Anti-depressants

On the topic of SSRIs, I am, as always, in complete agreement with Jingle. I hope I never have to go through coming off and then back on them again, although I did not suffer all of the symptoms listed - only a dry mouth and horrible, vivid dreams and when coming off a plunge into the deepest, darkest pit within two weeks. For those of us with Clinical Depression SSRIs are literally a life saver. My great regret is that they were not available for my DM, who's later life was so restricted and miserable and, as Rowantree points out, her depressed state created ripples which affected the whole family.

BTW - I am fully reviewed annually.

I wish I could take Citalopram, henetha. I've been told I can probably try escitalopram, which is similar, but it seems to have some unpleasant side-effects, so I'm a bit wary. Will probably give it a try though because weight gain isn't healthy (and I'm VERY overweight)

The article says that there isn't good evidence that they work for mild to moderate depression - made me wonder - shouldn't diagnosing depression be in the hands of more specialist docs than the GP with the 10 minute slot? henetha your doctor sounds like a very good one.

jingle I agree with you re lives that could have been saved, but is it not so that certain anti-depressants can cause suicidal tendencies? It all seems to be a bit of a gamble.

My interest in it stems from the fact that they are dished out too easily IMHO. I mean there have been times in my life when I have been extremely unhappy and I would say "appropriately depressed", but then it passed because my circumstances changed, or I took action, or ... any one of many different things.

There was that book "Prozac Nation" a few years ago about overprescribing in the US. I'm glad that questions are being asked about the steady increase in anti-depressant prescribing year on year here, making doctors aware.

I've been on Citalopram for over 6 months now and it has worked for me.
To such an extent that my doctor recently reduced the dosage. This has led to some weird and alarming sensations, but these are now declining thank goodness!
I don't really WANT to take them any more, but fear the depression returning.

That's very true, nightowl. I've noticed that two of the side-effects listed in some, including mine, are 'depression' and 'anxiety'.....talk about drug companies covering their own backs!

And for those who feel worse on antidepressants there is also less hope. Antidepressants are a godsend for some, but not for all.

Well, a muted hurrah, jingl. I don't have the option of trying a SSRI because of interactions with migraine meds. I've been refused further talking therapy because previous courses of therapy haven't helped. I know there's no happy pill, but it would be lovely to be able to live without mental health problems blighting areas of my life and potentially, those of others I care about too.
I think meds are a life-saver for many, but for those who struggle on and aren't sick enough to be hospitalised, there are very few options. I don't think there ever were, because mental health has always been at the bottom of the funding and interest heap, but it's getting so much worse now.

If to-day AD's had been invented years earlier, lives could have been saved.

Mental illness, including depression, has always been with us. Hurrah, in this instance, for the research of the drug companies.

I think more are prescribed these drugs because people are more isolated now, and the GP only has five minutes to spare so writing a script saves time