[mell1682]

Originally Posted by jillrapp

So, those of you on anti-depressants, are any causing trouble with your blood sugar? If yes, which ones? If no, which is your miracle drug?

None of my actual antidepressants (like Zoloft) ever caused me high blood sugars but the bipolar meds did (Seroquel, Abilify)...so I'm glad the diagnosis was wrong. I'm also thinking about going back on medications for sleep problems probably related to nerves.

[Psycho Penguin]

I was recently diagnosed with depression and put on Cymbalta and it's affecting my life in a bad way.. I always knew there was something wrong with me, and now that I know, it's getting me down a lot.. and I notice my sugars are higher and more out of whack lately since I started taking the medicine, although I am not sure if that's because of the medicine or because of the aliens.

[ant hill]

I have had many instances of handling this disease from being steered up in school and food has to think about in a second thought, Medical advise and their contradictions and buy being teased from stealing insulins and or equipment and having warm milk from a small bottle in school YUCK!! even teachers have misunderstanding of how we should eat as I hate my Phis Ed teacher who cannot tell weather I am able or not. Moron!!! Ballet was no better as I would look at something sweet before I get to dance and Jette pirouette and lift a lady is very hard work and I do get some peace in dance. Latter in my life I have had numbskull police who pick me up if I were a druggie. Even just getting work as interviews are biased against our disease. I hardly go out because of people look at me as I get to bolus before I eat and see will discriminate because that we are not like them.
At the moment I don't have meds to combat this as I would rather leave the prozac alone as I have worked in a mental hospital and that did not help at all.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by jillrapp

I've been off anti-depressants for 7+ years now but am thinking about discussing this again with my doctor. My depression feelings could also be caused by my inability to sleep without help from Pharmaceuticals, or, maybe my lack of ability to sleep is caused by depression? That is my current $64,000 question! If the answer is "the aliens", I don't know what I am going to do!

I think these things can be both causes and effects at the same time. I've had terrible sleep issues for much of my life (the depression as such I talked about before). Getting good sleep is so important for mental health. Depression and anxiety can likewise can make it so important to get to and stay asleep. Surely a viscous circle, but probably not a neat one (eg, break one and you eradicate the other).

Just wanted to mention what I've found which is the incredible benefits of exercise for both mental state and sleep. Doesn't have to be iron man stuff, but I think it does need to be consistent for at least a few weeks and stuck to over months to get long lasting benefit. I'm not offering that as a pop solution. Just feel it is worth keeping in mind at all times as a tactic available.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by jillrapp

So, those of you on anti-depressants, are any causing trouble with your blood sugar? If yes, which ones? If no, which is your miracle drug?

I found that Prozac and Zoloft gave me substantial problems. The others I tried (3 or 4 of differening families, each one for at least a month or so) did not so much stuff with my BG's but gave me terrible mental and physical side effects.

Not naysaying, just reinforcing: YMMV. Greatly.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by Subby

Not naysaying, just reinforcing: YMMV. Greatly.

YMMV??? What's that?

[Subby]

Sorry Peter. Your Mileage May Vary. It means results will vary from person to person.

[ncpd25]

I guess I was fortunate because my Doctor made sure that the meds she gave me would not have an adverse effect on my blood sugars. She did tell me that there are some out there that will cause an extreme increase in blood sugars.

[alicat61]

Hi,
I have never been diagnosed with depression ,but know I do get very depressed at times. More so in the last 7 years.
I'm usually a very positive person who trys to see good in everyone and everything,but somedays are just black.
I come out of it after a day or 2. I guess my diabetes has a bit to do with it. I wonder if Menopause is around the corner
Also in the last 12 years my life has been turned upside down a few times. also it is said depression can be hereditory
My father had treatment for depresion in the 1960's but I did not learn of this until just before his death 12 years ago. It was a very Taboo subject back then (and still is with a lot of people)
My Sister is on antidepresnts due to her disabilities.
I think this is a great survey and thread and it is so good that everyone is so open.
I have a lot of friends who have or are dealing with depresion

[CountYourselfIn]

Originally Posted by Psycho Penguin

I was recently diagnosed with depression and put on Cymbalta and it's affecting my life in a bad way.. I always knew there was something wrong with me, and now that I know, it's getting me down a lot.. and I notice my sugars are higher and more out of whack lately since I started taking the medicine, although I am not sure if that's because of the medicine or because of the aliens.

= /


I feel that.

I was extremely depressed after spending a week in the hospital, peeing in a bag w/ a tube in my penis, delirious from dehydration, shouting incoherently at doctors and strangers I wouldn't remember the next day.

Then throwing me back out into the world, now knowing I'm extremely sick, extremely different, giving myself 9 needles a day (what other disease requires 9 shots in the belly, daily...), sure that if I eat a donut I'll die.

Yup, I was depressed.

I'm pretty over it now, but it took a while to get there.

If I was more motivated, I'd actively seek treatment for depression.

[Psycho Penguin]

Well, just remember it's easier to control as time goes along.

[silvershewolf]

I have depression and deal with it but I'm not being treated for it. I'm doing fine without meds

[Cassini]

I love this topic, Jill, and am glad to see the poll as well.

I have been dx as clinically depressed for about 28 years now. I have been on so many medications that help for a bit, then as they meld into my body, their function becomes less effective and sometimes absolutely go against it, too.

I also have been dx with numerous other "lables" including, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), anxiety, BPD (borderline personality disorder) (I always wonder about this one, does it mean I don't really have a personality??!? or that the one I have is just...almost there?? or that I am a foul and evil creature put here (by the aliens, of course) that has NO personality at all??! or, as I think it really means, it that for whatever reason my personality never developed as a normal one would. OK, this just sounds insane... so does it mean that then? OCD with perfectionism, I am a germophobe, I have agoraphobia, and the list goes on.

There have been studies that are ongoing as to perhaps certain medical problems while young lead to the whole Serotonin uptake problems. Mine was a Staph infection, perhaps Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox, the usual kiddie illnesses of the time.

I take one big pile of meds in a day which while taking them I am considered "normal", if I miss them, I know I am getting out of control in a very short amount of time.

In the mornings I take... 60mg Celexa (depression and anxiety), Clonazepam 2mg, anxiety, Seroquel 50mg (known to cause Diabetes and then also to contribute to high blood sugars while still in use, also causes massive weight gain, 100lbs for me)this one is for OCD and depression+anxiety, it is also prescribed for Schizophrenia, which amazingly enough, I don't have. I have successfully weaned myself from 800mg/day of this to 100mg/day, just had a Psych meeting yesterday and he recommends I stay with that number, so I fight the BS #s all the time. Then added to this mess are my "body" pills which include, 500mg Metformin, 40mgLipitor, (cholesterol) Accuretic 20/25mg (high blood pressure).

Then comes lunch, lucky break here, just 2mg Clonazepam.

By this time I usually need a nap, I am indeed in some kind of drug induced haze... I don't drive in the afternoons, which is just fine for me because I don't like to go out anyhow. I screen phone calls all day, deciding if I "feel" like talking to my friends/family at all. This has been a newer thing for me, I am slowly sliding into the depths of this, not wanting contact with pretty much anyone. Which is why I come here. (one of the reasons, others being the great folk, information and all out entertainment of this place)

Suppertime, 2mg Clonazepam, 50mg Seroquel, food and then sometimes, more sleep.

I then awaken to try and spend some time with my son. If I am having a good day and manage to not sleep at all, these are great days, good moods and wonderful times. (sounds a little Bi-polar to me, which I was previously dx'd with, but they decided maybe not)

Bedtime then, whether I nap or not, without medication I do NOT sleep at night. I have always been a night owl. I chose my trade based on this (Baker) as I can be up and working at 1, 2 or3AM without a problem. So, bedtime meds... Zopiclone 15mg (highest recommended dose) used for getting to sleep aka Imovane or in the States, Lunesta and Trazodone 100mgsedative and anti depressant. This one is also supposed to keep me asleep once the Zopiclone gets me there.

When I take these meds, I am down and out for at least 5 hours, which for me is a long time. Most people get 8 hours but my body is, as usual, getting used to these as well. I have been taking this pairing for about 3 years. I sleep so hard that anything could happen around me and I will not wake up. Sometimes I am too scared to take them at all and will just "run a night shift" when I end up playing WoW online, watching tv trying to sleep or do some cleaning.

So, in closing I guess, I have been suffering clinical depression for so long that I really do not know what anything else feels like. I don't think I became any more so when dx with the D (in Sept'07) or perhaps that is why I am in such a funk now. Oh yeah! I also am affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and am in the midst of a good case of that right now. I cannot wait for the sun to shine again!

I consider myself a functioning prescription addict but when I discuss this with my PsychDoc he says I am working towards getting better so for the now to just continue with the way things are. It was my choice to eliminate the Seroquel, he is proud of me for that. Once that one is gone, I am going after the Clonazepam, being it is a benzodiazipine, I want off it, too.

Without these medications, I don't think at this point I would be functioning at all. They are as much a part of my makeup as my D is, the high blood pressure or any of the other things I need/have to take. I am not unintelligent, flailing along or a complete drain on the system (I do work, although not at baking at the moment). Sometimes I am embarrassed by this. Most of the time in fact, which is why a forum like this makes it easy to just be me. I don't have to "act in a certain way" be embarrassed about my "inadequacies" or behave in a certain manner to fit in.

I am just me.

CassFullOfMeds

[jillrapp]

I'm so grateful that you've taken the time to write, and to all of you with your information and advice. I did see the doc on Friday and more or less said what Subby did ie: one has to break, the depression or the sleeplessness. The doc prescribed an anti-depressant, Prestiq, an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). I know these are not supposed to take full effect for 4-6 weeks but I have seen a "little" bit of relief at night. I've fallen asleep before 11:30 each night just still cannot stay awake. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and that I can start to feel like my old self.

Keep providing your stories, everyone. I think it's been so helpful to learn from you all!