First time taking antidepressants

Jackystaff · ‎06-10-2017

Hi, I’ve been feeling depressed for a few years now and I finally got up the courage to go to the doctor about it and I knew I couldn’t afford therapy so I’ve gotten antidepressants. The only thing is now that I’ve finally got them I’m scared to use them. The huge side effects list is daunting and I’m also scared of how much it’ll change me, mostly personality wise. Does anyone have any words of encouragement or advice for this, thanks

And I’m worried because I know you aren’t supposed to drink alcohol while on them and I have an event tomorrow and I’m not sure if I should wait and start taking them the next day or not. But then I also have my 21st birthday coming up in a few weeks and realise I should have waited until after that to got to the doctors. I know it seems trivial and you might think, just don’t drink then, but it’s my 21st so I really want to. I just wanted to know if anyone had any advice or what their expirence with drinking while on them was.

thanks guys, any information will help

romantic_thi3f · ‎06-10-2017

Hey Jackystaff,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your post.

You're thoughts are totally valid, and it makes complete sense you want to drink on your 21st! That's what birthdays are about 🙂

Sounds like you've got kinda two concerns here so I'm gonna talk about them that way -

The side effects list of every medication is enormous, long and scary. I've taken a lot of different medications over the years for a lot of different things and frankly - it's daunting. One of the things my pharmacist talked about was statistics. Whenever you look at a CMI (the brochure thingy that tells you the side effects) you'll see a few lists - one is the really common ones, one is less common but talk to your GP, and then there's like the less less common ones. Whenever the pharmaceutical company trials out medication on people and anyone experiences any side effect, they have to by law right it down. Some of the side effects are literally 1 in 1000. So talk to your pharmacist, or your doctor. Is there any ones in particular that really worry you?

Note too that a lot of the common side effects will happen pretty quickly but settle. This is why they all say wait 4-6 weeks. So if you get nausea for example, it doesn't mean you'll have nausea for as long as you take the medication.

Ok second thing - the reason why we're told not to drink is because it could make the depression worse or the side effects could be more intense. I can't tell you to drink or not too drink, but personally I avoided it because I didn't want to make it worse - it was already bad enough 🙂 So I really wouldn't recommend it, but it's up to you.

How do you feel about waiting until after? Do you think that after your 21st you could avoid drinking for a while?

Hope this helps,

geoff · ‎06-10-2017

hi Jackystaff, what MP has said 'a lot of the common side effects will happen pretty quickly but settle down' is true, however you don't know whether or not you are prone to side-effects, the company by law and to protect themselves, have to list any side-effects for legal reasons, some people don't have them, which is good, but worry they will have them, so that's also a worry which could lead them to feel unwell for no reason.
Drinking alcohol is suggested not to do, because the doctors say is only weakens the AD, however I have to be honest and say that I have been drinking alcohol the whole time when taking them, and I'm not saying that's what you should do, because now I only drink socially. This doesn't mean that you should go and get intoxicated because everyone is different and don't know what sort of reaction you will have, and as I've said I'm not suggesting you should or shouldn't. Geoff..

Cesca1557 · ‎06-10-2017

Hey Jackystaff,

Well done for going to the doctor about it! the hardest step is often the first one, and you had made it now! it sucks how expensive therapy can be, however i suggest that you talk to your GP about a Mental health care plan. It basically means that you get 6 (which can be increased to 10), therapy sessions where you get a rebate from medicare.
For me, money is a big deterant as well, as I just dont have the extra money to spend, but with the rebate, the $165 session was reduced to only $35, which is so so manageable! Have a look into it, the price will obviously vary depending on what psycholgist you are seeing as they vary their prices but even a little decrease in price can make a huge difference.

But its great that you have taken steps including taking AD's. I only just started taking them myself (almost up to 5 weeks now, however only on the starting dose). The side effects list can seem daunting, but like others have said, generally most people only get a few, they have to include the full list to prevent anyone from suing them if they get something thats not on the list, some of them are very rare!
Personally, i got bad nausea, and increased tireness but it was all manageable. Book another appointment with your GP in two or so weeks so you can talk over any side effects that you are having, and you can alter the dose if need be, but usually, the side effects only last a week or two while your body is getting used to the new medication, so try to stick it out for two weeks and see how you are going then.

As for the alcohol, i havent stopped drinking myself. i dont drink all the time, but i do drink socially when im with friends, at birthdays or nights out. The AD's can heighten the effects of alcohol, and the alcohol can heighten the side effects of the AD's, so my tips if you do want to drink, is to drink less than you usually would, and be observant during the night to how you are being affected by it. If you are feeling drunk earlier than normal, or after drinking less than normal, it is clear that the AD's have heightened the effects of the alcohol. As long as you are careful not to drink too much though its fine (in my opinion atleast haha). Think of it as you now have a lower tolerance.
However the next morning, you can feel a little worse but as long as you are sensible you should be okay.
Your 21st is a huge night and an exciting one, so having a few drinks to celebrate shouldn't hurt 🙂

great to hear from you

- c

Spikeo · ‎07-10-2017

Hi jackystaff

Obviously yyour event has happened- please write back to let us know which way you went ie did you postpone the AD's or if not how did you go on them.

If you did postpone then id suggest leading up to your 21st (i feel old!) Be with someone you really trust, a parent maybe, and have 1 or 2 drinks with dinner. Obviously tell them your concerns so they can be an observant back up. See how you feel the next day and go from there. If all good next time have a couple more -but intoxicated until you are confident that you get no or at least tolerable side effects. When i had them years ago my gp told me, exact quote, "they might get you pissed quicker" i thought great cheap shout! But i dont recall any side effects, maybe slightly less drinks to the same effect but barely noticeable.

Well done getting treatment, good luck and have a great 21st!