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Mental health

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Original poster

childish questions about antidepressants

11 replies

childishquestions · 07/04/2015 23:30

nc for this.

I think I need to start taking antidepressants. I have been depressed for a long time but able to function at work etc. Now that a 5+ year relationship is coming to an end and I will have to start over by myself in my early 30s (no children), I think I need to sort out my depression as part of this. So far, so grown up BUT part of the reason I have put off doing anything before now is fear of the actual medication, so can I ask...

Are there any antidepressants that are less likely to cause nausea/vomitting? obviously I can take them with food, start with small doses etc but this is something I am really worried about due to emetophobia. Due to this I recently delayed starting antibiotics for a uti until I had it for a week

Second, are there any antidepressants that come in a smaller tablet than others? I have a really hard time swallowing tablets and I know that even once I have a prescription I will really struggle to physically take them. I've tried all the usual tips but nothing really helps.

Thirdly, I haven't got a GP at the minute since moving to a new town. Once I get one I'll just have to go straight into the first appointment and ask for antidepressants - will this be ok or would they want to get to know me/monitor me for a while first? Now that I've made a decision to sort myself out I just want to get started as soon as possible.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice

OP posts:

thornrose · 07/04/2015 23:37

My dd is 15, she recently started on 50 mg of Sertraline. It is a very small tablet.

She had 1 or 2 days of feeling nauseous and that was it. She was extremely anxious and did panic about feeling she was going to be sick but she got through it.

Dd's GP had what I would call a 'checklist' , trouble sleeping, lack of energy, suicidal thoughts, lack of appetite, we just 'checked' the boxes if that makes sense.

happygirl87 · 07/04/2015 23:39

I was on fluoxetine, nausea is a side effect, but having it with a small amount of food really helped- I had a digestive biscuit or banana. Good luck with getting help

AWholeLottaNosy · 07/04/2015 23:48

I was on Prozac, I didn't really have any side effects just a dry mouth, were easy to swallow, but I guess everyone reacts differently. It may depend on your GP how much info they need about you, I was so desperate I just went in and blubbed
( not on purpose, it just all came out), but the last time, I had to fill in a quiz and wait a while before they would accept I had depression. Just be honest and don't minimise how you are feeling. Also see if there's any counselling you can get, it's usually only 6 weeks and there's a waiting list.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. X

Haggisfish · 07/04/2015 23:52

You can get Prozac/fluoxetine as a liquid form so you don't have to swallow a tablet at all. I suffered no nausea and certainly haven't heard of any of them causing vomiting.

BisleyBoy · 08/04/2015 08:28

I took mirtazipine for a while. It's known for less risk of nausea and certainly caused none in me. The dose they first start you on is a very small tablet. As the doses increase (if you need to increase that is) the tablets get bigger, but you can explain your problem to your gp and they can just give you more of the smaller tablets to get to the required dose.

Ilikesweetpeas · 08/04/2015 08:33

Citalopram is quite small, I started on a low dose and built up. No nausea, no side effects just feel a lot better! Maybe ask the dr if anything is available in syrup form. Hope you find something suitable

Northumberlandlass · 08/04/2015 08:35

Same as Ilike - started Citalopram a couple of months ago, small tablet. I take 20mg & did from the start, a dull headache for a few days & felt jittery, I felt queasy & unsettled for a few days. But I feel 1000% better than I did.

Get an appointment with GP and tell them everything.
I wish you well

Pandora37 · 08/04/2015 16:58

I don't think there's any one less likely to cause nausea as they effect everyone differently. Sertraline made me feel very sick the first few days and I had diarrhoea as well so would possibly avoid that one (and I had loose stools more often than not for the entire 2 months I was on it. It really effected my gastro system for some reason). If you take it with a meal though you're much less likely to feel sick.

The fluoxetine I'm on at the moment unfortunately comes in big capsules but I know you can get it in liquid form as I've had that in the past. I think you can get most ADs in liquid form but your pharmacy might need a few days to order them in so you'll need to be organised in ordering your medication. Good luck!

wfrances · 09/04/2015 09:48

hi
i have a huge fear of meds, and i do seem to suffer every side effect going. probably the reason i hate them so much.
ive reached the point in my head ,that im willing to try them -if they dont work or the side effects are too bad ,ill try another type.

i ve just started mirtazipine (last night ) like bisleyboy said they are not known for causing nausea and they are round flatish and small.

because of my reactions to past meds, im starting on 1/2 (7.5 mg) a tablet for a week, then 1 tablet(15 mg) until 6 week review(if everything is ok)

TheoriginalLEM · 09/04/2015 09:59

ads can make you feel suck for the first week or so but it goes.

The size of the tablet often depends on the manufacturer. But none are huge.

it would be irresponsible of a gp to give you ads without asking pertinent questions. Your emetophobia is pertinent for example. they can give you anti emetics to help.

They can also offer you counselling which might be even more helpful.

don't suffer needlessly - you can beat this.

Original poster

childishquestions · 23/04/2015 00:20

update...

I went to my hometown doctor yesterday and got a prescription for mirtazapine. He also mentioned possible counselling if I thought there might be any issues in my past that could be having an influence. There's one thing that could be relevant but we agreed to try the tablets first and see how it goes.

I'm happy with the mertazapine as they seem like the least risk of the side effects i was worried about and the tablets are tiny! Took my first dose tonight but only a half, so 7.5mg.

Thanks so much to everyone who answered my questions and sent good wishes

OP posts:

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