Posted by wishingstar on March 5, 2007, at 19:57:51
I was hospitalized this past weekend for suicidal thoughts and depression. They started me on desipramine 25mg, taken before bed. The first day on the medication (the day after the pill) everything was fine. The second day however my blood pressure was low (around 90/50 or so) and my pulse was high (137 right after getting out of bed, down to about 105 later on). By the evening, it was all close to normal (pulse in the 90s). I do typically have low blood pressure, but not that low, and my heart rate is usually more like 80. The third day (today), I woke up and my blood pressure was at 78/44, and my pulse at 145. They gave me an ativan to slow my pulse down. They had planned to release me this morning, and decided to do so, even with this issue going on. They never checked my pulse/bp again after giving me the ativan and I was released around 11am. One additional symptom has been bugging me ever since the second morning... my pupils are significantly dialated. I'm having a little bit of trouble focusing in on small print, like in a novel - I can do it, but its harder.
I'm leaning towards not taking the medication tonight. Each morning so far my bp and pulse have been more "off", and now that I'm not in the hospital, there is no one checking it or here to help if it gets too far off. Besides this, I'm only taking 25mg, and my understanding is that 75mg is generally the lowest level dose found to be effective. I cant imagine that I'll be able to tolerate triple what I'm currently taking, even if I move it up slowly.
My next appt with my pdoc is not for 7 weeks. I'm going to try and move it up, but in the past that has been very hard to do, even for emergencies.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Should I keep taking it or discontinue it? I was surprised that the doctor at the hospital told me to keep taking it, but I dont respect him for several other reasons anyway. I dont think he's the greatest doctor. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
poster:wishingstar
thread:738589
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070302/msgs/738589.html