Med side effects

[geekghost]

I am currently on Symbyax 6/25, have been since Dec. Before that (before BP dx), I was on Lexapro for about 2 years.

My big question is about side effects -- specifically, the evil no good weight gain side effect. Basically, I want to know: is there any hope?! In the 2.5 years I've been on antidepressings etc., I have gained 50+ pounds. I am a college student, so unfortunately my eating/exercise habits aren't stellar, but the problem is that while those habits didn't change over time, my weight did. The doc tells me to stay on the drugs and not miss doses, and everything will "even out" with time. I want to know -- how much time does it take? Any suggestions on things I should be doing in the meanwhile?

Oh -- also, one more side effect I have questions on: with the Symbyax, it is very hard for me to function on a day after having less than 10 hours sleep. I take the Symbyax at night, and if I don't get x hours of sleep, I feel like a zombie the next day. Obviously this is rough when combined with college life! Again, the doc says this should even out with time. While I can always tell a difference between the first few days on the drug (I miss days occasionally, and it feels like 'starting over' when I get back on) and the long term -- I still have trouble getting up in the mornings. I missed church this morning because I only vaguely remember turning my alarm clock off and not getting up. I know that happened because I didn't remember to take the Symbyax last night until nearly 1am.

Anyway -- any & all help, suggestions, encouragement, what-have-you would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Alive again]

You might enjoy the worldview on crazymeds, some find his language style offensive. but check it out if you are interested. This is the page within the website dealing directly with symbyax. sounds to me based even just on the fact of your daytime sleepiness and college studies that you may need a different med with more dose adjustability. There are several that can efect your weight, but there are those that do not. It all is a queston of finding the med that works for you and has side effects that you are willing to live with. I know many people respond differently to the same meds. Some only get help from those that cause weight gain and have to make the difficult choice to take a med that helps you be stable even though it sucks to gain weight. The only thing you can do is try to make the healthiest choices you can in terms of diet and excercise, and grant yourself grace. Learn to be rpoactive with your doc and make your own choices based on your knowledge of yourself, your body, continue to learn about your illness and about meds and options from your doc. It takes a team approach with a doc to figure out the best course for you!!! Blessings and prayers!

http://www.crazymeds.org/symbyax.html

 

[greeker57married]

geekghost

Oh -- also, one more side effect I have questions on: with the Symbyax, it is very hard for me to function on a day after having less than 10 hours sleep. I take the Symbyax at night, and if I don't get x hours of sleep, I feel like a zombie the next day. Obviously this is rough when combined with college life! Again, the doc says this should even out with time. While I can always tell a difference between the first few days on the drug (I miss days occasionally, and it feels like 'starting over' when I get back on) and the long term -- I still have trouble getting up in the mornings. I missed church this morning because I only vaguely remember turning my alarm clock off and not getting up. I know that happened because I didn't remember to take the Symbyax last night until nearly 1am.

I am a mental health case manager with a regional mental health in our state. I do not know if you go to a private doctor or to a regional mental health center. The plus for a regional mental health center is that the staff work as a team. The therapist, nurse. casemanager and doctor work to gether to help people. I do not know how long you have been taking Symbyax. It is a fairly new medicaton. It takes several weeks for the medication to get in your system to work as it should. I would give it time to even out. Paxil has the same kind of side affects. But many people after a while, there body seems to adjust and the problem with drowsiness goes away. You need to take the medication every day as prescripted. If you don't it will not work as it should. But if you keep having trouble with drowsiness, you may need to see if your doctor will change the medication. There are many other meds out there.

God Bless
Greeker

 

[geekghost]

Thanks to both of you for the help -- that crazymeds.org is awesome. Aside from highly amusing, it is a great resource.

greeker, I go to a private doc - however have just "switched" from one to another (I moved, old doc retired). I've only seen the new guy once, and have an appt. in August for a check-in. I've been on Symbyax since Dec. 04. I figured it would take time to even out. Like I said, if I miss a few days and then go back to taking it, the zombie-effect is 10 times worse than after a few weeks of steady dosing.

In the meanwhile, anyone have any suggestions for coping with the whole turning-my-alarm-off-in-my-sleep thing? I keep my alarm clock on the other side of the room, but I can still walk over there and shut it off without realizing. Almost missed a test this morning because of it!

Thanks again to both of you.

 

[greeker57married]

Dear

Make sure you are taking it every day. But if you have been taking since 04 on a regular basis it has had time to even out. you may need the doseage decreased. or med change.

God Bless
Greeker

 

[katiegirl]

Hey I know meds can be hard to deal with. One medicine that I am taking is fairly new for bipolar patients it's called Abilify. It has no weight gain side effects. I also take Lamictal and Zoloft. Talk to your doctor maybe these will work for you.

 

[Alive again]

My son had to use two alram clocks and his wrist watch/cell phone to get awake enough to get up. On occassion he still needed us to rouse him. One of the hardest things to do in school is to keep a realitifully reg routine. It does help some with the am, but it can be tough to do even at my stage of life. I try to make very few exceptions, but they do still happen.