how long are you on AD's for

[myermay]

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They like you to take them for at least 6 months to ensure that you really get over the depression.

With the new AD's it is very unlikley for you to becomme addicted.

With all ad's they gradually decrease your dosage when they think you are ready to come off them to see how you cope. That way if you are still having problems they can increase your dosage again without causing any disruption.

Good luck and keep posting there is usually someone arround who can offer virtual tea and sympathy with advie if you need it.

Good luck myermay - I started on ADs on Sunday, and had the same fears as you had, but found heaps of support here.
Keep posting on here

Hi there, I just wanted to offer some reassurance that even though it is dead scary to start taking them ..they worked great for me. I had PND with both children but it wasn't until the second one that thing reached a point where I had to get it sorted..I was making everyones life a misery. I took Prozac for about 18mnths..20mg a day..I think and found I felt better within weeks.You dont walk round feeling like you are in a haze of drugs..but for me it felt like I was unable to dwell on arguments, not read so much into things, concentrate on each day and generally live more for the moment. I phased mine out unsucessfully at first by coming off them too quickly...but was fine the second time decreasing to every other day, every third day and so on..I have heard other peoples stories on here that have had not so good experiences..but I hope this gives you a little reassurance that for lots of people they are fab and just give you a little help.also I was really worried at the time that every one would think I was a bit loopy but as time went by and I spoke to more people about It I'd find loads had been on them at some point!Good Luck..if there is anything else I can help with just ask.

you cannot become addicted to the new ADs, - the SSRIs, but you do have to come off them slowly.

on them for 4 years, took almost 3 months to come off, that was over 2 years ago..all well ever since!!

if you had any other illness, you would take the medicine..so try not to think of ADs as anything too out of the ordinary

sleeping pills and things like valium (diazepam, tamezepam etc..) - you can become dependent on those..they are tranquilisers, which are different to ADs,

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Its completely normal with any depression to have days when you feel fine- that was what stopped me from getting help for a long time. Good luck for next week.

Myermay, I went to see my doctor today and she said exactly the same as mummyscaryhouse said. Also they wont necessarily put you straight on ad's if you're not happy/sure about it. They may just chat to see if there are other things you can do first.

Don't cancel your appointment if you are having a good day. I walked into the doctors this morning feeling fine and abit of a fraud. Within a few minutes I was in tears which made me realise even on the good days I'm just doing a bit of burying my head in the sand act.

Hopeyou get sorted out.

If you ask they can also refer you for councelling. Sometimes it helps to talk about your worries and fears to someone completly impartial.

Once I managed to get out and brave parent and child/toddler groups I found that it was great to talk to other mums in the same position as well. It made me realise that I was not on my own.

Mumsnet is a great source of advice and support too.

Please keep the apponitment cause not everyday is a good day.