Anti-depressants

I think more are prescribed these drugs because people are more isolated now, and the GP only has five minutes to spare so writing a script saves time

If to-day AD's had been invented years earlier, lives could have been saved.

Mental illness, including depression, has always been with us. Hurrah, in this instance, for the research of the drug companies.

Well, a muted hurrah, jingl. I don't have the option of trying a SSRI because of interactions with migraine meds. I've been refused further talking therapy because previous courses of therapy haven't helped. I know there's no happy pill, but it would be lovely to be able to live without mental health problems blighting areas of my life and potentially, those of others I care about too.
I think meds are a life-saver for many, but for those who struggle on and aren't sick enough to be hospitalised, there are very few options. I don't think there ever were, because mental health has always been at the bottom of the funding and interest heap, but it's getting so much worse now.

And for those who feel worse on antidepressants there is also less hope. Antidepressants are a godsend for some, but not for all.

That's very true, nightowl. I've noticed that two of the side-effects listed in some, including mine, are 'depression' and 'anxiety'.....talk about drug companies covering their own backs!

I've been on Citalopram for over 6 months now and it has worked for me.
To such an extent that my doctor recently reduced the dosage. This has led to some weird and alarming sensations, but these are now declining thank goodness!
I don't really WANT to take them any more, but fear the depression returning.

The article says that there isn't good evidence that they work for mild to moderate depression - made me wonder - shouldn't diagnosing depression be in the hands of more specialist docs than the GP with the 10 minute slot? henetha your doctor sounds like a very good one.

jingle I agree with you re lives that could have been saved, but is it not so that certain anti-depressants can cause suicidal tendencies? It all seems to be a bit of a gamble.

My interest in it stems from the fact that they are dished out too easily IMHO. I mean there have been times in my life when I have been extremely unhappy and I would say "appropriately depressed", but then it passed because my circumstances changed, or I took action, or ... any one of many different things.

There was that book "Prozac Nation" a few years ago about overprescribing in the US. I'm glad that questions are being asked about the steady increase in anti-depressant prescribing year on year here, making doctors aware.

I wish I could take Citalopram, henetha. I've been told I can probably try escitalopram, which is similar, but it seems to have some unpleasant side-effects, so I'm a bit wary. Will probably give it a try though because weight gain isn't healthy (and I'm VERY overweight)

On the topic of SSRIs, I am, as always, in complete agreement with Jingle. I hope I never have to go through coming off and then back on them again, although I did not suffer all of the symptoms listed - only a dry mouth and horrible, vivid dreams and when coming off a plunge into the deepest, darkest pit within two weeks. For those of us with Clinical Depression SSRIs are literally a life saver. My great regret is that they were not available for my DM, who's later life was so restricted and miserable and, as Rowantree points out, her depressed state created ripples which affected the whole family.

BTW - I am fully reviewed annually.

Grannyknot It is young people who need to be kept a close eye on when starting ssri' s because the activating result can begin before the depression has been overcome, thus opening up the possibility of any suicidal thoughts being acted upon. After a few weeks, when the drug is taking full effect, this stops being relevant.

Young people should be - and hopefully are - always watched carefully.

At the risk of repeating myself they are NOT a lifesaver for everyone with clinical depression. They have been linked with increased suicide when prescribed for teenagers and they do not help all adults. I agree with those who say that more careful prescribing is essential and I worry that they are handed out by GPs after a five minute consultation, not properly reviewed, and that side effects are not always taken seriously.

I think the article is very balanced.

Yes. It is Difficult to distinguish between depression and simple unhappiness. That is why it took me several years to bite the bullet and see the doc. When you have got yourself all ready to go out shopping and then, an hour later, you are still sitting on the chair outside the kitchen door, you realise the time has come.

Ssri' s are excellent for the treatment of anxiety too.

jings should that be if the drug is taking effect? And how do you watch someone with suicidal tendencies carefully? With great difficulty I would imagine.

I have had no side effects with fluoxetine and must have been on them (lowest dose) for at least 5 years. They have been life changing for me.

Completely agree Jingle. They have been a lifesaver for my family and friends and effectively for all other family members who feel so,helpless when they witness how their loved ones are suffering and can do nothing to help them.

I think doctors are very careful with teenagers. I would think the parents would have to be in on things. And perhaps a community mental health nurse.

I have no experience of this with teenagers though.

There is a large body of research that shows a link with increased suicide in young people on SSRIs when compared with placebos. This is not because the drugs have not yet taken effect, but because they are psychotropic ie. mind altering drugs. How they alter thinking is different in everyone, but the effects on young people can be particularly unpredictable. And Grannyknot is right, you can't watch someone with suicidal tendencies that closely, even in hospital. That's why suicides take place on psychiatric wards.

As I have said, I have no experience with ssri' s and young people.

Crossed posts jingl. I'm not suggesting SSRIs don't have a role but we do need to be careful about their drawbacks as well. Especially when those drawbacks are as significant as suicide, and side effects can be so awful (speaking as a caring relative).

You need a good GP or consultant. My DGS1 takes fluoxotene [as well as other things] it is helping him a lot, but yes, they do need to be watched [and listened to] this is for the family to do. He is seen at 3 monthly intervals.You never know, as no drug is ever completely safe, but high anxiety needs some medical help.

I took fluoxotine for a couple of years about ten years ago duringa very difficult perid in my my life. I found it very effective in controlling the anxiety I was experiencing and it actually gave me my life back. I felt dizzy and nauseous for the first couple of weeks but after that gradually started to feel so much better. It did cause weight gain which I quickly lost when.I stopped taking them (weaning myself off them very gradually. ) do remember having very vivid dreams but they were actually quite pleasant! On.the negative side I.soon learnt not to make it known that I was taking them as I got a lot.of negative feedback from people who had never had need to take them but had read frightenng articles.in newspapers about possible side effects. The Daily Mail was running a campaign against them at the time. I realize they may.not suit everybody and in a perfect world no one would need them but for some they can be a lifeline.

I think one of the points the article is making is that they are dished out rather too readily - or why are the prescribing figures going up year on year? Are there ever growing numbers of people who are unhappy/depressed/in need of medication?

Ooh! Vivid nice dreams! Perhaps I will forget to take mine for a day or two.

Are you sure they won't be scary?