This sounds like me a lot recently (cept for the school part) my doctor put me on anti-depressants ages a go but i stopped taking them as i saw no improvement what-so-ever i have been much better since moving upto scotland and in with ELC and co but i'm still pretty bad as somethings have come back to haunt me so two steps forward then thrown four steps back (but im still better off here then in london) im off to the doctors next week to see what can be done.

sorry i couldnt help you on advice but loads of luck and hugs that this works and that you feel better soon.

Ive taken Prozac for a month (actually prescribed to my sister but she didnt like them). Ive suffered from depression since I was around 9 or 10 years old, but after my mum died that made things worse.

I found the Prozac very beneficial but when the prescription ran out I didnt 'renew' it (seeing as it wasnt my precscription to begin with). The effects lasted at least another month or so after if I remember right, but eventually things went back to the way they were. Over the years i've found ways of coping with it to the point that I'd say i've largely got it under control. I've toyed with the idea of going back and getting prozac again (my doctor has offered several times), and I dont know why I haven't. I dont fundamentally disagree, but maybe im just proud of how far ive managed to come without drugs and dont want to ruin it.

Thats not to say that I wont one day go and get that prescription - its just that so far ive resisted the temptation.

Cipramil (dont know much about it) seems to be an SRRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), which is in the same class of drug as Prozac (fluoxetine) and Seroxat etc. The other class of anti depressants are the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors which are essentially 'downers' that dope you up a bit. They are the older class and similar in function to stuff like Valium. This kind of drug is less often prescribed.

Only worries I would have is what known side affects Cirpramil has. For example, seroxat has for some time been more popular than Prozac, yet there are now some evidence coming out that it can have some pretty nasty side affects and has been linked to suicide (ironically!)

I havent looked at this stuff in a while, but from what I remember Prozac has a pretty good track record. If you look into this subject (and I have), you'll realise just how little doctors and scientists actually know about the brain and that the scientists who create these drugs are only actually making an educated guess at how they work.

Thats the science out of the way. As for you, i'm sad to hear you're feeling that way, and I wish you the best of luck with the cipramil. I dont have an objection to these kinds of drugs, because I firmly believe that some forms of depression are a chemical problem and cannot be cured simply by talking to a therapist.

If you want a sympathetic ear, drop me a mail, cos I do know what its like.

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by Funky Monkey
has been linked to suicide (ironically!)

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Asked my doctor about this, she seems to think that this is just because the people taking it are more likely to be suicidal anyway, so it's not actually a cause.

I was on cipramil for a couple of years. I don't know whether it really did anything or just numbed me, I certainly felt numb at the time, but couldn't tell if it was the drug. I definately felt a difference a few weeks after coming off them, usually a really insane, hyper high followed by really, really bad low (which one time led to me ending up in hospital) which would provoke me to start taking them again (never officially stopped with the doctor). After a very strange summer of being on and off them (my laziness rather than any real reason) I'm suddenly happy (or at least not depressed) not sure how this relates to the cipramil though.

Hope they do help you Lizzie, depression is a really awful thing that people who haven't suffered from find really hard to understand.

My dad was on propanylol and diathepim (spelled phonetically) and they totally screwed him up, screwed us up and almost cost him his marriage. He's been taken off them and is on the lowest dose of something else, i can't remember the name and he's improved massively.

If they suit you and you're comfortable taking them, then fine.. and i hope they help But personally, i don't trust them and i was offered them when i had PND with Joel but i refused.. i won't take them at all (but that is *my* own personal opinion)

I figured that if my brain can get itself into a mess, then my brain should be able to get itself out of it too.
Now and again I've dropped down into a rut, but I've always managed to pick myself up and work my way out of it.

Thanks guys. Cipramil does seem to help. When I first went on them I felt sick and disorientated for the first day or two. But everyone told me I would anyway. My dad went mad when he heard I was on them.

I've got tons of work sheets the doctors have given me to read. Some of the side effects of SRRI's are pretty scary. There are about two pages of them. The funniest one was random lactating. I got two side effects so far, nothing really bad though. Funny thing is it says may cause constipation on one line then on the next it says may cause diarrhoea.

The anti depressants based on prozac have had about a 1 in a million case when a person has become physcotic and killed themselves or another due to the drugs. So they've had some bad press recently. My mum had read one of these articles and was really worried about me going on them.

I can't give you any proper advice on anti-depressants as I've never had cause to take them.

But I hope things get better for you soo, Lizzie *hugs*

Be really careful here. I know you've probably heard it before, but anti-depressants are VERY addictive, and are only a short term solution to whats normally a much deeper pain. It's really easy to start taking them, but when you feel you want to come off of them it's not so easy, and not only do you have the problems that you had before, but you have to deal with the withdrawal effects of a powerful drug

I'm sure you know what you're doing, but try not to stay on them to long I hope you start feeling better soon. Theres nothing worse than feeling down all the time

I've been on anti-depressants for a long time now (prozac to be exact) and I found that they helped a lot. I had a lot going on in my life when I started taking them...most of the feelings I was having sound very much like how you are feeling now.

Although the effects aren't normally instant, I still found them very effective. They have done me the world of good. I've really come out of my shell while I've been on them. I have more faith in myself, and more cpnfidence around groups of people. There is no way that I would have been able to go to university without them !

I'm slowly weaning myself off them, although i haven't told my doctor this! (oops!) I seem to be doing OK, althiough I still have rough days, but that happens to everyone.

All I can say is that they should help. I know it must seem odd being put on pillls to make you feel better, but the p[ills are there to push you in the right direction. The cher you up so that you have more confidence and are able to go back to feeling good about yourself again.

I (along with other people in this thread)are proof that these things work and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You are never on your own, and thats going to help just as much as the pills. With thde combination of people who care about you and the pills, you will be feeling better in no time

You know where I am if you need me.

*hugs*

I think the thread you were thinking of was one I started a few months back. I was having a pretty bad time and my doctor put me on Prozac for a month.

I stopped after that because I didn't want to carry on and end up depending on antidepressants, but I'd certainly say they helped - apart from anything, I was in a big hole and I was so down that I couldn't do anything to get out, the Prozac gave me the boost I needed to get over that. However, I think my situation was a lot different from yours - I needed a short-term boost, whereas with school and so on you're in less of a position to change things yourself. If the antidepressants make you feel better, that's good - but do try not to get to the point where you feel you have to have them. I know it's easier said than done, but I think you have to try to deal with the problems that made you depressed while the antidepressants are making you feel well enough to do that.

All the best hun, I hope things start to feel better soon *hugs*

*Hugs* as I stated in the previous thread I have been on Prozac for post natal depression, what does shock me just reading this is the amount of people that are on them and that they are so young
All the best people , the drugs will help but you have to help yourself thats what I found *hugs*

The way I see it is depression breaks down into two distinct areas.

Ones which are caused by deep rooted problems in your life - which can be fixed without the use of drugs, and often therapy will help. In many case I think this is the best option, and should be the first option, before drugs are tried.

Another kind is a mental illness which is where there really is something wrong with your brain. Drugs like prozac are specifically designed to rectify that imbalance in your brain.

I dont know Lizzie enough to say which is which, or whether she has suffered this for some time, or whether its been just a recent thing. If its just a recent thing, im inclined to think that its to do with pressures going on in your life right now, and that therapy is the best option. If its being going on for some time its prolly something a bit deeper.

I explained my depression to my doctor - that depression isnt about just feeling down - cos we all feel down sometimes. With my depression what I find is that even when im REALLY happy, there is a thin line of pain running through it. In the same way as you probably dont hear the air conditioning in your office until you actually try and listen for it, I think depression is the same, its a constantly running thing throughout your life whether your happy or sad. And the way I chose to look at it is that sometimes you choose to listen to the 'air conditioning' more than others - and thats when it drags you down.

I agree very much with white hart that the time you spend on the drugs is the ideal time to do something about any of the possible external causes of your depression. What I found was while I didnt have the will to do anything about some of the thing that were making my depression worse that prozac gave me the interest in life again to start making changes. It also gave me a confidence which probably helped my career, and as a result my improved self-esteem.

One last thing, the person who posted about how much it messed their dad up - yup I can identify with that. Before my sister was on prozac she was prescribed a drug that is an 'anti-pyschotic' - they actually prescribe this in MUCH higher doses to real pyschotics - people suffering from psychosis. And my word, I cant believe they prescribe that stuff, it made both me and my sister feel VIOLENT! We both had quite strong reactions to it, and felt almost like we couldnt control our emotions. It was really weird stuff! I cant believe they prescribe that to people, but it certainly didnt do either of us any good.

The older thread is HERE

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by Sweet-Sange
what does shock me just reading this is the amount of people that are on them and that they are so young

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It worries me too, I've always been afraid of the thought of anti-depressants and whether they are addictive and stuff. So its a concern at whether doctors are still keen to dish them out easily. Although if coupled with counselling I guess that's the right way to proceed. Each case would be pretty individual depending on the person

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by Stoo
I figured that if my brain can get itself into a mess, then my brain should be able to get itself out of it too.
Now and again I've dropped down into a rut, but I've always managed to pick myself up and work my way out of it.

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I always thought I could figure my own stuff out, although starting to think there's only so many ruts you can hit before getting a little oddball.

To everyone needing a little extra loving *huggles* and Lizzie & H2H - keep those smiles coming you know where I am


(Edited by Pegasus 30/11/2002 01:16)

Ive been on and off antidepressants for a few years now. because of bad personal experiences and the fact that i suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) i was originally on lustral, which altho got rid of the depression also got rid of everything else, to the point that i had no thought on anything. so i was put onto eflexor which is a seretonin booster. this brand was a lot better and just gave me the boost i needed. i normally come off them during the lighter months.
its sad to hear so many are on antidepressants, but i think its a sign of the times

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by nemesis
its sad to hear so many are on antidepressants, but i think its a sign of the times

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Quite There seems to be so much pressure on young people these days, especially when it comes to exams and going to university, that it seems to be inevitable that at some point, before they leave their teens, they would have been on some form of anti-depressant. And I've lost count of the stories I've read of teens taking their lives because of poor exam results (or a perceived failure where there was none.)

What sort of future generation are we trying to raise here? Yes, we want motivated go-getters who want to improve society. But not make them manic-depressives.

I *really* hope all those people who post on here get through the low points they are going through and not heap unnecessary pressure on themselves. Your health is the most important thing

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by Funky Monkey
The way I see it is depression breaks down into two distinct areas.

Ones which are caused by deep rooted problems in your life - which can be fixed without the use of drugs, and often therapy will help. In many case I think this is the best option, and should be the first option, before drugs are tried.

Another kind is a mental illness which is where there really is something wrong with your brain. Drugs like prozac are specifically designed to rectify that imbalance in your brain.

I dont know Lizzie enough to say which is which, or whether she has suffered this for some time, or whether its been just a recent thing. If its just a recent thing, im inclined to think that its to do with pressures going on in your life right now, and that therapy is the best option. If its being going on for some time its prolly something a bit deeper.

I explained my depression to my doctor - that depression isnt about just feeling down - cos we all feel down sometimes. With my depression what I find is that even when im REALLY happy, there is a thin line of pain running through it. In the same way as you probably dont hear the air conditioning in your office until you actually try and listen for it, I think depression is the same, its a constantly running thing throughout your life whether your happy or sad. And the way I chose to look at it is that sometimes you choose to listen to the 'air conditioning' more than others - and thats when it drags you down.

I agree very much with white hart that the time you spend on the drugs is the ideal time to do something about any of the possible external causes of your depression. What I found was while I didnt have the will to do anything about some of the thing that were making my depression worse that prozac gave me the interest in life again to start making changes. It also gave me a confidence which probably helped my career, and as a result my improved self-esteem.

One last thing, the person who posted about how much it messed their dad up - yup I can identify with that. Before my sister was on prozac she was prescribed a drug that is an 'anti-pyschotic' - they actually prescribe this in MUCH higher doses to real pyschotics - people suffering from psychosis. And my word, I cant believe they prescribe that stuff, it made both me and my sister feel VIOLENT! We both had quite strong reactions to it, and felt almost like we couldnt control our emotions. It was really weird stuff! I cant believe they prescribe that to people, but it certainly didnt do either of us any good.

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Hmmm I've been seeing a councellor for 3 years and oh my god she helps more than I can say. When I wanted to give up a GCSE subject, she helped, she reasoned with me and even came into my school to talk to the school about it. I used to have a Educational Therapist cos I think I'm really unintelligent. And I think I may have to start going to see him again as I'm having huge problems with maths, I may have Numeracy Dyslexia.

I'm having an absoloutely awful time at the moment. Really considering just running away and never coming back
People treat me like crap, my friends, family, even people who I don't know well - hate me! My sister just yelled at me, saying I'm really clever at pretending to be depressed. I so hate my life.

(Edited by lizzieslayer 01/12/2002 11:10)

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by lizzieslayer
My sister just yelled at me, saying I'm really clever at pretending to be depressed. I so hate my life.

(Edited by lizzieslayer 01/12/2002 11:10)

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my dad used to be like this and also felt that people who tried to kill themselves were just trying to get attention (and this like a day after i came out of hospital, i won't even add how long it took him to get to the hospital when they called to tell him i was there had to finish his beer first) you have friends here Lizzie you really do I know it doesn't always help coz sometimes you need one in front of you just to chat or for that much needed hug but if ever you feel like poopy come into chat there'll be someone to cheer you up even just a little.

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by Lizzieslayer
I'm having an absoloutely awful time at the moment. Really considering just running away and never coming back

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Lizzie hun, I'm so sorry you're feeling like this *hugs* As EvilWillow says, there are loads of people here who care about you. As for being unintelligent, if you really *were* then I don't think you'd be able to post the things you do - that really isn't the posting of a stupid person. And being bad at maths doesn't mean you're stupid either, lots of brilliant writers and actors and so forth admit to still having to count on their fingers!

Believe me, I know how it feels to be depressed, and I know that it can be so hard to see any good side to anything...I don't know you well but you seem really nice, and I hope you feel a bit better soon. Sending you lots of *hugs* anyway, and please don't forget that you have friends here!

Lizzie, there's the people on this site who are always there if you need a shoulder, and there's always the chat room if you need something a bit more immediate.

It could be worse, you could have to *live* in Lowestoft, not just visit it for school work and stuff