Topic Title: SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;Ideas?
| |  "SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;Ideas?"
, Wed 31 Jul 18:39
Hi. I am a teenaged female who just began taking St. John's Wort about 6 weeks ago. After MONTHS of dealing w/ what I now realize was depression but had mistaken for mono, stress etc., I decided to take some action. I was pretty impatient an thought the pills would work w/in 3 wks. They didn't, but I did begin to see a gradual improvement. Some days esp., usually 1 or 2 out of each week, I'd feel completely "normal" and think the worst was finally over. Each time I would slip back into listlessness, non-feeling, lack of emotion, and low self-esteem that was inexplicable considering my good life. For the past 8 days, the longest stretch ever, I have felt absolutely wonderful. Whereas before I could not stand spending time idly or alone, now I am able to fill it up w/ the most positive thoughts and activities. Everything is interesting to me, I have high concentration, and high confidence. I have started taking my whole dosage at night which gives me more energy in the morning. I owe this dramatic change to SJW. Just a few questions: can I expect a relapse back into feeling poorly? is my method of taking the pills recommended? if i do fall back into feeling depressed, how mu ch longer shouuld i wait to try other remedies? also, if anyone can identify w/ me or has ideas to add, please reply!
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Wed 31 Jul 2002 18:28 |
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| | "Re(1):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Wed 21 Aug 22:44
hi. glad sjw is working it has for me. i take mine spread out through out the day. at each meal. i read it doesn't matter when you take them all at once or one at a time . because your system builds up to a certain level of the sjw and then it stays at that level. i have read that if you ever change medications, you have to go off of one and wait 2 weeks before you try another type of medication just to be sure you don't cross these drugs together in your system.
good luck
Posts: 5 | | Registered: Tue 13 Aug 2002 20:52 |
| | "Re(1):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Mon 5 Aug 09:57
Posts: 54 | | Registered: Tue 26 Mar 2002 10:12 |
| | | "Re(2):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Mon 5 Aug 10:01
Hey all,
Well I have taken SJW since late January 2002. In the past several weeks I reduced to 2 x 300mg a day for two weeks and now am in my second week of 1 x 300mg a day. I better than I have in over six months. I found that while SJW evened me out, I was just blah. No highs or anything. Also, I found that when I was taking 3 x 300mg of Kira a day, I was dizzy sometimes and alchohol was horrible to use. Anwyay, I feel like my normal self now that I have reduced to almost nothing. I really think that SJW can help people, but it varies. I have never really had depression in the past and think I had just a rough spot of life. Maybe the dizzyness was caused by too much seriton from the SJW.
Posts: 55 | | Registered: Tue 26 Mar 2002 10:12 |
| | "Re(1):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Thu 1 Aug 01:18
SJW is working for you - good. To respond to your questions - brief relapses are common and those days are every bit as bad as you used to feel. If you are recovering normally, they will get less frequent, but still be as bad. Knowing that, though will help you deal with them. Keep a daily chart of how you are feeling - score the days 1-10 - and watch the trend. If it doesn't improve or starts to slip, it' time to reconsider your medication. On dosage, I also take the full dose in the evening and it works for me. Finally, advice my psychatrist gave me was that you MUST take whatever anti-depressant works (and he approves of SKW) for AT LEAST 9 months to avoid chances of a relapse. I've been on SJW for 2 years and am gradually reducing the dose as I feel completely back to normal at last.
Good luck
Dave
Posts: 56 | | Registered: Wednesday 3 Jan 2001 12:42 |
| | | "Re(2):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Thu 1 Aug 09:38
Dave, Thanks for the info; I really appreciate it. I'm glad to know that relapses are common but don't last indefinitely. Also, did not know about the 9 month thing- that's important. Thanx for the reply!
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Wed 31 Jul 2002 18:28 |
| | | "Re(2):SJW Helped, But I Worry AboutaRelapse;I" , Thu 1 Aug 08:12
Dave,
thanks ever so much for that response, its a huge relief to hear that occasional brief relapses are normal and to be expected and will make dealing with them much easier.
appreciate your sincerity and knowledgeable advice,
John
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Thu 1 Aug 2002 8:3 |
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