Seeking advice about antidepressants

[Blondie2311]

Hiya, new here. After years of struggling and suffering in silence, I finally bit the bullet and went to the doctor. I was told I have anxiety with depression and prescribed antidepressants but not sure if I want to take these but is this just pride/fear? I feel like there is nothing I should be anxious over. I have a good job, a wonderful husband, supportive friends/family and a lovely home but still feel overwhelmed. Anyone else been through this have suggestions?

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Blondie2311,

Welcome to this supportive community. It can be difficult at first to accept that you need help, and for some people taking medication may seem a matter of pride, a sign of weakness or maybe fear. But it is not a sign of weakness as toughing it out rarely works. Taking antidepressants can really help calm the brain down, reducing those spiralling, out-of-control anxious thoughts, and lift one's mood. Modern antidepressants are safe when taken in accordance with your prescribed dose and administration. Check the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) inside your medication box, read your label, and if you have any concerns, speak to your GP or local pharmacist.

In the UK most SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants, is the first-choice antidepressant. According to the UK NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Guidelines on Depression in Adults and Common Mental Health disorders, in the first instance treatment options for mild to moderate depression is:

NICE Guidelines First-choice antidepressants:

nice.org.uk/advice/ktt8/cha...

“NICE advocates a stepwise approach to managing common mental health disorders. It recommends offering or referring people for, the least intrusive and most effective intervention first. Therefore, non-drug interventions (such as cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT]) should be the mainstay of treatment for many people with depression or GAD, with drugs generally reserved for more severe illness or when symptoms have failed to respond to non-drug interventions.”

“If an antidepressant is indicated for an adult with depression, the NICE guideline on depression in adults recommends that it should normally be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in generic form. SSRIs are equally effective as other antidepressants and have a favourable risk–benefit ratio...”

“The full guideline on depression in adults concluded that antidepressants have largely equal efficacy and that choice should mainly depend on side effect profile, people's preference and previous experience of treatments, propensity to cause discontinuation symptoms, safety in overdose, interactions and cost. However, a generic SSRI is recommended as the first choice because SSRIs have a favourable risk–benefit ratio.”

See also these guides below:

NICE Guidelines: Depression in adults

nice.org.uk/guidance/cg90/i...

NICE Guidelines – Common Mental Health problems:

nice.org.uk/guidance/CG123/...

Hope this helps you to make informed choices about your treatment, that you can discuss with your doctor.

Best wishes,

MAS Nurse and Moderator.

[Blondie2311 in reply to MAS_Nurse]

Thank you so much this really does help. Maybe something to relax my brain is a good thing.

It's so helpful to have a forum like this where I can turn to.

Many thanks again

[Suzie40]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. There are lots of lovely people here. The stigma around taking antidepressants is far less than it used to be. I am a teacher and loads of my colleagues take or have taken meds for anxiety and depression. I've taken them for years and I find that talking openly to people about my treatment helps.

It's easy to wonder why you've been picked to have depression. I have a good job, two great kids, a loving supportive partner and plenty of lovely friends. Yet I still battle with low mood. Have you been offered any type of counselling, or just meds?

[Blondie2311 in reply to Suzie40]

Hi and thank you for the response. Just meds at the moment.

[Suzie40 in reply to Blondie2311]

IN my experience meds are great for a limited time. They get you out of crisis and help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. What they don't do is address the reasons you got depressed in the first place. As I've mentioned already, I took them for years and ended up just bobbing along. It was only when I started group therapy and seeing my CPN that I began to make sense of my world x