To think antidepressants can have more than one use?

[Sizzlysausage]

Hi all - I've been pondering this question.

I am 50 and about two months ago started taking citalopram. I have never been depressed but for as long as I could remember I have had this feeling of fear - I guess I would say fear has been my dominant emotion. I've also been very down on myself, feeling very inadequate/inferior, feeling every rejection very intensely, shameful about things like my lack of career success. I've also spent a lot of time fighting the negative voice in my head telling me I'm shit, basically.

I know this sounds a bit like depression but I've never felt anything close to hopeless and I have a good life in many if not most ways and from the outside probably look reasonably sorted.

Anyway, I didn't really think of anti-d's as I didn't feel depressed but I got fed up with fighting that negative voice (which was getting louder), did some research, and am now taking citalopram. And it's been quite life-changing! I don't jump out of bed every day exactly and I still feel ups and downs but they just feel more manageable. I feel more confident, more outgoing, not quite so down on myself ... maybe, just sort of 'normal' (whatever that is)?

I think what I'm trying to say is in a sense this has changed what I would have called (and what I thought was) my personality, by which I mean I'm still me but a slightly more confident version. And of course, you'd never think of taking anti-d's for confidence - they're not marketed as 'personality-improvement pills.' But that's what they have been for me and it's been kind of amazing and I wish I'd known earlier that they could have this effect. Does any of this make sense and has anyone had a similar experience?

I know you said you don't feel depressed but the symptoms you've described are that of depression and anxiety. It doesn't always come with feelings of hopelessness, in fact when I was depressed I honestly just felt numb.

I'm so glad they're working for you and you're feeling better!

Anti-depressants are prescribed for depression, anxiety, OCD and many other similar conditions.
Citalopram is SSRI which blocks the absorption of serotonin meaning that you have a higher concertation of serotonin available which means better neurotransmission between brain cells and better cognitive function. Serotonin has a very diverse set of biological functions which includes regulation of mood, sleep, cognition, memory, digestion, vasoconstriction and possibly quite a variety of more subtle functions. So while I don't think it changed your personality, it would certainly make overall positive impact on your executive function, self-regulation and possibly self-esteem.

I started sertraline for anxiety in May this year. Its really helped control the anxiety and, as a result, I am more confident and my mind is a lot quieter (I don't have the constant stream of worries going through my head)

You were either suffering from anxiety or depression or a bit of both, by the sound of it - I think maybe just didn't understand that that's what it was.

Depression isn't just 'hopelessness'. It can also affect anyone, however great your life is and however 'sorted' you appear. Clinical depression can affect anyone. What you described - fear, shame, self-loathing, negative voices in your head - all sound very much like depression to me, and probably a degree of clinical anxiety as well.

I'm really glad the medication's helped you! It was a complete game-changer for me. When I was being treated for depression, my doctor did say that he thought I was one of the patients for whom depression was absolutely down to a chemical imbalance in the brain rather than triggered by external factors, and I think he was right. Maybe you're one of those people too! I'm so pleased that you're feeling better :)

Many women find them useful during the menopause. It's like your brain needs a boost.

I take Fluoxetine for depression, and when I was at the GP to ask for HRT, she mentioned that this is also prescribed for hot flushes, which is probably why that's one menopausal experience I've not had.

Can I ask how long it took to work? My son has just started it. Glad you are feeling better.

I think it was about a month before I felt any benefit, then 6ish weeks before full effect.

I started on 50mg, then went upto 100mg but the side effects were too much (awful headaches). Reduced back down to 50mg and have been settled on it since. Still have 'off' days, but overall it's a massive improvement.

I take duloxetine,
It is used for depression and nerve pain,
I have 60% nerve damage over my body to prolonged ICU stay.
It helps both symptoms

Lots of people take antidepressants for anxiety. I was on escitalopram for 2 years for panic attacks and anxiety. Off them now because I felt emotionally numb on them, but yes it’s not just for depression.

Quite often they can be prescribed for PMS if it’s debilitating. And yes can sometimes be helpful in menopause. Especially if you can’t take HRT.

I've been prescribed anti depressants for migraine. I had to come off one because it caused suicidal thoughts.

The idea of depression being caused by a "chemical imbalance" has been robustly scientifically discredited.

Anxiety is often helped with medicines known as "anti-depressants". Your fear sounds more like anxiety than depression. This is why it is important to talk to a medical professional if you feel mentally unwell - whatever form that takes. They should be able to help you find the right support for you (including non-medication therapies).

Yes I've always felt like this, self loathing etc. I take hrt but I've just started taking fluoxetine to try and stop the negative thoughts.
Also, I've made the decision that I don't want to be with my husband anymore. But I can't afford to leave until the kids are older so I'm hoping I can cope with living here until I don't have to by using anti depressants. Worth a try.

Thanks all. I think I was really clumsily trying to express that perhaps the term anti-depressants doesn't capture the wider range of uses - including for anxiety. But also I think I had always been wary of pathologizing something that I saw for a long time as an aspect of my personality - this tendency to feel so down on myself, so fearful. I had also always assumed this might be related to my upbringing etc and I still do (with a bit of nature as well) but I now also feel that no amount of therapy etc would address it because I have tried very hard at that and it hasn't worked. I now realise I 'need' medicine. I suppose in a way I had naively thought anti-depressants might be over-subscribed to treat what is essentially the human condition but I now realise I was wrong. I am not sure any of this makes that much sense though, so apologies if so!

I had a massive breakdown about three months ago and was prescribed the same meds. It really pulled me out of a black hole. I think it has helped me sleep better as well and be generally more calm and positive as well as dealing with the depression, anxiety and self-harm thoughts. I am feeling more self-confident as well and smiling a lot more.

I'm 5 weeks into citalopram and I feel amazing. My moods massively lifted and my bowel issue has settled. I had colonoscopy/MRI/ultrasounds for sudden onset pain and constipation. I was in pain for 2 years. My body is actually functioning when googling it they are used for helping with ibs. I'm never coming off them. I do struggle with some insomnia but that's starting to settle now! I love them!

I was going to ask about insomnia - apart from some anxiety a week before my period (and massive anger) my mood is ok. But my sleep is getting worse and worse. I wake up at least every hour in the night.

Doctor gave me some god awful sleeping tablet called amitryptalene. Felt like a zombie for the next day - not even safe to drive so that’s out!

Wonder if there’s any research with antidepressants and sleeping. May go do some research. I guess my issue is waking in the night and then off my brain goes whirling- maybe the antidepressants would settle that.

I take amitriptyline which I was prescribed for headaches as a muscle relaxant for my neck/shoulders. A side effect is that I now sleep so much better than before. Took a while and gradually increasing the dose for that zobmie until lunchtime feeling to go but now I get up fine so long as I take them early evening. I used to be awake in the night with thoughts running through my head and not having that is wonderful. It got rid of the headaches too.

I use sertraline for perimenopause symptoms, alongside hrt. It has helped with lack of motivation, low mood, irritability, insomnia etc. It has had the added benefit of quietening my mind, making me less cynical, and helping me to feel more positive about people and relationships. In that sense I suppose it has changed my personality, but that feels OK to me.