Not wanting to take antidepressants

[AshBlack]

I’m prescribed antidepressants but I’m not the best at taking them. I’ll manage to take them consistently for a few months and then I’ll stop again. I don’t want to take them.

I’ve not taken them for a month but I’ve been told by MH worker I must start taking them again. Apparently they could tell as soon as they greeted me that I’d stopped taking them.

I just don’t want to take them any more though. I’m tired and just had enough. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Why don't you want to take them? What's the actual reason?

No.

do you have side effects?

mine really help me and I love them. Hate being anxious

And no, I don't ever feel that way. They make me feel better.

I’m not sure really. I don’t really know what makes me stop. I just look at them and think ‘nah can’t be arsed’. I’m not sure why that is. I do get side effects, mostly nausea which might play a part.

Right now I think I’m just tired of it all. I can’t be arsed with idea of living another 40 years. And it feels like taking the medication again will just suck me into the illusion that everything is okay when it’s not. If that makes sense.

Nausea is very unpleasant.

ask for other ones.

Are you depressed or is life just crappy atm?

Yeah. They’ve all made me feel sick. I’ve tried several different ones and currently prescribed Vortioxetine. I feel sick a lot though even when I’m not taking them.

Not sure. I find life difficult, I’m autistic and have a lot of anxiety associated with that. Whether I’m actually depressed or not I don’t know. The antidepressants, when I take them do lift my mood, I cry much less and feel more motivated. But the ‘anxiety’ never goes away

I get like that OP. In my case, I think it is self sabotage when I am feeling low. I know I will feel worse if I stop taking them but I don’t care or I think I deserve to suffer.

If you don’t want to take the antidepressants then it’s really important to work with your gp and be pro active yourself. There are lots of things that can help with low level depression like exercise, nature, social interactions and activities.
If your depression is more severe, then keep letting your gp know so they can try others or suggest methods or medication to help with the nausea.
I hope you get the help you need.

I have tried coming off them in the past (I felt shame taking them ) now I accept it is no different from taking a medication for any other imbalance / health issue.

For me, they allow me to engage with other stuff that helps me (sleep, exercise , eating well , being a bit sociable and functioning day to day)
I have to accept the side effects unfortunately (lesser of 2 evils)

Honestly, nothing's worse than taking them for a bit, stopping, then taking them again. You'll just be getting side effects, then withdrawal effects, over and over again. You need to decide if you're on them or off them.

I would suggest you go on them for at least 4 months before making the decision whether they stay or go.

You'll have to weigh up the balance between side effects and (hopefully) their positive effects on your mental health.

Often, other people CAN tell when we've not taken our meds, as we may seem visibly "low", even if you've not recognised it in yourself.

Give them a try! I know people always say this, but it's true.. you wouldn't expect a broken leg to fix itself would you?

Get other ones.
maybe they can give you something as well for anxiety?
I got beta blockers but I don’t know if you can take them with anti Ds.
Worth asking the gp.

Vortioxitine was the very worst one I had for nausea. Had to stop it for that reason. It’s known for nausea I think.

It’s tricky isn’t it. I know there are things that can help like exercise and fresh air/nature and that but I’ve no motivation to do them. I guess I’m not super motivated to take medication either.

I’ve tried propranolol previously but I got took off it because my heart rate goes too low. It doesn’t really help with anxiety though just the physical symptoms which I don’t tend get. It’s more just a feeling that my brain says ‘nope’