Help

[TAB]

Hi, let me start by telling you that I am married and the mother of three children and have one grandchild.

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2003 but looking back I think I suffered with depression long before that.

Depression and anxiety has affected both my personal and professional life, as it does with everyone.

I have tried numberous medications (I am currently taking 25 mgs of Cipralex in the am and 1 mg of Respirdone at night). I have also tried ECT without much success.

Recently my psychiatrist had added a new medication to help withe my fatigue. It is called Alertec (100 mgs in the am) but I have found that although I take this medication I still feel tired during the day but if I do rest I am not relaxing or if I fall asleep my thoughts and very jumbled and I am not rested when I rise. I also find that by supper time I am very irritable and I close myself in my room so as not to inflict myself on my family.

Has anyone else tried this med? If so what were the results.

My psychiatrist is getting very impatient with me and always wants to know what the circumstances were that set off my crying jags when I don't know what or why. I think she thinks that my "bad days" are always the result of something or someone rather than just a chemical reaction of the brain.

I'm so sorry for rambling and would love to hear from anyone about the medication thing or just to talk.

 

[braveheart]

Re: help

Welcome!

I don't know about the medication thing, but I was diagnosed with depression etc at much the same time as you. And like you also, my illness started long before then.

 

[Halo]

Re: help

Hi Tab and welcome to Psychlinks :welcome2:

While I understand being diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety as I have myself, I can say that I have never had Alertec as one of the many medications that I have tried over the years so unfortunately I can't comment too much about that.

What did strike me about your post was this:

My psychiatrist is getting very impatient with me and always wants to know what the circumstances were that set off my crying jags when I don't know what or why. I think she thinks that my "bad days" are always the result of something or someone rather than just a chemical reaction of the brain.

While I understand that it must be frustrating that your psychiatrist keeps asking what sets off your crying jags, I have to say that it is always the first question that I ask myself when my mood quickly changes. I always try to figure out if something has triggered me or not and often I can pinpoint something and other times there really is nothing or I don't know why and so I understand when you say that.

Basically what I am trying to say is that I think it is always good to try and look for what may have triggered a change in your mood but you are quite right that there isn't always something there. Somedays it may just be like you said....a "bad day".

Anyway, glad that you decided to join us and I hope to see you around :wave:

Take care

 

[ladylore]

Re: help

Hi Tag :hello:

Welcome to Psychlinks. :welcome2:

Halo made a good point about identifying the triggers as they can sometimes set off the chemical reaction in the brain - especially with anxiety. Its been my experience that many times once I identify the trigger I can work with it to lessen the anxiety and/or head off depression in the future.

It doesn't always work but it definitely is a great tool to have at your disposal.

 

[Retired]

Alertec (modafinil) is used for the symptomatic treatment of excessive sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome and shift work sleep disorder.

In one study, the most commonly reported adverse events associated with modafinil therapy were headache (25%) and nausea (9%).

My understanding of this medication is that it provides symptomatic relief, and does not provide a cure to sleepiness.

I still feel tired during the day but if I do rest I am not relaxing or if I fall asleep my thoughts and very jumbled and I am not rested when I rise

This appears to be the characteristic of this medication, in that it is used to improve alertness in people who need to be alert when their normal body rhythm is disrupted...such as shift workers.

My psychiatrist is getting very impatient with me

Have you had a conversation with your doctor to explain that her impatience seems to be causing you to feel pressured or uncomfortable?

Sometimes it helps the overall therapeutic relationship to get all the cards on the table.

In your therapy sessions are you encouraged to report any adverse reactions you experience with your prescriptions? I would urge you discuss your experience with this medication with your doctor.

 

[TAB]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

I have not spoken to my psychiatrist about my feelings about her impatience but I will do just that at our next appointment.

Also, I haven't really looked that hard at what may be causing my depression to worsen on some days so I will also be looking for "triggers" I thought maybe a journal of some sort might help me determine if there is some sort of pattern. Has anyone used a journal for that purpose?

TAB

 

[ladylore]

I have TAB and it has helped. Even checking in with yourself a few times a day, asking yourself "what are you feeling?", may help too.

 

[thephoenix]

I think part of the problem can be that some psychiatrists are not as receptive to patients comments or opinions as may be desirable. Unlike psychologists or counselors who it can be very easy to change if you don't have the desired dynamic, as part of socialized medicine in Canada, choice of psychiatrists is very limited.

Hopefully your psychiatrist will appreciate how she sometimes makes you feel and will try to alter her behaviour in such a way as to make you feel like the time you spend together is more productive.