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Mental health

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Original poster

What are anti-depressants like?

14 replies

Naartjie · 06/07/2007 16:09

Hi everyone- I just joined Mumsnet today, after reading an article in The Times about it.

I was wondering what it's like to take ADs, and how long you need to be on them before you feel better?

My husband says I should try them- but I am scared of being a different person or being addicted, or never coming off again.

I've had PND for almost a year now. It goes in cycles, so I keep thinking that it's gone, but then it appears again. I really am getting sick of it!

Thanks.

OP posts:

Dior · 06/07/2007 16:14

Message withdrawn

Dior · 06/07/2007 16:14

Message withdrawn

BBBee · 06/07/2007 16:14

are you under your gp for PND?

Pinkchampagne · 06/07/2007 16:15

I was on ADs for a short while due to my PND.
I was nervous about starting them, but they really helped me through a very low point in my life.

I was only on my ADs for 3 months & had no trouble coming off them when the time was right.
I also experienced no major side effects other than a bit of tiredness, but I was on quite a low dose.

My ADs really helped to stop that awful sinking feeling you can experience with depression.

Have a word with your GP & explain all your concerns, and see what they suggest.

Good luck!

MyEye · 06/07/2007 16:26

They weren't like a sticking plaster for me, they were like (as someone said on MN) stabilisers on a bike. They stopped me wobbling, I began to enjoy life again. Eventually after a year I came off them, very slowly, without any problems, and life stayed good.
PND means you don't really enjoy your life, it's time lost in misery. If you find the right one, ADs can stop this happening so I think they saved me lots of time

mslucy · 06/07/2007 16:38

Anti Ds are brilliant.

I had them when I was depressed about 8/9 years ago - not for PND, just bog standard depression.

I had cipramil/citalopram.

It was like being on holiday from all the negative thoughts that stop you from being you.

had therapy as well, which I think is important.

It takes about 2 weeks for them to work properly, you may feel a bit giddy for the first few days.

I was on them for about 6 months and gradually weaned myself off them - under doctor's supervision - by taking them every other day, then every three days etc.

My only worry is that there are some people who are on them for years on end, which I think is a bit of a worry.

They are there to give you a breathing space in which to sort your life out, rather than a permanent solution to your problems.

DontCallMeBaby · 06/07/2007 16:41

Dior's and MyEye's analogies (sticking plaster and stabilisers) are great. For others, they're longer term. Some people do stay on them for years, potentially life-long - there is NO shame in that. Some people's brain chemistry is inherently a bit off-kilter. My body chemistry is off-kilter, I will take thyroxine to bolster an underactive thyroid gland for the rest of my life. There is no shame in that, there should be no shame in longterm AD use, if that's what a person needs.

As to becoming a different person, if they do that to you, you're on the wrong medication. Different ones suit different people. Fluoxetine, aka Prozac, suited me just fine. It drove my mum right round the twist (as unfortunately did everything else her GP tried with her). As Dior says though, they can make you feel ill at first - I was desparately anxious (as in clinically, not as in 'oh dear, do I really want to take this pills?') when I started taking them.

And welcome too ... you're obviously made of the right stuff if you read that article and it inspired you to join and ask good questions, rather than join and beat us all with a big stick.

Dior · 06/07/2007 19:54

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Naartjie · 09/07/2007 07:38

Thanks everyone for your messages. I will probably go on them soon, even though I don't really want to. At least I'll feel better I guess.

OP posts:

schneebly · 09/07/2007 07:42

I am on citalopram and felt miles better after about 2 weeks on it - a much more calm, contented type feeling. Agree that it is your decision - my DH didn't want me to go on them but he is glad now!

ipodtherforipoor · 09/07/2007 07:55

Naartjie - after 2.4years I have finally gone to the Dr with PND/Depression (not surereally) that has been cycling.

I have been on Cittalopam(sp) for 2 weeks now and the difference is amazing - I dont feel too different except when things happen that usually trigger a cycle. Also a cycle of it that triggered me to go to the Drs has stoped.

Do it, go, dont let it gone on as long as I have - Its nearly lost me a really good man, and made me really want to leve my Ds on the nearest street corner too many times.

muppetgirl · 09/07/2007 08:09

HI I took ad last year for pnd.

DON'T let the doctor give you 12 months worth of prescriptions and then not arrange to see you again (Yes really 12 little pieces of paper)
Fluoxitine (I'm pretty sure) is prozac based and can give you symptoms of depressrion for some people and others it can really help. It didn't help for me.
There are lots of different types of ad's so if one doesn't agree with you don't automatically write them off.
They can take 2-4 weeks to feel any difference.
It isn't all about making you 'happy' moreover, in my case, calming things down and making me more able to cope and get through the day.
I would agree they are stabilizers but remember that one day the stabilizers are meant to come off -what will you do to help yourself when you come off the ad's? -I saw a counsellor -this helped but was only available every 2 weeks which didnt help as I was quite despersate to talk to someone in between. -I saw/and are still seeing a psychologist referred by my doctor. It's fab and has really helped. -Exercise, this releases endorphines that are narural highs and give you back the energy you're no doubt desperate for. -Use a blank exercise book to write your feelings in. 'Better out than in 'really is true, especailly at 3 in the morning when everything is much worse. Date the entires and gradually over time you will start to see imrpovements. I asked my dh to read certain bits when I felt I coudn't speak. -Talk to your friends. Your close friends may be worried about you. Try to explain to them (or even only one so they can tell the rest) what you can manage, what hepls ect. That way you haven't uspet them by not rerurning calls etc.

SOrr is long winded but ad are really only the start to getting better. They calm the situation enabling you to tackle the 'issues' that upset you in the first place.

muppetgirl · 09/07/2007 08:11

Was on clomipramine before I came off. It worked for me.

Good luck, you've done the hard bit in recognising all is not right and wanting to get better.

MummyDarlingSausage · 09/07/2007 22:47

I have been taking AD's for nearly a month for PND. I was very unsure at first about taking them - I had all the same worries that you mentioned - especially about becoming a different person. I was very low, crying all the time, unable to face people and situations but still wanted to be me and didn't want to 'cop out'. So, the first week was very strange (the feeling of being on drugs) and for the first 2 weeks I kept thinking I don't like this, I don't feel any happier and was almost dissapointed. However, for about 1 week now, I am feeling much more 'me'. I am calmer, less teary and things are not as hopeless as they seemed 1 month ago. They have enabled me to see things in perspective and I am so glad I went to the doctor. I am looking into counselling aswell and I just know somehow that I won't need the AD's forever. See it as a positive thing.

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