Re: Introducing new member (w/response) - further info

[Guest guest]

Dear

I'm sorry, I have remembered something that I should have added to my

response to you.

You asked:

" Did you ever experience suicidal ideation when on Prozac or is this

new since the Mirtzapine? "

About the suicidal ideation when on Mirtazapine, just over a week ago

I had once day when I felt so suicidal and completely without hope,

that I nearly admitted myself to a psychiatric hospital, however

after about 12 hours of feeling that bad, my mood elevated slightly,

so I didn't admit myself. (I've never been in a psychiatric hospital

btw.) I certainly did not feel this bad before I started taking

these prescribed drugs.

Conversely to this very low mood/state, the previous week, the day

after my first dose of Mirtazapine at 45mg, I had a day when I

actually felt happy, something I had not felt since I went on these

psychotropic drugs. My mood was really quite elevated, possibly with

a slight edge of mania about it. I thought that I had become well.

Having experienced these two extremely different mood states a week

apart, I have started to have concerns about my perception of reality

at any given point in time at the moment.

Another thing I have remembered, that may be relevant, is that before

I became depressed, I had a bad cold and was eating a lot cough

sweets containing aspartame, believing that this would be better for

me than the sugar-containing version. I've since discovered that

aspartame can damage a person's health and will never consume it

again.

Likewise, once I have been able to safely stop taking Mirtazapine, I

will never take it again.

Thank you again so much for your time and help,

Ailsa

>

> ** Ailsa, you are in a huge withdrawal. You did a cold turkey

withdrawal from Prozac. Mirtzapine and Prozac are not similar in any

way; they are completely different drugs.

>

>

> Did you ever experience suicidal ideation when on Prozac or is

this new since the Mirtzapine?

>

> How long were you on Prozac?

>

> Did you always have anxiety while taking it?

>

>

> I don't think it is a good idea to proceed this way but I need

your answers to know the better direction to take.

>

> Regards,

>

>

>

> Dear and everyone

>

> Thank you for letting me join this group.

>

> I'm a fifty year old woman living in London in the UK, where I've

> lived for most of my life.

>

> At the moment I'm off work sick. I'm currently taking the

> antidepressant Mirtazapine 45mg/day, plus the beta-blocker

> Propranolol 40mg up to three times a day (for anxiety attacks).

>

> I was on Fluoxetine (Prozac) 20mg/day, but I was having anxiety

> attacks, and when I saw the emergency GP, he changed me over to

> Mirtazapine 15mg/day, plus Propranolol. He did warn me that I would

> be in for a rough couple of weeks as the Fluoxetine levels dropped

in

> my body and the Mirtazapine levels went up, and I was.

>

> The doctor has put the dosage of Mirtazapine up at 28 day intervals,

> first to 30mg/day, and now to 45mg/day, which I've been on for the

> past fortnight.

>

> Although I was taking three Propranolol a day, I've now managed to

> really cut it down. Some days I only take one tablet, and some days

> I don't take any.

>

> The main symptoms I am experiencing:

>

> - Early morning waking, and not going back to sleep, or

> - Early morning waking and eventually going back to sleep

> - Suicidal feelings (note – I am not actively suicidal, it's

> just these thoughts come into my mind)

> - Noises seem extremely loud

> - Restless legs at night, when I'm trying to get to sleep

> - Not much appetite

> - Weight loss (34 pounds so far), rate loss is now about 2

> pounds/week

> - Unable to cope with stress

> - Paranoia

> - Generally not processing information well or coping with my

> life (this is completely atypical for me)

>

> Supplements I am taking:

>

> - B vitamins (B complex, plus individual B vits)

> - Vitamin C (Ester C, slow release)

> - Vitamin E

> - Magnesium

> - Manganese

> - Zinc

> - Selenium

>

> I take the B vitamins before midday, in case they interfere with my

> sleeping at night. I have tried various supplements and herbal teas

> to try and help me sleep through the night. None has helped, except

> for Inositol – I took this two nights running, and it really seemed

> to help. Last night I didn't take it (to see what happened) and

sure

> enough I woke up early this morning, was awake for about an hour,

> then fell asleep for another couple of hours.

>

> I am meditating for 30 minutes twice a day. I try to go out for a

> walk each day, but don't feel up to this every day.

>

> In terms of what I eat/drink:

>

> - no sugar

> - no wheat (food intolerance to wheat)

> - no meat

> - no refined grain products

> - no alcohol

> - eggs rarely (I can only tolerate eggs occasionally)

> - whole grains (brown rice mainly)

> - vegetables

> - fruit

> - tofu

> - fish

> - seafood (not clams – too high in copper)

> - nuts

> - seeds (especially flaxseeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds)

> - cottage cheese

> - Quark (virtually fat free soft cheese)

> - Goats' cheese

> - Sheep's cheese

> - Cow's cheese

> - Butter

> - Cow's milk

> - Mineral water

> - Filtered tap water

> - Flaxseed oil

> - Olive oil

>

> Looking though the files, it seems as though I should concentrate on

> getting off one drug, Propranolol, first, and then look at getting

> off the Mirtazapine.

>

> I am due to see a psychiatrist at the end of this month, and would

> welcome any advice on dealing with this.

>

> Grateful for any guidance you can give me. If you need me to give

> you any additional information, please be patient with me, as my

> thinking can be muddled and I am not coping well. Many thanks.

>

> Ailsa

>