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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know if dd should take antidepressants or not?

38 replies

VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:08

She's been prescribed 10mg citalopram but is hesitant to take them. She's very low with bad anxiety. She keeps asking me if she should take them and I don't know what to say other than it's her decision and if the gp prescribed them then she should take that seriously. I've talked to her endlessly about all her worries, bought lots of supplements etc but I'm nervous to say yes you should or no you shouldn't which is what she wants me to say. She's 20.

OP posts:
shmiz · 14/04/2023 20:11

advise her to give it a trial -
it’s the evidence based treatment for depression and anxiety
it’s life changing for many people

mamabear715 · 14/04/2023 20:12

10mg is low. As PP said, ask her to give them a try. They won't 'turn her into a zombie' which is what most people think! Hopefully they'll just take the edge of her anxiety.

Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:12

shmiz · 14/04/2023 20:11

advise her to give it a trial -
it’s the evidence based treatment for depression and anxiety
it’s life changing for many people

Thank you. I've googled it and there's so many horror stories about people not being able to come off it

OP posts:
Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:13

She says she doesn't want to gain weight on it.

OP posts:
mamabear715 · 14/04/2023 20:14

@VincentVaguer I guess there are horror stories about most drugs, in fairness - those of us who've had really good results probably don't post!

Hbh17 · 14/04/2023 20:14

If they are prescribed for her, that means that a qualified medical professional thinks that she should take them. Surely a doctor's opinion is more valuable than those of a bunch of randoms on the internet?

potatowhale · 14/04/2023 20:14

VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:12

Thank you. I've googled it and there's so many horror stories about people not being able to come off it

Show quote history

You can stop it but gradually and under drs instructions. Also you may find it works really well and why would you stop? You wouldn't stop taking medication for any other long term condition if it was working.

potatowhale · 14/04/2023 20:15

Hbh17 · 14/04/2023 20:14

If they are prescribed for her, that means that a qualified medical professional thinks that she should take them. Surely a doctor's opinion is more valuable than those of a bunch of randoms on the internet?

Yes I agree with this. If she's got specific concerns then could she speak to a pharmacist or the doctor again?

Biscuitandacuppa · 14/04/2023 20:15

I took citalopram for several years at a far higher dose and was able to come off them when the time was right. The trick is to take it very slowly. However not taking them isn’t solving anything either. Advise her to give them a trial, they don’t always work and she might need to try another medication before she finds the right fit.

mamabear715 · 14/04/2023 20:15

Sorry, I don't get folk who are low enough to go the GP, get a prescription & then come up with 101 reasons why they shouldn't take it.. all I can say is it didn't affect me weight, but so what anyway? I'd rather be a bit heavier but happier!

Cam22 · 14/04/2023 20:15

Hbh17 · 14/04/2023 20:14

If they are prescribed for her, that means that a qualified medical professional thinks that she should take them. Surely a doctor's opinion is more valuable than those of a bunch of randoms on the internet?

Precisely.

Magnoliasky · 14/04/2023 20:17

It was life changing for me. Initial two weeks was awful, I was exhausted, really down and paranoid but a month after starting my mood lifted. The lowest dose was enough. Wish I’d done it sooner

happyumwelt · 14/04/2023 20:20

I thought you were going to say she was much younger. A friend of mine has had very good results on citalopram and no side effects - she is very slim.

Helloumi · 14/04/2023 20:20

It's the best thing I ever did. 10mg is a small dose to start on and the first few weeks are rough with nausea, insomnia and lack of appetite but it gets better.

Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:26

Hbh17 · 14/04/2023 20:14

If they are prescribed for her, that means that a qualified medical professional thinks that she should take them. Surely a doctor's opinion is more valuable than those of a bunch of randoms on the internet?

Of course. She's not asking randoms on the internet. She's asking me (and I'm asking randoms on the internet lol)

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 14/04/2023 20:34

I would advise her to take them if the GP has prescribed them. My dd is on Escitalopram and has gone from suicidal to enjoying her life with things to look forward to.
She might not need to take them long term. I hope your dd picks up soon x

xxreeldancerxx · 14/04/2023 20:37

VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:13

She says she doesn't want to gain weight on it.

I was recently on this same medication and had to come off it after 3 weeks ... I had the opposite of this concern in that I had absolutely no appetite and actually lost 1/2 stone. Saying that, it made me feel so ill, very sick, retching etc and I felt better as soon as I stopped it. Back to Dr now to maybe try something else.

Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 20:38

PinkiOcelot · 14/04/2023 20:34

I would advise her to take them if the GP has prescribed them. My dd is on Escitalopram and has gone from suicidal to enjoying her life with things to look forward to.
She might not need to take them long term. I hope your dd picks up soon x

I'm so happy to hear this. Good luck to your dd.

OP posts:
Dogsarebetterthanhumans · 14/04/2023 20:52

She’s not going to gain weight on 10mg Citalopram. It’s been prescribed by the doctor who prescribes these every day.

Honestly, tell her to bring it on. She might even feel better for it. Millions do!

all the best for her OP xx

HighInfidelity · 14/04/2023 20:57

I wouldn’t tell her whether she should or shouldn’t take them - that’s her anxiety that’s trying to stop her from making her own decision. Instead I would keep flipping it back to her and asking what she thinks she should do. Maybe help her with a pros and cons list or something if she’s really struggling but it’s a good thing for her to get a bit of confidence in making decisions for herself. If she’s worried about things like side effects then the GP or a pharmacist could talk her through any of those worries.

Chattycathydoll · 14/04/2023 20:59

Does she have an eating disorder?

Retrievemysanity · 14/04/2023 21:05

If she feels low enough to go to the GP and a GP thinks she would benefit from the medication then yes she should take them otherwise what was the point of going to the GP?

Marinapeppina · 14/04/2023 21:06

I had severe anxiety and antidepressants were life-changing for me. I took sertraline. It's her decision but for a lot of people they really do work. You don't have to stay on them forever. For some of us our brains are just wired a little bit differently and firing too high on the anxiety scale, out of proportion to what is actually happening around us. Antidepressants can help our brains stop telling us that everything is terrible when it actually isn't. Good luck.

Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 21:16

HighInfidelity · 14/04/2023 20:57

I wouldn’t tell her whether she should or shouldn’t take them - that’s her anxiety that’s trying to stop her from making her own decision. Instead I would keep flipping it back to her and asking what she thinks she should do. Maybe help her with a pros and cons list or something if she’s really struggling but it’s a good thing for her to get a bit of confidence in making decisions for herself. If she’s worried about things like side effects then the GP or a pharmacist could talk her through any of those worries.

Thank you. This is exactly what I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
VincentVaguer · 14/04/2023 21:17

Chattycathydoll · 14/04/2023 20:59

Does she have an eating disorder?

I didn't think so but she's suddenly afraid of putting on weight

OP posts:
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