Quote:
Originally Posted by DechanDawa
I have severe side effects from AD's and they didn't help. My medical records list me as allergic to AD's. have tried twice. I am sorry but I consider AD's poison for me. Every single person I know irl on AD's has tried to come off them many times and can't because of severe withdrawals. To me that is the same as being addicted. Doctors are quick to put one on these drugs and they tell the patient not to worry about coming off them. That's what the doctor at my health care provider told me. To trust her. And she is not even there anymore! I was put on a drug without being told anything about side effects or given a pamphlet with the drug. I did not sleep for three days straight, had severe pain and migraines, and became suicidal. In fact, that is where the suicidal ideation started - with an AD. I got off the drug in a week and I will remain unmedicated. Whether or not AD's help with depression is not clinically known. I am not going to spend a life on and off and switching AD's. That is not good treatment at all.
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Sorry to hear that you had such bad side effects, and that you weren't given any info on the drug you were taking. I am curious, where do you live? Here in Canada they have always given me information on any new meds I am taking. I recently started a medication for nightmares and the doctor and pharmacist let me know potential side effects and all that fun stuff.
I take an anti-depressant and can't honestly say 100% whether or not it's making a big difference. I feel better, but is that because of the AD, or another factor? I would like to think that it's helping, if even a bit. Fortunately it's free so that helps the decision making process a bit.
Honestly, things like exercise and socializing with others make a more noticeable difference (for me) than medication does. It may feel patronizing when your therapist encourages you to get outside daily, but it is a healthy thing to do if you are able.
If you are going through a severe depression though, I imagine during the hardest times you are probably laying down a lot, possibly sleeping the day away. You find it hard to do even the simplest tasks, everything is exhausting. So when you hear "just go outside, do some exercise, talk to a friend" it feels patronizing because it feels impossible to get out of bed, how are you supposed to go outside?
During those times, be especially kind and gentle with yourself. Celebrate small victories such as taking a shower, or eating something healthy.
During my worst depression ever in the hospital, I stopped eating and stayed in bed most of the time. ECT was the only thing to bring me out of that one. It was far more effective than any medication I've taken, and would recommend it as a LAST CASE SCENARIO treatment, simply because of the memory side effects. If there were no side effects from ECT, I'd probably be doing maintenance treatments to this day. Just something else to consider if things get so bad that nothing else helps.
