anxiety

[unified]

Do many people with copd take antidepresants? As my copd has now progressed to very severe stage and I also have osteoporsis and a deviated septum my anxiety levels have risen. Then a close friend of over 60 years died suddenly and I am in pieces. Have oramorph and did have some lorazipam but did not help much and now they want me to take antidepressants which I really do not want to do as tried them once before and felt like a zombie, but its looking like there is no other choice as its making my breathing even worse

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

I am on antidepressants they are called sertralene and they don't make me feel like a Zombie, they do actually help. Hope this helps, please let us know how you get on. Have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

[Maricopa]

Yes, I think many do!

[HungryHufflepuff]

I'm sorry to know about your friend. Sending you lots of good wishes.

[Hidden]

My antidepressant is coming on here reading about folk and writing about whatever takes my fancy. It often is a struggle to keep out of the doldrums but taking drugs would be a last ditch option for me. Mind you I do have have a little dog which keeps me amused. I also make good use of the gadgets which allow us access to travel films and other uplifting things to keep my mind occupied. Keeping active in mind if not in body seems to be the answer. 😉

[Oshgosh]

You’re going through a really bad time.

You need to be really kind to yourself.

Lorazepam won’t help your breathing.

If you do take anti depressants,you need to bear in mind that it takes a while to start to worl.

So at first you will feel as though they’re not working,,so you’ll feel worse for a bit.

M so sorry about the loss of your friend.

My aunt died.

My sisters and I went to the funeral masks/ stood outside church door.

/leant on the wall to watch the burial 50 yards away.

It was very different.

Look after yourself.make sure you eat a bit,thinking of you

[Hidden]

so sorry about the loss of your friend

Dealing with grief alone is not easy.

The alternative to anti depressants is counselling and self help methods, your GP can advise about any on-line courses that may help or counselling by phone. Perhaps you might find something in the links below;

nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-an...

nhs.uk/conditions/stress-an...

Hope you can find something that can help you manage things more easily.

Take good care. pamper yourself and treat yourself.

Hugs n Luv

[Johnsel]

John is on antidepressants as having been diagnosed 4 years ago with Pulmonary Fibrosis, his whole personality changed, he was depressed all the time (understandably), but he had no interest in anything anymore. Our doctor sent him to a psychologist a couple of years ago and all he did was prescribe different antidepressants. Since then not only is he still very low but he is Zombie like. Thankfully at long last he has a consultant appointment next Wednesday and we will ask if he can come off them. Sorry about the loss of your friend and I hope things improve for you soon. Love Carole x

[Izb1 in reply to Johnsel]

Sorry to hear this Carole, perhaps John is on the wrong type of antidepressant, but if you think it isnt doing him any good then he should come of them. I sometimes take amitriptyline for my rheumatoid arthritis and must admit to not liking the tired out feeling the next day. Hope you get sorted on Wednesday x

[megshafer in reply to Izb1]

My friend is on amitriptyline for her osteoarthritis she takes a small dose every morning. She's doing alot better, not tired anymore....

[Izb1 in reply to megshafer]

It was given as an antidepressant but they found that people with arthritisis it really helped ease the pain, it certainly helps me with the pain at night when I am bad x

[Corin1950]

My husband was offered antidepressants but decided that he was not clinically depressed just depressed about his severe emphysema so decided not to go down that route. He was also concerned about the side effects and adding yet another medication to his long list with possible contraindications. I think Don has the answer. You need to distract yourself with following up your interests, eating well and the best antidepressant which is physical exercise, even if it’s just walking in the house or doing chair based exercises.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

X

[Catnip]

Greetings

So sorry you are in such a dark place, with added grief.

I'm at "end of life" and take anti-depressants to help me out of the black hole, Oromorph to ease my breathing and diazepam for anxiety. I find that I get wound up really easily.

The only problem is that oromorph causes constipation -- so more pills for that.

You're going to be tired anyway because all your energy goes on just breathing. My doctor prescribed one day a week in bed! For the sake of your sanity, you need to take these meds -- they will help you to keep going! A dose of oramorph ten. Inutes before you start to run a marathon really helps to get you going!

Cheers

Catnip

[unified in reply to Catnip]

can I ask what antidepressants you take

[Catnip in reply to unified]

Greetings -- no problem:

they are Venlafaxine 225mg; then I have Diazepam 2mg (3 or 4 times a day).

I suppose it doesn't matter if I become addicted: more likely, I don't have enough time left for that. Meanwhile, I swig my morphine and sing loudly.

Cheers

Catnip

[shouty in reply to Catnip]

Lovely answer

[Spanielblue]

Anxiety can make some people feel quite ill and unable to cope with life. I do suffer with it myself and was prescribed 20mg Citalopram tablets. I took them for about four days during which time I felt I just wanted to sit in a chair all day and go to sleep. I was then prescribed a lower dose (10mg) which I found a lot better because I didn't find they made much difference to every day life. I think the tablets lessened my anxiety a little and made me feel slightly calmer but not very much. However, they did stop me from crying and feeling tearful. After awhile, I stopped taking them because I didn't want to go on indefinitely. However, after a few months I have noticed I have started to cry easily again and keep feeling tearful so feel I ought to start taking them again - especially as I have a couple of worrying telephone doctor appointments coming up. Have you tried a lower dose of antidepressants?

[Izb1]

Sorry to hear about your friend and how low you are feeling unified, have a chat with your gp and see what options you have x

[Hidden]

Has anyone tried 5HTP a natural antidepressant. I took it for a year or two when I was first diagnosed with COPD, 16 years ago. It doesn't make you happy per say, just not so down. I took it for a couple of months and didn't think it was making any difference. Then I stopped, within a week I realised just how much difference it was making. I am now at end stage and have been for the last year! I honestly thought I would be gone by now, but I'm still here, struggling on. If I get too downhearted I take them for a few months and they definitely seem to help. You need the strong ones. Give it a go. Good luck and chin up 🍀😘❤️

[Oshgosh in reply to Hidden]

If it works for you,keep taking it. I hope today has not been too bad for you. At least it’s not raining.

Take care.

[Ergendl]

What a difficult time you are going through! It's quite OK to take prescribed antidepressants to help you: they're a medicine to support you like using a walking stick is when you're not steady on your feet. Your doctor should ensure the ones you're prescribed won't affect your lung issues.