are you on anti-depressants?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. are you on anti-depressants?

    • 116
      i couldn't make it without them!
    • 42
      no but i think i need some
    • 48
      no but i know a lot of nurses who are
    • 13
      no way, dont want to be labeled crazy

219 members have participated

With nursing being such a high-stress career, and the constant problems with understaffing, overworking and being underpaid... did this drive you to start taking some type of anti-depressant? I know for a fact that probably 2/3 of the nurses I work with are on meds.

I know for a fact that I can not do without my anti-depressants. I tried and went into serotonin withdrawal syndrome. I was hospitalized for 3 days because of it. As medical professionals we sometimes tend to take matters into our own hands. Knowing that I did teaching daily to my patients not to suddenly discontinue their anti-depressants, what did I do? I cold cut mine. OOPS!! Big mistake. If I miss one I will be so down and out even tearful. I love my good ole anti-depressants.:chuckle

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.

I have a long hx. of depression-going back to when I was in 10th grade. I have been off and on anti-depressants since I started nursing school.

I have been on anti-depressants consistently since my son passed away; there have been days where I miss a dose and I become very tearful and I have very bad thoughts.... :uhoh21: :stone

As long as I take my medication...I do fine.

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Wow great thread! I've been taking anti-drepressants for 5 years now.... they literally saved my life as I was intent on suicide and hospitalized. There I learned I have a chemical imbalance that requires pharmacological therapy.

Unfortunately, this problem is hereditary. I am the only person in my family that has asked for and recieved help. My Grandmother and Father died miserably. My Father was aware of his problem, but was more afraid of the stigmatism associated with the mentally ill than he was of dying. He died of complications from a suicide attempt.

My Brother shows symptoms, but also fears being labeled (crazy) and will not admit there is anything wrong.

I am so happy I have my life back. With one little 40 mg dose of Celexa I am able to function normally and have regular moods like I should. My adult children are well aware of the danger their heredity may impose upon them and know the signs to watch for. They also know that should it affect them, they too can have a normal life with proper medication.

I rely on this medication just as a diabetic relys on insulin. It's nothing I am ashamed of and am Thankful that this is available.

Hugs to all who have lived this nightmare! And also to those who have been spared.

MaryRose

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I have went to a lower stress job, but still take my antidepressant (LEXAPRO). In the past I have been on everything from WELLBUTRIN, REMERON, and XANAX to TRAZADONE and ATIVAN. I hate taking meds, but I think it is totally the job.

Did the Remeron make you gain weight? I gained about 20 pounds in two months on Remeron and stayed tired constantly. I switched to Topamax and lost the 20 pounds in about a month. One of the good side effects of Topamax is the weight loss!

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I agree with Mel D as well. When switching medications you should never go cold turkey even if the doc says it is okay. There are severe withdrawal symptoms associated with Paxil in particular. I also had withdrawal symptoms when I went off Effexor XR. Besides from feeling just plain sick you may also experience a buzzing sensation in your head and definite balance issues.

In addition to those, please be aware that if the medicine was working to some degree even if you didn't think it was, the sudden lack of chemical may put you in a tailspin as far as the severity of your depression or even suicidal feelings. I have been on antidepressant therapy for about 10 years now and have had experience with many different meds. In particular if you have a bad reaction to a med switch it can hit you like a ton of bricks anywhere from paranoia to suicidal feelings and anywhere in between. It is very important that when you are put on a new medication that you let your doctor know immediately if you are feeling anything that you normally would not have without the medication.

I do however discourage you from opening timed release medications as the sole purpose of a timed release med would be defeated. If your doctor recommended you to do so then I would have more confidence in doing it.

I can only relate on my personal experience with many meds as well as my running a depression support chat group for the past 8 years on IRC. I've spoken with many people about many meds and reactions are never the same for each person.

I hope that this information helps you and anyone else that is reading the board about antidepressants. Should anyone ever need support and understanding about depression and other mental illnesses, and if you have knowledge about how IRC works, my support group is on Undernet.org and is #depression. Please feel free to visit the support group at any time :)

I was taking the max dosage of prozac, effexor, and topamax. My OBGYN prescribed them to me for Vulva Pain. When I decided to get pregnant I stop all medicine cold turkey. I am now 9 months pregnant and I never experienced any side effects.

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With nursing being such a high-stress career, and the constant problems with understaffing, overworking and being underpaid... did this drive you to start taking some type of anti-depressant? I know for a fact that probably 2/3 of the nurses I work with are on meds.

I am on Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Topomax. I figure I will be on some sort of psych meds for the rest of my life and I feel no shame in that. I was diagnosed Bipolar at age 22. It never interfered with my work. I am lucky in that I don't have a severe case of the illness as my mom did. (Suicided when I was 6) I've had No hospitalizations. I am lucky to have good support from my hubby.

My son has ADHD ( a legit Dx to you naysayers, you know who you are, not just an "active child" :angryfire ) and Asperger' Syndromes, an Autism Spectrum Disorder. He is very hard to handle sometimes, but so smart and caring. I feel guilty thinking maybe I passed my defective genes to him and burdened him with these things that will trouble him for the rest of his life. I know, I have no control over genetics :o . Sorry I went off rambling there :imbar

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JnJ Tyson-

" The only long term result of my manic stage is debt."

Boy do I hear you on that one!!! That is my MAJOR mania thing. And Insomnia.

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Did the Remeron make you gain weight? I gained about 20 pounds in two months on Remeron and stayed tired constantly. I switched to Topamax and lost the 20 pounds in about a month. One of the good side effects of Topamax is the weight loss!

My sons dr has given him Remeron before for the specific reason that it has the side effect of appetite increase and sedating effects, due to the ADHD drugs tending to rob his appetite and make it sometimes difficult to wind down at night. I would ask for a med switch.

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I have been on Celexa for two years now. I feel great taking the drug. Tried to wean myself off of the drug a few months ago, and noticed a difference in me that wasn't for the better. Therefore, I take 20 mg of Celexa once a day, and feel great on the drug. Don't give a "schick" what people think. I do what is right for me...period! :nurse:

Did you have weight gain from taking celexa? How about loss in libido?

Thanks!

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Did the Remeron make you gain weight? I gained about 20 pounds in two months on Remeron and stayed tired constantly. I switched to Topamax and lost the 20 pounds in about a month. One of the good side effects of Topamax is the weight loss!

I tried it and slept....and slept....tried to drive to work and realized there was no way I could care for a patient while taking it. (Remeron)

I will have to check info on Topamax. Currently am taking Wellbutrin XL & Effexor XR but am finding I still have lots of "downs".

Wish there was a miracle cure....

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I"ve been on antidepressants, antimanics, mood stabalizers, paxil, prozac, wellbutrin, lithium, depakote. . .

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