Health & Fitness

antidepressant

Health & Fitness

Posted by: mimm

28th Aug 2012 12:00pm

whats peoples views on doctors thinking that just a pill will make things better in peples live they dont relise the damage that those tablets can cause what do you think?


Comments 30

Pippa Rich
  • 19th Apr 2014 01:12pm

I've been on anti D's for 4 years.

I do not function without them

If I don't take them I am lethargic, fatigued, sad and crying, unable to leave the house or get out of bed. I find no joy in life and everything, even going to the toilet is a mental and physical struggle

Those pills are magic

Anonymous
  • 31st Jan 2014 10:36am

I have always been a firm believer that exercise is the most under-utilised and most effective anti depressant. I don't know much about the details of the side effects or long term effects on the body that antidepressant tablets have, but they can't be healthy!! Increase exercise, increase endorphins!! =]

Kessa1959
  • 20th Jan 2014 10:28pm

I have found that doctors don't automatically prescribe anti-depressants. They take a holistic approach now and try counselling at first

T
  • 16th Dec 2013 12:20pm

I have a family of people who refuse to take medication for their depression, anger and abusive nature. This is the most frustrating thing ever. Medication in conjunction with regular phsych appointments is the only way to go. It may take a while to find a doctor that you can relate to well...and perhaps a while to find the right drug and dosage. People who refuse to take what has been prescribed to them are not helping themselves and continue to hurt the people who love them. Helping yourself will bring happiness to you and others. How arrogant to think you can tell a trained medical doctor what they should not be prescribing you. Get a second opinion by all means, but don't go seeking help if you can't take advice.

Anonymous
  • 30th Aug 2013 09:24am

I believe that a lot of the time people put their trust into the doctors that they see, and having anti depressants can have a negative effect on some people but others it may help them. im on anti depressants and it took a while to find one that actually helped me but i do think they are helpful to some and your doctor would no best.

jester123
  • 28th Aug 2013 04:35pm

Antidepressants help people cope while getting their lives back on track. Together with counselling they are very effective. It's better to prescribe a pill than to see someone take their own life through depression. It's not just a matter of telling someone to 'cheer up' It's a serious condition.

gwenn
  • 17th Aug 2013 08:51pm

I have to say from experience that some ppl they work, I was in a very black hole for over a month, I really couldn't see the light and wanted to end everything. Over that month the doctor tried different antidepressants and honestly I feel so much better now when I look back I never thought that could be ME

Anonymous
  • 16th Jul 2013 11:44am

I am actually on antidepressants and they have truly helped me be able to handle and discuss my problems.

I will say that I was put on them years ago and the doctor did not discuss the true extent of the problem with me so ultimately the true problem was masked not fixed.

Years later with the guidance of my boyfriend I went back to another doctor and told him my feelings and he really listened and he prescribed anti depressant but emphasised that I needed to see a psychologist and made me an appointment. This was the best thing that could have happened to me.

To be honest I don't think I could have gotten to this point and had all the breakthroughs I have had without medication. My mind was just too foggy. My brother has also been on anti depressants for years and this gave him a sense of stability to be able to fix the problem.

It depends how and why it is prescribed. I do believe that some doctors should not be allowed to prescribe them because they only mask the problem instead of helping to fix it however if society was a little bit more open about mental health maybe people wouldn't think they need to hide their emotions.

Anonymous
  • 15th Jul 2013 11:38pm

antidepressants are dangerous and over prescribed. i think people should look at their diets and lifestyle choices first before considering antidepressants.

Anonymous
  • 20th Apr 2014 09:55pm

i totally agree i find taichi helpsme keep a happy mind after being told i had depression no tablets for me

Chicken
  • 9th Nov 2012 08:21am

mmmm, A hard on. I am lucky that I have never actually suffered from depression, I think for different reasons, even though some of them are a a reason I might get depressed.
I have epilepsy and as a rule handle it quite well but like any condition, there are times when I am going through a rough patch and it gets to me. I think under normal circumstances I would get depressed and only about 5 weeks ago had a particularly bad time when for a couple of days I was headiding for a breakdown. Lucky for me, one of my epilepsy medications was originaly desighned for chronic depression, and they, found it had the 'side effect' of helping people with epilepsy so I am virtualy using it in reversal.
I have a friend who suffered depression for many years and eventualy reached the stage where she said to me, There is only one person who can get me out of this and that is myself!' Now she has done that, out working and has a good solid opinion of herself.
I think, like, alcohol, smoking etc, sometimes we have to pick our own moment then be strong and do it.

katalin
  • 2nd Nov 2012 08:55pm

My thirteen year old son was perscribed Fluoxetine ..l call it the pill from hell.

Anonymous
  • 25th Oct 2012 04:58am

i agree a GP Dr describes pills and thinks it will solve the problem. When yes some times they are giving you the wrong drug for the wrong reason. Every drug has side effects wether it can damage your liver , kidney.

Greta
  • 24th Oct 2012 03:18pm

I'm actually on an anti-depressent at the moment.
When I went to the doctor for help he first tried to get me counselling and then asked how i felt about taking tablets, I was at the point were I just didnt care!
So I began taking them and with in days started to feel like me again!
I have had no bad side effects, and as alot of people thinking you get addicted to them, this is not necessarily true, on many occasions I have even forgotten to take the tablets!

Corbanattar
  • 21st Oct 2012 11:36pm

mimm, you have opened a very interesting discussion. Thank you! I am on antidepressants and have been for many years. At this stage, I would like to stop but need my trusty psychiatrist to guide me through that stage to discover whether the time is right. I believe antidepressants are only one of a series of helps to manage depression:-
1. A good, caring and trustworthy doctor, preferably a psychiatrist - I might be biased!
2. Cognitive behavioural therapy - recognising feelings and thoughts of depressing situations, changing the negative thought to a positive thought and acknowledging the feeling that results etc. This is an extremely worthwhile exercise, especially when recorded and practised consistently - preferably daily.
3. Antidepressant that 'agrees' with (no side effects) and helps the person (in conjunction with above) improve mood and thoughts become more positive. Sudden improvement not to be expected as medication takes time to adjust the physical chemical imbalance within body.
4. Lots of patience, relaxation exercises, soothing music, and a firm belief that there is, definitely is - a light at the end of the tunnel.

All of the above has to work together. As to doctors who hand out pills without serious knowledge of the tablet itself, and without close continuing discussion of its effect on the person? Please, continue to search for a 'good' doctor. I warmed the chairs of 5 doctors before I fortunately found the one meant for me - and am I most grateful for her! There's one out there for you, too! Good luck and my prayer!

dodger
  • 6th Oct 2012 11:33pm

after recent triple by pass surgery doctor wanted to put me on antidepressant tablets !!! why because people can become depressed after this type of opp !!! you have got to be joking i said i'm just so happy to be still alive no thankyou very much !!!

monkey7
  • 6th Oct 2012 10:39pm

I will try to make it short.I had post natal depression bad.Family got me help thru doctor.Pills.Everything was great then.The anxiety left and coping skills much better.If I didn't have them,harm may have come to myself or my baby.They did make me more docile so it was harder to be fast at work,which was necessary and worked with sharp tools.I also had my first car accident on them.My second child,same story except pills didn't work this time but had counselling before and coping skills a little better.I still think the first time I was not talked to long enough before pills were given,but,if they were not given straight away,I don't know what could have happened.That brain chemical is one nasty piece of work.

Aging blonde
  • 6th Oct 2012 08:29am

I am mostly against antidepressants from personal experience, but in the short term they can help a person cope. In my case I had a major accident, lots of medical and legal problems followed due to incompetence in both fields causing me a lot of anxiety. Antidepressants relaxed me BUT they also reduced my capacity to think. Then prolonged use caused further problems and stress, psychiatrist prescribed stronger pills to cope resulting in suicidal tendencies and when I mentioned to psychiatrist 'I want to kill myself' he stated 'You probably will'. How responsible are these doctors? Just give the patient a pill and send them away - lazy treatment (or lack of). End result: difficulty in weaning off the pills with adverse effects, but finally pill free, thinking clearly. Try to avoid antidepressants whenever possible, find something else which will provide a calming environment, herbal tea, soothing music, a good book, a good movie - anything but pills as they are only a band-aid solution SOMETIMES!

Twiki
  • 6th Oct 2012 07:41am

Many doctors will encourage patients to seek counselling, especially if the medication is not working as well as perhaps it might. Sometimes ‘just a pill’ will work if it is the right pill for the individual. Everyone responds differently to medication. It is a trial and error thing really. Sometimes you strike it lucky on the first attempt, sometimes you may have to try several different antidepressants until you find the one that work for you. There are also ‘families’ of antidepressants, for example, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SSRIs have fewer side effects. SNRIs have similar side effects to SSRIs but difficult withdrawal effects. TCAs have several side effects including increased heart rate, drowsiness, and blurred vision. MAOIs can have fatal outcomes from certain food and other medication interactions and require a modified diet. Some people do not experience side effects/damage but others experience many, again it is an individual thing. Some people do better with therapy alone, antidepressants alone, or a combination of the two. Proper rest/sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet are also important.

simla
  • 5th Oct 2012 10:08pm

Hi mimm, depression is a serious condition indeed.I agree that nutrition has a part to play. I also agree that financial issues are often hampering treatment, as people with depression often are not well enough to work, and the public often see them as malingerers,.. this only adds to their problems. The fact that Tasmania has the highest rate of vitamin D deficiency and a high rate of depression/suicide, is not coincidence. Use of sunscreen has stopped people getting sun-cancer, but the cost has been an increase in vitamin D deficiency and associated depression. I would advise a yearly vitamin D blood test along with the normal blood workup that is normally done. ANYONE WITH SUSPECTED DEPRESSION SHOULD GET A VITAMIN D TEST DONE WITHOUT DELAY, regardless of whether they are taking a supplement, you probably are not taking enough,( it is toxic in large doses if you are NOT deficient) you must get a blood test to be able to know. Even if you are taking medication, research foods that contain seratonin...(the feel-good hormone) bananas are said to be a good source. Another factor is that some people can not absorb enough vit D from the sun.Cheers-Simla

simla
  • 25th Oct 2012 11:55am

hi smiley, yes, i'm sure drugs are a necessary part of the general treatment for a lot of patients, and do have an important role to play, as is evidenced in the replies here.Prevention is heaps better than cure. Consider nutrition first, as we need to know and rule out and deficiencies first. Unfortunately there are emergency cases where sometimes, to prevent tragic consequences, a quick course of action is the best way.I agree with you,this requires the drugs first mode of treatment. My opinion is that it is a multi-sided thing that needs attacking from many different angles.Some families have an inherited factor where genetics play a strong role. If this is known, or suspected, it is doubly important to make sure that a deficiency(enzymes, vitamins, amino acids) are not the source of the problem, so a correct diagnosis is possible. It is not possible to cure any problem if the cause is not found.So start off with a level playing field. I for one, (at 65 years of age), have had the yearly "check-ups "with the NORMAL blood tests, but have NEVER in 65 years had a Vit D test, despite having seen 5 specialists for arthritis/fibromyalgia / chronic fatigue. That is until I recently asked for one with my GP after seeing on TV, the recent research on Vit D in relation to a number of conditions, including pain control, mental function, detox of brain chemicals(neuro toxins) and the effect on neuro transmiters that cause nerve excitability. These carry messages to different parts of the body.(OR NOT!) Actually, my Vit D level was way, way below normal, despite taking cod liver oil, and a multi vit with vit D, and getting some sun exposure. We in Tasmania are at a disadvantage, the sun is so weak in winter, not many sunny days.

Anonymous
  • 25th Oct 2012 05:08am
Hi mimm, depression is a serious condition indeed.I agree that nutrition has a part to play. I also agree that financial issues are often hampering treatment, as people with depression often are...

Depression is bad i suffer from bipolar disorder 2,.So yes drugs and blood tests and eating healthy are all so important, Plus that vitamin D. I spend when i can 2 to 3 hours in the sun a day . Either picking weeds out or reading my book or exercing. This is when im well and not stuck in bed for days on end due to my illness. Drugs are a important thing for me helps me cope. I also seek proffessional help to help me cope. So please dont rule out drugs. Yes they have bad side effects. That's why you have to have blood tests done every two weeks

boocuddles
  • 5th Oct 2012 07:36pm

I have a thing called Panic Disorder,have had it for years,been in hospital,seen psych's etc nothing helped until I went on anti depressants 8 years ago,haven't had an attack since so don't knock them.

Nidhogg
  • 3rd Oct 2012 10:07am

Hi all, I have mental health problems that also includes suicidle tendacies.
I am currently on anti depressents and I must say that they really help me out.
If I wasn't on my meds I would revert to wife bashing, causing bodily harm, self harm amongst other things. I have been to councilers etc but they can only do so much and been on a pension makes it twice as hard. It took about 3 different goes to find the right meds that would work properly and I have no side effects.(You also need to see different doctors as well till you find one that is genuinly compasionate and caring to want to help you) That's a rareity these days IMHO.

Anonymous
  • 1st Oct 2012 02:04am

hi there, i personally think trying anything such as a pill is a good way to try and keep things together, not all people can just switch off their depression.
depression is very serious and can lead to deaths.
there are alot of different drugs out there for depression some good some not so good but each person is also very different.
but they do help to a curtain extent.

brainsrno1
  • 29th Sep 2012 03:18pm

Hi Mimm

Doctors don't think that medication will solve everything, medication is used to correct chemical imbalances within the body and should always be used in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise and healthy social behaviors. Antidepressants must be used for a minimum of 10 days (in most cases) to allow the body time to properly adjust to the change in chemicals. There are side effects with all medication but there are side effects with any chemicals we put in our bodies and it is up to us not the doctor to recognize negative side effects that occur and discuss it with them.

olga
  • 10th Oct 2012 04:37pm
Hi Mimm

Doctors don't think that medication will solve everything, medication is used to correct chemical imbalances within the body and should always be used in conjunction with a healthy...

I agree with you brainsrno1, but Drs. treat us as guiny pigs, how can you be treated with antidepressant? How they find out that your quimical imbalance is not right?
Some antidepressants lead you to commite suicide, you know?

lisaconn
  • 25th Sep 2012 01:12pm

Hi mimm, for some people antidepressants do actually correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are some GP's who MAY prescribe medications without knowing the full medical history of their patient. Trained psychiatrists will usually try to give the patients coping tools to help them manage their mental struggles before prescribing medications. However there are also cases where medication is known to work hand in hand with diet and coping strategies. I also do agree with you that unless prescribed for the right situation medication can cause more harm than good.

Leanne6
  • 26th Apr 2014 11:51pm
Hi mimm, for some people antidepressants do actually correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are some GP's who MAY prescribe medications without knowing the full medical history of their...

I think that GP's are a 1st stop for many people but I think that if a GP is perscribing antidepresents they should also be providing advice about on line resources - diet, exercise etc. Consults to other health professionals like psycologists and psychiatrists. Make sure blood tests are performed to rule out other health conditions eg thyroid issues, and regular follow ups to ensure that the treatment is working

Bart
  • 6th Oct 2012 12:36am
Hi mimm, for some people antidepressants do actually correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are some GP's who MAY prescribe medications without knowing the full medical history of their...

I went through a bad time after being run over. I suffered a left temporal fracture which had me nearly screaming with the pain. My whole manner was changed, with mood swings and fits of depression ... but angry depression. I actually went to Hillcrest Psych Hospital in Adelaide, for help. I had always thought that they were supposed to help you sort out your problem. All they did was shove pills at me! Yes - antidepressants! It cheesed me off that much, that my anger at them sorted me out! All I had needed was a different focus on which to vent my anger!
I know of one lass where I now live, has been prescribed some heavy psych drugs and refuses to take them. I know why - she showed me the bit of paper out of the box - 'This drug MAY cause loss to the immune system" If she had not read that, she may well have ended up as another human guinea pig, as the medical profession experimented on her!

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