Nurses on Antidepressants?

[ijuanabhappy]

I am not trying to seek any medical advice, just wanting to know if any nurses have subjective or objective knowledge on whether a nurse could function on the job while taking antidepressants. I know this may be a touchy subject but I am not embarrassed to share my situation.

I have been on and off SSRI antidepressants over the years (more off than on!) for anxiety/depression/low self-esteem issues. Actually I do not like the SSRIs because of the side effects. I currently do not take anything. The last medicine I took was Lamictal (not an SSRI) which actually worked pretty well. It was only given to me for depression since I generally have not tolerated the SSRIs, but I am scared to take this again because Lamictal is prescribed for bipolar disorder mainly (and seizures of course). I am not bipolar but I would hate for this to interfere with taking the board exams, etc.

My main concern is mental sharpness on the job. Does anyone know from experience if it is possible to maintain your mental acuity on the job while taking meds like this? Even though off medication I am very Type-A, anxious, a bit insecure, I do like the fact that I am mentally sharp. I don't want meds to dull my brain! If a thread of this sort is not allowed, just let me know and I will remove. Thanks!

[not now, RN]

If I don't take my med I can't function at work. My concentration is shot, my head is all over the place, I can't keep my priorities in line, I can't hustle like I should and I crumble under stress. I stopped my med when I got pregnant and had to go back on because being off my med and pregnant was too much for me to handle.

I have no problem with lack of concentration or feeling sleepy (aside from being 8 months pregnant!). But I take wellbutrin which is known for increasing alertness and making people a little on the hyper side.

[mcs1505]

Personally I have always felt more on task when I took my medication (when I needed them) but, as we all know, they effect everyone differently. I would say that if you feel "impaired" it doesn't matter who else does or doesn't.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

Have you tried Paxil? I've heard good things about it r/t anxiety.

I think I might have many years ago tried Paxil for a short time but I do not remember. I know they all make me yawn for some odd reason. Zoloft I believed made me tired. Prozac worked for awhile but with a lot of yawning and I had to take klonopin at night to sleep (which I still do anyway). I am a medicine stopper I have to admit. If I don't like it within the first week I quit. I liked the Lamictal but it made my hair very thin and fall out a lot and it kind of makes you flat. I just want to make sure my mind stays sharp, my memory stays good. That is the only good thing about being off the meds. My OCD keeps my mistake making at a very low number!! Maybe I will give Paxil a shot because I also have a little touch of social anxiety with new people in new situations. I know... people are probably thinking, then why are you going to be a nurse?? I don't know either! I care about people. I have a good heart. Maybe that is why.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

If I don't take my med I can't function at work. My concentration is shot, my head is all over the place, I can't keep my priorities in line, I can't hustle like I should and I crumble under stress. I stopped my med when I got pregnant and had to go back on because being off my med and pregnant was too much for me to handle.

I have no problem with lack of concentration or feeling sleepy (aside from being 8 months pregnant!). But I take wellbutrin which is known for increasing alertness and making people a little on the hyper side.

I think I would be exactly like that as well.... too many tasks would make my head spin and concentration shot and I too would crumble under stress. I wish I could take Wellbutrin but it makes me very anxious, and I am too much that way already. Maybe I will continue with the Lamictal or try something like Paxil again. Thanks.

[cursenurse]

I dont consider hair falling out to be minor. I can understand not continuing Lamictal. I'm sure your doctor has told you that antidepressants can take weeks for the side effects to lessen and the therapeutic effects to be seen. I understand the taking it for a week and then stopping- that is why I have 30 hair/face/body lotions products! But I cannot stress enough giving the meds at least one month. With the Effexor I had nausea at first, but after several weeks, no nausea. Another side effect was loss of appetite which I am sad to say went away. At this point, I do not feel any side effects whatsoever.

[bill4745, RN]

I am on one and many of my co-workers have comented on how relaxed and how well I am performing, even though they don't know.

[Batman24]

I know a nurse on them. She suffers from anxiety.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Lexapro. Don't leave home without it.

They're going to pry my SSRI vial out of my cold, dead hand.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

Lexapro. Don't leave home without it.

They're going to pry my SSRI vial out of my cold, dead hand.

I heard that Lexapro is a more pure form of Celexa? Do you think there is a difference between them? I think I tried both for a very short period of time. I probably did not give it a chance because of feeling tired.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

I am on one and many of my co-workers have comented on how relaxed and how well I am performing, even though they don't know.

May I ask which one? You don't have to reply if that is too personal. I am thinking about trying Paxil again. I have tried them all.

[jkeys100]

May I ask which one?

Medications work differently on different people and people have various types of depression and anxiety disorders. Only a qualified physican can tell you which one is best for you. It doesn't matter which ones anyone else takes unless they are closely related to you.

[leslie :-D]

May I ask which one? You don't have to reply if that is too personal. I am thinking about trying Paxil again. I have tried them all.

i have been on every ssri available.

even when they worked, they eventually stopped working.

then came cymbalta.

best thing that ever happened to me.

no exaggeration.

leslie