MadhuMaddy: Help me Some one

[MudhuMaddy]

HI 

 

Due to the increased stress at work place, I consulted psychiatrist. He diagnosed me with ADHD and Depression. He prescribed me the MethylPhenidateHydrochloride tablets for ADHD and Estomyne LS for depression. I used these medicines for 2 days . I feel very sleepy and dizzyness, over reactive. felt like vomitting. So I stopped after two days. The day after I stopped the medication. I really felt like experiencing like suicidal, restlessness, feel like to cry for no reason. I lost my appettite and feeling panic for every problem i have (literally I am feeling like I am on death bed).  Some one please help me to cope up with the situation. I really dont want to take those anti-depressents again. Any help will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

MadhuMaddy

[bubble]

Hello MadhuMaddy and welcome to SA.

 

I'm very sorry for the difficulties you are going through at the momment and I'm glad you have found this forum because it has helped me a lot and I believe it can do the same thing for you.

 

First of all, it seems that ******** is your real name so you might wish to change it to protect your privacy. You can just send me a personal message with the nick name you'd like to use.

 

I had to google the medication you were taking which took me some Indian sites and it seems that MethylPhenidateHydrochloride is what we know as Ritalin (don't have much experience with that one).  Estomyne LS seems to be escitalopram also known as Lexapro which I'm unfortunately very familiar with. Except that, on the site it says this: Estomine-LS: combination -  Escitalopram 10 mg, clonazepam 0.25 mg.

 

That's a bit strange because it seems that one tablet contains both an antidepressant (escitalopram) and a benzo clonazepam...

 

In any case, if we go to a psychiatrist complaining of a symptom they have to do something about it and the first thing they do is reach for a prescription pad. There are however non-drug methods of dealing with symptoms caused by difficult life situations such as stress at work: various types of psychotherapies which help us to become aware of our patterns of reacting to certain demands from the environement and then change them so that they don't cause us trouble. There is also meditation, breathing techniques, practicing mindfulness (India is actually a cradle of many of those techniques).

 

We on this site don't believe in drugs as a way of dealing with emotiuonal crisis regardless of the cause. Even if they can initially make the symptoms disappear, the underlying causes remain and the side effects of these actually dangerous drugs become more and more obvious.

 

It seems that you belong to a group of people who are simply too sensitive to any drugs that affect the central nervous system. I'm not a doctor but giving  a person a strong stimulant such as Ritalin and at the same time a depressant Clonazepam sounds really contradictory. 

 

What doses were you put on?

 

Since you were taking these drugs for only 2 days, if you manage to calm down and not get scared by the symptoms and take some more meds in an attempt to make them go away I'm sure they will go away of their own although it might take some time. They are awful and scarry and they make us believe they are here to stay but that's fortunately not the case.

 

What I would do in your situation would be to take some time off work and focus solely on myself and my wellbeing. Also do whatever you can do eliminate as much stress from oyur life as possible.

 

If you describe in more detail in what way your stress at work manifested itself we might be able to offer some ideas on what to do about it. (I myself have a lot of experience with stress at work..)

 

How is your sleep? How long has it been since you stopped taking the medication?

 

You will find a lot of friendly support here and you won't feel alone so I really believe it will help you endure this crisis until it passes. 

 

best,

bubble

[bubble]

I will copy here for you what our great moderator Rhi wrote for another member in a very similar situation like yours recently. It might help you to know you are not the only one experiencing things like this. Symptoms can vary but there are lots of similarities 

 

 

Hi CH--

 

Yes, we've seen a few people, especially young folks, with stories like yours--short term use followed by symptoms similar to yours (sexual dysfunction, emotional anesthesia, anhedonia) and taking a long period of time to recover. They all do recover eventually though. But it does seem to take ridiculously long sometimes.

 

Don't let the time frame worry you. For a while you're going to need to be really gentle with your nervous system (gentle exercise only, good diet, stay away from alcohol and caffeine, get regular sleep at regular hours, keep stress to a minimum). Don't count the days, weeks, months, whatever. And don't let the bad days worry you. Recovery is typically roller-coaster, so there will be better days and then worse ones. But over time the better days will begin to outnumber the bad ones, and eventually this will all be just a really bad memory. You'll be back to normal and back to your regularly scheduled life as it should be. (That maybe will include getting some non-drug help to deal with the stresses and issues at the root of your breaking down to begin with.)

 

 

 

We also always add not to take more medications but I see you are not even thinking of taking that course which is good.

[MudhuMaddy]

Thanx for your reply. Your post is really helpful.

 

My Dosage

Estomine-LS 10 mg each tablet a day before going to sleep. 

 

I stopped taking medicine 4 days back

 

I work as a software developer. From the last few months i am really going through worst phase of my work life. Given very short deadlines and was threatened to be fired. A part from that my personal life is not going well. So I went to consult psychiatrist.

 

Thanx

[Altostrata]

Welcome, MadhuMaddy.

 

I agree with bubble, it seems like you had a bad reaction to that cocktail of drugs. It doesn't make any sense that a doctor would start someone on all those drugs at once. If I were you, I would not go back to that doctor and I would disregard everything he said.

 

You are having temporary difficulties with a work situation. This does not call for treatment with powerful psychiatric drugs.

 

I understand how hard it might be to deal with a difficult work environment, but I urge you to figure out non-drug ways to do so, such as discussion with your supervisor or, if necessary, finding a new job. Some jobs are simply unbearable.

 

My guess is you are suffering some symptoms from the adverse effect of the drugs. Take care of your nervous system, be patient, and this will go away over time. Get plenty of sleep and avoid stress when you can.

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/
 

[Rhiannon]

Hello! I am so sorry for your suffering. I agree with Bubble and Alto. Your symptoms right now are due to a bad reaction to multiple very strong drugs that have strong side effects. All of those drugs have gotten many people into trouble.

 

I think if you can take a medical leave from work for a couple of weeks your symptoms will settle down. During that time see if you can find a counselor (not a psychiatrist) who treats with compassionate listening and support, not with drugs. You are experiencing the normal distress that a healthy, normal person experiences when they are under a lot of pressure and stress in modern life. This is not a disease and is not something that needs medicine.

 

Meditation, yoga, massage, hugs and compassion will help you more than anything. And eventually with the help and support of a caring counselor or friends and family you will be able to sort out ways to change your life situation and your work situation so that it is more tolerable for you.

 

I also recommend that you read the book Anatomy of an Epidemic, by Robert Whitaker, when you have the time. This will help you understand why psychiatrists prescribe these dangerous drugs as if they were candy. You will understand the fate you have narrowly escaped (hooray!)

 

All of my best to you. You are going to be fine after some time passes.