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Original poster

please give me some advice on AD's

165 replies

scribbles1980 · 01/04/2016 18:33

Depressed now since November. Life really getting me down. I don't feel suicidal but just want to run away.
No enjoyment in life at all.
Back to the doctors on Monday. Thinking of asking for ads .
I'm frightened after reading that they can make you feel worse & side effects.
Please can anyone share your positive stories.
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
scribbles1980 · 02/04/2016 15:54

Thanks all! I am feeling much more positive about my appointment on Monday.
When I went a while ago he said I was just mildly depressed but things have definitely gotten worse.
I will let you know how I get on. Your stories have definitely helped & I will ask the doctor to prescribe me something.

OP posts:
sazerashez · 02/04/2016 20:53

Oh good! I really think you are doing the right thing and you should already be feeling good about the fact you are on the way to helping yourself get better.

PixieChops · 02/04/2016 21:48

Scribbles I take them at 10am along with magnesium and vitamin D (both mood and energy boosters) and they work a treat. If I take them before bed I feel strange and they don't agree with me as well.

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 04/04/2016 17:06

Gp has given me citalopram. 10 mg for 2 weeks then up it to 20mg.
He was very nice and said that depression is a chemical imbalance and if you had diabetes you would take a drug to help & this is no different.
He also said that you can be born with thus chemical imbalance
Anyway, looked through the side effects leaflet and was pleased to see that weight loss could be one of them (hooray).
Still feeling a little bit worried about taking them. It also said no alcohol.
I am a bit worried about how I will feel but then I think I am worried that they won't work if this makes sense?
Planning to have a little drink tonight & start the pills tomorrow.
I hope I am doing the right thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
scribbles1980 · 04/04/2016 17:08

this
Forgot to say thank you to everyone that replied & offered support Flowers for you all.
Would love to hear anymore positive stories

OP posts:
mopants · 04/04/2016 17:27

You are doing the right thing. I take 20mg of citalopram a day and my doctor uses the same reasoning as yours Smile it is an illness, it's not a choice

InteriorLulu · 04/04/2016 17:48

I went back on fluoxetine a couple of months ago after a 12 month break. The first week was tough as my mood went lower...never suicidal, but just wanting to run away - I found I was making sure there was enough fuel in the car so that I could get in and drive until the tank was empty. Since then I've been gradually getting back to being me and I like being more in control again - eating is one of my symptoms, being on ADs helps me to not overeat and I'm slowly losing the weight (gained 1.5st over the past 12 months). I'd prefer an existence where I didn't have to take ADs, but the way it's looking I can't manage well without them.

My doctor said something similar scribbles1980 - if it were for high blood pressure I wouldn't think twice about taking it. I'm certain mine is due to an inherited chemical imbalance (my dad has suffered for years - and been on ADs for as long as I can remember).

I take mine at breakfast time along with a magnesium and a vit b12 supplement. Used to take them at 4.30pm, but Dr said I might get a better result if I take them first thing. (I can't tell the difference!)

You are doing the right thing. Hope you soon start to feel more like you.

SoThatHappened · 04/04/2016 19:29

Scribbles my gp has done the exact same with citalopram dosing.

I still feel very low though. Back next week to up it.

SoThatHappened · 04/04/2016 19:33

But i haven't been taking them.

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 04/04/2016 19:58

SoThatHappened
So you haven't been taking the ads?

OP posts:
SoThatHappened · 04/04/2016 21:14

Not every day. Had weird vivid dreams. It is disturbing.

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 04/04/2016 21:29

Then surely you shouldn't be upping the dose?

OP posts:
SoThatHappened · 04/04/2016 22:03

He said to see how I do on 10mg.

I'll talk to him when I see him.

There is another side effect tht concerns me but not seen it mentioned here.

sazerashez · 05/04/2016 08:57

It definitely gets worse before it gets better..a bit like therapy!

I was very anxious when I started them. I was googling obsessively and got fixated by possibly side effects (which for me weren't that bad) but 7 weeks on they really feel like such a small deal. Just something I take to keep me on an even keel.

The vivid dreams are definitely a thing and they haven't gone away.

MerryMarigold · 05/04/2016 09:07

I'm exactly where you are, OP. I have started on 20mg Citalopram (had it before). Benefits outweigh any side effects. The most immediate effect I notice is that my suggestion is much better, as is my appetite, and I lose weight. I was waking in the night and going to the toilet at night so I switched to taking them in morning rather than at night and that has helped. It's not done miraculous switch to getting permanently happy but it's slowly turning around. I compare it to a huge ship turning slowly. I know from experience that in 6 months I will be in a much better place than I am now. Still not got round to the exercise or healthy eating, but I'm definitely happier and taking more care of what I look like, having ideas of things to do in the house instead of feeling like I'm merely existing and surviving (not very well). Give them a go if I were you. X

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 05/04/2016 09:14

Don't know what to do now. I'm frightened to take themSad

OP posts:
sazerashez · 05/04/2016 09:25

Don't be. You are only on 10 mgs and there shouldn't be anything dramatic with that amount. If the effects are too bad you can always stop and look at taking a different med. I honestly think you'll be fine and in a couple of weeks, not just fine but a lot happier.

mopants · 05/04/2016 09:27

Please give them a try. Please. I hate to think that you will continue to be unhappy because of some possible side effects that may not even bother you that much. I am now on day 3 of being back on citalopram and having no side effects at all so far. I don't get the vivid dreams when I'm on them. I get horrific nightmares when I get low enough to need to take them. If you really struggle then get back to the doctors and ask for a different tablet. I've had sertraline in the past and my mum takes fluoxetine after trying a few others and not getting on with them. The benefits to you will far outweigh having a few shakes or a bit of nausea in the first few days

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 05/04/2016 10:12

Thanks again everyone.
I have taken the plunge. I so hope these work. Worried that I am going to feel worse before getting better, how much worse I can feel I don't know Smile.
Fingers crossed I have done the right thing.

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 05/04/2016 10:42

I didn't feel worse. Nothing dramatic either way. Bit of a dry mouth and less appetite (not being constantly starving is a good thing!). Slowly but surely...don't expect sure effects as you can end up 'creating' them simply by doing that. The mind is powerful!

tryandtryagain · 05/04/2016 11:21

I started sertraline in November and haven't looked back. I have huge anxiety around taking drugs and can barely take paracetamol! I am so much more on an even keel and my family is much happier. It's like I was living a half life before. I'd been anxious and depressed for at least a decade since my son was born really. He's 14 now Sad

sazerashez · 05/04/2016 13:07

Oh great! I'm so pleased to hear that! I really don't think you can expect anything dramatic on such a lie dose. I was ok starting on 20mg. I'd forgotten about the loss of appetite side effect! I think I might actually have lost weight since taking it. Appetite is back but I still don't really overeat. It's actually prescribed for binge eaters for that reason.

Please keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Original poster
scribbles1980 · 05/04/2016 19:18

Feel really bad today. Poor children have spent the day watching TV while I lie upstairs staring into space.
I just want to feel alive again. I really hope these meds work.
I feel like I have hit the bottom. Sad.
DH has taken the children out for dinner. I just want to sleep but I'm not tired. Frightened that I won't be able to sleep tonight.
Does anyone know why you can't drink on citalopram?

Funny thing is I very rarely drink. But now I can't I really fancy a glass of wineBlush

OP posts:
dangermouseisace · 05/04/2016 20:16

I think you 'can' drink but you have to be careful as it might affect you differently. I've drank on all the AD's I've been on and the only one that was problematic was Prozac, but that might be different for other people. I think the issue with drinking on AD's is that alcohol is a depressant, so if you are drinking you are not going to get/may not get as much of the benefit of the anti depressant. I find that when I am really in my boots with regards depression a small amount alcohol makes things a whole lot worse depression wise the next day. But it's not going to kill you iyswim!

sazerashez · 05/04/2016 20:33

Yes I couldn't handle alcohol with Prozac either. I would wait a little while to let things settle a bit. It's not dangerous to take citalopram with alcohol as its prescribed to alcoholics just be aware that it could give you s horrible hangover and also counter the effects of the drug by stopping them working whilst it's in your system,

You might find you have a crappy nights sleep but keep your eye on the prize. You will feel better very soon. You shouldn't have to feel this way, it's a crap way to live feeling sad and tired. This drug had helped so many people come out of the fog. Keep reminding yourself of this and please don't give up on it.