My Dr won't prescribe antidepressants. Anyone else had this problem?

Question

I am 25 and have a serious medical condition. I asked my GP for a mild antidepressant to help me cope. He prescribed the smallest dose possible and when I asked him to raise the dose after 3 weeks he took me off it and said you don't need them it's the pain making you feel depressed!! I do need them, I've never had depression before and I am cross he won't prescribe them. Can he do this is a patient is genuinly depressed? xx

No I dont have a mental problem I'm just feeling depressed because I have cancer and have a young son. Surely I should be allowed some antidepressants.

Answer 1

Depression is a horrible condition , if you are worried about your health and in pain, no wonder you are depressed and you have to keep it together for your little one. It must be awful for you. I'm not in favour of quick fixes but your case is different (contrary to popular belief anti depressants are not addictive, they just redress the chemical imbalance in the brain). Sometimes you need something just to help to get through the worse times until you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Doctor should know being depressed isn't helping your physical health, I had a serious illness recently if I had felt depressed as well (I have had periods of depression in the past ) I'm sure I would have taken longer to recover and wouldn't have been able to cope with it so well. It's disgusting that this Doctor isn't helping you he should at least have tried you on a different type of tablet, different tablets suit different people and the same goes for the length of time they take to work and offer you a phsyciatric referal.You really need to see someone else and seek phsyciatric help too, the two can work well together. Don't settle for second best you don't need to go through this, you have had enough to deal with already. It also helps to talk to people who have been through the same thing, no one can understand depression unless they've been there. Also have you asked the Doctor to look into your pain medication some of these can have a depressive affect on the body and changing them might help too. I hope you get the help you need. I only wish I could give you more help and support!.All the Best.

Answer 2

He can refuse to prescribe them to you if he doesn't feel that you need them. You have an option of going to another doctor to get another opinion or listen to this one and go with him trying to do what may be best for you.

In my opinion, you are better off without them. From experience, antidepressants have caused more problems in my life than they have fixed anything. They actually made me more depressed and unable to cope. I was depressed b4 I started them, but was able to cope and function fine. After being on anti-depressants and 3 yrs later, I'm struggling to function and fight off the severe depression that came after I've stopped taking them. Also, I've known many others who have had similar experiences with antidepressants. Doctors who have just prescribed them b/c their patient was having some insomnia issues and then the people becoming dependent on them and actually becoming more depressed than they were b4 they were prescribed to them.

Finding another way to cope is always the better option. Find a vitamin store and look for B vitamins and other natural mood enhancers. Look to psychotherapy for someone to talk to.

Or you can always find another doctor who will prescribe them for you.

Answer 3

If you really think you need an antidepressant, go see another doctor. You don't say what is causing your pain, but depression is another matter entirely. You can always fire your doctor. I have several times. A lot of people can tell when there is something wrong that needs fixing and a doctor should at least listen and consider it.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Until a few years ago I was taking antidepressants for 9 years. Dr.s,councilor, and my mother , forced me to take them when I didn't want to. Iv tried all different kinds. After I started taking them I tired to stop but became sick and had mood swings. 99% of them made my life worse.I felt drugged, I couldn't concentrate,I was always tired, gaining wight, losing weight, one med I tried even made made milk come out of my breast (I was 16 and not pregnant). Around age 20 I started taking one that had no side effects for me. 4 years later when I stopped taking it I saw no change, the dr. told me that I had became immune to it and since I had been doing fine without anything I didn't need to take anymore. So really all that time I was just wasting my money.In my opinion antidepressants are a temporary solution to a long term problem (if they even work). If your depressed you're going to be depressed until you find out what in your life is making you depressed. Thats what happened to me.

Answer 5

Sounds like you have a good doctor..It seems to be the answer for a lot of GPs these days,shoving anti-depressants down folk...These pills just make you feel like you wanna sleep all the time and remove all thought process...Trust me,my son was put on these "mind destroying" things and he became almost suicidal when something happened he had to face but didn't have the strength...I brought him home,ditched the pills and just gave him tlc for a couple of weeks and he was fit to face the world again...If you feel you need anti-depressants,try St Johns Wort,as long as you aren't taking "the pill" that is....

Answer 6

Depression is a difficult thing to diagnose for yourself.
If you really feel that you are depressed, ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist for medication and a psychologist for counseling. If he won't give that, try to change doctors.
You can also consider the natural herb St. John's Wort. This has helped people with depression (me). Be sure to ask your doctor before taking this herb because it can interfere with prescribed medications!

Answer 7

thats not right. even if it is the pain that is making you depressed, if the pain is there, you need something to cope.. granted.. he should be working towards eliminating the pain, and thus, eliminating the depression.. but in the meanwhile.. he should give you the medication.

go see another doctor... it sucks to be depressed and have nothing to help it. believe me, been there done that. i'm bipolar...i was off meds a long time and finally had to go back on them and i feel so much better

Answer 8

When I was prescribed antidepressants, I had to first prove I was entered into counseling. Since some antidepressants may cause you to have abnormal thoughts (violence, suicide...) it's best you see a psychiatrist. So try talking to your doctor about getting the antidepressants if you would agree to counseling. Good luck!

Answer 9

Get a second opinion.
Go to church.
Get in a group that helps people cope with depression.
See a therapist.

I am beating depression right now because of these things. I am now off of the pills, and doing much better.

Answer 10

Yes he can. He knows more about these things than you and sees many different patients with depression so he knows what the sypmtoms are. If you geniunly dont agree then ask him to refer you to another doctor for a second opinion.