Aspirin and Antidepressants

[Mopsey1897]

My GP thinks I may have Angina and I have my first appointment at the rapid assessment chest clinic this Friday. GP prescribed Bisoprolol and aspirin to start me off. I was on an anti depressants but stopped them 3 weeks ago as I thought it was this that affected my breathing. Bit silly of me but I never thought of heart problems! I’m suffering withdrawal from the antidepressant and my mood has got very low again. I know I need an antidepressant again but apparently I can’t have one whilst on aspirin. Had anyone else had antidepressants with aspirin? Is aspirin essential? I guess I’m panicking as I don’t want to be depressed again. .

Thanks.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I can understand you feeling anxious about getting depressed again and also getting withdrawal symptoms coming of them so quick they can do that to some especially if you have been on them a while

I know I am on Aspirin and my Consultant and Doctor wanted to get me on antidepressants and were going to keep me on Aspirin and all my other meds as well

I suppose it can be what antidepressant it is your own personal medical circumstances if they feel that you can mix them

I would try and speak with my Doctor about this and see what they have to say tell them your fears and what you don't want to happen and how you are feeling already coming of them

Meantime stick with what they have told you to do but push to speak with your Doctor as soon as you can

Let us know how you get on x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

thank you. I’ll speak with GP and see what he suggests. It took a lot of time to find an antidepressant that worked and didn’t make me feel ill. I appreciate you replying x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hopefully they will sort this out as your depression is just as important to be controlled to keep pushing them till they come up with something for you x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

I really thought I was doing so well in my life, I wasn’t so depressed thanks to the meds, I’d given up smoking a couple of months ago and was feeling really positive and happy then wham, couldn’t breath properly and may have heart problems. I had an awful 2022 as I’d weaned myself off a nasty antidepressant but still suffered awful withdrawal for nearly a year along with bad insomnia for 7 months until my GP gave me a sleeping tablet. Life is certainly giving me lemons at the moment so I guess I’ll have to make lemonade lol. Thanks for your help x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

Reading your reply you still have some sense of humour there so hang on to it we need it at times like this

I think we all have and even still feel the way you do I have always suffered with severe anxiety one been health anxiety and then I got pneumonia ended up in ICU and then a year later 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass plus anxiety on a level I never thought it could reach bit it has

All those things though you have achieved stopping smoking you battled through the withdrawals as awful as they were could not sleep but you got through them hard work but you did it and no one can take that away from you which also tells me you are stronger than you think

Wait to see what they have to say about your heart we always can tend to think the worse but the outcome maybe a lot better than you think

I have had so many bumps in the road as I describe it and so many times have thought I just can't get over another one but somehow we do and you will to and life will come good again it really will and now you have some were you can come and talk with people that understand how this makes us feel and affects us which means you are not alone with this you have a Community of people that will try and help support you x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

you made me cry, not in a horrible way but because you’ve suffered so much but still understand how I feel. Sometimes I get fed up battling different health issues and this is like another kick in the teeth. I must have tried every medicine under the sun for my insomnia last year and all of them made me ill, I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly after taking them, just like an angina attack! There’s a particular medication in them that I’m allergic to it seems and I can’t even take Night Nurse! I begged my GP for sleeping tablets and thank goodness he prescribed them. I’m not terribly surprised I may have a heart problem as my mum did, and radiotherapy I had for cancer was always a possibility of causing heart problems. We were supposed to be going on holiday to Majorca today but GP insisted we cancel in case I had a heart attack. We then planned on going out for dinner tonight as a consolation but my husband has a very sore painful throat and is feeling poorly so we didn’t go out. I’ll stop waffling on about my health and think about making my lemonade 😂 Thank you for you positive vibes x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

You have had your fair share it is time now after you get through this and you will you get a break and I am so sorry to read you have dealt with cancer as well and you feel you want get through this well I know you will and that Holiday will still be there even though it must have been upsetting to have missed going and of course you can go out for a meal when your Husband feels better all these things that seem to have been taken from you they are there waiting just on hold while they sort this out and they will

Heart attacks run in my family I thought it was just the males though I might have known that theory would be wrong as I am female and to be honest I was not surprised but living of my anxiety I don't think helps and yet I have battled it since a child and it is still winning

I am like you medications just really do not get on with me at all and I now have a fear of them even though I have to take a few for my heart and I also found out I am now diabetic and I have tried one med did not suite and now they are looking at others which no doubt want suit so I know how you feel when you seem to react to meds I look at those that can take anything and be fine and think I wished I could

While you are making that lemonade if you have time I think I could do with a bottle to x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

and can I add that my beta blocker is giving me awful nightmares and I shout out 2 or 3 times every night and one night I kept hitting my husband yet I never remember! Back to my lemonade 😂 x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Have you told them that they are giving you nightmares and before long your Husband will be having them to or having to wear a coat of armour to sleep in because you keep lashing out and hitting him there are several they can try you on of those

I am on Bisoprolol I have to take mine in a morning I think they have worn of my night but they do make you tired all day

Have a word with them some do this to some people but they should be able to look at that one for you

Hope that is enough lemonade now and there are hardly any more lemons coming your way to make any more and if you need to borrow any I have a basket full x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

Bisoprolol is the one I take every morning but I still get the nightmares. Funnily enough I don’t feel tired, I did for the first week which helped me sleep better but then it wore off. I did laugh when I read about the coat of armour! He’s very understanding about it thank goodness. I’ll mention this to GP and see what else I can try, thanks. I thought I was the only abnormal person who reacted badly to medication and it is nice to know I’m not alone, but I do feel sorry for you as it’s horrible. Sorry you’re now diabetic, life is certainly throwing lemons at you as well; I’ll send you a bottle of lemonade 🤣 x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

Strange how they make me tired and make you lash out at your Husband but you have given me a thought next time nine is driving me mad which is most days I could start lashing out and tell him it is a side effect well known as well

Yes I am dreading the next med for the diabetes they have given me a choice as well which I think really all the side effects each one has got listed I feel I am having them before I have even taken them !

Never be afraid to discuss your meds with your Doctor we need them but if we are getting side effects they need to find how to make things better

I have often said to my Doctor you should try taking this lot and see how you feel !

Thank you for the lemonade but let's try and stop collecting these lemons will finish these of and then throw them in another direction but not ours x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

good luck with your next med x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

I hope you are feeling a little better today

Thank you for the good luck with the next med I know already I will need it x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

didn’t sleep very well so tired which affects my breathing. Be glad when hospital appointment is done Friday so I hopefully know what’s going on with me. I’m going to speak with them about my meds as it’s only two days away. Hope you’re doing ok today as well x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

I never sleep will it is usually 1 in a Morning at least before I even get in bed then I wake through the night having panic attacks and up early husband will say did you even go to bed

You have me thinking my breathing is not great and yes I have had my Bypasses done but with the lemons in mind I know I have done nothing but sit and wait for it to all go wrong again so I am my own worst enemy I know that but wonder if lack of sleep contributes to mine not been as good as it could be

Just a day left after today not long now I know you will feel anxious over the appointment and maybe write a few things down especially about the meds because if you are anything like me I always come out thinking no I forgot this and that so now I make a list get it out yes they look at me gone out but I read it and make sure I have mentioned everything I wanted to ask after all these appointments have become like gold dust now so we have to make the best of them but I think when you have been and you have some answers I am hoping it will help you to feel a little better and I hope you will let me know how it goes x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

sorry you don’t sleep well either. I only sleep well with a sleeping tablet! I haven’t had anxiety attacks recently so I think the beta blockers have helped that but caused the shouting problem lol. I noticed my breathing and tightness is worse when I don’t sleep properly, maybe I feel stressed because I know I haven’t slept? My list of meds and questions is ready, just have to remember to take it with me! I am anxious about Friday, but scared at what they’ll tell me but whatever it is, I’ll have to get my big girl pants on and deal with it. Hope you sleep better tonight. I’m having my hair done tomorrow so I’ll look good when they tell me what’s wrong! x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

See still that sense of humour is there in the background and you remind me so much of me I think things like that I need to make sure my hair is done but true you will look good so that is at least a positive even though it may not be as bad as you think

When I had to have my angiogram I actually hoped at the most they would say I needed a stent when they said a triple Bypass which was slightly more than I was expecting I actually dealt with it a lot better than I would have ever thought I would I suppose I thought well at least they can do something and with all those lemons you have had thrown at you whatever they say you will deal with it

The one thing that really helped me get through as well was the lovely members on here they really did it was like they were holding my hand every step of the way and if you need yours holding I am sure you will find you will get that to from the Community

Of course you are going to feel nervous we all do we would not be human

Put that list either in your purse or the bag you will be taking now and that way you will not be able to forget it if those are two things you always take out with you

I hope you get a better nights sleep to , I have a app on my phone there are loads on You Tube relaxing one's anxiety ones I put that on every night it does actually help

Keep talking you will get through this x

[Lailabud in reply to Mopsey1897]

Just wanted to nip in here, and say that you sound a lovely, strong, and positive person. Depression sucks - humour wins - I'll join you with that lemonade 😊

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Lailabud]

lol thanks, have a glass of lemonade with us! x

[Dogloverxthree in reply to Mopsey1897]

what anti depressants were you given that helped you without side effects.? My drawer is full as when I get them I read side effects and terror hits and I don’t take them. I am becoming worse each day and feel I can’t go on much longer like this but being alone doesn’t help especially if you feel physically and mentally sick with no one with you. I feel so envious of people on here that are alone and are so positive and lead a normal life , going on holidays, etc and I’m not able to as the fear just takes over, sorry for wallowing but unable to sleep all night so another day to face 😩

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Dogloverxthree]

I was on Escitalopram. I’m hoping I can take it again, I’m going to ask at my hospital appointment this Friday. So sorry you’re not feeling good, I know what your feeling very well and it’s awful. I never read the side effects of Escitalopram as I wondered if I made myself worse knowing about them but I don think it’s true! I’ve had so many side effects, even with OTC medication that I get scared with any. Don’t despair x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Dogloverxthree]

are you feeling any better? If it helps, when you read what can happen if you take basic paracetamols you’d never want to take them! Side effects are listed if anyone reports having them, no matter how mild, I know some effects can wear off after 2 or 3 weeks which is a long time to wait if you’re suffering them. I give them one week max then stop taking them and try another. It’s mainly insomnia, nausea, and/or heightened anxiety that I suffer with them. The GP gave me omeprazole to take with the Escitalopram so I didn’t feel sick. It worked as well! Why not try one for a week and see how you feel? If you’re suffering badly, stop taking them. If the side effects are mild then keep taking it and review how you feel each week I’ll happily help you if you like? x

[Captain_Birdseye]

Would you be comfortable sharing the name of the antidepressant you take?

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

it’s Escitalopram. I’d been taking it for nearly to months. I suffer from anxiety and slight depression. Thanks for replying x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Sorry for butting in to your reply but have you tried Sertraline that seems to be one Consultants recommend if you have then obviously that was no good but if not you could ask them about that one x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BeKind28-]

thank you but I have tried Sertraline and it made me worse. I was so ill we had to cancel a holiday. I’ve tried so many over the years I’d given up and stopped them totally for a year but felt so depressed I tried Escitalopram and it worked. x

[BeKind28- in reply to Mopsey1897]

Hello

This must feel so frustrating I know how hard it can be to find the right med and looks like it took you awhile and finally was working but don't give up hope tell them what you have said on here and they hopefully will be able to sort this out x

[Captain_Birdseye in reply to Mopsey1897]

Ah yes, that particular anti depressant doesn't play well with aspirin - it can increase the chances of internal bleeding... same with sertraline.

It might be worth talking to your GP about alternatives, there are some out there that should be ok with low dose aspirin.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

thank you. I’ve tried so many over he years but suffer badly with side effects. Escitalopram was one where I didn’t suffer. I read about internal bleeding as well. But I will speak with my GP x

[Jules2021]

HiAs Bekind has said,do go talk to your gp. I have lived with depression and anxiety for over 20 years on and off and after my heart atrack it was never mentioned to come off the antidepressants when i started taking asprin.

It really is a trial to find one that works for each of us but hopefully you will find another one if the last wasnt suitable with asprin.

Good luck. Jules x

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Jules2021]

thank you x

[Digger0]

I hope you get sorted out with you anti depressants, and feel ticket-boo again soon

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Digger0]

thank you. I hate feeling miserable and fed up. I want to enjoy life again x

[momander]

Hi Yoga2011

I havnt heard of not being able tonrake anti depressants with aspirin. I guess it maybe depends on what antidepressant it is and of the potential interaction with aspirin? I would definitely keep at it with your GP as there is bound to be in that is siluotable to take along with aspirin. Good luck and let us know how you get in.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to momander]

thanks. I’ll update after hospital appointment Friday. Depending on outcome I’ll speak with them about my meds as they are the experts. x

[wischo]

I have been on Mirtazapine while on aspirin with no ill effects whatsoever and according to Drugs.com Escitalopram has only moderate interactions with Aspirin low dose. I would ask my GPs advice before cutting yourself off these essential medicines. Why do you call them nasty antidepressants as mental health, anxiety, and especially depression are all very common and serious illnesses. Antidepressants work for loads of people so they obviously have a place in modern medicine as do heart medication, antibiotics etc. Hope you get yourself sorted very soon.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to wischo]

I don’t think they are nasty at all and I never said they were. I’m very grateful for them. MH problems aren’t nice at all. It’s the side effects I struggle with x

[reidmar]

Hi

I'm on fluxetine 20mg along with my full "heart pack" meds which includes asprin, bisoprolol, rusovastatin, candesartan & omeprazole. touch wood no issues. I do hope you manage to get sorted as, speaking from personal experience, the depression side of things isn't a nice place to be for anyone, never mind someone with a heart issue.

Take care of yourself and best wishes

[Mopsey1897 in reply to reidmar]

thank you for your kind reply. I’m sure I’ll get it sorted Friday when I have my first assessment at the hospital 🤞 I’d love to start Escitalopram again x

[Ethel14]

I had to come off citalopram in 2014 after my first heart attack as it contraindicated with my heart meds, I have recently started taking Sertraline 50mg with no problems, hope this helps.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Ethel14]

tried Sertraline and they made me very ill so can’t do that one but thanks for replying x

[Ethel14 in reply to Mopsey1897]

Your welcome hope you get sorted