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Mental health

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Original poster

Have a pack of Citalopram but DH doesn't want me to take them

31 replies

Spagblog · 23/08/2006 08:13

Thinks I don't need them
Thinks it would be the start of a slippery slope
Thinks I can overcome my depression with herbal stuff
Thinks Anti Ds are evil

Sigh

Can I have positive stories please?

OP posts:

trinityrhino · 23/08/2006 08:15

i am on citalopram, makes me feel more myself and able to feel like there is a point to the world. they arenn't evil they allow you space to breathe, they aren't addictive

IdrisTheDragon · 23/08/2006 08:16

Prior to taking my ADs, I was verging on suicidal, was angry all the time and could see no point in going on.

They have helped me to get out of the greyness that took over my life.

My DH was initially sceptical of ADs but now we both see them as similar to his inhalers for ashthma - a bit boring but necessary to keep us OK.

biglips · 23/08/2006 08:18

Citalopram - you cannot get addicted to these tabs as these are the lowest form of ADs tabs out there..i tried them and didnt work for me in the end.

YeahBut · 23/08/2006 08:23

Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. New generation ADs work by altering your brain's ability to take up these chemicals and "re-training" your system to work in a normal way. They are not mood altering or addictive in the way that tranquilisers were. A doctor would not prescribe these drugs if he or she were not convinced that you needed them. They are, quite literally in many cases, a life saver.

I know that they were for me after dd2. They took about 2 weeks or so to kick in and I felt like I had a kind of pressure headache for a couple of days. I didn't start feeling like climbing mountains or bursting into song(!) but I did feel able to do normal things like load up the washing machine and go to the supermarket. I gradually began to see the positive in life, stopped bursting into tears at nothing and began to sleep properly again.

Spagblog, if you need them, take them. It's your body, your mental health. I'm sure that your dh will change his tune when he sees you returning to your old self in a few weeks. Good luck

madmarchhare · 23/08/2006 12:09

My DH was very anti ADs to start with. I found a couple of websites and got him to read them. In my case, nomorepanic.com, that explained a lot of how I was feeling, the reasons, how ADs might help etc...

I dont think he will ever fully understand these types of illness (put a lot down to the way his parents think), but we have a vast improvement on his understanding which helps immensely when I'm sat on the front step, gasping for breath in the middle of the night.

Verso · 23/08/2006 12:23

There is a huge amount of stigma wrongly attached to antidepressants I think. I'm on Citalopram and it took me ages to pluck up the courage to take them as I thought it was a sign of weakness. In fact one of my best friends said as much to me .

Anyway, several months on I have to say they have made a big difference and I now think it's a sign of strength to ask for help when you need it. I feel normal again, not panicky or worrying or scared or upset or weepy or anything like I was. They take a while to work, and the effect is subtle, but they DO help.

mummyhill · 23/08/2006 12:27

Spagblog - Is he Tom Cruise by any chance? If he means st johns wort It is very good but if you are on the pill will disrupt everything and this increases the risk of pregnancy. Whereas Citalopram is perfectly safe to take with the pill, are nonadictive and works quicker and more effectivley than a herbal remedy.

I use citalopram and am finding it much easier to cope with life.

CheesyFeet · 23/08/2006 13:08

I'm taking escitalopram rather than citalopram but they are fairly similar. I have to agree with everyone else here. If you had any other chemical/hormonal imbalance in your body then no-one would dream of telling you not to take medication that would help. The fact that this is to do with mood and the brain should make no difference. I have been taking it for 18 months and even though it's not without side effects (tiredness, vivid dreams, night sweats in my case, different for others) I would not be without it. I was at the top of a slippery slope until I started taking it. I'm now on an even keel again.

PandaG · 23/08/2006 13:13

I found ADs really helpful when my depression was diagnosed - and, I found it pretty straightforward to come off them again, over a period of about 3 months, around a year after I started taking them.. Haven't needed them again for 9 years. If dr has prescribed them I would be inclined to take them.

bluejelly · 23/08/2006 13:15

My ex took them and had a huge improvement in his mood after about a month. What have you got to lose?

waggledancer · 23/08/2006 13:44

What does he think makes herbal stuff work? They are just as strong as medical anti-d's so maybe he's more bothered about the social stigma than the effects. I would recommend taking them, as others have said they are definitely non addictive and he can only benefit if they lift your mood

youknowwhat · 23/08/2006 13:50

Spagblog, you are the one who is not very well. Do what you think is the best for you.
I have been on ad in the past for depression and they change my life. The best thing I have ever done and I didn't become addicted to them.
I had PND with ds1, didn't even realized that I was depressed until I started to get better. It spoiled my relation with my son. Not taking ad is one of my biggest remorse.
Sorry, I might come as being aggressive. I am not, just upset at people judging a depressed person and thinking that's the same as feeling a bit low and needing half a day off to put yourself together. just do what you think is the best for you. AD can be fantastic.

notyet · 23/08/2006 14:04

In my experiance people tend to feel very threatened by Depression. This is not helped by the fact that they also feel guilt for not being able to "make you better".
I always said: I don't particularly want to take them, but I have to be able get out of bed in the mornings and if the only way I can do this is to take antidepressants then I will. After a while, things improved and I didn't need to take them anymore. They got me through university and my first job, so can't be too bad.

Somanybabyseagulls · 23/08/2006 14:43

Madmarchhare and all those whose ohs don't understand depression please look on Chat, thread a cry for help. I posted this as my dh so doesn't understand my depression. Look for vvv's link to something she posted about pnd. It is so moving and seems to sum it all up.

frumpygrumpy · 23/08/2006 14:48

I'm just logging off but will put this thread on watchlist and come back as soon as I can. I fought with PND twice and had some very black times. I resisted pills and fought with herbal stuff and homeopathic stuff. I still get grey times but not so often. I have to run but I'll be back. Take them if YOU feel you'll benefit. Its not your DH that is feeling like this and if you feel better everyone will feel better. I didn't because I didn't personally want to but don't feel pressured either way. Stay strong.

madmarchhare · 23/08/2006 15:33

Ah yes, Ive seen vvqvs post bebfore. It is very good and I think its helped a lot of people here .

divastrop · 23/08/2006 17:35

i took ad's before i got pg this time,it was trial and error what worked(i took cipralex and went even more loopy than i was)but everyone is different.st john's wort work in the same way as most ssri's so i dont see what difference it makes.i didnt have any trouble coming off prozac and im waiting to go back on it again cos id rather take a little pill everday and feel like lifes worth living than do wothout and wonder what the hell the point is

alexa1 · 23/08/2006 21:48

I took citralopram and thought it was awful stuff. I stopped taking it after only 2 tablets as I was having hallucinations, night sweats and felt more panicky than ever (I was prescribed it for panic attacks). I was told to take half a tab for one week then move onto a whole tab. I didn't get that far, I threw them in the bin.
I know some people have said AD's work for them, but I would rather go without. I'm having reflexology, do yoga, meditate and excercise regularly which all seem to help. If I feel I need something I may try st john wort or try something natural.

Original poster

Spagblog · 24/08/2006 07:16

Thank you everyone - Mummyhill, no thank goodness! He isn't a scientologist, just very interested in NLP and believes everything can be solved using positive thought etc.

I am not convinced I am truely depressed and am not sure if I ought to take them either. I went to the Drs about my eating problems and lack of libido and ended up crying...I am stressed over having no money and big debts, but still enjoy life.

I don't know...

OP posts:

01kiwicath · 24/08/2006 07:59

I think its your call.....if you try them out, they could help whihc would be a great thing!!!! or you might decide you don't want to continue with them after all and then you will know either way.
If you will be a happier Mum for it, I'm sure DH would be so happy too!
You need to take care of you and I think we all tend to put ourselves last.
I guess if you listen to DH and don't take them, he might need to have another plan of how you can feel better instead????? Good luck and I hop eyou have a wonderful!!!!

01kiwicath · 24/08/2006 08:01

DAY!!!!

(opps still waking up)

LoveMyGirls · 24/08/2006 16:33

i had PND and took prozac for a few months i was having a hard time of it to put it mildly, circumstances can cause depression as well as the chemical imbalance. i stopped taking them because my circumstances changed and i felt able to cope with day to day stuff.

doggiesayswoof · 24/08/2006 16:46

Try them. You can always stop if they don't work. The 'slippery slope' bit is not true - honest. I took fluoxetine (prozac) for a few months and it made a hugely positive difference to me. My dh wanted me to take St John's Wort and I did try it but prozac was much more effective for me. He admitted he was worried it would affect my libido - hello! it was pretty low anyway. And now it's back to normal because I'm not depressed any more.

Naughtynoonoo · 24/08/2006 17:04

You are only one who can make the decision, not your husband. If you had a headache you would not think twice about taking an asprin would you. I am on sertraline and am down to half a 50gtablet a day. I feel so much better for taking them, everybody including myself. You don't have anything to loose, if you don't like them, stop taking them, but they do take a while to work and may have a few side affects, but from my and other mumnrs replies they have helped us out imensely, good luck.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 24/08/2006 17:09

here it is folks....Post Natal Depression - A difficult journey

Im on Sertraline - have been since Dec 05. I had the dose doubled in April, simply because I still couldnt sleep well. The last two months I can honestly say that I am enjoying life again. Never felt better. Tell your OH its nothing to do with him, and take them anyway. My DP was reluctant (his mum was addicted to tranqs which was why he was cautious), but he wouldnt say the same now, having seen the results.

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