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I just want some facts about anti-depressants.

I suppose this may as well go here as it's to do with medication.
On Wednesday I have and appointmnt with the doctor to discuss problems. I intend to ask him/her for anti-depressants. This is not the first thing I'm doing. I'm seeing the coucellor at my uni, and I intend to take up excercise.
But I just wanted some facts about anti-depressants. Like, I know your not supposed to have alcohol, but is this so long as you're taking the medication, or just, say, within 4 hours before or after taking them?

Do they always come as a pill?
Do they come as a 'batch' like other medication i.e. you may get enough for 30 days?
How often, per day, are you likely to take them, e.g. twice a day?
Of course, most importantly, what are the major risks associated with them? I mean I know that some brands can make depression (if I have it, which I think I do, though I don't want self-diagnose) worse, to the point of suicide.

And I'm not going to just go in and demand anti-depressants. I intend to talk about it and explain myself to the doctor.

Any other information would be helpful. Of course I'm not just asking you, I'm going to ask the doctor and the pharmascist (If I get them.)
And of course your opinions and experiences are most welcome.

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Reply 1

Butterfly

You know what, nobody actually told me not to drink when on them...and it doesn't say it in the leaflet in the box either. What is the story?

Reply 2

matt@internet

I've just heard that you shouldn't drink when you're on them. Plus my dad had them, and was told not to drink, but he carried on anyway, as he was an alcoholic and it's very difficult to stop and, well, together they just made it worse.

Reply 3

Butterfly

Yes I have 'heard' it too, it is widely said, but kind of amazing that nobody thought to actually tell me directly. It does generally make me feel worse though, especially the next day. One thing I will say is, don't expect too much from your doctor (unless you actually know the one you are going to see, as I have seen several GPs at my surgery and knew none of them) and they weren't particularly helpful, didn't spend any time trying to get information from me about the illness (if you can't self diagnose then you could be ****ed, as there is no way any Dr. I saw could have diagnosed me in the 4 mins I spent with them, when they barely asked any questions anyway and just seemed happy to palm me off with a prescription once I'd asked for it :mad:

) and I generally felt worse coming out of there than I did when I went in! :frown:

Reply 4

*pink_sapphires*

I'm on 20mg of amitriptyline a day and it says on the box, in big capital letters "AVOID ALCOHOL." The doctors also said to avoid alcohol, as did the pharmacist....i just avoid alcohol cos I dont want to know what the effect is!

Reply 5

Butterfly

Hmmm well I am on Citalopram so it must be different. How do you find amitrip?

Reply 6

username47781

I would advise not to drink much alcohol or any at all.

Reply 7

Butterfly

What the hell! *Looks for leaflet* I am deluded!

Reply 8

*pink_sapphires*

Butterfly

Hmmm well I am on Citalopram so it must be different. How do you find amitrip?

it makes me very sleepy and anxious but i have happy moods now which is good :smile:

Reply 9

astro boots

They stop you from being depressed. Obviously

Jess
x

Reply 10

Anonymous #1

Jet Black Heart

Do they always come as a pill?
Do they come as a 'batch' like other medication i.e. you may get enough for 30 days?
How often, per day, are you likely to take them, e.g. twice a day?
Of course, most importantly, what are the major risks associated with them? I mean I know that some brands can make depression (if I have it, which I think I do, though I don't want self-diagnose) worse, to the point of suicide.

And I'm not going to just go in and demand anti-depressants. I intend to talk about it and explain myself to the doctor.

Any other information would be helpful. Of course I'm not just asking you, I'm going to ask the doctor and the pharmascist (If I get them.)
And of course your opinions and experiences are most welcome.

Right, the deal with alcohol depends on the medication you are taking. For some it's a really bad idea to have alcohol with them, others it's generally advised against, and some it's OK. You'll have to look at the information leaflet for the particular medication or ask your doctor.

No they don't always come as a pill, but generally they are in pill or capsule form. Some come in liquid form as well.

When you are just starting off, you may only be given two or so weeks worth, and should be asked back for a checkup fairly soon after starting them to see how things are going. After that you may get a months worth at once and if you are going to be on them a while, you may get say three months worth at a time.

Many anti depressants are taken once daily, either in the morning or at night (depending on the medication). However some may be taken in split doses throughout the day, in the morning and at night. For example Venlafaxine if taken in the extended release (capsule form) is only taken once a day, whereas if you take the non extended release (tablet form) you take it in split doses.

The major risks assocated with them depend on the antidepressant, as you would expect. It is true though that some have the potential to increase suicidal feelings.

You might find this link of use for further information on antidepressants. Hope this has helped a bit :smile:

Reply 11

*pink_sapphires*

I take mine once in the morning and once at night. It used to be just at night but they've raised my dosage. I now fall asleep in the mornings though which isn't good....

Reply 12

Pseudomuse

Juno

My citalopram say to avoid alcohol on the leaflet

It doesn;t say anything about avoiding alcohol in my BNF, but if it states avoid alcohol, you need to avoid alcohol. :smile:

Reply 13

ezyazd

Im guessing one of the reasons people should avoid alcohol when taking anti-depressants is the fact alcohol is a depressant, therefore working against what the anti-depressants are trying to do in the first place?

Reply 14

samba

Do they always come as a pill? Yours will come as either a pill or a capsule.

Do they come as a 'batch' like other medication i.e. you may get enough for 30 days?

Yes...how else do you expect them to come? On a golden chariot?

How often, per day, are you likely to take them, e.g. twice a day?

Depends on the medication. 1-4 usually.

Of course, most importantly, what are the major risks associated with them? I mean I know that some brands can make depression (if I have it, which I think I do, though I don't want self-diagnose) worse, to the point of suicide.

A few years ago, I saw a man dragged into hospital. This particular consultant Neurosurgeon was over on holiday from australia for his daughters wedding, and had decided to have a glass of red wine to celebrate. He was dragged in by about 4 coppers, and had to be given an injection of clopixol.

Drugs do different things to different people....I'm sure you're doctor is well qualified to choose the correct one for you.

And I'm not going to just go in and demand anti-depressants. I intend to talk about it and explain myself to the doctor.

"Ok"
]

Reply 15

lamenter

*pink_sapphires*

Lol my GP gave me 10mg of amitriptyline for my ADHD. Last month he gave me Diazepam (Valium). So far no effect on my ADHD.

Reply 16

Adhsur

Gosh, I don't understand why so many young people are on anti-depressants. Is something wrong at home/do you have problems or is it purely physical/hormonal?

Reply 17

Thud

Adhsur

Gosh, I don't understand why so many young people are on anti-depressants. Is something wrong at home/do you have problems or is it purely physical/hormonal?

probably something to do with the society we live in.

Reply 18

Butterfly

Adhsur

Gosh, I don't understand why so many young people are on anti-depressants. Is something wrong at home/do you have problems or is it purely physical/hormonal?

Why is it surprising because we're young? Young people are just as susceptible to the stresses and pressures of life than older people...it's usually just that the issues are different when you are young.

I don't know why I'm on them either, as in I don't know why I am depressed...I think it is something genetic and/or physiological :confused:

Reply 19

fairy spangles

Adhsur

Gosh, I don't understand why so many young people are on anti-depressants. Is something wrong at home/do you have problems or is it purely physical/hormonal?

Agreed. Oh and the bit about demanding drugs - why?? I mean would you demand drugs for a different illness if you thought u had it??
I was given anti depreesants just to shut me up i think - when actually i had a physical illness. Thanks NHS. This is why i think antidepressants are oversubscribed these days.