Help!

[Tryingtobethere15]

Hi there,

My husband was diagnosed with depression 2 years ago and started a new course of antidepressants three weeks ago. These meds seem to be working well - not a miracle cure by any means but significant changes in his behaviour - motivation, affection etc. I felt like I had my husband back and there are still improvements.

For the last week he has basically slept a LOT. The first few days he was apparently 'just relaxed' but this went on for the whole week. Phone switched off and he ignored the rest of the world.

Am I naive to think that these 'dips' shouldn't be this extreme if the meds are the right ones for him? Do these dips still happen even on the right medication?

I have seen my doctor and she said I am doing all the right things to support my husband but I find myself getting emotional with the highs and lows.

Any advice would be appreciated. I was just curious if the dips should be this extreme (and yes, I understand that this is not medical advice just personal experience).

Thank you

[White_Rose]

Hello Tryingtobethere

Thank you for telling us your story. I imagine it can be tough caring for a family member who has depression. As you know we are not medical people and of course we do not know which medication your husband is taking. I take an AD than makes me fall asleep very easily so I take it a short while before going to bed. Missed the end of too many TV shows so decided I will take the meds when I start to feel tired and ready for bed. It works for me.

Medication changes can have all sorts of side effects and irritatingly, the same medication can have a different effect on different people. So it is difficult to predict what will happen or even be certain that whatever is happening is due to medication. It can be a coincidence.

Have you read the instruction page that comes with meds? The one that tells you what the medication is used for and potential side effects. If the package did not contain one of these explanatory sheets your pharmacist can give you a print out. It may help to know what sort of side effects are possible.

Many of the side effects that happen with medication fall away after a few weeks. They are minor and the body adapts to them. If something continues for a reasonably long time I feel you should talk to your GP or whoever prescribed the meds. We know that ADs can take up to six weeks before the full effect is felt and I think this also applies to side effects. If your husband is not ill, does not fall asleep at the drop of a hat, so to speak, does not become disoriented or anything like that, it may be a good idea to wait a few more weeks.

Meanwhile, if you are concerned, write down what is happening to your husband, his actions, speech etc. Also record if any of these things are getting more or less frequent and any adverse affects they may have. It's always good to give the doctor something concrete to go on. Our memories are not always the most reliable especially when we are worried about someone. Writing down these symptoms may also help to reduce your concerns if nothing disastrous is happening.

If you are very concerned at any time then take your husband to the doctor or if it appears serious then call for an ambulance. I hope these actions will not be necessary. It's good to feel you have mechanism to fall back on when you are worried, so make this your emergency plan.

I hope I have not made you more worried. Keeping records and making an emergency plan can help you manage in the short term.

Mary

[geoff]

hello Tryingtobethere, Mary is right, his body will slowly adjust to this new medication, but yes AD's do make people tired, as mine do as well, so I set up my daily rountine, wake up the same time every morning and when I have a cat nap I also take the phone off the hook.
What you want is for your husband to become more affectionate and motivated after this awful period of being in depression, where he was lost, to now where you will have to adjust to his sleeping habits, rather than see him suffering, it means that your life will be changing again as it always does when recovering from depression.
Depression is a curse, an insidious illness that destroys anybody suffering from it, and mostly we never know why we get it, and it affects not only the person themselves but those who are connected with them, unfortunately this can't be helped, we just wish that those who are struggling with it are able to overcome it, by taking medication and/or counseling.
Eventually you will get used to when he sleeps, but to have your man back is more than anything you ever wanted. Geoff.x