Zispin

lilydonoghue

My doctor increased my zispin dose from 15mgs to 30mgs on Friday. ever since I am exhausted and missed two days from work because I slept through my alarm. I also take 50mgs valdoxan. when I started 15mgs zispin last summer I felt like this for a couple of days but this is day 5 and I'm dragging myself around looking forward to my next sleep. has anybody any advice for me as going back to the doctor costs a lot of money

angeldelight

Hi - sorry to hear you're having a tough time. We can't give medical advice on boards but as you've only recently seen your doctor you could try just giving the surgery a call and ask him/her to contact you to discuss? Depending on the surgery/doctor this can work. Also you could ask them do they have a reduced consultation fee for a repeat visit

lukesmom

lilydonoghue wrote: »

My doctor increased my zispin dose from 15mgs to 30mgs on Friday. ever since I am exhausted and missed two days from work because I slept through my alarm. I also take 50mgs valdoxan. when I started 15mgs zispin last summer I felt like this for a couple of days but this is day 5 and I'm dragging myself around looking forward to my next sleep. has anybody any advice for me as going back to the doctor costs a lot of money

Hi I can't give medical advice but from my own experience the dosage increase took two weeks for symptoms to settle down and they included grogginess so hang in there.

lilydonoghue

I've settled down with the new dose of zispin, but I cant stop eating, mainly carbs but want chocolate etc too. this drug is really helping my depression but I hate putting on so much weight. The thoughts of going back to the gp and getting a different anti dep are not good. this is the 6th anti dep I have tried - what do others think? No matter how much I exercise or try to cut down I'm not losing weight, just gaining and craving food all the time. Other than that I'm sleeping great and feel well mentally

lukesmom

lilydonoghue wrote: »

I've settled down with the new dose of zispin, but I cant stop eating, mainly carbs but want chocolate etc too. this drug is really helping my depression but I hate putting on so much weight. The thoughts of going back to the gp and getting a different anti dep are not good. this is the 6th anti dep I have tried - what do others think? No matter how much I exercise or try to cut down I'm not losing weight, just gaining and craving food all the time. Other than that I'm sleeping great and feel well mentally

Hi I was on it for 6 months and put on almost 2 stone. It was first designed for anorexics. The hunger cravings are very intense. I used to gorge at night on carbs and cakes and I couldn't help it or shift the weight. I came off it over 2 wks ago and the hunger pangs have disappeared. It's great for sleeping it used to knock me out but I felt sluggish. I'm glad to be off it but it helped me sleep when I needed it. You have to weigh up the benefits against the cons. They are helping you at the moment but if you cannot handle the weight issue then you may want to change. My psych doctor knew the weight gain was disturbing me but wanted me on them the 6 months although she did say if I was extremely unhappy about it then she'd take me off it. I stuck it out though for 6 months. Very hard to lose weight on it as it changes your metabolism . Do what feels right for you.

lilydonoghue

lukesmom wrote: »

Hi I was on it for 6 months and put on almost 2 stone. It was first designed for anorexics. The hunger cravings are very intense. I used to gorge at night on carbs and cakes and I couldn't help it or shift the weight. I came off it over 2 wks ago and the hunger pangs have disappeared. It's great for sleeping it used to knock me out but I felt sluggish. I'm glad to be off it but it helped me sleep when I needed it. You have to weigh up the benefits against the cons. They are helping you at the moment but if you cannot handle the weight issue then you may want to change. My psych doctor knew the weight gain was disturbing me but wanted me on them the 6 months although she did say if I was extremely unhappy about it then she'd take me off it. I stuck it out though for 6 months. Very hard to lose weight on it as it changes your metabolism . Do what feels right for you.

Thanks for your quick reply, I really appreciate that. I want to come off it as I weighed myself this morning and I've never been this heavy. Did you change to a different one when you came off it?

lukesmom

lilydonoghue wrote: »

Thanks for your quick reply, I really appreciate that. I want to come off it as I weighed myself this morning and I've never been this heavy. Did you change to a different one when you came off it?

Hi no problem.

No I didn't change to a different one as I'm already on cymbalta and seroquel. Are you taking any other meds? And by the way I had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms except one or 2 nights it took longer to get to sleep.

lilydonoghue

lukesmom wrote: »

Hi no problem.

No I didn't change to a different one as I'm already on cymbalta and seroquel. Are you taking any other meds? And by the way I had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms except one or 2 nights it took longer to get to sleep.

That's good to know as I intend to come off it. I take valdoxan too but the highest dose is 50mgs and im already on that. I don't like taking two tablets. its such a mess. How do you find Cymbalta and seroquel

lukesmom

lilydonoghue wrote: »

That's good to know as I intend to come off it. I take valdoxan too but the highest dose is 50mgs and im already on that. I don't like taking two tablets. its such a mess. How do you find Cymbalta and seroquel

Excellent. Cymbalta wasn't doing enough so they added in seroquel at a low dose and were able to raise the dose within a fortnight up to 300mg and I've been great ever since.

lilydonoghue

lukesmom wrote: »

Excellent. Cymbalta wasn't doing enough so they added in seroquel at a low dose and were able to raise the dose within a fortnight up to 300mg and I've been great ever since.

I never heard of Seroquel. How long are you taking the two of them. My depression keeps coming back and over the past 8 years I've been on and off anti dep's since then, but have realised over the past two years that I do need to be on something. I have tried Lexapro, lustral, Effexor, and then valdoxan which stopped working for me so zispin was added. I hope to see a doctor tomorrow and I am not taking the zispin today. How bad is your depression. I want to thank you for taking the time to reply to all my questions. I appreciate it a lot

lukesmom

lilydonoghue wrote: »

I never heard of Seroquel. How long are you taking the two of them. My depression keeps coming back and over the past 8 years I've been on and off anti dep's since then, but have realised over the past two years that I do need to be on something. I have tried Lexapro, lustral, Effexor, and then valdoxan which stopped working for me so zispin was added. I hope to see a doctor tomorrow and I am not taking the zispin today. How bad is your depression. I want to thank you for taking the time to reply to all my questions. I appreciate it a lot

Hi like you I tried loads of meds and they weren't working . I'm on cymbalta since last June and seroquel since august . Seroquel is an anti-psychotic generally used for schizophrenia but is a highly effective add on to boost anti depressents that aren't performing as well as you'd expect .i don't have depression now I've been well since august. It was very bad up to then I was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit three times over the space of four months and none of the drugs were working. I was very suicidal so had severe depression. It's gone now. I go to psychology sessions every fortnight and they have helped immensely too.

lilydonoghue

thanks Lukesmom for sharing that. I saw the gp today and she told me to wean off zispin for two weeks while starting Cymbalta at the same time. she said to keep on the valdoxan as well. I hope I can stop eating like a starved savage now. how's your appetite on the cymbalta

lukesmom

Hey that's great your gp switched your meds. My appetite is normal on cymbalta. So glad not to have crazy binging sessions anymore as I had on the zispin. I never ate so much in my life I now have to lose the weight I've put on but it shouldn't be too hard. Ive lost one pound this week by eating normally and not restricting too much so I reckon a bit more exercise and the weight should come off. Any other questions just ask how are you feeling today anyway?

neemish

Just to add - I hated Zispin. Three months of sitting on the couch like a blob. Most of that time is just a blur.
I'm on Cymbalta, I'm sensitive to meds and I tolerate it ok, but wouldn't be a huge fan of it. DON'T miss a dose! It#s one of those drugs where you can actually feel it within a few hours :-)

Also on a small dose of seroquel but it makes me eat like a horse. I literally eat in my sleep! And crave carbs like mad. But a much better option than benzos so what can you do??

But def what has made the biggest difference to me is psychotherapy. It's a long term solution, no quick fixes but absolutely has helped in understanding why I feel the way I do and that I can actually do something about it.

lukesmom

Hey I'm on seroqurl too a high enough dose 300mg and I don't get cravings at all. It's not hugely known for weight gain unlike the other popular anti psychotic olanzapine.

lilydonoghue

neemish wrote: »

Just to add - I hated Zispin. Three months of sitting on the couch like a blob. Most of that time is just a blur.
I'm on Cymbalta, I'm sensitive to meds and I tolerate it ok, but wouldn't be a huge fan of it. DON'T miss a dose! It#s one of those drugs where you can actually feel it within a few hours :-)

Also on a small dose of seroquel but it makes me eat like a horse. I literally eat in my sleep! And crave carbs like mad. But a much better option than benzos so what can you do??

But def what has made the biggest difference to me is psychotherapy. It's a long term solution, no quick fixes but absolutely has helped in understanding why I feel the way I do and that I can actually do something about it.

I'm already in counselling. I don't feel good today - I feel irritable and angry for no reason. I was going to try to cut down my valdoxan 50mgs at this time, but maybe I should just do what im doing - withdraw from zispin and starting Cymbalta. where does it all end I seem to have spent the last 18 months going to and fro to the doctor getting doses upped and changed etc. today is a bad day and I haven't had one in a while. I had to go for an alternative treatment for another ailment today and the practitioner told me all the bad stuff about the damage anti dep's do to your organs etc which really didn't help me at all. I left there feeling weak for having to take the anti dep's even though I have been down every alternative avenue you could name and only medicine has helped

neemish

If the meds help, then take them. Look, if you read about practically anything (food, the environment) there are going to be positives and negatives.

Have you seen a consultant psych? They are usually more skilled with meds than GPs and know what mixes will work and what won't.


After me extolling the virtues of psychotherapy, I had a horrible session today and feel miserable after it. Sometimes I just want to pack it in (the therapy I mean)

lilydonoghue

I went to a psychiatrist and she said to stick with the gp as I didn't need to be followed up, but I said that I thought the psychiatrist should follow me as they know the medicine better and the psych said that was just my anxiety saying that and to stay with the gp.

neemish

I dunno. You'd wonder sometimes. My GP won't touch my meds. If there are any problems, she tells me to ring the pysch.

HistoryMania

Hey, just thought I'd pop in and mention my own experience.

Being on Mirap (Zispin) for four years. Put on 3 stone with it

Felt fine, went the psych, mentioned a few things and they changed me to Lexopro.

Worst mistake. Going to my GP Monday to have a chat with him a bout it.

I know some people have some bad experience with zispin, but I am hoping to go back on it.

Going to ask to be referred to a dietitian do see if theres anything i can do about my weight while on the med.

Hope everyone is doing ok, and hope you dont mind me sharing my experience

lilydonoghue

I am now one week off zispin and three weeks on Cymbalta. I am experiencing headaches at this stage which I guess are withdrawals from zispin. I am not able to sleep either which is either the effect of the 'Cymbalta even though I take it first thing in the morning or another withdrawal symptom. I am also full of nervous type energy and cant sit still - but im not depressed. Has anyone any experience coming off zispin and taking Cymbalta. id love to hear your experiences. thanks

sunbeam

I briefly came off 15mg Zispin/Mirap a few years ago and tried Cymbalta. Unfortunately it did not suit me at all-it gave me palpitations and a mild feeling of numbness in my face. However that is only my experience and I know others who had no problems with it. I also tried Effexor which again gave me palpitations and made my blood pressure sky rocket so it may be that I just cannot tolerate SNRIs in general.

I'm back on Mirap/Zispin at a much higher dose (60mg) and apart from some sedation it suits me much better. I definitely wouldn't advise any other Zispin users to increase their dose that much without discussing it with their doctor though. It is only used in severe cases and my GP says I am one of only two patients he has known who take a dose this high.

harry Bailey esq

neemish wrote: »

I dunno. You'd wonder sometimes. My GP won't touch my meds. If there are any problems, she tells me to ring the pysch.

i feel your pain.im on 30mg of zispin a day and while it certainly elevates my mood,i get panic attacks at least 3 times a week and im constantly telling my gp about it,he won't prescribe a fast acting Benzo like Xanax or ritrovil to stop the panic attacks,instead he refers me back to the psych whose answer is always the same,more effin zispin,and it does nothing for my panic attacks whatsoever.(i started on 7.5mg per night!) i tried lexapro,cipramil and effexor and nothing stops the panic attacks. i bloody hate zispin.if any one in the medical profession is reading this id kindly ask them to have read of a thread i started today,with a view to lowering my zispin dose and having something at hand to curb these horrible panic attacks.Thanks.

lilydonoghue

I have still been on a journey to find the right anti depressant. I have been on Lexapro 20mgs with Valdoxan 50mgs and doing okay with no side effects but still suffering from anxiety. My doctor has added 15mgs of Zispin but I still remember the raging appetite I had before plus the sedated feeling. I don't know whether to start the zispin or not although I got it from the chemist. What do others think?

Kurtosis

Mod note

Lily medical advice is not permitted on boards, this is something you should discuss with you doctor.

Thread closed.