Firstly, this thread is in NO way intended to offend or upset anyone that is taking or has taken medication. It is simply meant as a discussion thread.
So, I was wondering, does anyone else struggle with the concept that doctors prescribe antidepressants to patients who are depressed, when some have a fairly common side affect of *further* depression and suicidal behaviour?
I have been on several meds in my life; citalopram, mirtazipine and a very high dose of venlafaxine. To some extent, they helped and that's great, but the citalopram made me very ill and suicidal, to the point where I tried to kill myself twice. Now, things were bad, I had severe clinical depression, but I am fairly convinced that my suicidal behaviour was a direct result of the drugs I was taking rather than just the state of my mind. I've been self harming since I was 12 (I'm now 22), so that behaviour was already well established in my life so I don't count that.
I just wondered really, how many others have fallen prey to these dangerous side affects?
Does anyone else think that it's really dangerous to prescibe these drugs? Do you think that sometimes the bad affects outway the good?
I'm not saying theses drugs are always bad, they aren't, was just wondering, that's all.
From my understanding antidepressants don't make a person suicidal as such, rather they help that person to have the drive and energy to go through with a suicide plan. I'm not very articulate at the moment, but basically through helping you there is the possibility of them helping you to have the drive behind intentions that were already there. Someone who is so depressed they are suicidal, may not kill themselves because they have no energy or drive to, but someone suicidal on medication may then have the energy and drive from the medication's help and put that drive and energy into killing themselves.
Also I think a lot of this reporting of drugs causing suicide is coinciding with the person's own issues with going onto a medication, it takes a lot for someone to ask to go on medication for the first time or to ask for a chance, likewise the patient who's doctor tells them they need to go onto a new medication will cause particular feelings and thoughts.
That's a very interesting idea; I'd never concidererd it like that. *ponders* So your point is (just so I've got it right), that I was suicidal in the first place, but the medication gave me the "get-up-and-go" to act upon it?
I'm so NOT looking for reasons for my actions btw, that's not the point of this thread.
fallen rain brought up a very interesting point, and I think I've actually heard that somewhere else. it makes sense at least. and I have to say that meds are different for everyone, some people have horrible reactions and for some it's the best thing that's ever happened. If the meds are making you feel worse you should tell your doc and maybe (s)he can give you different meds. I ended up on zoloft, prozac, and later welbutrin in the last 5 years. I'm not completely sure, but I recall feeling worse on the meds than off, or maybe they did nothing. so, the bad did outweigh the good. I told my psychiatrist though and he gave me new meds (mood stabilizers instead of antidepressants). It's almost a guessing game, you have to tweek with it till you get the right thing. I'm just saying not to give up hope, almost all depression is treatable, it's very rare it can't be. As for the question, I don't think they shouldn't be prescribed. so many people get help. but, they do need to be closely monitored, so the pills can be changed if it gets too be too much. i'm so glad i'm taking my meds, i still get lows and si and what, but it's so much better than before. just saying ^^
- Judge someone not by how they treat their equals but by how they treat their inferiors. -
- Light a man a fire, warm him for a day. Light a man on fire, warm him for the rest of his life. -
Warum schreist du nicht? Warum verschenkst du dich? Warum qualst du dich? Wenn der Regnet fellt weist du es.
That's a very interesting idea; I'd never concidererd it like that. *ponders* So your point is (just so I've got it right), that I was suicidal in the first place, but the medication gave me the "get-up-and-go" to act upon it?
I'm so NOT looking for reasons for my actions btw, that's not the point of this thread.
I realise that, I was talking about 'you' as in people in general. I just thought it was a point worth putting into the discussion as it's important to understand it etc.
See I understand Abigails point and I definately think that is the case in some examples. But personally until I was put SSRI's I'd never been truly suicidal and fast became it. Example 2 years ago I was on prozac for two weeks, by the end of the second week I overdosed on diet pills and tried to hang myself, I had never done anything like that before. Last year I was put on citalopram, it was about a month before I attempted suicide. There is a similar pattern with all SSRI's I have been on. But when I started on tricyclics they lifted my mood and energy and yet I didn't have the impulsivity and strong suicidality that I had on the SSRI's.
Then again the brain is such a complex organ I think it is probably different for everyone.
I once had a very good psych who wanted me to go into hospital while I switched meds because I was already suicidal at the time.
Shame most doctors just sign a piece of paper & push you out of the door though.
Could NOT agree more. I always thought it was totally insane that a doctor would prescribe something that causes serious changes in mood to someone who was already experiencing a severe change in mood... without the proper follow up and support. It's great that you had a doctor who was prepared to do that for you; he/she should be commended.
This discussion is really interesting. I've had a wonderful experience on welbutrin.
But when I was put on my first AD, lexapro, I had really high highs and then really low lows and then the highs just kinda stopped and I got really suicidal. Like, really. That behavior was totally new to me and kinda out of the blue. Sure, I was depressed and all before hand, but not THAT depressed.
I guess it depends on how your brain reacts to things.
For some reason this all made more sense before I started talking.
Could NOT agree more. I always thought it was totally insane that a doctor would prescribe something that causes serious changes in mood to someone who was already experiencing a severe change in mood... without the proper follow up and support. It's great that you had a doctor who was prepared to do that for you; he/she should be commended.
I think the idea is that if something goes really badly you will contact your psychiatrist. I think it says on the box something like "contact your psychian immediately if you begin to experience these symptons:......". something like that. though it's not a very good plan for someone who is depressed/suicidal and may get worse.
- Judge someone not by how they treat their equals but by how they treat their inferiors. -
- Light a man a fire, warm him for a day. Light a man on fire, warm him for the rest of his life. -
Warum schreist du nicht? Warum verschenkst du dich? Warum qualst du dich? Wenn der Regnet fellt weist du es.
Indeed. Espescially when I common problem is guilt, i.e. I can't ring them because I'm only worrying them, or not bad enough or whatever.
It does seem to me sometimes, that even after all these years of careful research that the medical profession actually understands very little about depression...
I think you've got to bear in mind that psychiatry and psychology are fairly recent sciences in relation to things like chemistry and other disciplines of medicine. Up until the 1950's there really wasn't any thought of trying to treat mental illness beyond contain the worst cases within an asylum and maybe prescribe some rest for the milder cases.
I definately think doctors have a lot more to learn about depression and other mental illnesses, but things are definately getting better.
I think meds are given out too easily and with too little care. I was prescribed prozac, on which I became VERY manic and suicidal, much more than normal. And to top it off the doctor didn't even take it seriously. I ended up in the hospital because I was so scared I was going to hurt myself. Turns out I'm bipolar and you can't take anti-depressants alone if you're bipolar. I really think he should've given me a warning about them, and looked much further into my history than he did. He never once asked about manic symptoms. Just assumed I was the typical "depressed teen" and handed me prozac. However, I have been on a ton of other meds, and most don't cause anything like the prozac. I am now on four meds, and I think at least one may be helping my mood. So I think they should be very careful; maybe be required to see you way more than the once the dr. saw me. And good for the dr. mentioned that put you in the hospital when he knew you were already a high risk... that really is how it should be. And I don't think meds are for everyone. I think you have to see how you are on and off and decide from there.
