To wonder why everyone isn’t on antidepressants

[Immyreeves91]

I really don’t mean to sound flippant at all - I realise of course that most people are not clinically depressed and so do not need to take antidepressants and that there are all sorts of side effects. But I’ve been prescribed some medication (sertraline) and I wonder why doesn’t everyone try it and then stop if the side effects are bad (basically in the same way that many people take recreational drugs - taking MDMA on a night out despite the possible side effects) as surely if they are a mood lifter it’s worth it? What does anyone have to lose?

I took sertraline for hot flashes and it definitely improved my mood too, but I gained weight on it. Then I stopped it and found that my mood was perfectly fine without it. So why would I take it if I don’t need it?

Is this a joke?

I'm on sertraline. But wish to god I didn't have to be :( it's true I'm no longer suicidal or crying everyday but I now feel quite numb and zombie like. I'm tired.

I don't take these things to have a bloody knees up and a good time !!

I'm on sertraline. But wish to god I didn't have to be :( it's true I'm no longer suicidal or crying everyday but I now feel quite numb and zombie like. I'm tired.

I don't take these things to have a bloody knees up and a good time !!

I wonder why doesn’t everyone try it and then stop if the side effects are bad

Because what doctors don’t tell you is that getting off them can be a bitch. I was only on ADs briefly and it took me longer to get off them than I was ever on them.

They work for some and they should always be there as an option but I personally wouldn’t touch them again with someone else’s barge pole.

Did you mean to be flippant and rude. People with depression or MH issues need support.
"1 in 4 will have a MH issue" at some point in their life, not necessarily for a large proportion of their life. They need help/support/medication then.

But that still leaves three quarters, 3/4, 75% of the population to whom this doesn't apply.

I've struggled. But I don't think I've ever been depressed. Soon need for AD's.

I think you are being flippant. And offensive.

Ok I possibly could do with it, but unfortunately I need other medication which this reacts badly with .
So it's a non starter.
Glad it helps you.

Oh aye, brain altering chemicals for a bit of a lift. Never mind that several of them have been linked to suicide and people can have the most dreadful time weaning off them.

Sertaline made me so poorly I was so sick I couldn’t cope, fluoxetine didn’t do anything for me and diazepam just made me want to sleep so I’d rather be depressed and down than any of these side affects.

I really really don't need anti depressants. I enjoy my life every day. I know the difference too, because I live with someone suffering with depression and they need the medication. I see joy in my kids, in fresh air, in funny tv, in going out for a walk, in chatting to neighbours... I love life and have energy for new projects. I sing and read and swim and write and work and help people. I really don't need a drug dependency.

I found they made me feel numb, which I needed at the time but would hate to be like that all the time.

I love the feeling I get after 3 or 4 glasses of wine. Do you think I ought to get a bit pissed every night?

For the same reason we don’t take MDMA-we’re sane and so are doctors! They don’t hand this stuff out like candy.

I do not like the woozy feeling they give you also I am too paranoid that I am not addressing the real issues that trigger my depression (loneliness, stress, anxiety)
I usually am able to reach a point where I will make a conscious effort to pull myself up and address things properly. There have been a couple of times I haven’t been so good at recognising how bad it has got and it’s taken a lot lot longer. I have no issue with them as a choice they are just not my choice

As an aside diazepam is way too nice
I’ve had it for another condition and I really think I would get addicted to such a drug!

^diazepam is like being in that cup a soup ‘hug in a mug’ advert type of woozy. AD’s feel like a scary kind of woozy

I took a high dose of gabapentin for months it was like being constantly drunk and wonky. I am sure you get used to that but I couldn’t ever get through that part

Firstly the obvious; not everyone needs a mood lift even if that's how they worked (they don't), they don't work for everyone, negative side effects, long term impact on brain/chemical production and balance, cost, numbing of emotional experience and many other reasons well revising on this thread. Secondly have a read of Prozac nation.

I'm sorry but this is just such a stupid thing to ask

Why wouldn't everyone take medication they don't need, that can have awful side effects and be a nightmare to withdraw from?

I'd do some proper research on them if I were you.

After reading this thread I don't understand how drugs which are supposed to cure depression seem to make it much worse for most people. Why are they being prescribed if so?

I don't take them because I don't like the idea of being medicalised all the time, I won't even take hormonal contraception. I do take mdma occasionally though.

Wine. Or other liquid containing alcohol. Plus the fact wine won't appear on medical records, as long as you can keep a secret from your doctor

JaneJeffer - some would say because there are lots of people making huge amounts of money off them and it's all a complete racket.

Not saying I believe this 100%, but it's certainly a theory that's out there for a reason.

This article seems to present a balanced overview:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/mg23931980-100-nobody-can-agree-about-antidepressants-heres-what-you-need-to-know/amp/

Maybe so Jiggles DH was given them for a bad back!

This is really weird! I'm not depressed so I don't need antidepressants? Why on earth would I take them?!?!

What an utterly bizarre and ridiculous idea.

If you don't have any real need for a particular drug then don't take it. Why would you?