Psychotomy

So, I’ve been on various medications for my depression.  The current one turns out to have some whacked out issues.

Whenever I miss a dose, the next morning I’m already all the way down and by mid afternoon my back/shoulder hurt.  Kindof like a spasm, but one that doesn’t start or stop.  It’s just kindof … tense.

And if I take the pill first thing in the morning, it doesn’t kick in until late evening.  Erk.

Apparently they have a very short halflife, explaining the immediate effect of missing.  And a slow release, explaining the latter issue.

And apparently the pain?  I’m lucky.  It seems this crap has psychotic withdrawal effects.  Blinding head stabbing pains.  Extreme nausea.  Some people, apparently, are stuck taking it because they just can’t get off of it reasonably.

Talking to my new psych, we’re switching me back to one I preferred even before I knew of the issues on this one.  Except, to minimize withdrawal (seriously, they prescribe a medication that has this kindof serious withdrawal effects?  but it’s not addictive! my ass) (and the old psych’s staff was so freaking nonchalant about “he’ll call you in a week or two with that emergency refill, soon a we get off our asses and tell him”???) … To minimize, we’re cutting my dosage a quarter at a time, and phasing in my new (old) med at the same time.  Which frankly sounds incredibly unlikely to work properly in terms of “average level of coverage”, but I can understand not wanting to give me two complete meds.

But it’s going to take 2-3 months to wean off this crap, and I may potentially feel this shoulder muscle pain for even longer.  What *I* can’t figure out is … if this has such a short halflife, why does the aftereffect last so much LONGER???

Posted in: general by attriel /