Thread by @sindivanzyl

When I started chronic medication for #depression , I was started on:

• Fluoxetine/ Prozac : antidepressant
• Clobazam/ Urbanol : anti-anxiolytic
• Trazodone : antidepressant
• Lamotrigine/ Epitec : mood stabiliser
• Loprazolam/ Dormonoct : sleeping tablet

The cocktail of medication you're started on will depend on the severity of your #depression . Your psychiatrist and psychologist monitor side-effects and response to medication closely and make the necessary adjustments.

I needed Bupropion/Wellbutrin to be added on

The side-effects can be hectic. Forewarned is forearmed. My main side-effects were mucosal dryness and night sweats. Everything was dry - eyes, mouth, vagina, everything. Then I'd have night sweats. Because I knew what to expect, I wasn't alarmed

The medication "kicked in" after about six weeks. I woke up one day and there was light at the end of the tunnel

Week seven my mom passed away. This was a major setback. This is the reason why I stayed on medication for about four years. The grief was overwhelming

The problems I have noted from the DMs and messages I get:

• medication is stopped too soon
• medication is not taken consistently
• medication is stopped due to intolerable side-effects
• there is a fear of addiction to psychiatric medication

#Depression #MentalHealth

I was fortunate because I understood exactly what each drug was doing

The antidepressants were increasing my serotonin "happy hormone" levels

The mood stabilisers were stabilising my mood

The anti-anxiolytic was curbing the anxiety

The sleeping tablet was to give me rest

The rest part is extremely important. One of the problems with #depression is the endless thoughts and voices in your head. My husband called it "a dog chasing its tail". That drug-induced sleep is essential for the brain. I'll give an example of what used to happen to me

I'd wake up at 2am & cry because I didn't know what to wear to work. Then I'd tell husbae that I was a useless manager. Then I'd say I was a useless wife and a useless mom and a useless doctor and that it would be best if I just died because then he wouldn't have to deal with me

The mood stabilisers and the sleeping tablets helped to initially slow down the racing thoughts and eventually silence those voices.

The therapy sessions equipped me to handle crises better

#depression #mentalhealth

Hope this helps a little bit in understanding the role of psychiatric medication.

We are fortunate because there are newer molecules coming onto the market all the time. Your doctor should be able to find something that works well for you #depression #mentalhealth