Online reviews of antidepressants are putting me off trying them

[CaraVann]

Although I have suffered with my mental health since childhood it has never been as bad as it has these last 5 years.
My anxiety, ocd, overthinking and depression are at its worse and just getting worse each year.

All exacerbated by life events I have little control over. DS (now 18) had years of school anxiety, Mil and my beloved ddog were terminally ill and passed away and for the last 6 years my own mum has been suffering from Alzheimer’s and recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I care for my mum alongside my dad and sister as dad struggles. It really takes its toll on my sister and I despite getting some extra care in. All I think about atm is my parents and their struggles.

The stress over everything combined with my existing poor mental health and the inability to cope well with shitty life situations is having a detrimental knock on my physical health too. I’ve suffered from bad guts for 26 years and now I’m in an awful place with a constant bad tummy. Yesterday at my mum’s breast cancer follow up I had to rush out of the consultation room to go find a toilet as I had an unexpected attack of diarrhoea (never been caught short like that when out before so now I’m panicking even more and getting to the point I don’t want to leave the house).

I am in such a mess and now struggling with my job. I am PA for a disabled person. My life seems to be all about caring for others atm and making sure their lives are ok whilst my own is falling to pieces. I am constantly on edge, so depressed that I just want to sleep all the time and have just had enough.

I do all I can to reduce the ‘risks’ of poor mental health. I don’t drink or smoke, I walk every day, I listen to the calm app every day etc.

I need some meds, I don’t think I’ll get through the coming years of watching my mum succumb to such an awful disease without but the online reviews of antidepressants are putting me off. I know when anyone has a negative experience they will take to the internet and in general those enjoying life don’t bother to tell of their positive stories but I’m so scared. How on earth can I continue with my life if I’m trying to get through awful side effects such as more diarrhoea, headaches, feeling sick, sleepless nights and nightmares?

I don’t know what to do…..can anyone help reduce my fear of these meds?

Sertraline and Citalopram / Escitalopram are two very common antidepressants because of their low risk of side effects. You might get diarrhoea for a day or two as a side effect but it shouldn't be longer than that. I appreciate if you're already suffering from a bad stomach, that's probably not reassuring but the side effects should be minimal. Like you said, people tend to do reviews when things are really bad and so it paints an unrealistic picture. Far more people will be taking these meds than we realise.
The main thing with them is when you come off them, you do it slowly and under medical advice to reduce risk of a relapse of your low mood / anxiety. Coming off them is not a problem when done properly but a lot of people feel better and stop them overnight and then complain when their initial symptoms come back. It's not a paracetamol, it doesn't work like that.

Hi there. You will find the side effects/complaints will mainly apply to the first month or two of taking them, however after that they will subside.
I started off on Trazodone but stopped due to the sedative effect making me groggy. I switched to sertraline and have been on this for years. The first month or so was definitely a bit strange with side effects but now I’m so glad I’m on them, they really do help.

i didn’t find the side effects too bad when I went on sertraline last time although I was in a pretty bad place . They massively helped me though and I’m going through a bad time again now so I’m going to ask to go back on them .

Thank you.

I know I need to just go for it but I’m
so worried the side effects will prevent me from working and functioning as normal. I feel pretty shitty at the best of times so can handle feeling off but I’m just so worried the side effects will stop me in my tracks as I’m self employed and can’t afford to take any time off. As long as they are bearable I can tolerate that.

popandchoc I hope they help you again.