What are anti-depressants like?

[lindenlass]

I usually deal with my self-diagnosed PND myself - yoga, support from family etc. - but I just can't be bothered this time. It's too much hard work. I'm crying all the time, and snapping at the children, and I went to yoga last night and just couldn't be bothered.

Am considering anti-d's even though I hardly ever take medication, and I probably could deal with it but I am feeling like I just can't be bothered - I want someone else to please deal with it this time.

So tell me what they're like? What are the side-effects? Do they even work? Which ones can you take while bfing?

Actually I really want counselling but can't afford it and you have to wait forever, don't you, on the nhs?

It largely depends which one you're on. I'm on citalopram and the side-effects can vary hugely. I got insomnia and stomach pain, but only for about 7-10 days, and then they eased off.

One of the funnier side-effects was constant yawning too.

Seriously though, I was very reluctant to go on ADs - DS was about 7mo by the time I finally went to the doctor, and I'm so glad I did. They're brilliant...

Take care x x

linden, whereabouts are you? There are some charitable counselling services available...

gloucestershire. what should i do? I have an aversion to hv's!

I've been on them and would recommend them if you are in the kind of slump where you can't get it together to help yourself.
As Sheeta says, there are side effects but they go after a week or two at the most. With me it was a dry mouth and a slight headache.
It sounds like they might be useful to you atm. You can have them and counselling too. I did.
What sort of counselling are you after?

don't know, nicky. just a chance to talk to someone who won't try to solve all my problems for me, I think.

In that case, it might be better to try to find indepndent charitable counselling instead as the NHS are on a CBT-kick at the moment. To me, CBT is utterly useless and is only being used because it is relatively cheap. It works for a smalll range of problems, but is being rolled out as some kind of miracle cure for everything which it isn't.

Ahem, sorry about that!

There might be some posters in your local health centre or ask your GP or the nurse at your clinic?

Well, if your HV was anything like mine, avoid her like the plague!

Go and see your GP, they might ask you to do the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score Calculator to assess you.

Don't know about Gloucs unfortunately. I'm lucky as I'm in Oxfordshire, and there's a great charitable counselling service called Oxpip. Maybe there is something similar in your area - your GP should know if there is.

Many counsellors will offer concessions if you are on low income/maternity leave etc - worth asking a few perhaps? look on the BACP site

I was on sertraline whilst breastfeeding and it helped me a lot but everyone is different. I also like CBT but agree not everyone finds it to their liking.

I was on Prozac or Fluoxatine a few years ago and was terified of taking them but they did work. I was on them for about six months and started to wean myself off them but I think I did it too soon as I got some side-efefcts that were pretty strange to say the least so when you do decide to come off them, do it sloooowly.

The side-effects whilst I was on them were:
-Headaches which increased as the dosage increased.
-Yawning
-Tiredness and insomnia
-Decreased appetite
-Lack of sensation downstairs and an inability to orgasm
-Dry mouth
-Watery eyes
-anxiety

The side-effects whilst I was reducing the dose to come off were unpleasent:
-Extreme jumpiness
-aversion to loud noises/harsh images/lights
-electric shooting sensations in limbs and brain when there were loud sounds etc.
-anxiety

However these symptoms soon faded and 3 years down the line I am back to normal. Everyone will experience different things but they did work for me. Put yourself on the waiting list, it might happen sooned then you think and you've got nothing to lose by waiting.

Have to say that after years of antidepressants (various!), although NOT for PND, I 'got better' via talking therapies not meds. Currently working through fears about fear of PND with dh etc... does that make sense??

talking is the best cure - if you can get it right! sometimes you're just not ready for it, in which case meds are a great way of stabilising yourself so you ARE able to confront things and sort everything out. as a long term option though, i don't recommend them.

also, different meds work in different ways - discuss options with your gp. it can make a big difference if the damn things suit you or not!

sorry for long post, and good luck