Overdosing on Elavil--Too Much of a Good Thing...

[wmonique2]

Hello friends,

I have disappeared for more than a couple of weeks battling this dragon...I had a small relapse a while back with I ate a very small serving of an eggplant dish. I was having nausea so I increased my Elavil by 5 mg which is half pill of my ordinary dose of 10 mg. This dose is very minimal. It stopped my nausea immediately and I kept taking it because I was under a lot of stress to get things ready for my sister and her husband who are arriving in a couple of days.

However, I started feeling very depressed and having a lot of anxiety. I was weepy and cried a lot. I couldn't figure out why I was suicidal. I felt deep sadness and nothing could shake it. I was sliding downward very fast. I had no reason to feel that way because I didn't have any symptoms. It went like that for like 2 solid weeks until connected the dots and remembered that psych meds can make you suicidal and raise your anxiety level. And that is why they warn you that you should stop taking them soon as you have these thoughts. It runs contrary to logic but anti-depressants can depress you.

So, I stopped taking them and within 24 hours I stopped crying and got out of bed and within 48 hours I was back to being myself. So, the lesson I learned is that Elavil is good in a very small dose. I hate the side effects (like short term memory loss) but it does help calm my gut and takes care of the histamine issue.

So, friends I have missed you!

Had some great book signings events and great reviews up to that point..Who else finished reading the book?.

Love to all,

Monique

[tex]

Hi Monique,

Wow! That's scary. I'm glad you figured it out before the situation became worse.

Love,
Tex

[Leah]

Oh Monique! I'm so glad you figured that out as soon as you did.
I just finished your book and really enjoyed it :) it was different then what I usually read and I learned some new vocabulary! You left it open to Kennedy being an ongoing character. Are you planning on another adventure for her?

leah

[Gloria]

Monique,

I'm glad you figured out the problem. It does seem ironic that a medication which is supposed to help with depression can cause depression.

Gloria

[UkuleleLady]

Hi Monique,

So glad that you caught yourself before it got really out of hand. I am meeting with a psych in two weeks and was going to ask about elavil. I will keep your experience in mind.

Thank you for sharing and I hope you are feeling much better.

Sincerely,
Nancy

[wmonique2]

Hey friends,

Yeah, that was a bad experience. Very bad, indeed. Thanks Tex, Gloria, Nancy and Leah.

Leah--glad you enjoyed the book. Yes, I left it open but wasn't sure that I wanted to send Kennedy anywhere else. I started another book a while back (more slow paced and more literary) and I am like 80 pages into it. However, those that read the book want Kennedy back into another novel so I am afraid I'll have to bring her back for an encore appearance. It isn't an easy book to write. Plotting makes it complicated. It is a lot easier to write those books without a plot, what I call slice-of-life with lots of stream of consciousness (internal dialogue and more narrative) than it is to write a suspense one with turns and twists and adventure AND lots of narrative.

What kind of books do you like reading? I tend to read literary IF the plot moves. If it doesn't, I move to the next book :-). My favorite author in the suspense genre is Daniel Silva. Otherwise I am eclectic as long as it is well written.

Leah, do you mind writing a review on Amazon? Thanks a lot. I'd really appreciate it. xxxooo

Love to all,
Monique

[Leah]

If I can figure out how to write a review, I will do it :) I like historical books best, but "slice of life" books are also good. I also sometimes do funny ones.

Leah

[wmonique2]

Leah,

Of course you can write a review! Anybody can. It's just your opinion, not really a review in the traditional sense...You'll find others from the forum here. Just a short paragraph will do or even a sentence. Only if you have the time and inclination to do it , Leah. I won't twist your arm :-)

I like historical books too in the non-fiction category and love funny ones :-). I just joined a neighborhood book club. Their first book? Mine :-)

Thanks, Leah!

Love,

Monique

[dfpowell]

Monique,

Glad you are feeling better!! I enjoyed your book, you amaze me with your research, felt like I like I learned something about the area.
A historical nonfiction book I am currently reading( actually listening to) for a book club is "Consider the Fork: A History of How we Cook and Eat", it is rather interesting.

[Joefnh]

Monique that sounds scary! I'm glad you connected the dots though and are feeling better. Having a chronic illness is enough, certainly adding depression into the mix does not help at all..

These last few months has certainly been an eye opener as I never had to deal with depression, I certainly have a lot more respect for those who deal with depression as well as chronic illnesses, it takes a real commitment to being well and seeking the right medical help.

Im glad your doing better Monique and it sounds like your book is doing well....hmmm what is it about this site, authors everywhere!! I'll be taking some time off over the holidays and I did order a copy of the book to read then, I'm looking forward to it

Best of wishes for your health and your success as an author.

Take care

[JeanIrene]

Monique, glad you're better. Seems like there's a downside to all medications, but this is a really serious one. Thank heavens you were able to figure out what was wrong.

Any ideas for your next book? Wish it weren't so difficult for me to read fiction. I love biographies and history. Am currently reading "Zealot" and finished "Destiny of the Republic", both well-researched and excellent.

Jean

[wmonique2]

Hello friends,

Sorry I am a bit slow in responding but my sister is visiting and it is a fulltime job to entertain her and her husband. I am staying clear of the restaurants adventures they want to experience. I am sticking to all my safe foods!

Joe---thank you for your good wishes. It was a different experience for me since the last thing one would say about me is that I am the depressive type. Au contraire! And yes, I caught it on time and figured out the culprit! I am better now.

Thanks Jean. I am working on my next book but not yet clear as to what it will be. Thanks for sharing your book selections :-)

Love to all,

Monique