Scared to try antidepressants for my depression/anxiety

[MisterM]

Hi All,

I just saw a GP who has suggested I try antidepressant medication.
My GP also referred me to a psychiatrist, I have seen a psychologist before but never a psychiatrist, would there be a difference in treatment between the two?

I am very scared to try medication as I have read about the side effects.

Does anyone here suffer any side effects from their medication?
If so how bad is it?
I am worried I will be vomiting from nausea and get overweight.

A friend of a friend was withdrawing from them and was vomitting.
This person also said the meds made her feel worse, like she was a zombie.

[Pixie15]

Hi Mister,

I notice your not completely new to BB but I have not seen any of your previous posts so do not know any more of your story than what you have written here.

If your GP has suggested a psychiatrist it may be because the psychological therapy was insufficient on its own to help you. I think some people can be helped with therapy and some with medication and some with a combination of both. If you decide to take medication you may need to try different medications and different doses to get  the right balance. The difference with the psychiatrist is that they have the medical and therapy training.

If you decide to take the anti-depressants it is a good idea to have some support in place from family or friends because you may be at greater risk of self harm in the first couple of weeks.

There is a risk of side effects of any medication you can take including over the counter pain killers. Only you can decide if you want to go ahead however probably better to find out from your doctor exactly what they would prescribe and check out the possible side effects that are worrying you and talk it through with your doctor if necessary. 

Just because another person you know had bad side effects or withdrawal problems does not mean that you will.

Cheerio

Grateful.

[CrashCoyote]

Hi Mister M,

I am a 51yo male with PTSD and depression. I do not take meds but have seen a psychiatrist and regularly see a psychologist.

A psychiatrist is a doctor that specialises in mental health. They know pharmacology and can prescribe medication. A psychologist (unless a doctor in another field) is not a doctor but a person with training in recognising mental illness and using therapy, usually CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help.

Not everyone needs medication. Some issues are a chemical imbalance in the brain and medication can address that. In some cases it is very effective with few side effects and in others the side effects are severe. I guess for many people the decision is the lesser of two evils?

Your GP is sending you to a psychiatrist because it is a specialist referral, just like he might have sent you to a surgeon if he thought you had a skin cancer that needed cutting out. Someone with more expertise and experience than him/herself.

Some people do have serious sleeping problems on meds and some meds are very difficult to wean yourself off. I'd suggest you discuss with the psychiatrist what options (CBT or meds) s/he feels are better for you, and why. Tell him/her your concerns and if you'd prefer to try CBT first, tell him/her that.

Good luck with it. I'll look out for your post if you choose to let us know how it went.

Kind regards, John.

[Myshelle]

Hi Mister M,

Please don't be scared to try medication the relief of depression and anxiety can far outweigh any side effects.

I certainly have never gained weight while on AD Meds, quite the opposite.

I can get a little tired but certainly nothing equivalent to Zombie Like.I am more likely to be nauseous from anxiety, than the medication.

I do think much help and support can be gained by going to see a psychiatrist or psychologist.I have been to both.

I wish you well with which ever decision you make.

[MisterM]

Thank you all for your replies.

In reply to GratefulToday, "If you decide to take the anti-depressants it is a good idea to have some support in place from family or friends because you may be at greater risk of self harm in the first couple of weeks."

Unfortunately I am unable and unwilling to let my parents know about my mental health issues.
They are migrants who are stuck in the 50's and wouldn't understand, and worse they would look at me differently. I have heard how they speak about those with mental health issues before and it isn't helpful.
I don't get along with my sister and her husband, I have one other sister who could help but I feel she and her husband don't know how to help.
I also don't have many friends, the one true friend I have I don't want to be a burden on.

The self harm risk scares me.

[Pixie15]

Hi MisterM,

I am sorry most of your family have such a negative attitude to mental health issues. I think it is really a matter of ignorance. When my son was first diagnosed with bi polar I had no idea about the stigma. I told him it is just a chronic illness the same as being a diabetic. 

You have one sister who you think may support you. There is a lot of information on this site which you could perhaps have a look at with her. Help her to understand. As well as the forums you have the opportunity to phone or to chat if you want to talk to someone. 

Hope you find some support.

Grateful.

[Beltane]

Dear Mister M,

 this fear you have regarding medication side effects and whether you will get sick/ change personality from antidepressants is a very common fear. It is a sad truth that those of us with anxiety tend to get anxious about many things- medications are just another anxiety for us.

I understand completely this fear as I had it too. My anxiety itself causes nausea- so i would become so anxious about medications that i would make myself sick.

It is true they can cause side effects. As another poster mentioned, even over the counter vitamins and painkillers can cause side effects. The side effects of anti-depressants should be mild and only temporary- eg the first few days you might feel a little tired or lose your appetite. It is rare to get so sick you vomit, and if you do, you should discuss this immediately with your doctor as it could be the wrong medication for you.

As another poster mentioned, antidepressants are aimed at fixing the chemical imbalance which often is a cause of depression and anxiety. The trick is getting the right medication- a doctor cant measure which chemical is out of balance so it can be a bit of trial and error, but many people report great benefits from the correct antidepressant prescribed to them. Unfortunately it can take 6 weeks for a med to start working which is annoying.

The risk regarding self-harm or suicidal thoughts after starting medications is written on the pack because it is a possibility. It is a low risk, and meds certainly aren't going to make you go crazy. Since you feel you cannot tell your family, put the number for BeyondBlue and Lifeline in your phone, and see your doctor once a week while starting a new med.

Unfortunately I am one of the people that felt nauseous on antidepressants. We couldnt figure out why until I went to see a psychiatrist (psychatrists specialise in prescribing medications). I was incorrectly diagnosed as having depression when i actually had bipolar 2. I also had a liver problem. Thats why antidepressants made me feel nauseous.
Now i'm on a medication for bipolar 2, and even though its "meant" to have more side effects, i havent got a single one. Why? Because its the right med for my brain. And its completely changed my life- i feel better than i ever have before- calmer, happier, more stable, more confident. My anxiety and panic is almost completely gone, my depression disappeared...

My recommendation.. never ever read the brochure about the medication- it'll just scare you.

[SuperBro]

If a specialist prescribed you an anti-depressant, you should take it, In the worst case, if there are some side effects, you can just tell your doctor about it and stop taking it.
But it’s best to tell him or her about your fears and considerations regarding taking the medication. I told my doctor about it, and he said that since I am so afraid of side effects, I can take another product, Calmax. It’s natural and safe. And I really liked the alternative.