Hi I’m a newbie and have a question as a concerned friend of someone taking antidepressants

[Lauren00]

Hi everyone I’m new here and in need of some advice.

I recently broke up from an eighth month relationship with a guy who is on antidepressants and anxiety medication and I was just posting here because I’m concerned about how he will be long term living on them. We are still really good friends and his well-being is still a concern for me. We have both 16 as well.

So the other night he informed me that at his last doctors appointment they had upped his dosage and that has caused him to not feel anything and that is the main reason why he broke up with me. But that’s not what bothers me.

I’m just more worried that he believes he will live the rest of his life on this medication and thinks that’s a fine way to live. But I’m just concerned that it is making him feel nothing and that as time goes by he’ll become used to the medication and will need more to have the same effect and because he’s already on a high dosage I’m scared as to what sort effects could occur?

So I was just wondering what are the long term effects of taking anti depressants for a long time? And also should I discuss my concerns with him?

Thank you guys in advance.

[Just Sara]

Hi and welcome to our caring community Lauren;

It's great you've found the courage to ask for help for what seems a distressing issue for you. So well done!

Firstly, I need to tell you we're not professionals by any means. We're sufferers of anxiety/depression who understand what it's like to experience confusing and scary symptoms, and aim to help other sufferers find their way to recovery.

You're a good friend looking out for your ex so I hope I can help you feel more at ease with his process.

AD's affect each person differently. Medications are part of a mental health plan created by GP's and psychiatrists to support the patient cope with symptoms. In the beginning, responses to medications can take time to kick in and they may need to try different one's to find the best result.

If your ex isn't 'feeling' anything, it may be that he needs to be this way for a while to give relief from overwhelming symptoms. As I don't know anything about his history I can't really give advice or have an opinion.

It's best left to his medical advisors to provide him with medication and information. One of the most important aspects of this is for him to give honest feedback so Dr's can assess his situation properly.

He needs friends too, and I'm guessing this is more to the point of your query. How do you encourage and help him get thru this period in his life?

Just be his friend ok. 'Listen' when he needs to talk, and please don't expect more from him than he's able to give. You can't 'fix' him or make him better quicker than you'd like.

Find someone for you to talk with; you need support to support him. Learn about his diagnosis and try not to overwhelm him with complex conversations. He needs to rest his mind. He and you both need to take it one day at a time instead of worrying about the future.

If you want more explicit advice, we have Dr Kim who answers questions in the 'Treatment, health professionals and therapy' Section of the forum. You're welcome to look around threads for people in similar situations or read info sheets below.

I hope I've helped in some way. I also hope to hear back from you soon as we want to support you to stay strong for him.

Take care...warm thoughts;

Sez

[geoff]

hi Lauren, depression is an awful illness to get, but we never know if or when it's going to happen, it could slowly build up over a period of time, something which we may not be aware of and that's where the problem begins.
He may have started off by being a bit cranky for just a short time but then come good, whereas the next few days it could have gone on longer, that's how depression forms.
I wouldn't worry if he has to stay on AD'S a long time, my doctor has told me that's what I will probably need to do, and that doesn't bother me because I would rather be feeling well rather than struggling.
As Sez has said we aren't qualified but have learnt from what we have been through ourselves, finding the right medication that suits us as well as having a doctor and psychologist we can talk to without any inhibitions, no fear that they will judge us.
If his medication needs to be reviewed just because he isn't able to cope, then his doctor may up the dosage or start him on a new AD, so the process will start once again.
At the moment you are friends and not going out together, however you can still text him and say you still want to be there for him, just one caution try not and ask him question after question, and I say this because he may just close up. Geoff.