Well it’s official. Went to the GP again today, and after a long talk with a very nice doctor (making a point of saying he was very nice because i’ve had some crappy doctors in the past) i’ve now been given a prescription for anti-depressants. I’m both happy and sad about this. Happy because finally, maybe, i might get some control over how i feel and sad because it’s actually taken medication to get this sorted out. Medication was kind of the option i was saving for last. In the UK medication isn’t usually the first option they jump to, but he knows the councelling has never worked for me and need to take a stronger step.
So. Did a bit of research into it when i got home. The pills i’ve got are citalopram, a type of SSRI. I’m glad they’re SSRIs, i’ve heard some good reports about them from people i know IRL so i’ll give it a go. Took my first one about an hour ago. However because i’m 21 and SSRIs are dodgy for people under 25, i’ve got to go back to the GP every two weeks to keep an eye, as well as continue in councelling every week. It’s the same doctor i’m going to though so i don’t even mind because he was really nice. I’m getting referred to a different councellor though, Shannon’s giving me over to someone more experienced who can have a more regular schedule with me. I kind of liked Shannon. Seeing her next Tuesday and then set up with the new person whoever that is.
He didn’t give me a diagnosis for obvious reasons, but definately clinical depression. Major depressive episode. Suicidal ideations. Symptoms of some kind of anxiety disorder. I guess i’ll get a name for it in time.
So yeah. Guess i’m gonna be pretty sick for the next two or three weeks. I’m not even mad about it. Means it’s working i suppose, changing stuff in my head. I’ll probably have to tell my head lecturer at college though that i’m taking them. Probably something he might need to know incase i show some weird symptoms in class.
Hurrah for medication.
10 comments
Good luck with that.Let us know in a few weeks if any miracles have happened.They are supposed to take a month to work.SSRI’s didn’t really do it for me.
Thank you, i probably will make posts about my experience with it if something comes to my attention or i want to rant about how useless they are lol. Probably won’t be any miracles but i’ll be hopeful. Well hopefully you can find another kind that works better for you, everyone’s different.
Sounds like your gp is taking a cautious route which is a good thing. Don’t be alarmed at not having a hard diagnosis, mental Healh is so complex and hard to diagnose and it’s questionable how helpful a diagnosis is anyway, especially since it can be very restrictive and stigmatising. Yr doc is only a gp, so doesn’t want to make AMA diagnosis, you’re better off seeing a shrink or neuropsych. And citaliptam is clinically thought to have fewer side effects than many meds.
I wouldn’t bother telling your lecturer. Side effects aren’t going to be that dramatic. Not unless you really want your lecturer to know
Yeah thankfully he seems nice, the only thing worrying me is that in under 25s it can make your anxiety and suicidal thoughts worse for the first month, that’s why you’ve got to be kept an eye on. Hopefully not though. I’m not worried about not having a diagnosis yet i kind of just want to put a name to it. If these don’t help me out i’ll probably look for an evaluation with a psych doctor.
And it’s not really about the side effects themselves, it’s just that in my college there’s alot of expensive equipment i have access to and if i end up getting drowsy during a practical i’d have to stop incase i break something. I’ll think about it and see which ones i get i suppose.
I’ve tried SSRI’s, SNRI’s, NaSSa’s NDRI’s. The NaSSa’s have the least side effects and lasting problems after discontinuation followed by the SSRI’s. The only class of antidepressants I haven’t tried are the older TCA’s. and MAOI’s.
You will notice a difference on the SSRI’s after a few days but they say it takes a few weeks to be fully effective. You will feel different and won’t know whether or not you like it at first.
Everyone has different experiences depending on their brain chemistry.
That is alot of different kinds D: i didn’t even know there were that many. Hopefully i’ll get lucky and get it right first or second go. I’m already expecting the side effects so nothing will surprise me i hope.
Actually,Ive been prescribed TCA’s recently;apparently the gold standard Imipramine.I’m yet to take it though lol.Drink and valium instead at the moment don’t tell the Doc)
Really! Is that because the first line medications weren’t working. Are you able to compare them with the SSRI’s. I’m guessing that they would make me sleepy like Mirtazipine.
No,not like mirtazapine.I’ve taken that as well.it didn’t help with my Insomnia just made me brain dead.The TCA you want is Amitriptyline for sedation(used for painmore now days)This Imipramine is quite different.apparently keeps you more alert.I did actually take one,but was up all night with my heart racing and wide awake.I need a hours tranquilizer ,but they won’t give me one.
I found that Mirt works ok for me. Duloxetine keeps me awake all night. The problem is finding the balance. Obviously it’s either one or the other unless you combine.