Seratonin and Anti-depressants

Guys, I need your thoughts please.

My doctor is talking about putting me on anti-depressants and I am not entirely sure that that is something that I want to do.

I am not depressed - just stressed and seem to be starting panic attacks - I get all panicky and it feels like my chest closes up. I am also just very tired and unfocused.

I have been on anti-depressants before when I was very depressed and they helped - I just don't know if the situation warrants it - this time around.

They have done blood tests but everything came back fine - so they don't think that it is anything physical.

It has been a tough year - but no tougher than others.

What do you guys think? What would you do?

Do they want to change the ADs or increase them? I wouldn't think an AD would help if you're already on one, I'd expect them to put you on an anti-psychotic (very good for anxiety). If you're unable to control your anxiety I'd say go for it. I was on an anti-psychotic for anxiety for nearly 3 years and it worked wonders. I still take it if I get really anxious nowaday, but that's fairly rare. Just remember to keep in touch with your doctor and if it doesn't make you feel better then don't take it and tell your doctor you need a different med (we had to go through 3 different meds before I found one that did make me feel weird).

A co-worker of mine was put on anti-depressants for the same reason - extreme stress when the situation didn't necessarily warrant it, high anxiety, etc. Like you, she was very wary of this since that's not what you would expect for this situation. She went on Paxil on the Dr.'s advice, and it has made a world of difference for her! Many people, including the bosses, have noted to her that she is much easier to work with and seems less stressed, without knowing that she had started the meds.

Most anti-depressants also work well for anxiety (for a lower level of anxiety than anti-psychotics).

Thanks guys.

I was on AD's a while back - about 5 years or so - and am not on any now. Just not sure if I need them again. Kind of feel as though I should be able to get myself together and sorted out....

Paxil and Zoloft are both excellent at reducing anxiety and depression. There is a new antidepressant that works very well with anxiety, but I can't remember the name. I'll post it later if my memory kicks in. From what I've heard, this new med has fewer side-effects than the others.

If possible, you should see a counselor. Research is clear that seeing a therapist will significantly improve the results of treatment far above just taking medications by themselves.

Lexapro is the new drug I couldn't remember. Here is a web site that tells all about it. http://www.lexapro.com/home/default.asp

Im on Effexor for my depression and anxiety and it's
a God send

I took Paxil when I was under a lot of stress. I also had depression. But, the paxil was mainly for the anxiety that I had. It helped! I was on it for a year up until my husband and I starting to get pregnant. When we stopped trying, I didn't go back on it because I learned how to manage my life without the drugs. Good luck!! Paxil works for some people, not all....but if you ask about it I am sure your doctor can tell you if he recommends it for you or not.

I just started taking Wellburtrin yesterday. My dr gave it to me to help with all of the stress I have going on in my life right now. So far I haven't felt any different but then it has only been one day.
My Dr told me that if I didn't get rid of some of this stress I am going to have a heart attack. My blood pressure was way up yesterday so I had to take double of my meds to get it down.
Here's to no stress in anyone's life especially mine.

Here, Here!!!


Cathi, glad you went to the doctor. You mentioned last week that you were having chest pains. Hope things get better soon!

Evening my friend.
i would personally say to you that if you feel you need something and are going to follow your doctors advice - I would go on them. If you look at me - I am 6 feet tall, large in the body as years of training show (thick in head!), I eat well, have a good job, have a great and loving wife, an adoreable son, great and fast car, nice house - I have it all - and yet- despite all this - I suffer with depression.
I am 34 now - I have had it I believe since I was 18 when was hit by Meningitis. It has led me to depths so low that you can test for these levels - you would have to drill for them. I just had days when I was down, real down and no amount of coaxing could do anything at all. Even whilst married, I have suffered and it took until a blistering row with my wife last year before I recognised i have a problem.

I was on prozac for 6 months, I got better, started to slide so went from 20mg a day to Effexor on 85 mg a day and am a lot lot better.

At the end of the day, all depression is in real terms I believe is an imbalance in a chemical in the brain. The drug helps. They are NOT a cure for depression and I stress this. They just make bad things or things people say bounce of you a bit easier. The glass is not half empty - its half full. If someone passes a comment that is insulting, instead of being devastated - its - well so what...
I have found a few things now help me to cope - time to myself, talking to others and trusted friends, excersise, and also trying to meditate in bed. Concentrating on relaxing has been great for me and then getting enough sleep to feel as though I can cope with the day. I have changed my lifestyle a bit as well - thats helped a lot - little differences help - getting hair done (in my case what the hell can you do with very little hair), change of clothes, new perfume, get a massage - thats an order - change in little things = change inside

Sure - I still have off days / hours / minutes but these are becoming more and more less.

You mention about getting panic attacks - nasty little sods are they not? I suffered with these from the menigitis and I hated them - sometimes I still have one. A panic attack is not going to kill you - the heart is not going to stop - get a paper bag and when you start to feel the attack- hold the end and breathe into it, watch it expand, then inhale and watch it deflate - repeat this. Its a concentration thing - it helps- believe me. Just do it away from people - otherwise folk tend to think you are sniffing something.

Have being there where you are - still am on some days - however- you ever want a natter - I can pm my phone no to you and or I will call you and have a yak. (talk - not the animal). Sometimes it helps even if people are faceless on the internet. We do however, give a damn for you on TCS.
You hang in there - you will get through it - trust me and I apologise for the length of this.
Best wishes

Kev = on a mission to make people feel better about themselve and smile a bit more and who finally told one of his work mates that the new Viagra tablets I have been taking are working. When she asked me if they were helping with my sex life - I said no. However - they had stopped me rolling out of bed a few times.

I went on prozzac a little more then a year ago and I love it. I was always depressed and everything that went with it.

Now I'm happier, I do more stuff and I don't cry anymore.

Only down side was the weight gain!!! I'm working on that....

I have very mixed feelings about medicine - I think a lot of doctors prescribe medicines as a 'fix' rather than devoting time & insurance dollars to therapy or other more holistic solutions. My fear with medication (along with side effects and drug interactions) is that (in some cases) it may separate a person from legitimate emotions. I understand that antidepressants have been a huge help to many people in legitimate need, and have even saved lives. But if you're not sure and think this is stress, I'd suggest talking it over with your doctor, and perhaps trying relaxation therapy or meditation in addition to therapy with a counselor. But don't let yourself get to a point where you think you should just be able to 'snap out of it' with legitimate depression...that might be dangerous, plus you shouldn't suffer needlessly.

I was on Paxil for about a month and all I did was sleep. It sure helped with my anxiety cause I wasn't awake for any stressful situations

Good luck to you. But I would definitely see a counselor first to see if you can work out your problems before attacking your feelings with anti-D's. I'm a firm believer in "if you don't need it, don't take it" I've met a few doctors who, despite knowing my mother was an active alcoholic, insisted she needed heavy Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Serenid, Xanax, Valium...) These, mixed with the alcohol, made for a very unpredictable and messed up mom. But she was addicted and couldn't go off them. So they prescribed more...

Please take care you don't have one of those doctors that pushes addictive drugs... I would hate to see what happened to my mom happen to you.

(BTW, my mom quite drinking 4 years ago and is off all the drugs except Prozac [no thanks to the Dr.]. She says her brain doesn't function normally anymore so she needs it.)

I just started taking Wellburtrin yesterday

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Cathi, glad you got some meds. Hope they start helping soon! Try and relax - snuggle up with Hubby, Oscar and Sammycat!
(((Hugs)))

I visited the doctors like a week ago. She wanted to put me on some tricyclic anti-depressant (not sure which specific one). I wouldn't take it though I don't like the idea of having to use drugs to cure my problems. Make sure you talk it over with your doctor before you make any final decision. It might also help to research the drug he/she has in mind too. I have a little trouble with this though since im a minor.

Good luck!

Laters,
Brandon

Wellbutrin tends to react a little fast than most meds, but it will still take a couple of days. Everyone I've known who has taken it for depression has had it start to take effect in 2 or 3 days, but Glaxco doesn't guarantee that. They say it'll take a couple of weeks.

Originally posted by Cougar
I visited the doctors like a week ago. She wanted to put me on some tricyclic anti-depressant (not sure which specific one).

I have a little trouble with this though since im a minor.

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Brandon, I'm a little surprised that a doctor would prescribe a tri-cyclic antidepressant to a teen. Research shows that the tri-cyclics aren't really effective in lessening depression in children and teens. Also the side-effects of tri-cyclics are much more significant than those we see with SSRIs. Included in the side-effects for the tri-cyclics is an average 15 pound weight gain in many users!!! The advantage of the tri-cyclics is that there are no sexual side-effects, whereas with the SSRIs, they tend to cause these sexual side-effects.

It is important to note, however, that recent research has found an increase in suicidal thinking and behavior as well as hostility in teens who take Paxil or Effexor! We don't have good research on the other SSRIs to know whether they will also make teens more vulnerable to these problems.

Originally posted by lotsocats
Brandon, I'm a little surprised that a doctor would prescribe a tri-cyclic antidepressant to a teen. Research shows that the tri-cyclics aren't really effective in lessening depression in children and teens. Also the side-effects of tri-cyclics are much more significant than those we see with SSRIs. Included in the side-effects for the tri-cyclics is an average 15 pound weight gain in many users!!! The advantage of the tri-cyclics is that there are no sexual side-effects, whereas with the SSRIs, they tend to cause these sexual side-effects.

It is important to note, however, that recent research has found an increase in suicidal thinking and behavior as well as hostility in teens who take Paxil or Effexor! We don't have good research on the other SSRIs to know whether they will also make teens more vulnerable to these problems.

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Thats interesting... I didn't like her anyway. I read on some of the side-effects before we got the prescription, and I decided not to take it.
I do, however, remember her saying that it might also help me with the headaches I was complaining about.
Anyways, I don't think she knew what she was doing.
I wasn't aware of the research relating SSRIs to suicidal behavior.
Guess I shouldn't be on those!