Antidepressant Side Effects

Antidepressants have helped numerous people on the brink of suicide, despair, and self-destruction.  What many people don't realize is that they also have side effects--some of which may actually lead back to the depression they were meant to treat.

What do I mean by "lead back"?  Common side effects are weight gain and loss of libido, both of which lead to depression for many people.

Relatively minor side effects that usually go away in time or are short-lived:
■ Diarrhea
■ Dizziness
■ Dry mouth
■ Headaches
■ Nausea
■ Sweating
■ Tremors

More serious side effects that can be annoying or dangerous. If they persist, you may need to switch drugs:
■ Drowsiness or confusion
■ Feelings of panic or dread
■ Increased thoughts of suicide
■ Insomnia
■ Loss of libido, difficulty achieving erections, inability to reach orgasm
■ Nervousness and agitation
■ Weight gain

Of course, this is not meant to scare people--but meant to inform people before they make a big decision.  Consumer Reports has a pamphlet with info that may help you if you are thinking about starting antidepressants: Using Antidepressant to Treat Depression.

Highest Potency Fish Oils

The recommended daily intake of eicosapentaenoic acid for treatment of depression/bipolar disorder is at least 3 grams.  That's right; 3000 mg, which is about 20 times more than the average omega-3 fish oil supplement, is the bare minimum.  (General health benefits of omega-3 supplements.)  Even with a "high-potency" fish oil, I was gulping down 10 giant gel caps a day!  I got used to the fish burps (antacids), but it was still difficult to swallow enough capsules to get that 3000 mg of EPA.  

So, I hunted for the fish oil supplements with the highest possible potency and found these...
(Underneath is the amount of EPA per softgel, the amount of softgels per bottle, how long the bottle would last me if I took 3000 mg EPA per day, and price per day.)

EPA 600 mg, 60 softgels, 12 days, ~$2 per day


EPA 750 mg, 180 softgels,  45 days, ~$0.78 per day


EPA 500 mg, 180 softgels, 30 days, ~$0.72 per day


EPA 550 mg, 60 softgels, 10 days, ~$1.39 per day


EPA 500 mg, 120 softgels, 20 days, ~$1 per day


EPA 500 mg, 60 softgels, 10 days, ~$3 per day


EPA 1600 mg, 60 softgels, 30 days, ~$1.40 per day

DING DING DING!  WE HAVE A WINNER!  Nordic Naturals and Nutrigold seem to have the best value here.  Now Foods is close behind.  Your EPA search is over!

I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.

Down to 187.5 mg of Lamictal!

I reduced my dosage about 3 days ago.  I've been hypo-manic.  I kind of like it.  At times I feel euphoric and high--it's pretty trippy.  Today I've been getting more irritable.  I don't like that.  The next step after hypo-mania is irritability and paranoia.  Not quite psychosis as compared with others, but the paranoia is still disturbing.  Then comes depression and not getting out of bed.  I was diagnosed "mood disorder, not otherwise specified" but my symptoms are very similar to those with bipolar II disorder--rapid cycling and mixed episodes like a rollercoaster. 

I like this girl's videos because I can really relate to how she feels (but luckily my symptoms aren't as intense--I don't feel like I need to go to the hospital).

What do I do?  I talk myself through it because I know what I'm feeling is exaggerated.  I sit quietly and focus on breathing slowly and slowing my heart rate.  I listen to music.  I talk to God.

Non-Drug Treatments for Depression ;)

Tell me this doesn't make you smile.


On a more serious note...

When you experience depression, I think it's important to find things that make you feel good.  It can be really challenging since along with depression comes anhedonia, which is the loss of pleasure in things you once enjoyed.  You've got to keep fighting the demons!

Bipolar Mania

It has been 1.5 weeks since my last Lamictal dose reduction.  Up until last night I was feeling very sluggish and spacy.  Suddenly--POW!--a burst of energy, irritation, and restlessness.  I hesitate to call what I'm feeling mania, because I've always thought that true mania was more intense and destructive.  The National Institute of Mental Health describes bipolar mania as:

Mood Changes

• A long period of feeling "high," or an overly happy or outgoing mood
• Extreme irritability

Behavioral Changes

• Talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another, having racing thoughts
• Being easily distracted
• Increasing activities, such as taking on new projects
• Being overly restless
• Sleeping little or not being tired
• Having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities
• Behaving impulsively and engaging in pleasurable, high-risk behaviors

I have highlighted my own symptoms in the preceeding list.  I also tend to grind my teeth and fidget more than usual.  I snap at my friends and my dog.  My computer does not work fast enough for me.  I drive recklessly.  But the burst of energy is such a relief after days filled with tiredness, apathy, detachment, and indifference.  Luckily, the "hyperness" is not intense enough to cause any real problems.  (I've heard of people getting arrested, using a bunch of drugs, spending thousands of dollars, having sex with strangers, and more while under the effects of bipolar mania.)  

Here is how other people describe their bipolar mania:

Feeling Terrible!

This picture describes how I felt yesterday.

It has now been a week since my last Lamictal reduction (to ~204mg), and yesterday I tried reducing my dose again.  Big mistake!  My symptoms were pretty bad: tiredness, muscle aches, dry mouth, metallic taste in mouth, headache, sensitivity to light and sound, confusion, bobble-head effect...There's probably a couple I'm missing.  The bobble-head effect is new.  I didn't even notice I was doing it, but a coworker pointed it out to me.  I couldn't think clearly and a couple of things I said came out weird.  (I can't really explain that; sometimes my words get jumbled, or I just completely trail off.  The talking thing is practically "normal" for me, as is the confusion, because they have been going on ever since I started taking Lamictal about 4 years ago.  It's sad when you think of that as normal behavior for yourself.)  My boss sent me home and I slept fitfully for the rest of the day.

Too bad I didn't look as cute as this little guy...

To help with the side effects, I'm taking 20 QuietMinds capsules per day, instead of the recommended 16; and 2 GABA tablets.  It seems like it might have helped because I'm feeling much better today.  So, I will wait another week before reducing my dose again.

I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.

Today I'm having violent thoughts and I'm in a daze.  I don't like it.  I've been sleeping at least 12 hours a day for the past 3 days.  I've decided to take extra QuietMinds.

Lamictal ~204mg, Wellbutrin 200mg, Celexa 10mg