Scared to take medications

mustwegospellitout · ‎05-04-2015

Hello everyone, I have had depression for a fair amount of years now, usually it would come in waves as it usually does for some people, i have been in and out of psychological counciling etc, but as of late i have noticed it has gotten so much more worse, and i am not improving or progressing. lately i have been closer and closer to suicide than i have ever been, i have told my friends that i am going to start taking anti depressant medication (pending talking to the psychologist), my friends have shown support for my decision. but i have an issue myself that is getting in the way which is leaving me feeling very confused and helpless in the matter.

is the fear of taking said medications. i scare myself half to death everytime i get a script/read into it. i really don't like the idea of feelings of nausea, physical/internal problems, sexual problems etc, and psyche myself out, i tell myself i can manage it but i automatically prove myself wrong. i need to know people's thoughts on the matter. i am aware it is a personal decision, but i'd like to know other opinions on taking/not taking medications/starting up on medications/anti depressants.

thanks

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geoff · ‎06-04-2015

dear Mustwegospellitout, it takes a lot of encouragement even if it's by yourself to decide to post a comment on this forum, and what you have posted is a question that is often asked, but as we aren't qualified we can only answer on our own personal experience so the result may vary from one person to another.

We often look on the net about the antidepressant (AD) that we are prescribed to take, either by your own doctor or by your psychiatrist, as psychologist's aren't allowed to prescribe any medication, but as most medicines have side-effects we take it for granted that they will affect us, however this can be a false alarm, because everyone is different.

When we start to have thoughts about suicide then something drastic has to be taken, and one way is to start taking AD supervised by your doctor or psych, where they normally start you on a low dose, so that if any side-effects begin they will be minimal, and then hopefully our body will adjust and begin to accept this particular AD, so then the dose can be increased if need be.

If nausea does happen then there is medication which can stop this, but this means another pill, and I have to agree that there's nothing worse than feeling nauseated, but then again you may not become this way, so we can't accept that it's going to happen.

My suggestion is that you start taking them, and please remember that there is a long list of different types of AD and a lot of us have had to go through several before the effect was positive.

If you don't take them then your mood is going to deteriorate even further where the situation may arise that you have to be taken to hospital for your safety and the doctors there will prescribe some sort of AD, but it would be much better if your own doctor or psych put you on this AD, so that you can have constant support.

I hope to hear back from you. Geoff.

BK13 · ‎09-04-2015

Hi mustwegospellitout

i 100% understand where you are coming from. 3 weeks ago I was you. I filled my script straight after seeing the doctor. But I kept making excuses not to take them. I felt like I was having a heart attack every time I thought about taking them. I think it's worse at the start too because I had to cut the pills in half for the first week. So it wasn't as simple as just popping one out. I can reassure you that that anxious feeling about taking them subsided for me after a few days. Now i take them as naturally as I take my contraceptive pill.

so now the side effects. They list quite a few don't they! And the Internet is full of stories of how ADs made people feel. Remember that people are more likely to describe the bad feelings, so it sort of skews the information. That being said, I have experienced unpleasant side effects myself. The first few days I was very agitated and I felt quite sick. I was very tired and had trouble stayimg awake past 7pm, but then would spent hours awake in the middle of the night. I am pleased to report those symptoms have mostly gone. I still have a tense feeling in my jaw which comes and goes. Not sure I feel 'better' as in the positive effects of the medication just yet but i know I have to be patient on that. I am als seeing a psychologist finally for the first time tomorrow so that should help me on my way too.

so back to you - you have been receiving other treatment including a psychologist. The fact that you are experiencing increased thoughts of self harm, coupled with the fact you have been prescribed medication..... Really does make it sound like your current treatment isnt enough and you really need to think seripusly about taking the ADs. The alternative of continuing down the path of a worsened mental state is not one anyone here wants to see you take. I completely understand the fear you feel in taking the medication, it's a feeling many of us here have felt. You are not alone and you can share your experiences here as you take them if you wish.

if you haven't already, I'd suggest talking your fears through with your psych. With their support, our support, and hopefully support from trusted family/friends - you can do it!

all the best, please keep us updated.

bk

PurpleShade · ‎09-04-2015

I have been scared to take medications for years so I can understand the trepidation in taking them. Recently my depression hit a really bad patch that the fear for my life was greater than my fear for medication. I took my Dr's advice but I did first share my fears about weight gain and lack of libido and he prescribed AD medication that don't have these side affects. I'm so glad I decided to take them. My head quietened down and my thinking patterns shifted to more positive thoughts and I'm smiling with my eyes again.

The thing that changed my mind to give them a go was my Dr's suggestion that I trial them for a month and if I didn't like how I felt on them I could stop. It took the pressure off and I felt in control, it was a choice, not something I had to do. Now that I'm on them, I can see if I want to get better, I need to take them.

I hope you can be kind to yourself and consider taking them. Best of luck and know we understand where you are x

ilovetoread73_ · ‎06-05-2015

Best thing I did taking AD's. It changed my life and gave it back to me somewhat. Life was more enjoyable and bearable. People are right to be guarded about medications. People worry about AD's but I have terrible reactions to anti-histamines as I am allergic to them. I have a reaction that is awful. Enough to make you contemplate suicide if it doesn't stop my nervous system or muscles going crazy because of my RLS. Anything that has antihistamine. These are handed out by GP's like lollies when you are crook in the guts. AD's taken in my opinion have much more good to give and as long as you are careful about how you take and not go cold turkey your life has a chance to become so much better. Be mindful and you have the chance to get yourself some therapy which may help you and life even marginally better is worth it in my opinion. Do your research and you are on your way.