How many nurses take antidepressants or antianxiety medication?

Nurses Stress 101

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I was wondering and it seems to be quite prominent. Nurses seem to have to take medication alot. Mine started in nursing school. Of course I was a single mom of two, going to nursing school, building a house and living with my mother till it was finished. Talk about stress.. I started having panic attacks. Never before in my life had I had one. I thought I was dying. Well I lived and now not only do I take a PRN order of xanax but I also take an antidepressant. Every nurse I know is either doing the same or has the symptoms without treatment. I was wondering how common indeed it was world wide? Is our profession making us have to be medicated?

I have been taking Effexor for almost 2 years. I just finished my first nursing semster. I struggled in school and wonder if my meds could be one of many factors. Does anyone know if antidepressants can lead to test taking difficulties?

Talk to your doc. I highly doubt the Effexor is causing test taking difficulties. Rather, I believe your anxiety level may skyrocket during tests causing you to forget information that you already know, or read the questions inappropriately. Without knowing you, I would questions whether taking an Inderal before a test is appropriate, or even a small dose of xanax before a test. However, there are other meds out there (Luvox) that is great for focusing if that is your problem. I would encourage you to check with your doc, psych, or NP for further advice. Best of luck.

HUGS!

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.
When I was on Zoloft about 3 years I had a large amount of weight gain and loss of libido. I am hearing now that Wellbutrin is being used in combination to combat those adverse effects. What are you experiences with this combination?

Another interesting point is that there are compounding pharmacies that manufacture drugs specifically tailored for the aclimacteric woman r/t SSRI use.

TIA - Linda

Linda - I didn't have any problems being on the combo. My Dr. told me that the 2 would work synergistically counteracting the side effects of each other. The only part that sucked is that it really does take a good 2-4 weeks to even start to feel 'normal'. Before the meds I had a decreased libido because I just didn't have the motivation to be romantic or anything of the sort. After the fact I again felt 'normal' to where I could still be myself again and enjoy things the way I used to. It's a personal decision and while i'm happy with how things have been going, my dr.'s are starting to worry if I'm building a little bit of a tolerance as I'm regressing to some past behaviors of anxiety/depression. Being my health insurance will change with the new job, we're going to wait to either up the dose or switch meds entirely after the new insurance takes effect.

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I'm bipolar so I'm on several things. I take 5mg of paxil a day. Hey, I know that it's low but it works for me. I'm also on neurontin and lamictal as mood stabilizers and for partial complex seizures (the epilepsy most likely caused the bipolar as there is none in my family background). I'm also on a low dose of those. I told the doctor that I want to work for a living so I cannot take so much psych meds that I can't function in my position. I take ativan PRN along with inderal which helps with those rapid cycling and potential psychotic episodes. I also eat well, follow a schedule, exercise, have talk therapy, and do other necessary things so that I will never, ever end up in the state hospital again! So far so good.

Fuzzy

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Cymbalta is the drug that Traci Johnson hung herself in the clinical labs at Lilly during her participation in the clinical trial.She had no history of depression or suicide and was screened by Lily as a good candidate for participation. Cymbalta has been clinically proven to inhibit the isoenzyme pathways need for metabolism of this drug.

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/2002-05-20-Duloxetine-CYP2D6-inhib.htm

Psychmed, Effexor is one of the hardest of the snri/ssri drugs to wean off.The recommended weaning now being recommended is 3-4 months between weaning doses. It can take years to wean off. This is something that those who chose to take this drugs need to know before starting. If you in a situational depression realize that you are making a time commitment to getting off these drugs which may impact your life drastically.

I know I sound like the voice of doom when it comes to these meds. The decision to take them is totally individual. My goal in putting out the "other" side of the story is to educate. We as nurses should be able to interpret all the information that is available and make an informed decision. The "not for public" view information is just as important as the marketing tools.

I've heard a lot of people say that and I always think it's strange. I was on a fairly high dose of effexor for two solid years, then I lost my insurance and just couldn't afford it. I just stopped, cold turkey. Couldn't even tell I'd ever been on it. NO side effects at all! Guess I was lucky.

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I have been taking Effexor for almost 2 years. I just finished my first nursing semster. I struggled in school and wonder if my meds could be one of many factors. Does anyone know if antidepressants can lead to test taking difficulties?

I started taking effexor during 3rd semester. It seemed to help me in some respects, my friends said I was more fun to be around, but it also made me fuzzy headed and I definately noticed a decrease in my test scores.

One of the se's is anxiety, which is what I was taking it for. It is a nasty medicine to wean off. The recommended duration of treatment is supposed to be 18 months or less. I was on it almost two years and weaned myself off (counting granules over 2-3 months time.) I sure wasn't pleasant to be around. Physically got electric shock like feelings in my head and spine. I have been off for 6 months now and have lost 25 lbs, (gained about 40 while on this med). I also felt that I had a flat affect while on it. But considering going on something else now that I realize that the stress doesn't stop after graduation... just changes. Just wanted to let you know that I believe there is an effect on schoolwork. My friend took Zoloft and Concerta and had good results. Good luck to you and maybe you can find a med that is more friendly.

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Specializes in ICU, oncology, orthopedics, med/surge.

I've been on welbutrin for the last 8 mos and I think it saved my marriage...and I haven't even started nursing school yet. Depression must run in my family because my teenage son has severe depression. If it weren't for the numerous meds he's on, I think he'd be gone by now.

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Could not agree more!!! Got my RN at 50 years old-perimenopause and all!!!! It is not the profession, it is the coping that we have to do in our fast paced, 'changing by the second' world.

I have had 'treatment resistant depression' since 1994. FINALLY--- My doctor found a combination of meds that get me through each day-bathed, dressed, on time, not in tears, able to concentrate, interested in socializing with others, and actually thinking of something other than how 'loathesome I [probably] really am'!

Without the meds, prescribed by my psychiatrist (who patiently tried every combination of antidepressents until he found some that kept me awake, and alive), I may not be here today.

As others said, maybe nurses take the meds, because they understand the benefits (and the personal losses of untreated depression). Then we should spread the word-No matter what your job is, there is no shame in taking care of yourself, with meds, yoga, diet-whatever. There is a great loss however, in not truly caring for yourself- If you don't, how can you care for others??

mccmaeve

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About 3 weeks previous to finishing my last semester, I called my doc in hysterics. I couldn't remember a thing, a wouold cry at the drop of a hat, or just scream at the kids or hubby. I couldn't take it anymore. It took me getting to this point to call my doc and get an appointment.

Even sitting in her office, I broke down in tears, couldn't sit still....I was a mess.

She prescribed Effexor 75mg, Xanax 0.25mg prn, and (judging from her viewpoint with concentration issues) Ritalin (very low dose- I can't remember the mg though).

I took the Xanax one day during an acute episode when I felt very antsy, and then generally took it to help me sleep at night (wasn't sleeping either).

The Ritalin I took in the Am to help me focus and to study for my finals.

In the ensuing appointments, my doctor tested me for ADHD (grandson is ADHD- we are raising him-I never thought I was too!) and I am now on Strattera 80mg qd and am continuing the Effexor. She says that I have probably always been ADHD, but the depression and stress exacerbated to the point I was at when I was in her office crying. Doc says we will up the Effexor to 150mg if need be (just found out Mom has oral cancer, and she had surgery the 11th- pretty bad times).

Right now, I'm ok. Life continues to be fast paced, and things are tough, money is tight, and family is....well, family, but I am making it. And I will continue to make it. My mind is clearer and thoughts aren't as jumbled. I find I can read and remember WHAT I read past the next sentence. I remember conversations with my Mom's doctors and am able to think past the next 10 minutes.

Compared to what my life was beforehand without my meds, I will happily stay with them as long as need be.

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Specializes in medical, surgical ,high dependency unit.

I been seing student having depression in my hospital as they cannot cope with the hospital working environment and normally the headmistress will terminate the student to prevent the condition worsen. some of them even end up with suicical event in the college. Normally the college will some how close the case silently. However there are few of my friends also had depression after become register nurse and they been taking antidepressant drug like zoloft, valium or dormicum from the doctor. I think nurses take antidepressant or antianxiety is common as we all are dealing with patient life, patient relative and the doctor as well. :wink2:

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