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Mental health

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Original poster

I am too scared to take my anti-depressants

81 replies

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 10:52

GP prescribed them to me on Monday and i am too scared to take them.

I have PND and finally plucked up the courage to ask for anti d's (have been seeing my dr for months about pnd but we both agreed to try and cope without medication).

I am scared of the side effects and how they're going to make me feel.

Im on 20mg of Fluoxetine (sp?)

Am frightened! Please help

OP posts:

katysaid · 11/07/2007 10:56

huffpuff

What are you scared of? How they'll affect you? Your GP should have explained any side effects - there will be quite a lengthy list in the packet. It may include an increase in the symptoms you've already experienced with your PND (eg anxiety) so do have someone on hand if everyday life becomes too much. Other than that try to keep in as much routine as possible. The medication should "kick in" (ie have positive effects) after around 2 weeks, mine did and I haven't looked back.

In the meantime, MN is here for support, xxx

Tortington · 11/07/2007 10:57

are you scared your life will change and you might be happy

or are you scared that it makes your left eyeball go mushy and drop out>

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 10:58

Custardo - i may be over sensitive atm but dont really appreciate your post. I am simply scared of the side effects.

I WANT to be happy. Who wants to feel depressed?

I am scared of getting worse before i get better.

Thanks for the understanding!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

SeaSalty · 11/07/2007 11:00

huffpuff - have you tried St John's Wort? A natural AD

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:01

yes i tried that a few months ago but it didnt seem to have much affect on me. Might give it another go. How long should i take before feeling any results?

OP posts:

bundle · 11/07/2007 11:02

huffpuff you may get worse before you get better but if you expect that and make plans (ie not have to do anything for a few days) then I'm sure you'll cope. Lots of people I know have been through this and they all say the same: it was worth it.

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 11/07/2007 11:03

i was on fluoxetine and the symptoms didnt get worse before better although had some nausea for 2 weeks before they kicked in.

i'd say take them last thin at night so the nausea is while your asleep and try and keep active to keep your mind off it!

Nbg · 11/07/2007 11:03

Well some AD's and some people feel that their symptoms beconme "heightened" in the first couple of weeks

but

after that it gets better.

I started on 20mg of Citalopram. In the first 2 weeks my anxiety was slightly worse and I yawned alot but then it got alot better and I felt better. The sad thing was that they started to make me feel sick and be sick on occasions so I went down to 10mg and I am fine.

sweetcherrypie · 11/07/2007 11:04

To be honest i they didn't make me feel better. They just make you feel calmer about things, they do take a few weeks to do anything so they are not instant.

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:05

GP said to take them in morning as they are a stimulant and i may not sleep well if i take them at night.

OP posts:

Notquitegrownup · 11/07/2007 11:05

Huffpuff, I know exactly how you feel. I suffered awful PND but I asked not to go onto medication as I couldn't cope with the idea of feeling worse than I already did, expecially for two weeks or so, as that seemed an eternity, and I had no-one who could be on hand for me, if things got grim. I got through, but I wish I had been able to take them. I think it took me a lot longer to recover than people I know who have 'bitten the bullet', and I can see how it has affected my boys, living with me suffering from depression long term.

Hoping that someone can come on here and tell you that those side effects are just not as bad as you fear, and that it will be worth it, for you.

One very good friend of mine took ADs although I dont know which ones - I'll try to find out. He found that he didn't get any worse, but nor did he get any better, until he went back and his GP doubled the dose. He felt better overnight, with no side effects - perhaps because he had had a small dose already for three weeks.

Find out whether you are on a low dose now, in which case the side effects shouldn't be so bad. If no one can advise you here, go back and chat to your GP about it, and get reassurance. It is worth it if you can get rid of PND, which is truly horrible, and start to enjoy life and your little one(s) again.

Good luck

EnidJane · 11/07/2007 11:06

st johns wort and exercise are very effective apparently

but I dont think you feel any effects for 4 weeks

katysaid · 11/07/2007 11:07

I started on 10mg of citalopram and increased to 20mg a day. the side effects (strange taste in mouth, some nausea/anxiety) went after about 2 weeks. if you do decide to take them you will need to stay on them for around 4 to 6 mths to reduce the risk of depression returning.

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:10

thanks all of you.

St John's Wort and exercise sounds ideal.

I dont like taking pills anyway - i think ive just built this into something bigger than it it!

OP posts:

SeaSalty · 11/07/2007 11:11

I must admit that I started to feel better almost immediately...though probably more to do with the fact that I was doing something positive IYKWIM

I think the combination of the St John's Wort and a change in my attitude to life and how I was dealing with things definitely made a difference

Hate the thought of taking prescribed ADs..I grew up with 2 parents who seemed to live on them and it certainly didn't help them in the slightest

katysaid · 11/07/2007 11:12

huffpuff, do talk to your doctor about the relative benefits of the ad's v st.john's wort/exercise regime. they may have some extra knowledge about your situation/history which could point at one being more suited to you.

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:13

yeah i will - thank you.

I love exercising when i get into it - i just feel so tired all the time though!

OP posts:

Tortington · 11/07/2007 11:13

great - this bunch of MC hippies just talked you out of taking medicine which could help the chemicle alterations in your brain

why not try what the doctor has prescribed first instead of unknown people on a mums site for gods sake - i think the doctor may have more training

if THEn it fails take hippy advice from people you dont even know over the internet

foxinsocks · 11/07/2007 11:14

there are loads of different ADs - if you have side effects on one, they can try another.

It is scary to think that taking a pill could affect the way your mind works/your feelings, but the doctor sounds like he's really been working with you and I doubt he would have prescribed them if he didn't think they would help in your specific situation.

foxinsocks · 11/07/2007 11:15

St John's does not work for everyone and can have the exact same side effects as the ADs - i.e. you can feel worse in the first couple of weeks.

Just because it's herbal, doesn't mean it is better.

bundle · 11/07/2007 11:16

iirc st john's wort only beneficial in cases of mild depression (and not sure about PND) and it's pretty hard to keep motivated to do regular exercise when depressed. imo.

SeaSalty · 11/07/2007 11:16

Hippy advice

Life experiences have taught me that taking prescribed medication does not always help

My Mother was fobbed off my a doctor who didn't give a damn and just prescribed ADs to get rid of her

She spent years popping pills and sobbing down the phone to the Samaritans

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:16

Custardo - dont mean to be rude or anything but the people on here have just been posting their opinions same as you have. I am not a hippy - i just dont like taking pills. Sorry if you dont agree with that. I am just a bit anxious atm.

OP posts:

bundle · 11/07/2007 11:17

imo the combination of ADs and counselling can be very effective

Original poster

huffpuff · 11/07/2007 11:18

i know that anti d's are probably the only thing that is going to help me - i am just a bit scared of them as i have never taken them before.

OP posts:

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