of insomnia her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets only looking back she thinks information technology was a symptom of depression. 'I realised later the, the sleep disturbance is role of [low] it is interesting though, I don't remember her going through and request other questions to await at the whole picture'.

People who were prescribed sleeping tablets more recently had usually only taken them for short periods, or occasionally when needed. Hannah was prescribed zopiclone for a brusque while whilst she was in hospital only afterwards a couple of weeks was put on an antidepressant that had a sedative result instead. Olivia Y took temazapam for a few weeks when a relationship broke down and she couldn't sleep. Virtually people nosotros spoke to were aware that it is easy to become dependent on sleeping tablets and said their doctors were cautious about prescribing them. Usually doctors will merely prescribe a small supply at i fourth dimension. Thomas's doctor prescribed zopiclone simply due to an error it went on a echo prescription, and Thomas took them regularly for a period of time. 'They're quite addictive. They build upwardly a dependency and I'd gone through quite a rough withdrawal period. The withdrawal effects from zopiclone are terrible. There are people who are on them for years and years and years considering GP's don't dare to accept them off them'. Caroline was unhappy about taking sleeping tablets before she was prescribed one of the newer types. She did a lot of research on the internet to find out more about them. 'Before I establish these short acting ones… if I took 1 I would feel drowsy in the morning'.

Emily's medico prescribed sleeping tablets for ii weeks to...

Emily's doctor prescribed sleeping tablets for two weeks to...

Age at interview: 28

Sexual practice: Female

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I had a week to arrange and and then I went dorsum to work and in hindsight that was a big error going back to work afterward a week because, firstly because I was, I don't know I was however very embarrassed about my behaviour at work, I hadn't seen anyone since, I'd spoken to my manager who'd been very supportive but that was information technology, I was very embarrassed virtually going dorsum to piece of work and the side effects from the from citalopram were really, really quite bad at that point in that well effectively I had insomnia I was getting sort of fifteen xx minutes sleep hither and there and that was it.

And that had been going on for about a calendar week before I went back to work so I, for a week I tried to go into work, I never did a total 24-hour interval and I was sitting there and realising an hr had gone by where I had only been staring and washed zero and don't, didn't actually know what had happened in that hour. So I went back to the doc at the end of that calendar week and that's when I sort of explained it and he said to me you lot know, this is one of the side effects one of a potential massive list of side effects it is ane of them what we demand to exercise is suspension the cycle, get you lot sleeping again, and so that's when he diagnosed sleeping pills. He said 'Try these for two weeks try and break the cycle so come dorsum over again,' and he besides signed me off for some other two weeks which was what I needed considering I really went back to my home boondocks where my parents were and I moved in with them for a week and, I hateful the sleeping pills they didn't really.

I wouldn't say they really worked straight away but past the finish of those 2 weeks that I had off I was, I was sleeping amend and I was feeling a little scrap more than positive.

Flora'south doctor was reluctant to prescribe sleeping pills...

Flora's md was reluctant to prescribe sleeping pills...

Historic period at interview: 43

Sex: Female

Historic period at diagnosis: 21

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My begetter has been on a lot of medication in his life and changed a lot and has, he felt, a lot of experience and he was always saying, you lot know, endeavor something else and don't have their dosage if yous think you need more than or less and at one point before I recall I'd been to the doctor he actually I know this is not legal simply he had actually supported me past giving me some medication he'd been on and 1 that actually was quite supportive which was trazodone which has a kind of as lightly sedative result. So when I told my doctor that they actually did I think for a while include that considering it was peculiarly helpful at night.

This was in addition to the antidepressants?

Yes in improver considering information technology had a relaxant sedative consequence and i of the large things about my depression at that time was I couldn't sleep at all and I had this thing which they called, something about the leg it'south a leg that...

Restless leg?

Restless leg and I'd be awake for hours and very, very tired, constantly tired and feeling more hopeless and more depressed because I'g not getting enough sleep. So I wasn't getting a lot better and after a couple of months, well during the first few months of that I had to keep going back and request for sleeping pills because I felt that I wasn't being given a hazard because the sleep was depriving me of my ability to kind of get better and I wasn't coping. Just because now GP's are so concerned I think and over concerned considering of by abuses of sleeping tablets or people sort of stocking up on them or taking as well many I was only given a few at a fourth dimension and information technology really, really was unhelpful because I feel now again in retrospect if my sleep had been sorted out and then I would take had a lot better take chances to recover.

Even when I got better and I came home and I remember having a review a couple of months, a month or so to, and said things are better and I'k doing more and my life feels a lot better it's probably iii months down the line I said I'yard nonetheless having problems sleeping and the respond to that that I was given was that's usually the last affair to become with the depression and oft symptoms they take a while to exit you even though you may be feeling amend. So I nonetheless had some sleeping tablets that I could take if I needed to but because I wasn't depressed in the same way it didn't accept as a debilitating effect on me not sleeping and the Stelazine he said yous might desire to take that at dark because then that kind of relaxes yous . And merely actually as he said after a little while that just improved and it was just the last thing to go really.

Caroline takes citalopram on a regular basis, and occasionally...

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Caroline takes citalopram on a regular basis, and occasionally...

Historic period at interview: 60

Sex: Female

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You lot encounter you can take something at, if y'all wake upwards at 1'o'clock my rule is I do have a drug if I'm, to take them to help me slumber if I'm still awake after an hour… And so if I, and then if I go into bed I'm however awake after an 60 minutes… I'thousand still awake, that rarely happens only if it did and then I could take… either zopiclone or zaleplon? Or something similar that because there would exist fourth dimension for it to article of clothing off past the morning. If I woke at 2 'o' clock and then at 3.00 I'g nonetheless awake and then that'southward... that's actually quite a short night if yous don't go back to sleep. On the other mitt if you accept to go upwards in the morning it'south besides late to accept a regular sleeping pill so it'southward kind of in betwixt.

I do think, I retrieve because they're very short acting and then they're much less likely to or they're less probable to exist addictive than ones that last are say for say 8 hours or have a life of 8 hours or ten only I'one thousand sure they addictive if y'all have enough of them.

Medicines for anxiety

Some benzodiazepines (including diazepam and lorazepam) can assistance ease the symptoms of anxiety merely are only recommended for curt term relief when someone is experiencing extreme distress. Although they can assist with symptoms of anxiety, they should non be used for longer. This is because they tin become addictive if used for longer than iv weeks. After even this short time the torso can become dependent on them and larger and larger doses may be needed to achieve the same effect. For these reasons, they are usually but prescribed to help people cope during a especially severe period of feet. Benzodiazepines tin cause side effects, including defoliation, loss of balance, memory loss, drowsiness and light-headedness.

In the past people were often prescribed these medicines routinely before more was known near their addictive qualities. Older people we spoke to recalled being routinely prescribed Valium for long periods of fourth dimension. John recalled taking information technology for some years before he realised that he had go dependent. 'I stopped that medication altogether, it was, it was alright but I was start to feel that there wasn't something right, you know, had I been taking also many tablets for too long a menstruum?' The withdrawal after long utilise must be planned advisedly with the medico every bit there are astringent furnishings when these drugs are stopped the dose must be reduced slowly every 7-14 days, so the overall reduction can take many months.

In the by John said doctors gave out Valium readily....

In the past John said doctors gave out Valium readily....

Age at interview: 84

Sexual activity: Male person

Age at diagnosis: 37

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In the early days, it must have been in the 50'southward or 60's, I can't remember….only I know I had this feeling of edginess, of feet, things weren't right, I couldn't work fast enough. Anyway, eventually I went to the doc and he prescribed some tablets called Valium, and I took those, merely information technology wasn't until about the third calendar week that I began to feel whatever benefits.

I don't know how I felt in the first instance of taking them only information technology wasn't awfully good equally I remember merely then like all tablets they kicked in, yous know, and everything was alright. Information technology took away this black deject that was with me all the time and I think information technology made it meliorate for, for my wife besides because I remember one day we sabbatum down and I was moaning about something as usual and she said' oh stop it', she said 'you lot're not the only one here with problems' and zunk I changed, I recall that. Only I took them for about a long while, I had a mixture a right thingy of tablets I had Concordin (protryptline), Valium something else and something else, you know, it's one of those...

Where they for other things that were?

No they called it, what did they telephone call it in those days? They called information technology 'anxiety'.

Right.

Information technology was ages earlier they called it depression.

I didn't know information technology was anxiety I knew something was happening, I'd forever got this blackness cloud with me and I thought this is odd. Anyhow it got, it got pretty bad so I went to meet the physician.

How did the doctor respond in those days?

Oh, let'south run into what tablets we've got'.

Yes and how did you feel near having tablets to assistance you with that trouble?

I didn't mind, didn't mind at all. But they work considering I felt a lot better after taking them.

And did you just have then regularly every mean solar day?

Yes I think I took thirty milligrams every day and somebody said to me once 'you're becoming a junkie you know, you desire to sentinel information technology'. And eventually I cut downwards from thirty to xx and twenty to 10 and and then I cutting the ten downwards and it was only when I got downwardly to v milligrams that 'pow' I realised I was losing this fill-in.

What did you lot starting time feeling unwell again?

Yeah.

Really.

I went back.

Was information technology the doctor that helped y'all to step it down or did you decide to do that yourself?

No I decided to do it.

Were you concerned about information technology?

I was going to a meeting it was called Tranqs I think something like Tranqs and - coming off tranquilisers and I went there and I slowly only surely got down to 1 and and so none and it was neat but it was hard work.

And when you say hard work what does that mean?

Oh.

You got the shakes?

Yes everything's alive in a, it'due south like having a thundercloud conveying it about with yous and fifty-fifty noises are precipitous vision was sharp.

Was this during the fourth dimension when you were stepping it down?

Yeah.

Then information technology was kind of like a withdrawal?

That'due south right yes.

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Clare was prescribed Ativan (lorazepam) when she beginning...

Clare was prescribed Ativan (lorazepam) when she beginning...

Age at interview: 59

Sex: Female

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He listened to me and he said I was, I was clearly exhibiting the symptoms of quite a lot of anxiety and stress. He didn't at that time diagnose depression but he was conspicuously saying that I wasn't managing 24-hour interval to day living and I did what he then described and I've always used since he said 'If you came to me with a broken leg you lot wouldn't turn downwardly a plaster cast,' he said 'Then what I'm going to requite you lot is I'k going to requite you some tablets that are going to help you just to get over this kind of hump if you similar.'

And I think he prescribed Ativan, but that may have been my GP in London that's the fleck I'grand not terribly sure about however whatever he prescribed me I took reluctantly because I was full of feet around becoming addicted to them and there was the whole negative kind of connotation of taking annihilation that wasn't, you know, an antibiotic or a Paracetamol or any. So however they did help and they helped me to discover what I would call the equilibrium in that they helped me to get over the very difficult time that I was having and make some informed decisions well-nigh my futurity or our future. So that was really the starting time time that I had, I had been to a doc about my mental health. I had I think gone to my GP in London, I really think now that I think nearly information technology he had prescribed Ativan and it was remarkable as I lost a lot of weight and I thought 'this is great'. So it was kind of like an upper, the Ativan I wrote it down and I can't remember what that was for and I was only on information technology for a short while but it was remarkable because I lost a lot of weight which is plainly a bonus to exist honest although horrible side effects considering I didn't eat.

The very outset ones that I got that were fantastic I lost weight simply I would never want to take them again because I think they're now banned and I believe that'due south what put me off afterwards when the doctor said have these tablets I was like no, no, no, considering those were they were head, they messed with my mind.

Did they make y'all feel different?

They made me, they were uppers you know and I'm a child of the sixties so there'due south that whole 'uppers and downers' thing in the 1970'southward when I got these uppers as they were I was euphoric, I was on a high, I didn't swallow I didn't need to eat, I was awake similar xviii/xx hours a mean solar day I was "whoa", y'all know, I don't mean it was like party time simply I was, you know, very happy just it was false considering as before long as I came off them, you know, it was like oh right okay so I put on loads of weight and, y'all know, went dorsum to normal so they were definitely I'yard really glad they're banned considering they were obviously really horrible things. And people did become fond to them that were on them long term then that; I retrieve that's kind of my story about antidepressants.

A few people we talked to had been prescribed benzodiazepines, usually diazepam, for short periods to cope with symptoms of anxiety, but on the whole people with these symptoms are more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant that that is known to help convalesce feet. Lucy Y'south depression was characterised by symptoms of anxiety, but she felt her antidepressant worked well to suppress those feelings. 'It's never been so bad that I've needed that... nevertheless, if, even if the feet kicks and I started to have panic attack usually the antidepressants I've taken have sort of calmed that downward quite considerably. What she [doctor] tends to prescribe when there'southward a significant component of anxiety is citalopram... I was getting very, very anxious the concluding couple of weeks then she prescribed that and information technology'south been good'. In some patients, particularly with panic disorders, the feet may increase at the start of treatment with an SSRI but this should subside within the first ii weeks. Taking a half dose initially may make information technology less likely to happen.

Antipsychotic medicines

Antipsychotic medicines, likewise known equally neuroleptics, may sometimes be prescribed in addition to, or instead of an antidepressant depending on the symptoms. They are non suitable or constructive for everyone as side effects can touch on people differently. Often people who are prescribed antipsychotic medicines have a circuitous medical history and may besides take been diagnosed with other problems such every bit bipolar disorder, acute episodes of mania, hypomania, psychosis, or personality disorder. Antipsychotic medicines include risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine.

Thomas came off citalopram and was prescribed risperidone...

Thomas came off citalopram and was prescribed risperidone...

Age at interview: 34

Sex: Male

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I came off citalopram quite rapidly actually inside a twelvemonth of taking information technology in almost 2002. And I was just treated thereon medicinally for what they would say is paranoia.

So I was treated them with some atypical antipsychotics. I was, I was treated first with risperidone, but I started to have huge weight gain problems with that, and then in 2003 I was prescribed another singular antipsychotic called quetiapine which is known as Seroquel, the drug'south brand name, which I've been on ever since - 400 mgs and that'southward been okay for me, simply again I'm non sure if it really does anything for me whatsoever.

After the CBT and and so you stopped taking Cipramil was there a gap where you didn't have any medication at all?

It was not antidepressant medication. So information technology was antipsychotic medication I was taking.

So this is the Quetiapine?

Quetiapine.

Quetiapine. And how long agone did yous first taking that ane?

Well I was prescribed rispiradone for of all…

Right.

In 2002 I believe. But a minor dose. And then it got gradually increased past I started to have weight gain problems with information technology.

And did you have that in addition to the antidepressant that you were on at the time?

Yes. I did.

Right, then all information technology did for you was weight proceeds and you didn't feel whatsoever…

Well no.

It was quite interesting. I had this huge problem, equally I sort of said before, I was going in at night to the university, I was scared virtually people following me around –that kind of stuff, but the moment I started taking risperidone, for some reason information technology gave me the confidence really to walk through the front end gates of the academy. I have no idea why, simply it did, and I walked through the front gates of the university and I walked out. The university that I went to, it had several entrances, it was a huge warren complex and I would go in through various routes and things. I would change my road every night. I went; I walked through the front gates of the university during the day in the full view of anybody. And so for me in my heed it was - this is good existence able to do that and I linked it to my medication I was taking and so, and I, I didn't really, although I had lots of weight gain I didn't directly at the fourth dimension, again I was quite naïve, I didn't link it to the medication. I didn't realise that the reason why I was gaining and then much weight was because had this, again this thirst, this sugar thirst I would call information technology that only could be quenched past lots of sugary drinks, and lots of sugary drinks means lots of calories and lots of calories mean you put on weight. I didn't brand the link. Information technology only came later on. And I've got no explanation for why I didn't make that link.

And I stopped taking risperidone because I was putting on so much weight and my psychiatrist agreed to replace it with quetiapine which has a lower weight gain contour. So okay same type of drug, less, it has less of a weight gain profile.

When Max was admitted to hospital later on a breakdown he believes he was given an antipsychotic 'to help calm me down' but he didn't know which one. Michael was prescribed risperidone when he experienced paranoia. Sonia has a complex medical history of severe low, including eating disorders and self-harming. She takes fluoxetine and mirtazipine to help keep her mood stable, merely her psychiatrist has also prescribed quetiapine, 'to minimise my impulsive behaviour in terms of self-impairment and to keep me calm'. Dina believed that olanzapine had interfered with her menstrual cycle. She feels doctors don't give enough information about the medicines they prescribe. Janet felt that olanzapine left her feeling 'zapped' and although she didn't desire to have it, worried that without information technology she would feel even worse. 'Do I take the olanzapine or do I non take it and feel frightened? Because the fear that I used to feel was terrible, I used to exist frightened of the garden and the tree... I may grumble about not feeling very bright and alert simply I know that actually they probably exercise me more than good and I would be worse if I didn't accept them, if I came off the olanzapine I would probably be terrified again of everything so I think they are a good thing.' Olivia X had been sectioned when she refused to take medicines a psychiatrist recommended, and somewhen was prescribed Seroquel (quetiapine). This was necessary to satisfy a judge that she was stable enough to regain custody of her children who had been removed from her care whilst she was in hospital.

Sonia has experienced side effects from antipsychotic medicines...

Sonia has experienced side effects from antipsychotic medicines...

Age at interview: 31

Sexual activity: Female

Age at diagnosis: 17

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What virtually the antipsychotics how do they make you feel, practice they accept a dissimilar issue?

Yep, they… they kind of, they make everything a bit fuzzy. You become used to it and I call back it'due south only when you come off them that y'all realise kind of that you've been, been living with the volume turned down a bit if that makes sense. But they do help, they, I think the ones that I've been on prior to the quetiapine which I think now haven't really done much for me and I've e'er stopped taking them because I didn't like them, didn't like the style they made me feel. With the quetiapine she's been.

Is that the risperidone?

Risperidone and chlorpromazine and Clopixol.

Then when you say you didn't like the way they made you experience was that that whole fuzzy?

Yep and very, they do have a tendency to brand your muscles spasm and I didn't like that.

Was that in your legs mainly?

Aye and I really didn't similar information technology I couldn't, it just, yeah I just didn't like information technology at all.

And has it connected after you?

No with the quetiapine I'm quite lucky, that it hasn't happened with this 1. Just with this i she's kind of been quite persistent and she's inverse the dosages around, she'southward changed the times that I take them.

So how, y'all said yous take iii times a day?

Yeah, so originally when I first started taking last yr she had me on 25 milligrams once a solar day, soon ramped that upwards to 25 milligrams twice a day, then it became l milligrams twice a twenty-four hour period, then she changed it so I was taking them twice, y'all know once in the morning, one time at tiffin time and once at night then she tried changing it to exercise it three times and were back to twice a day.

It'southward a lot to remember isn't it?

Yep and and then at present, as of Monday, I'm now taking then forenoon, lunchtime, 5pm then double dose at night.

Would yous notice if you missed a dose?

Yes I remember and so.

What would happen?

I think that the agitation for me and as well the desire to injure myself, as much as it pains me to admit that she is correct, it does assistance with the harm, the impairment minimisation, it actually does. And I think it doesn't, one of the reasons I don't like and haven't had liked antipsychotics in the past is because I'm very enlightened that information technology's not that I don't desire to self-harm information technology's that the drugs are making me not desire to self-harm.

Correct.

And for me that's always been an result it's kind of like in my head I still want to self-harm but a drug is kind of stopping me from doing that and I didn't, I've never liked that before.

Catherine was prescribed antipsychotics and antidepressants...

Catherine was prescribed antipsychotics and antidepressants...

Age at interview: 41

Sex: Female

Age at diagnosis: 14

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So the lofepramine I was on for almost a year and a half but in the midst of that I too had another admission to the young people's unit considering I had additional symptoms of hearing voices and, and very much, kind of a lot of guilt, a lot of sort of paranoia and guilt so I did have another stay whilst even so on antidepressants but also in improver to antipsychotics for a period of time besides which they felt would work well with the antidepressant.

Exercise you know what ones those were?

Sulpiride, was the antipsychotic.

Okay.

I didn't see the back.

Oh well we can do that afterward that'south okay.

And they felt that that was still office of the depression, it only, information technology was just an addition to it and that I clearly still had a lot of struggles with, the actually compounding cistron was guilt and the guilt came near in the fact that I was scared that people were talking, that I was a bad person, yous know, so all really, the, the depression bike was most sort of blaming myself and I remember that's were in that location the kind of the psychosis came into information technology. Then I, afterwards that access and while still on antidepressants so on the antipsychotic I went to supported accommodation.

I was on Prozac at the time, yes. I think my antipsychotic had been reduced and changed to Stelazine and I actually since experienced quite pregnant physical symptoms. I was experiencing very high, a lot of sweating a lot of anxiety in the tum, a lot of stomach upset and mentally I was really feeling very unwell.

Did you attribute that to the antipsychotic drug?

Yeah, aye, aye definitely the, unfortunately they, they didn't agree with me.

Flora asked to exist prescribed Stelazine (trifluoperazine) considering...

Flora asked to exist prescribed Stelazine (trifluoperazine) because...

Age at interview: 43

Sexual activity: Female

Historic period at diagnosis: 21

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I kept saying I really wanted to also accept some other medication which was called Stelazine that's the brand name, that's the trifluoperazine.

Yes.

Which is onetime again an quondam manner what they phone call antipsychotic but information technology'due south helpful in cases of anxiety and over again they.

How did you know virtually that one, again from your relatives?

Yes, family who had used it in the past in fact my grandmother is still on it and she's been on it for 30 years and they're maxim that she wouldn't be able to manage without it and information technology's but ane footling pill and she's an extremely anxious person but information technology takes, it just ways that she can kind of get on with life. And there were side furnishings to that, in that location still are quite serious side furnishings to that and it'due south not one that they generally like to prescribe, they say they prefer to prescribe newer drugs that have replaced those like Kitapen (quetiapine)?

I don't know that 1.

I don't know how to say it. And the reason being is that it tin produce Parkinsonian blazon...

Shakes?

Yes and motor reflexes that yous can't control in your oral cavity for case and so your mouth will quiver or driblet and it could possibly I remember effect part of your body but it definitely tends to be the face. And but apparently 50% of the people who stop taking it recover from that and then, you know, in that location's a 50% chance that you're left with this side effect, so that's why they generally don't recommend information technology. Merely my psychiatrist gave me all the information and just said wanted me to know everything and I said well you know my grandmother has been on it all this time and she'south perfectly okay and he said well you're grandmothers very lucky, you lot know, only that's not something you should base of operations your decision on. just he also said that it's, information technology's something we're if it's being given long term there'due south a long term build up in the body but if it's taken short term or for brief periods it's unlikely to accept that kind of effect.

After about I don't know some months, six months maybe, maybe longer I gradually reduced the dosage of the trifluoperazine to the bespeak where it's been now about I think two years and the last sort of six months or and then the psychiatrist said well you know wait at it every bit that you have a tool box and hither's a set of your tools and, you know, when you find you need them then you've got them in that location just you don't have to take them all the fourth dimension so the trifluoperazine he said he was happy for me to take every bit and when if I was going through, you know, difficult circumstances or I wasn't sleeping so well for a few weeks and feel I might similar to take ane a day, the highest dose I was taking of that was about 3 at that time and then ane a day was quite, was the minimum dose.

And you didn't become those side effects that you mentioned using that drug, the shakes?

No, no and I did go back with reviews, asked is there any alternative to merely notice out whether at that place was actually an alternative and he kind of talked me through the other ones and said that they, you've tried one or 2 of them and said they're all kind of similar actually and although I said that I was worried he did say if y'all're not taking it on a regular footing and big doses you're unlikely to take that problem. So, you know, if you feel information technology suits you lot and y'all desire to have information technology on an occasional footing then don't worry too much that's probably fine.

(More information can be plant in our 'Experiences of psychosis' section).

Mood stabilisers

Lithium may sometimes exist prescribed as a mood stabilising medicine when a person has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder have a chemic disturbance in the brain which causes alternating periods of very high and very low mood, over periods of weeks or months. Sometimes these mood swings go in just 1 direction - either high or low - and this is called "unipolar disorder". Lithium can assist some people who experience serious downwards swings into depression, whether or not these lows are followed by highs. Information technology is usually prescribed for a minimum of six months but people often need to continue taking information technology on a long term footing. The dose needs to exist closely monitored to assist prevent side furnishings, such as diarrhoea and vomiting. People taking lithium should take regular blood tests (at least once every iii months) to check that levels of lithium are not also loftier or too low. Kidney and thyroid function volition besides need to exist checked regularly. Janet had problems with increased calcium levels and is now monitored closely 'If it goes, my calcium level goes up to three, that's the dangerous surface area, I'm alright every bit long as my calcium's beneath three'. Although she expects to go on taking lithium, she thinks if her calcium levels change her physician may demand to prescribe an alternative.

Dina had tried many different combinations of antidepressant and other medicines over several years but never plant anything helped her to experience better until she began taking lithium. 'The first time that I sensed any difference from a medication was when I started lithium'. Janet said information technology helped stabilise her mood but 'y'all don't really feel annihilation information technology's just that it stops you going high... I felt that it masked things, you know, the edge was taken off, all the edges. I did feel that it took away... it masks your emotions only y'all don't really experience anything other than that'.

Dina institute lithium worked actually well and feels it'due south the i...

Dina found lithium worked really well and feels it'south the one...

Age at interview: 46

Sex activity: Female

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It was a very, very distinct effect that lithium had when I started taking information technology and information technology was kind of quick likewise.

Can you describe that effect?

Yous know, a lot similar my mood beingness lifted.

Okay.

You know, but on the other hand though at the same fourth dimension I had spent some time at the mental health arts projection, I'd started thinking that I want to go dorsum to piece of work, yous know, it was like a combination of things.

So y'all hateful information technology's hard to pivot down exactly what the mood change?

Yes but I do retrieve because it was and then dramatic that, you know, although I mean from my reading I understand that, you know, they don't really know how lithium works or they don't really know how whatsoever of these drugs work and why …. I think the lithium was an important factor I mean that was what my psychiatrist says and I probably believe information technology and he says that without being somebody who is very much kind of a 'medical model' person because I mean you know, he was very much psychologically minded.

With the lithium of course it'due south the toxicity of it like, you know, I accept to go and have blood tests every few months yous know this is a very toxic drug, I hateful a very good drug plainly only it'south a very toxic drug.

That's the lithium?

The lithium, yes. Then you know information technology has to exist monitored and, you lot know, I mean I don't know whether I have to be on this, you know, for the rest of my life or I judge I'll take to kind of negotiate with the psychiatrist.

Some people had strong feelings against taking lithium, considering they believed information technology was 'dangerous' or 'toxic'. Sonia said her physician wanted her to have it just she refused. When Janet's doctor start suggested information technology she said she'd prefer the option of an antidepressant. Michael rarely questioned the medicines he was prescribed merely had non liked the side effects he got from taking lithium 'I always believe, if they tell me to practice something I'll do information technology, the only 1 I've objected to is lithium'.

Michael didn't like taking lithium because of concerns that...

Michael didn't like taking lithium because of concerns that...

Age at interview: 72

Sex: Male person

Age at diagnosis: 26

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I was taking risperidone, paroxetine and lithium and I took that for half-dozen months and that'south quite dangerous taking lithium, harm your kidneys and all kinds of things and it makes y'all fat as well, I always blame this on, on lithium and I idea when I stopped taking information technology, it would go away only it doesn't, yous have to practise to become rid of it. and I fought to come off that, I was determined to come off it and I kept going to psychiatrists every time I saw them can I come off lithium.

And that was because you lot felt it wasn't doing you any practiced?

It wasn't doing me any adept.

Did you know well-nigh all the sort of dangers?

Oh yeah they tell you lot, y'all have to have a card and all kinds of things yes.

Right, so that was the one drug that yous were not happy to.

I'm not happy to take it, no.

Whereas all the others you've been kind of quite.

But accepting yes.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yep.

So you were worried about the kind of concerns that you would have if you were going to resist taking 1 would be to do with safe and health?

Wellness yeah.

And other health reasons?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But they do always cheque my liver and kidneys because Risperidone has some effects as well.

When Sonia'southward doctor wanted her to take lithium she said...

When Sonia'southward dr. wanted her to take lithium she said...

Age at interview: 31

Sexual activity: Female

Age at diagnosis: 17

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I think, was it last year or the yr before when I was told she wasn't going to modify by antidepressants unless I changed to lithium I think perhaps 5 years agone I would accept just gone aye just requite it to me and I didn't I said just 'Do yous know what, no, in that location's no chance in hell that I'thousand ever taking that'.

What was your objection to that had y'all looked that up or?

Lithium is a very dangerous on overdose and I tried to stay away from drugs for medications that are dangerous on overdose because every bit much as I know in that location are times that I will want to try and kill myself I try and limit the risks and I attempt to, sorry, eliminate the risks so having the drug in the house, a supplying the drug in the firm that I know could kill me, I wasn't actually prepared to practice that.

Olivia Ten (below) had been taken to see a psychiatrist when her mood became erratic and her parents were worried about her. The psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar disorder and wanted her to take lithium, but she disagreed and refused to take information technology. She was unhappy with the fashion the psychiatrist had spent then little time with her before suggesting such a powerful drug.

Olivia X was taken aback when the psychiatrist...

Olivia Ten was taken aback when the psychiatrist...

Age at interview: 45

Sex: Female

Age at diagnosis: 40

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The psychiatrist that I saw I was quite resistant to and I thought that he was making some snap decisions he initially thought I had, well he, I was definitely emotionally dysfunctional so he initially said bipolar disorder but I was, couldn't have that every bit a diagnosis, I just said 'No I've got the divorce, I've got this shitty situation at work, it's not that - it'southward the state of affairs I'1000 in, it'due south non me - it'southward all these things I'm having to deal with,' and so he wanted me to continue olanzapine and lithium and I accept a friend who'southward on lithium clinical trial and I didn't want to touch the stuff and then I said no because I want to expect at what the toxicological l bug are, I want to look at the side effects, you lot've non taken my blood pressure level, I'm feeling quite wired and tense, I probably have got high blood pressure, you lot know. In that location'due south all these physical things you haven't, nobody's looked at and also I had had no periods for like two months so I said maybe this is menopause, nobody's looking into this. and I had as well had my breasts were making milk a little bit as I had a three year one-time, my son was 3 at the time but I had stopped breast feeding at vi months so it was all a bit peculiar that my breasts were making milk. So I said all of these things should be looked at because I could be physically ill or it could be a hormonal affair. And and then I was flake challenging to the psychiatrist which I call up he didn't actually capeesh.

I would have liked a proper psychiatric consultation because it was literally within 10 minutes he told me I was bipolar. And in fact to say that is a little scrap similar taking the rug from under your feet because you lot're basically proverb I think you're loopy, you lot know. And I think that's appalling I think you lot couldn't merely of a sudden say to someone you lot're got cancer, you couldn't of a sudden simply say, you know, and he didn't accept a cheque listing or anything that he was going through in a methodical fashion, it was just purely on my behaviour. Now if he said look I'm going to be judging your behaviour I would have gone in and I could have been as nice equally pie and then he would have had no behaviour to judge any, I but went in very relaxed and myself and a bit over the elevation probably.

And he couldn't make anything of it so?

And he just thought yous're wild… wild equals bipolar, bipolar equals olanzapine and lithium.

So really within ten minutes or so of speaking to him he was offer you lithium?

Aye.

Without any other tests or diagnosis?

Yes, yes.

Over-the-counter remedies

Herbal remedies such as St John's wort are not prescribed by doctors, merely tin can exist bought over the counter. They may help relieve low mood and feet. However, these remedies may not exist suitable for everyone, and some people should not take them. In particular they should not be taken aslope an antidepressant and many other medicines, such as those for HIV, epilepsy, bipolar disorder and oral contraceptives. This is because it affects the liver. It'southward very of import to cheque with the doctor or chemist before taking whatsoever herbal or over the counter remedies if you take other medicines. Emma had heard about St John'south wort only hadn't taken it. 'I have considered it but because I was on medication the St John's Wort would react with it so you can't... I just sort of stuck to what the doc has prescribed'. Janet had tried Evening Primrose Oil in the past but was sceptical about herbal remedies. 'I don't have a lot of organized religion in these natural remedies, they're non strong enough for some people, they're alright for some people'. Thomas takes a sedating antihistamine to help with insomnia.

Rachel has tried herbal remedies when she has been 'in...

Rachel has tried herbal remedies when she has been 'in...

Age at interview: 51

Sex: Female person

Age at diagnosis: 11

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Have you taken any over the counter remedies or anything like that?

St John's Wort.

And how do you find that, you're not meant to take that if you're taking?

No, I take that particularly when they first started sort of going St John's Wort works for moderate low you know, mild to moderate depression. and I did, I did I thought it was, I thought information technology was okay every bit and I besides… sort of things like in betwixt other medications, I've had things similar Tranquility Life tablets and stuff similar that and natural remedies.

Do you experience that there is an consequence from those?

I call back and then, I think then yes. I mean especially things that, you lot know, with the ones which have got valerian in and hops those things definitely have a soporific outcome and sometimes…. merely in quite a gentle style which I can cope with. Considering if something it's not very magical but if something makes you, makes y'all a bit more sort of sleepy and laid back, you tin't physically be so anxious. I hateful they assist more with feet than depression.

Olivia Y (beneath) stopped taking citalopram and now takes a supplement that she buys in the health store, called 5HTP (hydroxytryptophan). It is an amino acrid that occurs naturally in the trunk, and is thought to assist convalesce symptoms of low and anxiety, although more evidence on prophylactic and effectiveness is needed before any strong conclusions can be fabricated. It may crusade side effects such as dizziness, nausea and diarrhoea.

Olivia Y takes 5HTP...

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Olivia Y takes 5HTP...

Age at interview: 33

Sex: Female

Age at diagnosis: 16

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I'd heard reports of 5HTP, do you know 5HTP, you might desire to wait this up 5HTP it seems to be a amend, it's non St John's Wort information technology's significantly improve it's a sort of herbal antidepressant/ antianxiety helps you sleep, it contains a hydroxytryptophan, tryptophan.

Is this on prescription or?

No health food shops, health food shops and as I came off my citalopram information technology'southward, it's manifestly so successful that on the label you don't take information technology with antidepressants so I didn't. And then when I came off my antidepressants I started taking this and I've been on that since March and I feel pretty skillful.

Did you lot speak to your GP about that?

I think I retrieve asking him yes I'm pretty sure I told him near this and I recollect he said, I call up his words were 'if you lot tin buy it in the shops then you're not buying anything bad' and yes.

Is at that place any prove base on that do you know?

I didn't practise an academic search but I did Google search it and I've only been taking that.

Is that something yous have on a daily basis?

Aye I take it; I take ane capsule at nighttime time yeah.

And does it accept?

It's an amino acid.

Okay. Does it take any noticeable event or do you call up it only?

Noticeable furnishings or the ones that information technology claims to take?

Noticeable side effects or the ones that information technology claims?

Side effects non one, not i. The benefits that are from various people are information technology combats anxiety, combats depression.

(See besides 'Handling in hospital' and our sections on 'Experiences of psychosis' and 'Depression').

Concluding reviewed June 2016.
​Last updated June 2016.

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Source: https://healthtalk.org/experiences-antidepressants/taking-other-medicines-with-antidepressant-sleeping-tablets-medicines-for-anxiety-antipsychotics-mood-stabilisers-and-over-the-counter-remedies

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