Just take the pill and be quiet

[buddahsitter]

I have been depressed on and off for years now. Two years ago I managed to 'come off' Venlafaxine. It was horrible having the withdrawal symptoms but I stuck it out and was quite proud of myself. The last few months have been difficult and stressful and I have started having anxiety attacks again. I have difficulty sleeping and feel that my hair is thinning as well as generally feeling down. My libido is out of the window and so I began to wonder if it was my hormones as I have just gone through the menopause.
My husband who does not agree in general with depression and is one of the "pull yourself together " brigade suddenly thinks I should get antidepressants. So I went to the doctor who within two minutes decided that I need citalopram. He assured me that my libido would return and there would be no problem should I decide that I no longer needed them. I am so annoyed as I have checked reviews online and almost everyone says that they lost their libido while on citalopram and have had difficulty coming off them. So this morning husband is reminding me too to take the tablet but I cannot bring myself to take it. I am going to try to get myself better and take care of myself. Is anyone else out there sick of being fobbed off with antidepressants?.
I feel like doctors dish them out like sweets and my husband just wants my libido back. Sorry, it's a long post.

Me too budda, Ive just come off Sertraline. I have been sick of taking AD's for years, so came off longterm imipramine last summer. As soon as I experienced anxiety and difficulty at work this autumn, my GP suggested AD's again in December and I was signed off with stress. Since then I tried mirtazipne - huge weight gain - and sertraline - anxiety much worse.
This week I just said enough is enough and I am stopping them and trying to get through this with at least a clear picture of what part of my mood is organic and what is actually a side effect of AD's.
I know I need to do more to help myself and am somewhat guilty of trying to take the easy option.
No partner so libido not an issue

I have felt like this a bit... I had bad experience so waited until I was referred to a psychiatrist before accepting medication. But, your gp is not forcing anything on you.. Sounds like it's more your husband or self esteem. Only take them if you actually want to... but all meds can take up to two weeks to work, works well for some people but antidepressants never agreed with me, made me so anxious about medication but I'm on a very low dose of anti-psychotics now which see to be working. But, lots of health professionals are keen for me to increase, my psychiatrist is happy for me to keep the dose very low... I know most people aren't lucky enough to be seen by a psychiatrist. You have to remember a gp is not specialist and are following research and professional guidance that antidepressants do work. There are lots of alternatives for fighting depression, like talking therapies and funding hobbies. If your main issue is your relationship, you could look into relate. Also, look on the mind website, I've got some good advise and information there, particularly about medication. Less opinions than mumsnet!

Finding not funding. Also I've just read through my post and realised I've made a lot is assumsions about you. Sorry!

My DD takes sertraline, she has anxiety rather than depression but I honestly can't see any improvement- can it be making her anxiety worse???

Pills can help. It's not being fobbed off. Just like being given an inhaler for my asthma isn't fobbing me off.
Have you tried CBT? What is your diet and exercise levels like?
Did you come off the last AD suddenly? I came off citalopram no problem but I did it VERY slowly.

That's ok Lyra, there's nothing that I haven't considered myself. Husband is probably sick of seeing me miserable all the time My main concern is that antidepressants are sometimes used as a cure-all remedy for lots of things. I wanted my hormone level tested for hair loss but the doctor just dismissed my concerns.
I have started meditation at the local Buddhist centre and that seems to be helping. I am starting to think that the problem is not that people get depressed it's more that our lives are so depressing. I tried so hard to get off the tablets that I am reluctant to take a step back.

I agree with you. The way we live with stress is often so unnatural. I did as psychology and a module on stress which causes all sorts of mental and physical issues as we can't run or fight in most modern stressful situations at work or socially... It's so hard to find the time to relax and properly socialise often. I've found for me a bit of cbt, writing and painting has been far more effective than meds. I also feel loved ones are getting fed up with me, either think I'm lazy or don't understand why I'm not agreeing to prescribed medicine. I'm pregnant and didn't take citralapram. Setraline didn't work so I didn't want to try another, very similar but slightly higher risk drug.... Obstratrican consultant who prescribed it didn't even talk to me. Midwife told me to read up on it first.

I'm annoyed that the leaflet for quetiapine said this is not addictive... My dose was lowered and I can tell you for me it is.i had bad headaches, allthough I had them before starting they were worse when I reduced. By the evening, esspesally if I've had a bad day I'm looking forward to my medication just to zone out a bit...

I’m really sorry that you’re feeling so low OP. I’ve found that being in a good routine (sleeping, eating and exercise) and doing activities you enjoy can help. Having a sense of purpose in life can make a big difference.

However, I need to point out (very gently) that you’re generalising about mental illness. People do get depressed when they have wonderful lives—that’s the whole point of depression for many people. It’s not about their lives—it’s an illness and medication can quite literally be a life saver. I get immensely frustrated when people infer that taking medication is somehow the easy option and they just need to try harder at life (not that you were meaning that, but it’s very common).

I hope you find something that helps your mood.

I agree with Iveburnt the toast, the routine does make a difference. Also, I think that when people who seem to have wonderful lives are less likely to be understood when they have depression. Someone could be living in the most beautiful house with what appears to be a happy family but they still have to see the outside world and all its suffering. A great number of people have overwhelming empathy for others.
I wonder if how empathetic a person is has a bearing on depression.

I agree, I'm privileged with depression, life is quite stressful but privilege causes guilt. In geography at school I learnt the happiest communities are often those with the most equal share of wealth, both for the poor and rich. Globalisation and the Internet has a huge impact on mental health, just look at newly industrialised countries like japan and China...

I know exercise something doctors say but is often dismissed but running has really helped my depression. I have been mentally ill for most of my life , having begged the nhs for help for more than 15 years now. all they have ever suggested is being signed off or anti depressants. Oh and 6 sessions of counselling which didn't even have time to scratch surface .

I think running helps me by burning of a lot of the tension that builds up during the day that like someone said should normally lead to fight or flight but instead we surpress. I sleep better from being exhausted from it too.

I agree, I love running too. Diet and excesize are so important for mental health.