Re: What medication do you take for paranoia, and irritability that doesn't cause weight gain

[Guest guest]

An internal medicine dr can prescribe anti-depressants. Also, if she's been on

anti-depressants a long time, she may want to inquire about a booster. I take

Deplin and it really helps. I'm on wellbutrin and cymbalta--2 anti-depressants.

Wellbutrin works differently than prozac. And wellbutrin helps lose weight in

the beginning.

Ellen-Hangin in

> Lori wrote:

> I thought I would ask if anyone takes medication that gets rid of paranoia and

irritability without causing weight gain.

[Guest guest]

> Hi,

> I have a 46-year-old friend who was recently diagnosed with

> ME and Fibro. She has been sick for awhile, gone to a

> battery of doctors and finally ruled out other stuff.

>

> She shared she's been noticing irrational  paranoia,

> irritability, and stress. She already takes Prozac, which

> she's taken for a couple months.

Hi Lori

Prozac made me bonkers, I ended up cutting myself on both

arms and my legs, and a suicide attempt. Check and see

if she started taking the Prozac about the same time

these symptoms began.

Kaylene

[Guest guest]

Hi. She was on Prozac for many years, then stopped for years and started again.

I'm thinking it is more the perimenopause and the stress. She's looking for a

med she can suggest to her PCP. Thank you!

> Kzaylene wrote:

Prozac made me bonkers, I ended up cutting myself on both

arms and my legs, and a suicide attempt. Check and see

if she started taking the Prozac about the same time

these symptoms began.

[Guest guest]

Moderator's Note:

I don't know what other drugs your friend is taking, but there are definite

warnings on Prozac. Bennie's pointed out Lyrica's warning below. There are

similar warnings on many other depression and Fibro meds. Several doctors told

me that anytime my metal mood changed, anxiety, irritability, or whatever, they

wanted to know. Especially if it is in conjunction with a new drug or change in

dosage. Regardless of what the drug is being used for. For example, I am

allergic to penicillin. One of my symptoms was wild mood swings. My

father-in-law had a bad reaction to a change in dosage of a blood pressure

medication.

Regardless of what drugs she takes or how long she's been taking them, I would

encourage your friend to get an urgent appointment with her doctor.

>> Lori wrote:

>> She shared she's been noticing irrational paranoia,

>> irritability, and stress. She already takes Prozac, which

>> she's taken for a couple months.

> Kaylene wrote:

> Prozac made me bonkers, I ended up cutting myself on both

> arms and my legs, and a suicide attempt. Check and see

> if she started taking the Prozac about the same time

> these symptoms began.

All,

This is a listed side effect of Lyrica and the warning states to contact you

Doctor immdiately. See Below:

� you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and

you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning

or trying to do so) while you are taking pregabalin for the treatment of

epilepsy, mental illness, or other conditions. A small number of adults and

children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took

antiepileptics such as pregabalin to treat various conditions during clinical

studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed

suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as one week after they started taking

the medication. There is a risk that you may experience changes in your mental

health if you take an antiepileptic medication such as pregabalin, but there may

also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your

condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of

taking an antiepileptic medication are greater than the risks of not taking the

medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right

away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation

or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting

on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry,

or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); talking or

thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; withdrawing from

friends and family; preoccupation with death and dying; giving away prized

possessions; or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your

family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the

doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

,

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

You can find out about medication for anxiety/irritability from the Anxiety

Disorders Association of America at

http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/treatment/medication. I can tell you about

the SSRIs and SNRIs that I have taken if you are interested. Those are often

prescribed for anxiety.

Also, antipsychotics are used to treat psychotic symptoms such as paranoia,

and I'm sure they work even if the paranoia is temporary. You can find a

list of antipsychotics and all other psychotropics at

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/alphabetic\

al-list-of-medications.shtml

..

Zyprexa is an antipsychotic that I took for depression, but it made me gain

LOTS of weight. Abilify is another antipsychotic that also made me eat like

crazy. I currently take Geodon for OCD; it is another antipsychotic, and it

does not commonly cause weight gain that I know of--at least, it hasn't

caused me to eat like crazy, and I have been taking it for 8 and a half

years.

The other antipsychotic that I take, which I take for irritability, is

called Haldol--but the problem with Haldol is that, over time, it can cause

a permanent muscle movement disorder called tardive dyskenesia. I take a

very low dose, though (2.5 mg) only once per day, so even though I have been

taking it for about 3 years, I am praying that I never develop it--although

I may already have a mild form of it, I'm not sure. I am praying not. Haldol

also does not typically cause weight gain, or at least it hasn't with me.

You can look up prescribing information--including side effects,

indications, warnings, and so forth--for any prescription medication at

www.rxlist.com by typing in the medication name that you are looking for.

I hope this helps.

e.h.

>lorijkarasek@...> wrote:

> I have a 46-year-old friend who was recently diagnosed with ME and Fibro.

> She has been sick for awhile, gone to a battery of doctors and finally ruled

> out other stuff.

>

> She shared she's been noticing irrational paranoia, irritability, and

> stress. She already takes Prozac, which she's taken for a couple months.