Just been prescribed anti depressants scared

[sassie23]

I've just been prescribed sertraline. I've suffered for about a year now since my DS was born but recently I've had severe anxiety and insomnia because my DS have both had bad tummy bugs. I've been quite sick too and just felt I couldn't cope. After much discussion with DH I went to doc. She was great talked to me etc but now I have these tablets and now I've read about the side effects blnausea insomnia etc etc I'm thinking how can these possibly help me. Has anyone else had these prescribed, what have your experiences been ? Any advice gratefully receivedxxxx

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

Possible side effects are just that POSSIBLE. Not every medication is suited to every person. The chances are that the drug will do exactly what it is supposed to and five you a little head space to make positive changes in your life to enable you to cope.

Good luck. It is a tough journey but well well worth it.

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

Five - give.

[sassie23]

Thanks lilmuchturkey I'm just scared don't know how I'd cope if things got worse two wee ones too look after and work to get back to supposed it's the unknown

[Upwardandonward]

As LTMT says, the side-effects may not happen. Also, medicines like sertraline are said to have less side-effects than older anti-depressants.

Has your doc said how long to try them for? They don't work straight away, and side effects can come then go away as you get used to it - usually sevrtsl weeks is suggested.

[Conflugenglugen]

sassie - as Lil says, most of the side-effects are possible; and if you do have some, you might find that they disappear after a week or so. Long-term side-effects, such as loss of libido, will need to be weighed against the benefits - but you might find that you're in a better position to make that decision once you see that/whether they work. It takes 3 - 6 weeks usually for ADs to kick in, so give them some time. They can be life-changing, and they certainly worked for my post natal depression.

[Conflugenglugen]

I was on ADs for a year, came off them gradually, and my depression has not returned; although I will add that for depression that is triggered by external events, it is often highly beneficial to couple them with counselling or therapy.

[sassie23]

Thanks people maybe I should just wait til we're finished with this bug and then fake them or maybe I'm just fooling myself I know it's my decision to take xx

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

The following post is going to sound a bit cold but if I tiptoe around it will take ages so sorry-

Recovery from depression requires some kind of active engagement from the sufferer. Whether that be lifestyle changes, talking therapies, cbt or medication. It WILL NOT get better on its own.

Your choice here is to take the leap and risk some of th side effects in the hope that it is the right thing for you, you can get better and lead an immeasurably better life or, don't take them, don't do anything and the only thing that's gonna happen is it gets worse.

I am not saying drugs of any kind are always the answer but you have to do something or it will only get worse.

For me I am not sure what, if any, affect anti ds had. I was only on them for a short period. For me it was councilling and behavioural changes that really changed me. 10 years later I have never gone back.

[sassie23]

I totally agree with you I can't hide from it anymore. I do think counselling of some sort will help too as someone said the kids getting sick does tend to trigger me at the minute. My mother is also unwell

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

You are already stronger than you think. Realising you have to do something takes a massive amount of courage xxx

[NanaNina]

Hi Sassie - sounds like you have PND that has only just been diagnosed - is that right. As others have said, don't worry about the side effects at this stage. The drug companies are legally obliged to print every singe thing that could possibly occur but probably won't. I am on ADs and the list of side effects included depression! I'm sure you know that what AD suits one person does not suit another person - it is all highy individualised. IF the one you are on doesn't suit, you can try another. They have been a life saver for me.

LTM Turkey I have to take issue with you for being so prescriptive in your post, declaring unequivocably that depression will not get better on it's own, and the need for counselling is essential. This was clearly the case for you, but it doesn't mean that this is going to be the case for everyone. OK so you weren't really helped by drugs but again this is different for everyone.

I recovered from a major episode of severe depression (needing 3 months on psych ward) and made a full recovery just on drugs, and stayed welll for 15 years. Then I stopped the drugs (gradually) and lo and behold another major depression hit me and again 3 months in psych ward and back on drugs. This time I have not made a full recovery (mostly ok but some bad days) SO I thought I would try therapy. I have tried 3 different ones over a year and spent a great deal of money and none of it has helped me. I think that if you have some childhood trauma that has been buried, then yes, therapy is essential. This is not the case for me.

I just think that we need to be careful on the MH thread as most of us are in a vulnerable state, especially newly diagnosed women. I think that brain disorders are still not really understood by the medical profession. They don't really know how ADs work, or why one suits one person and not another, and even why one used to treat a first episode, does not work in another episode. (Not the case for me, but was the case for a friend) It's all trial and error.

I have also discovered over time that many counsellors (though not all) are dismissive of the medical model (as you are) and likewise the medics are dismissive of the psychological model. SO where does that leave people like us. Many people have found that a combination of drug and therapy help.

Please don't take this personally and I'm sure you are trying to help but it has to be reconized that depression is extremely individualised, and we should be open to advice from the medics and psychologists but not come donw on one side or the other when posting on these threads.

[sassie23]

Thanks for the advice I realise I have no real other option but to try them but I'm going to try and make other lifestyle changes to help myself exercise for one. I have an already semi healthy diet but can anyone suggest a beneficial diet led plan ie are there any certain foods that might help boost me x

[Deux]

Hi Sassie. I was prescribed ADs in November (I posted on here a little). I only took them for 3 days as for me the side effects were horrendous and that AD obviously didn't suit me. If you are worried about the s/e can I suggest that when you start taking them you do so when you have another adult around? I started mine on a Saturday for that reason when DH was around. That way if you do have bad effects there is someone else there.

Regarding foods, foods high in tryptophan are supposed to help with mood and stabilising moods. I don't remember which foods are rich in tryptophan but in one of the Food Hospital episodes a woman with depression was helped enormously by dietary changes to foods high in tryptophan.

[sassie23]

Thanks for that deux have you had any luck since with other ads ? Think I'll start Sunday new year etc DH off til tues. I'll definitely look that up I really want to fix myself long term

[Deux]

Sassie, I haven't tried any other ADs. I was prescribed citalopram 20mg and it was way too much for me, I was really coshed by it.

The experience has left me terrified of taking any other ADs. I figured that if it was going to be a horrendous experience getting onto these drugs then how on earth was I going to get off them. I decided that I would try some other things first before trying any other ADs.

I do think I suffered particularly badly. They had an utterly sedating effect on me, not just sleepiness, but passed out unrousable for several hours within 45 minutes of taking one. I had extreme persistent yawning, irregular heart beat, zero appetite, poor visual awareness and perception, completely numb just didn't feel anything at all. My teeth hurt from clenching my jaw.

I just didn't care about the things I'd normally care about, little things like tidying up, keeping the house in order. Just went to rack and ruin for about a week till I felt normal again.

I need to drive and it became clear that I was not safe driving on these drugs. I managed to reverse my car into a lamp post even though I knew it was there and the sensors were going crazy. I was so numb though I just kind of shrugged it off.

I have been taking Kalms, 2 3x a day and that has helped a lot. When I went to my GP the DCs had had infection after infection and I caught the lot, I was really really run down and just couldn't cope.

Having said all the above, going to my GP was the best thing I did and it kind of gave me a bit of a jolt and even though the ADs were horrendous, I slept so much and did bugger all that I least my body had a rest.

It also prompted me to get back in touch with a therapist I used to see and I have been to see her and that helped enormously.

I'd completely lost all my boundaries and I had no idea where I began and ended. I was feeling enslaved by my family and trying to do the right thing the whole time. I was always procastinating and then feeling overwhelmed.

I've forced myself to make more time to do things that I like, eg I love to sew, crochet etc and I've done much more of that. I've also been walking more and trying to eat well. Made DH iron his own shirts

Also, did your GP run any blood tests? Mine ran a whole raft of tests and I'm surprised to discover that I am anaemic and deficient in Vitamin D. Apparently this would have contributed to my anxiety and low mood. I'm due back at the GP in the new year.

[Makinglists]

Sassie - I was prescribed 50mg Sertraline back in September for depression (not PND but I had had DS2 10mths earlier -previous to that I had had a traumatic few years which triggered the depression). I'll be honest there were side effects the first night I didn't sleep (by second night it was better) and I felt a bit nauseous for 3-4 days (not bad just a bit 'off'). I also felt a bit spacey/euphoric for a few days-needed to be careful driving etc. After about a week the side effects went and about a month later I felt better. I'm not 'cured' but the medication has been a positive experience making me calmer and able to deal with daily stresses better.

I hope you feel better soon.

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

Hi mums. I never said that councilling was essential. I said some kind of action was essential and that action is different for every person. For me it was councilling but I said that for others something as simple as lifestyle changes may be the answer. But I stand by my comment that depression will not get better on its own.

[LilTooMuchTurkey]

Oh and I also never said anti ds didn't help.me I said I don't really know what effect they had. I am not sure of my change in attitude helped me sort some things out in my head or the anti ds gave me that space. They certainlydidnt do me any harm.

[HollyTwat]

I've just started taking citalopran sassy
I was like you and read all the side effects and googled and got a bit scared. So I asked the doctor if I could take one every other day to reduce any side effects and she said was fine.

So far I've been fine, a few hot flushes, but I'm feeling much better than I was. I'm not waking up crying any more so I'm glad about that.

Can you ask about starting them gradually?

[dottyspotty2]

I was prescribed Citalopram 5 weeks ago due to anxiety and probable depression due to recent events not noticed a massive difference yet but I'm only on 10 mg until next month when she says she might up it didn't want them to be honest.

[ladywithnomanors]

I've been taking escitalopram for 3 years and have been fine on it. Before that I took Seroxat and suffered lots of side effects. You won't know if you'll have side effects until you try. I really recommend you try them, they have changed my life.

[sassie23]

Gp put me on 50g sertraline cos she was worried the sedating SSRIs would be too much for me to cope with I mean I feel hangover if I've had a couple of nytol. So she has warned me about temporary sleeplessness and nausea so we'll see. I want to try them to see if I can make a difference to my life which I really want to enjoy. Hollytwat maybe the gradual approach is a good idea