antidpressants/weight gain/diagnosticians

[Dogmama]

Hi Pooks,
I would definitely see a psychiatrist, although find one with whom you are comfortable. My experience has been mixed with some of them being as warm as an arctic freeze. --Pata

Loved that! The one I saw was convinced that I'd need chemical help all my life. But I keep reading that the brain can actually rewire itself given time.

I'm on cymbalta & weaning off. It makes me speedy and totally takes away libido. It was supposed to help with hot flashes - it hasn't. Hormones are out because of my lupus. It helps with anxiety, but then I feel that I'm not learning how to cope with real or imaginary circumstances. Just take a pill and - whew! - it all goes away! I don't think so...

Anybody else try to get off their antidepressent recently? Where's my bike?

[OakLeaf]

I gained a lot of weight on Nortriptyline, but slowly, so I really didn't know it was a side effect until I stopped the med and dropped 20 lbs all at once. (Also 10 points on both sides of my blood pressure).

I would definitely see a psychologist first, and let them refer you to a psychiatrist if they think it's appropriate. Psychiatrists don't do therapy and most of them don't do in-depth diagnostic testing - basically they're just drug pushers. Psychiatrists have their place, don't get me wrong, but IMVHO they should not be the first mental health professional anyone visits. LiSWs and the like can be very helpful for counseling also, but the trouble is their qualifications vary hugely, and most of them aren't qualified to do testing, either.

With a psychologist you know what you're getting - someone who's spent a great deal of time studying exclusively mental health and/or development, who can and probably will have you do several hours of testing before your first session so that they can cut through to issues you may not be consciously aware of, or that you may be reluctant to raise in early sessions. If they wind up referring you to a psychiatrist, then you know you're seeing someone that at least one colleague has a high opinion of.

[tulip]

+1 on Oakleaf's post. Please don't try to self-medicate or change dosages on your own! If you were on kidney meds (as an example), would you mess with the dosage without professional guidance? I hope not! Some people think that psych drugs don't require professional intervention, but I beg you to reconsider if you feel this way.

I'm a big advocate of therapy with a psychologist or clinical social worker, or even psychiatrist if he/she is understands and appreciates and practices the value of talk therapy and counseling (in addition to meds if they are warranted). Our psychological issues need to be addressed holistically, not solely by pills, although I'm definitely for meds when they are needed but always in coordination with continued counseling.

Please make your appointments tomorrow. Don't wait until after your camping trip to get this started. And please don't self-medicate with this stuff.

[Tuckervill]

This is a year-old thread, by the way.

Karen

[tulip]

This is a year-old thread, by the way.

Karen

I don't think that matters. There are obviously lots of people who are dealing with this issue, then and now.

[Tuckervill]

Well yes, it's gonna be here in cyberspace forever for anyone to see.

But the person going camping is probably home by now. In fact, I don't think I've seen her in a year!

Karen

[CycleTherapy]

I liked that someone "bumped" this thread... as I had been searching for info. on this very topic. Old thread or recent, it provided me with information that I was looking for.

[Dogmama]

I was searching for something on cymbalta. I've gone off it before with doctor's help, so I know how to do it. It aggravates my IBS but helps neuropathy. I decided I'd rather go to the bathroom & put up with tingling fingers. Ain't getting old grand?

But, it occured to me that with the economy being so bad that maybe a little bump here would be good. So, I bumped!

[OakLeaf]

But, it occured to me that with the economy being so bad that maybe a little bump here would be good. So, I bumped!

And speaking of the economy... one of the things that got tucked into the bank bailout bill was some kind of health insurance parity. It only applies to health insurance obtained through large employers, and I haven't looked up the details of what exactly is specified and when it goes into effect, but there are probably some people looking at this thread who will be able to afford therapy now, who couldn't before.

[michelem]

"And speaking of the economy... one of the things that got tucked into the bank bailout bill was some kind of health insurance parity. It only applies to health insurance obtained through large employers, and I haven't looked up the details of what exactly is specified and when it goes into effect, but there are probably some people looking at this thread who will be able to afford therapy now, who couldn't before."

I saw this in the Wall Street Journal a couple days ago. Apparently, it doesn't go into effect until January 2009. Basically, what it does is force insurance companies (not all insurance companies though -- and I didn't look at it closely enough to make the distinction) to treat mental health equal to medical health. So my understanding is this (correct me if I'm wrong): Say your insurance company says you get a limit of 20 covered visits per year for mental health . . . well, under the new law they will have to give you the same amount of covered visits you are allowed with your medical doctor. Also, say they only cover 50% of the cost of each of your mental health visits even though they cover much more for your medical visits! When the new law goes into effect they will have to cover the 90% or 70% or do a co-pay thing equal to what you pay your medical doctor. Applies to inpatient treatment as well (I think most coverages limit the number of days allowed as well as how much of the fee is covered, well under what is allowed for medical inpatient treatment).

CA already has something like this, but for those with out-of-state health insurance (because their companys' HQs are located in other states), they're SOL right now. This new law will apply nationwide.

[ASammy1]

I've been on Zoloft for a year now and I lost 40 lbs in 3 months (not exactly healthy, but I had it to lose). I had absolutely no apetite and basically drank enhanced smoothies to get my nutrients. Anti-depressants affect everyone differently. Keep looking until you find one that works for you.