People keep saying not to take anti depressants?

Question

but what if you've already tried everything else? isn't that what they are for? it's like people are saying you cant trust your doctor? I mean is this going to make my life worse or better? because right now I can't picture anything making my life worse, even being dead.

lol. I just read what I wrote, and actually i can picture lots of things that would make my life worse! that's part of the problem. I meant I can't imagine anything making me feel worse about life for no reason.

Answer 1

You need to take them while working with a psyciatrist, so you can get better! Just taking anti depressants, with no support, won't help you at all. You will be back to square one when you go off them. Get help!

Answer 2

Get as much information on the different kinds of anti-depressants you can before you go to the doctor. From my experience the newest medicines aren't always the ones that work the best. Most doctors get a bunch of samples and thats what they want to start you out on. Be sure if funds are limited to get on something with a generic, if you don't do this you will have to pay the high price for the brand name meds. Some of the newer meds are not covered by insurance companies, if they are they have the highest copays usually. When you first try an anti-depressant notify your doctor of any bad side effects immediatly. Some people have allergic reactions to these meds. Some of them will make you really groggy and tired too. If you experience this you may want to change meds. I personally have tried several different types of anti-depressants and found that everybody reacts differently to them. If you've already tried everything else then you may as well talk to your doctor about getting on a medication to help with your depression. Don't let your doctor just hand you something without discussing side effects first! The side effects of some of the anti-depressants out there are actually worse that what the doctor is trying to treat. If were to have to go through all of this again I would make sure my doctor put me on an older medication first, one that is more proven and has more patient feedback.
I do not take anti-depressants anymore because of the side effects and the constant hit and miss (trial and error) , guinea pig stuff. Also, coming off of an anti-depressant for ant reason can be a horrible experience. The withdrawal of some of these type medications is really bad. When and if you get on any medication check out the drug interactions. Pay very close attention to these interactions because they can be extremely dangerous!

Answer 3

What a heartless, idiotic and uninformed answer Sammygirl.

To answer the question properly...
On my doctors suggestion, which I was initially against, I started taking a low dosage anti-depressant six months ago. I cannot express the difference it's made to my life. Anti-depressants are there for a reason. If you are unfortunate enough to reach a crisis point in your life where there seems no way of coping, they are invaluable. Doctor's don't hand out these pills willy nilly these days, so if yours is suggesting you take them then I think you should. I'm coming off mine next month, they helped me through a critical time in my life and I now feel stronger and able to cope again.
I hope your problems ease soon. x

Answer 4

Some people think people should not take anti-depressants because depression isn't a "real" disease, or they think the drug companies and doctors are running a "racket", or it's against their religious principles, or that people should use "natural" means to relieve their problems.

If you've tried other things to relieve your depression, you should talk with your doctor and ask about an anti-depressant. There are many different medications and they work in different ways for different people. Also, some general practitioners have a limited knowledge of/experience with anti-depressants and if the first couple of meds don't result in improvement don't know what to do next.

You may not have success with the first, or second, etc medication you try. You may need to be referred to a psychiatrist, who would generally have more experience with the different anti-depressants and their effects.

Don't give up. A solution can usually be found.

Good luck to you.

Answer 5

OK...
Most people will say "don't take antidepressants" because there've been a lot of scandals, with faked research results and cover up cases. No drugs come without side effects! That's another reason. But, if your depression is really bad, it's important to take them. People are just looking out for you, trying to make sure that no unnecessary harm comes to you. You should ask your doctor whether your depression is serious enough to HAVE to take antidepressants, but therapy is a better option or making yourself feel better on your own.


I hope this helps explain a little...
Hugz
XXX

P.S. I don't blame you for trusting your doctor, they're qualified to do what they're doing so they must be good enough to do it... right?

Answer 6

Depression is an illness. You wouldn't tell someone with cancer to think themselves better, so why someone with depression?

If your doctor recommends anti-depressants, it's not without reason.

At the end of the day, it's up to you, but if you can't cope, take the pills. The worst that can happen is that you stop taking them because they're not working, and in that case you're no worse off than you are now.

Answer 7

The first thing you need to think of is, do I trust my doctor. If you do trust your doc (I hope you do... or find a new one), and you are opposed to taking meds, are there things in your life you have control over that are bringing you down? Can you reasonably change them?
Other than that, there are so many meds out there that sometimes the first one or two don't work with your system. Be open and frank with your doc about what's going on in your life, and with your body/feelings. It may take a while and seem pointless but when you do find the right combination of med, dosing and you, you will feel better.
Counseling is also a good option, but then again, you need to click with your doctor.
GOOD LUCK!!! Keep your chin up!!

Answer 8

After years of hearing from people I trusted (and still do, in some cases) that I shouldn't take anti-depressants, that they were over prescribed, etc, I finally saw a psychiatrist (rather than a psychologist, who cannot prescribe) who wanted me to try a low dosage of Zoloft.

Within a week, I saw a major difference. I was in grad school, and utterly unable to complete my work, or really do anything. I spent my time crying or sleeping. One week after I started taking Zoloft, I got out of bed and wrote an entire paper, working for three hours without stopping to cry. That hadn't happened in years!

Eventually, we upped my dosage and added Wellbutrin XL. I take both everyday, and thank and bless God for them everyday as well. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for these meds. I expect to take them the rest of my life, and I'm glad they are there.

Yes, there are some side effects. For me, it is worth it. Different people will react to different meds. Some people swear by Prozac. For me, it causes nightmares and doesn't help the depression. Zoloft has lowered my libido considerably, but I have a naturally high one anyway. I haven't seen many side effects to the Wellbutrin, except that it curbs appetite slightly.

If your psychiatrist (!) reccomends them, I sincerely hope you will consider it. After all, you can always stop taking them if you don't like them. What do you have to lose?

Also- if you are short on funds, it is still possible. Most doctors can get a trial run of the medicine for you. For Zoloft, my doctor had the first three weeks in a trial pack. If you don't have insurance, most of the big drug companies have programs to help. When I was without insurance, I got three months of both my medicines *free.* It's a hassle, because you have to get the forms from the company, but your doctor has to fill them out and submit them. That's part of their job, so don't be afraid to ask. They have admin staff to take care of that sort of thing. Government programs, like the local low-income health-system, will try to force you to try certain drugs first because they are available as generics. Just go with it, as there is no way around it if these systems are your only option. You can work within the system by telling them what works and what doesn't, but they will make you try it first. I had to be on Prozac a month before our local system would give me Zoloft. It's generic now, so that wouldn't be a problem, but it would be for the new drugs.

Contrary to what the above poster says, I haven't had any trouble with my new (Blue Cross) insurance regarding mental health. If you have a 'serious medical condition'- which major despression counts as- they have to allow you treatment, and cannot limit your visits to your psychiatrist. If you describe yourself as having 'mild depression' they may tell you 'ok, you can have ten visits a year.' So don't downplay your symptoms!!! They haven't given me any guff about the meds, either, but just dispense them the same as my Zyrtec or other meds.

Answer 9

People who say that it is your fault you're on antidepressants and you should change something in your life instead don't know what they're talking about. No one wants to be on drugs in order to function mentally, but I have tried to come off them 4 times (I'm 23) and I am basically an absolutely horrible, utterly terrified, griefstricken person without them. I eat healthily, walk everywhere, and do not have too many problems, and I've tried counselling a few times, but the only thing that has ever given me the ability to lead a normal life is being on seroxat. I really think that in my case there is something physical wrong with my brain or something.

Answer 10

Sweet heart anyone telling you not to take anti-depressants is just misinformed!

Sometimes there are physical differences in the brain that cannot be overcome by thinking positive. Considering that at least 5% of all U.S. citizens have some sort of disorder like that it is crazy that anyone would tell you not to seek help.

I used to take medication for my depression; eventually the chemicals stabalized the inequalities in brain chemicals like Seratonin and Dopamine. I am completely free of the meds and I feel much better then I did when I was in my dark period.

Do yourself a favor and take the meds, they're a chance at feeling better!