Are you on antidepressants?

[AnxiousAlison]

It's recently been reported in the news that 1 in 7 people are currently taking antidepressants and this increases to 1 in 4 women over the age of 50.

I briefly took Prozac 20 years ago. I'm now in my mid 40s. I've battled anxiety and depression for most of my life. I'm single and childless and wonder how different my life would have been if I had sought more help or stayed on medication.

No.

yep 👋

Yes, have been on Prozac for almost 5 years and it’s been great for my anxiety. I doubt I’ll ever stop taking it.

Yes, been on them since 2018 and I can’t be without them despite trying to tailor off them twice now.

I should have been prescribed at 19 though and I’d have had a much much easier 20s.

Yes. 25 years now, and I don't envisage coming off them! They literally saved my life (when we finally arrived at an adequate prescription). I've reduced the dose a bit over the years but still have periods of truly debilitating depression so I'm not risking a further reduction.

They get a bad rap, imo. High usage level doesn't mean everyone's mentally ill, more that a lot of people are living difficult lives. The benefit to me is worth (almost) sacrificing my libido, which should tell you everything.

I don't see it as a modern thing, either. Before we had ADs, you could buy opium or cannabis tincture over the counter and gin was very cheap.

Yes, for 28 years now. Seroxat. It keeps me functioning relatively normally. I will almost certainly be on them for life.

Yes. I came off them for a few months recently and have gone on to a different one. The difference it makes to my state of mind is amazing. I don't think I want to come off them again

Yes. Sertraline saved my life with severe PND. I've had it once or twice over the years during periods of extreme stress and have now been on it for about 5 years due to peri sending my anxiety through the roof. Definitely staying on it for the time being.

Yes I’ve been on Sertraline for about 4 years, tried coming off and didn’t work, I went back to being sad, withdrawn and anxious. If taking them for the rest of my life means I’m calmer, happier and a better mum then so be it.

No, but as a result of talking openly to women day to day, talking about peri menopause/ menopause, about parenting, being a mother and grandmother, more women have told me
that they are on anti depressants and also….guess what? Have fillers and Botox.

I take HRT. 21st century living.

Thank you for all your comments. What is the difference between Prozac and Sertraline?

No but I am on ADHD medication (which I have to pay for myself because my diagnostic was private even though the diagnosis was by a company that the NHS uses under right to choose for the exact same purpose). Bit annoying.

No

Yep, sertraline. Prescribed as I was suffering hugely with emotions and rage around the time of my period. I don’t know the plan for what I should do longer term. This seems like a quick fix (it works!) but in an ideal world I’d like to explore what exactly is happening and look for alternatives. But alas that would require the NHS to have the resource to take me seriously…

They are both SSRIs. They are similar in ways. They are for the same thing, similar side effects. The main difference is that Prozac stays in the system for longer.

Thank you @ClassActress

Yes for 25 years

I am on a “cocktail” of psych meds.
Theres something wrong with my brain. I was severely depressed as a child and had a complete breakdown at sixteen. I was diagnosed with treatment resistant depression. Even with the medication I’m still mildly to moderately depressed. I’m also an insomniac. I’ve had brain scans and all sorts of tests. They don’t know what’s causing it. I got complacent about the medication in my late twenties. I thought it wasn’t doing anything. I always wanted to try for a baby and I couldn’t stay on the medication for that. I ended up having another massive breakdown. I won’t try to come off them again. I can’t function without them and that’s the bottom line.

Me. Had fantastic mental health all my life. Then menapuse hit me quickly and this debilitating anxiety came out of nowhere. I didnt even have anything I was worried about.

I was already on HRT for menapause flushes so tried sertraline. It has worked amazingly for me.

I feel my normal self again.

Prozac all the way

Yep. Escitalopram here, for CPTSD and ICD, and moderate recurrent depressive disorder. Totally life changing and I'm not looking to come off it. I am also on HRT and take ashwaganda, and magnesium / melatonin for sleep. I feel great 👍

I've been taking Kalms Lavender since last weekend but I don't think it's going to be enough. Apparently they take 2-4 weeks to take effect (like most things).

Yes. I was on sertraline for 10 years then my anxiety returned this summer. My GP changed me onto Vortioxetine and I'm hoping it will help. I'm still getting used to it so I'm not feeling great at the moment but I've heard amazing things about it so fingers crossed.

I was put on Sertraline for my menopausal symptoms. HRT is wasn’t advised as my Bloos pressure is high and I’ve got on really well with them (when I remember to take them 😝)

Yes, since 2016. I've no intention of stopping because when I'm not on them my brain does it's best to kill me. I would be dead without them and that's not being dramatic.

If I had been medicated from about age 18 then my life would have been vastly different.