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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to talk about antidepressants?

276 replies

Neednewjeans · 06/10/2012 14:34

Who's on them then? Have they been a help or do you regret taking them? After a bad bout of PND most health professionals kind of 'gave up' with me as I wasn't willing to try them (mostly due to my GP saying my symptoms could become worse before getting any better which, at my worst, I couldn't get my head around).

So...I'd just like honest answers. Did they help? Do you regret it? Would you like to come off them? Or not?

OP posts:
whathasthecatdonenow · 06/10/2012 23:33

I don't really think we can extrapolate from the US to the UK.

dottyspotty2 · 06/10/2012 23:36

whathas was also in an awful place when prozac was mentioned was still unhappy about being on the AD's as well I have looked into different AD's and there effects now.

merlincat · 06/10/2012 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 06/10/2012 23:37

i never said over 2 weeks grieving is a sign of mental illness, it is what is beign proposed for dsm5 due out next year (us medical manual, one that has influence) it is referred to as prolonged grief... think who this really benefits if drugs are prescribed

BupcakesAndCunting · 06/10/2012 23:40

Hereditary depression is certainly being looked into as a factor. My CBTherapist said that MH specialists have being saying as much for years.

Think about it: if one thing triggers you off i.e parental divorce/abusive relationship etc, shouldn't all people who've had those experiences become depressed? It just doesn't happen. I think it can depend on your genetic make-up as to whether you are prone or not. My mum and I both suffer with anxiety triggered depression. We both fixated on things that weren't "real", mine was health. I got really awful health anxiety and last October I spent 3 weeks convinced I had cancer. I even made myself have the symptoms of the cancer I imagined I had! That is how powerful your brain is!

whathasthecatdonenow · 06/10/2012 23:41

I understand dotty. I have a very ambivalent relationship with ADs myself and did take myself off fluoxetine after six months.

I just think that having someone come along and berate people with depression for using ADs is not on. They do work for many people, and if those people make the decision to use them it is not on for others to come and tell them that they are making ill-informed decisions and need to 'get to the root' of their issues.

GoldShip · 06/10/2012 23:42

Oh I do love a manly hug Wink

Going to look at the link now, thanks for that! What you're saying does defo make sense. It'd be interesting to know why some people are affected and others aren't. Why people are more susceptible.

dottyspotty2 · 06/10/2012 23:46

whathas I've not berated anyone it's been a couple pf others AD's along with counselling have literally saved my life. I know what has caused my depression and I'm also dealing with it, it will take more than AD's to tackle my issues as its to complex.

whathasthecatdonenow · 06/10/2012 23:51

I'm not talking about you dotty, you haven't berated anyone.

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 06/10/2012 23:56

i am sorry if some on here feel i am berating them that was not the intention at all :( i was answering the op and then those who questioned my response (s)

as i have stated i have suffered depression i understand that depression is very very complex that is why i feel taking drugs is not always the answer but that is the answer from the nhs due to lack of funding. and i can not rule out totally taking ad's again myself but i also do believe that they are way over prescribed, people are often not getting the help they need and are do not have anything else but a prescription given to them for a few tablets that help them feel they can cope, if the dose keeps being upped how can this be right

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 07/10/2012 00:01

and equally i do not think counselling is for everyone, and certainly has to be done when someone is ready to make changes not because others think it is the right thing for the. (though i am biased i do think if someone finds the right therapy and right therapist they can make progress) and i know from personal experience people do not always know what they may or may not get from counselling and they should always be informed

whathasthecatdonenow · 07/10/2012 00:04

Well then Freudian, can you accept that for some people ADs are effective, for others talking therapies are, and for some a mix of both are good?

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 07/10/2012 00:13

i have never said that are not but i question how many. i am sure many on here started on half the dose or less than they are on now and that really needs to be looked into

i questioned after 8 sessions of cbt that a conclusion would be made that ad's are the answer but this is normal within the nhs dies not mean it is wrong but is it always right

i still strongly believe that they are way over subscribed and would advise anyone who has been on them longterm to see a mh professional and if dose is being upped they ask to be referred

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 07/10/2012 00:15

does not mean ... not dies Blush

dottyspotty2 · 07/10/2012 00:17

Freudian I'm still on a relatively small dose wouldn't want it upped any higher, however I've been on them less than a year and all being well will start coming off them in the new year.

whathasthecatdonenow · 07/10/2012 00:18

You do start ADs on the lowest possible dose, as with most medications. A diabetic starts on a low dose of insulin and it is upped or lowered based on blood sugars. ADs are upped or lowered based on how well they work for the individual patient. If a patient is ever concerned they should of course ask for further input from specialists, not sure why you seem to think you would be the only one to think of this?

I've had all of my therapies privately or through Occupational Health, so no NHS need to save money at work there.

Shaky · 07/10/2012 01:00

I had counselling through occupational health too. It did help but it wasn't the whole picture. All the counselling in the world won't rectify a chemical imbalance.

Shaky · 07/10/2012 01:21

Prozac made me feel so ill, I could barely stand. I'm glad I persevered though, I feel so much better.

LesleyPumpshaft · 07/10/2012 01:58

I was put on citalopram once. I hated the weight gain and general spaced out feeling. Then I was put on an SSRI, can't remember which one. The SSRI caused a lot of anxiety and weight gain.

Btw, I take meds for bipolar and I've heard the conspiracy stuff about antidepressants and other drugs. Tbh my medication allows me to function and lead a 'normal' life, to work, be there for my family and to basically avoid serious mixed episodes where I could quite easily top myself. I honestly don't think I'd still be here without it.

I think medication for any sort of MH issue works best with some kind of therapy, maybe CBT, and a deeper understanding of your problem.

LurkingBeagle · 07/10/2012 05:39

Not had time to read the whole thread but I went on Effexor a year ago and they totally changed my life. I had suffered from depression (as did my mother) for years and it was debilitating. I tried CBT, Prozac, amitryptiline, fluoxetine, but nothing helped and my GP was at a bit of a loss. Then my dad committed suicide, and the wonderful psych I saw at the Priory was the first person who told me that depression was genetic and that I should accept help. I have been on Effexor since then and the side effects were tough at first but I am a new person now and I have never looked back.

Another "from my cold, dead hand" person here-sorry!

BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead · 07/10/2012 05:56

I must say that, to an extent, I agree with Freudian....

I agree that ADs do seem to be handed put somewhat willy nilly. As I said above, my doctor now suspects bipolar, but is testing different ADs on me. As far as I'm aware, most ADs are highly incompatible with bipolar (there a always warnings on the leaflets) so theres a chance if I do have it, I'll get much worse!

My sister was prescribed them for PTSD. Doctor thought she was depressed, was clear to anyone who knew her exactly where that had come from. She had therapy, and that made her better.

I also know quite a few people prescribed them for bereavement, and a lot of the people i used to work with had them because they basically hated their job!

There is a difference between chronic depression and reactive depression.

Surely even a quick chat should help the doctor know whether you need ADs or whether therapy may be more suitable. And surely (does anyone know) for anything not too serious, obv not including anyone that is suicidal, a few counselling sessions cant be more expensive than min six months prescription?

Obviously I'm not saying never prescribe ADs for reactive depression, if someone is suicidal because of a reason, they need to be kept alive as a priority!

BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead · 07/10/2012 06:01

I'd understand prescription of ADs for reactive btw if they instantly made you feel better.

Arana · 07/10/2012 06:38

ADs saved my life. Call it a conspiracy if you like, but I wouldn't be here if I hadn't finally find one that treated my treatment resistant depression.

If you're lucky enough that you've never had the cancer of depression then be grateful. Don't begrudge those who need medication to make them function enough to be able to get themselves dressed, or walk to the shops, or any purge thing that a "normal" person might take for granted.

Arana · 07/10/2012 06:39

Damn autocorrect - purge = other.

monkeysbignuts · 07/10/2012 09:29

dotty prozac saved me from a 13 month pnd x