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Antidepressant makes my hyper [update! how do I find a good psychologist]

NatanekoNataneko Registered User regular
edited January 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
Hello! first let me say that I am going to see my doctor on tuesday and tell him all that, but this is starting to make me crazy so I wanted to ask if maybe it happened to you, or if you have ideas of what I could try.

About 5 years ago I was on antidepressant for a major depression caused by what was diagnosed at the time as a general anxiety disorder. I took them for about a year, learned to deal with my anxiety as much as I could, and everything was fine. until a couple of months ago when I started being unable to deal with me or certain relations. Anyway. I went to the doctor and he prescribed the same antidepressant I had before (effexor), plus some "sandoz mirtazapine" for the night and "novo-quetiapine" for when I get panic attack.

I know the effect isn't instantaneous. It has been two weeks and well. I feel strange. At first every strong emotion made me feel dizzy, but then I suddenly (as in I woke up one day and BAM) stopped crying, and now I feel hyper. even when I take the Mirtazapine wich is suposed to make me sleep, I just stay awake, I feel like I'm on speed. in the last 3 days, I've been forcing myself to bed because I need to relax. I can feel my heart beating, I feel it is way too fast but in fact it's beating 70 times per minute wich is pretty normal. I tried to take the novo-quetiapine hoping it would make it stop, but it didn't. Anyway. Help me stop being hyper!

Update:
My doctor decided to change me from effexor to Celexa, Doubled the night dose and gave me Ativan for the panic attacks. He also told me I had to go see a psychologist, so now I have a paper so my insurance will cover it. yay! But, since I'm an overthinker, I don't know what I should do, how do I know if a psy is a good one? should I try to get someone that "specialise" in anxiety?

Nataneko on

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    SipexSipex Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Try burning the energy. A workout routine (focusing mainly on endurance, not strain) and a hot shower to relax your muscles before bed might work.

    Sipex on
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    FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2010
    Excercise!

    Also you have to keep taking the meds even after you feel better. They keep you there.

    FyreWulff on
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    MelksterMelkster Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sudden unintended changes in mood as a side effect of a psychoactive drug should be immediately reported to your physician.

    Why are you waiting til Tuesday?

    Melkster on
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    NatanekoNataneko Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'll try burning off the energy, it might work! as for why I was waiting for tuesday, well that's because when I saw him 2 weeks ago, the doctor told me to go see him in 2-3 weeks... and I wasn't sure that it was something strange enough to see him before. I'll still have to wait until tuesday because that's the next day he is working

    Nataneko on
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    UncleChetUncleChet N00b Lancaster, PARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    When you say doctor do you mean psychiatrist or general family doc? If an antidepresant is ramping you up, it could be due to the wrong med for the wrong diagnosis. I AM NOT A DOCTOR. In my experience, I have bipolar mixed and OCD that manifests as severe anxiety, I tried an antidepresent. It was NOT a fun time. I was having paranoid delusions and couldn't even take a leak at work for fear that someone coming in behind me was waiting to shank me in the kidney while i took a leak. What I'm saying is, make sure you're seeing a specialist and get a good solid diagnosis. Even if it is Tuesday. Family doctors mean well, but they're trained to be a catch all. You need someone to sit down with you, evaluate everything that's going on, both with and without meds and get a good foundation for treament. Once you have a working foundation. Keep taking your meds. They keep you as level and balanced as they can. You may feel better and be all "I don't need em right now, i'm cool". Not the case.

    Anyway, I wish you the best. Mental health is a pain in the ass.

    UncleChet on
    I'm sometimes grumpy and random, feel free to overlook the strange man in the corner.
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    NatanekoNataneko Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    He's a family doctor, not a psychiatrist. Right now he's giving me those based on a previous diagnostic (by a psychiatrist) of general anxiety disorder, but it wouldn't surprise me if I had something else since well. I'm not feeling the same as last time. anyway. I'll try to get a psychiatrist to see me, but in the public system it could be long because I'm not suicidal...

    Nataneko on
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    UncleChetUncleChet N00b Lancaster, PARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Speaking for Pennsylvania, there are help options, even in the public sector and I don't think that suicidal is a requirement (I don't think that it is). If you just can't handle the pressure, or if it's just all overwhelming, that's what the crisis line is for. Also look in to MHMR (mental health/mental retardation) of america. They are a united way member and should be able to help direct you. I know in our bipolar support group, I'd say 75% are on the public health care option and got the help they needed routed through mhmr

    UncleChet on
    I'm sometimes grumpy and random, feel free to overlook the strange man in the corner.
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    CorvusCorvus . VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    You might want to check in with the pharmacist where you filled the prescription as well.

    Corvus on
    :so_raven:
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    NatanekoNataneko Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    So, I went to the doctor last week, but forgot to update. The doctor decided to change the medication since it wasn't having the effect it should and gave me Ativan for the panic attacks. He also told me I had to go see a psychiatrist, so now I have a paper so my insurance will cover it. yay! But, since I'm an overthinker, I don't know what I should do, how do I know if a psy is a good one? should I try to get someone that "specialise" in anxiety? What do I do! I know I'm overthinking this, but I don't know who to call so I didn't call anyone. (BTW, I'm in Canada, in the montreal region)

    Nataneko on
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    ShamusShamus Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Nataneko wrote: »
    So, I went to the doctor last week, but forgot to update. The doctor decided to change the medication since it wasn't having the effect it should and gave me Ativan for the panic attacks. He also told me I had to go see a psychiatrist, so now I have a paper so my insurance will cover it. yay! But, since I'm an overthinker, I don't know what I should do, how do I know if a psy is a good one? should I try to get someone that "specialise" in anxiety? What do I do! I know I'm overthinking this, but I don't know who to call so I didn't call anyone. (BTW, I'm in Canada, in the montreal region)

    I lucked out a few years back, liking the first psychologist I saw.

    Since you have insurance, I'd shop around, so to speak. Try different psychiatrists out, until you find one you can trust. Also, ask friends, family, etc. I'm sure somebody knows somebody who sees a psych.

    Shamus on
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    CorvusCorvus . VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Nataneko wrote: »
    So, I went to the doctor last week, but forgot to update. The doctor decided to change the medication since it wasn't having the effect it should and gave me Ativan for the panic attacks. He also told me I had to go see a psychiatrist, so now I have a paper so my insurance will cover it. yay! But, since I'm an overthinker, I don't know what I should do, how do I know if a psy is a good one? should I try to get someone that "specialise" in anxiety? What do I do! I know I'm overthinking this, but I don't know who to call so I didn't call anyone. (BTW, I'm in Canada, in the montreal region)

    Canadian Mental Health Association, Quebec locations Lots of the pages linked there are in french, so if you're bilingual they may help you out.

    The CMHA should have some good advice for you if you dig around on it.

    Corvus on
    :so_raven:
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    UncleChetUncleChet N00b Lancaster, PARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Finding a good doctor is about trust. It could be the first, or it could be the 3rd. Get in there, explain what's going on, listen to what he/she has to say and try your best to work with their advice. Explain to them that you're really suffering with anxiety. When I went in, I was in the middle of thinking about random homicidal acts and the dr totally helped me work through it.

    I wish you luck. Also, find a local support group. In the US we have MHA Mental Health America, which has lots of links and resources. I'm Sure that there's a branch for canadians.

    UncleChet on
    I'm sometimes grumpy and random, feel free to overlook the strange man in the corner.
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Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum