Antidepressants & Sleeping All Day

[Tecawan]

We had my thyroid checked, and it's normal. He has repeatedly said that this sleepiness I experience is not at all a common side effect of antidepressants.

Do you agree with that? How common in your experience is sleepiness from antidepressants? I really want to find a med that works for me.

It doesn't have to be a common side effect for me to experience it.

 

[Epuc]

Yes, I would think you would have the symptoms without antidepressants as well. You wake up rested without any meds?

Possibly your body chemistry is not compatible with Antidepressants. Some people are completely resistant to pain medications, believe it or not....

 

[Jagapar]

Thank you for this post, but I never had this problem with constantly falling asleep until I started taking antidepressants

You said zoloft, prozac - what were the other three?

 

[Alediv]

You said zoloft, prozac - what were the other three?

Lexapro, effexor, abilify.

 

[Sanujur]

Lexapro, effexor - these will both make you feel sluggish, that's quite common. Abilify, usually doesn't when it's an adjunct, but can when it's monotherapy. You might need to consider that you'll benefit from a primary and an adjunct medication, with the adjunct specifically in order to help augment the good in the SN or SSRI, and push back against the more dulling effects.

But it sounds like your doc doesn't mind spinning the wheel a little. Personally, I take wellbutrin, and it doesn't increase my anxiety. You will need to give it a full four weeks, though.

 

[Alediv]

You might need to consider that you'll benefit from a primary and an adjunct medication, with the adjunct specifically in order to help augment the good in the SN or SSRI, and push back against the more dulling effects.

I kind of mentioned this to the psych. He said that combining meds was "begging for side effects."

 

[Izo]

He said that combining meds was "begging for side effects."

Your psych is not very good - at least, not when it comes to the complexities of managing depression with the assistance of medication. Maybe look elsewhere?

 

[Gufeg]

I don't agree. I think your psych is conservative with medication and in my books that can only be a good thing. Go with your gut!

 

[Ramub]

I think your psych is conservative with medication and in my books that can only be a good thing.

Conservative with medication is good...but giving the patient five different medications to try over the course of ten months is not what I'd call conservative. It sounds to me like a prescriber who doesn't know is psychopharmacology all that well. Just my opinion.

 

[Alediv]

If you aren't naturally agitated, then it's worth a try. In other words, if your anxiety rarely interferes with your daily life, and if it follows predictable patterns related to known stressors or triggers...then you'd stand a good chance of tolerating a moderate dose of wellbutrin.

Well, I am hyper-vigilant, which is kind of normal for PTSD sufferers, right? I totally avoid social contact whenever possible--would that count as interfering with daily life?

 

[Fevup]

I totally avoid social contact whenever possible--would that count as interfering with daily life?

Hypervigilance is normal for PTSD, yes.

And in terms of having a level of anxiety that would be an interference...in this case, Id say avoiding contact is mild-moderate. If the thought of talking to someone (just a normal someone, non-related to trauma) can trigger a panic attack - that's moderate-severe. But these are things that normally take while interviews to diagnose properly :)

Bottom line: if you aren't having major anxiety symptoms separate from your PTSD, then you can likely tolerate Wellbutrin. Also, you will know after about 2 weeks whether agitation is effecting you negatively.

It has a unique action; nothing else works quite like it, which is why it can be especially good for treatment-refractory folks (which you sound like you are).

 

[Alediv]

Also, you will know after about 2 weeks whether agitation is effecting you negatively.

This is what I figure. It almost seems like he has a knee-jerk reaction to deny me any med that I actually suggest to him. Like,he's made it a rule for himself to never do that. Bad past experience with med seeking patients, maybe?

Are there any other antidepressants that are known to have an uplifting affect?