Nursing & Depression

jadednurse · May 20, 2003

Hello all. I am new to this thread. I see it's been around awhile and I actually spent a few hours reading all the posts. I think it's great that there is such support.

I recently went back to my doctor to get back on antidepressants ( I've suffered w/ depression on and off for 6 years, and have been "on and off" meds too). He put me on Lexapro about 4 weeks ago. It seems to be helping a little, I think, so today he told me to hold out for a full 8 weeks before we make any changes. I think that's the hard part about taking antidepressants...once you finally drag your butt to the doctor you're ready to get help NOW and it's hard to wait for the meds to kick in.

Anyway, enough rambling, on to my question...I tried Ambien for sleep, but still have horrible sleeping patterns. I tried 5mg and 10mg w/o any improvement. Today he wrote me a prescription for Trazodone 150mg po qhs. I've worked SICU, so my only experience w/ Trazodone is giving it to trauma patients when they're being weaned off of large amounts of sedation. Anyone else used it for sleep? Did it help? Any thoughts? Thanks!

mamabear · May 21, 2003

I work on an adult psych unit. All our shrinks use trazodone as a sleeper, in doses ranging from 50 mg to 150 mg. Most of them add "may repeat x 1 in 1 hr if still awake". :) It's cheap, well-tolerated, and the patients love it. For some of them, it's the first decent sleep they've had in years. :eek:

I say go for it! You've got nothing to lose;) :kiss :)

sphinx, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by jadednurse
Anyway, enough rambling, on to my question...I tried Ambien for sleep, but still have horrible sleeping patterns. I tried 5mg and 10mg w/o any improvement. Today he wrote me a prescription for Trazodone 150mg po qhs. I've worked SICU, so my only experience w/ Trazodone is giving it to trauma patients when they're being weaned off of large amounts of sedation. Anyone else used it for sleep? Did it help? Any thoughts? Thanks!

I've used Trazodone for years to help me sleep......it works *wonders*. It helps me fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time, I stay asleep all night (unless I have to go potty!), and don't have that "hung over" feeling when I get up the next day.

sphinx, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by RN2007 I take klonopin at night for sleep and Celebrex for back pain problems. Should I reveal this to the nurse who gives me the drug test ahead of time and will these drugs cause me a problem with admissions? Did any of you take any Rx meds when you took your school drug test and did you have any problems due to it? What type antidepressants seem to be okay to take and work in nursing? Also, is there a Non-opiod Rx pain med that seems to be okay to take for chronic back pain and that is okay to work while taking it?

You should always let them know what meds you are on when you take a drug test. If the med was prescribed for you, they can't fault you for taking it. I have never had a problem with a drug test, despite whatever meds I may have been on.

I've been on many different psych meds since being in school and becoming a nurse. The only ones that caused a problem were ones that caused me to be overly sedated (for me Remeron was a bad one) and ones that gave me hand tremors (problem with phlebotomy or IV starts).

As for non-opiod pain meds, you said you are already taking celebrex, which is not a narcotic. Similarly Vioxx, Bextra (sp?), and if they have come out with any new ones I don't know about, as I have been a desk jockey for a couple months now! :-)

Good luck!

sphinx, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by zoeboboey
3 YEARS!!!!!!
YAYAYYAYA!

*curtsie*

I am very happy about that!

woohoo!

sphinx, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

Hi all....I went to my psychiatrist yesterday. We're doing a little something new, and honestly it has me a little nervous, but he said we'll try it and if it doesn't work, we'll go back to what we were doing. He said that since I am bipolar, and have responded well to the mood stabilizers, he wants to try and taper me down and maybe off my antidepressant. The theory is that the antidepressant can cause you to rapid cycle more (so he said), and that actually has been happening a bit recently. He said theoretically it may even improve my depressed moods. I'm worried it will make me more depressed, being on less antidepressant. We are keeping in touch, and for now I am only going down a little, but it's weird, cuz I thought I'd always be on an antidepressant. ie: Wellbutrin is my friend, LOL!

So, it's just a weird thought, having to adjust to this new concept.

Liddle Noodnik · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by sphinx
Hi all....I went to my psychiatrist yesterday. We're doing a little something new

I never heard it could cause rapid cycling but Prozac DID do me in as far as mania ... right now I'm just on Lithium and Lamictal.

GOOD LUCK!

sphinx, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by zoeboboey
I never heard it could cause rapid cycling but Prozac DID do me in as far as mania ... right now I'm just on Lithium and Lamictal.
GOOD LUCK!

I had never heard that either. It's never really made me manic either. But I *have* been rapid cycling, although not to any extremes. We'll see! I'll keep ya posted!:roll

healingtouchRN · May 21, 2003

I know nurses & other health care people do not take care of them selves allowing time for self care. I agree, I see so many nurses on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. I wish the hospitals would sponsor more self care functions, I would volunteer to teach them @ mine! I am not saying that it wold be substitution for mental health care when needed. But I am sure we'd all benefit from some "Relaxation Repsonse" & guided imagery! :cool:

Nurse Nevada, RN · May 21, 2003

I personally experienced extreme depression when I went through a divorce after 23 years of marriage and lost my marriage, home health care company, money, my home and just about everything I owned including my car and furniture. My son reacted to his dad's affair by getting into highly addictive drugs and has been on them now for about 8 years. I couldn't sleep, eat, function, carry on conversation etc. I dropped down to 92 pounds and my clothes had to be replaced. It was extremely embarrasing; lost all my so called friends. I went to see a Psychiatrist and pleaded desperately for him to please "do something!" He prescribed Welbuterin which made me feel like I was a lump of glue. Finally after talking with him a couple of times he said "since you're a nurse, you should know what you are experiencing." I looked at him like he was an alien. He just waited for me to come up with a description in clinical terms of what it was. I sat there racking my brain and couldn't figure it out. My thinking processes had completely shut down. He eventually explained I was experiencing the grief process.

Depression would have killed me if someone hadn't pointed that out to me. I don't see nurses as being depressed as much as drained from giving. I do see a tremendous amount of anxiety. I truely believe that taking the time to replenish our spirits is essential to feeling calm and energized to be able to give more of ourselves. We pour ourselves out every day and need to be filled before trying to help anyone else. I don't believe taking a pill can do this. It's like masking the pain and not correcting what is really wrong. Praying, reading, camping, hiking, gardening, surrounding ourselves with beautiful nature will lift your spirit and rejuvinate your energy levels. Talk to the one who created us and is holding together our cells. Sit quietly and listen to what He has to say to us. Sometime we become so drained out that we can't even begin to draw it out. Ask for help from someone who cares.

Nursing Nevada

Liddle Noodnik · May 21, 2003

{{{{{{{{{{{{Nevada}}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks! I needed that! It is so so exciting hearing from everyone that I am not alone, and that I am not defective!

mattsmom81 · May 21, 2003

Originally posted by RN2007
Help! I have to take a drug test as the last part of the screening process to gain entry into my ADN nursing program? I take klonopin at night for sleep and Celebrex for back pain problems. Should I reveal this to the nurse who gives me the drug test ahead of time and will these drugs cause me a problem with admissions? Did any of you take any Rx meds when you took your school drug test and did you have any problems due to it? What type antidepressants seem to be okay to take and work in nursing? Also, is there a Non-opiod Rx pain med that seems to be okay to take for chronic back pain and that is okay to work while taking it? Oh, I have been given the okay and blessing by my general dr. and Pain Management Dr. to go back to school and work in the nursing field, so there is no problem there. I look forward to your responses.. :kiss

I have to be very honest with you here...I am very concerned that you are going into nursing and already have back pain problems. It will not get better in this field, believe me. There is little sympathy for injuries and pain in nurses if you want to do facility nursing. Even if you don't want facility work post grad, your clinicals alone are physically demanding. There is also lot of competition out there for the non-lifting jobs. Doctors don't know what nurses do or how heavy the work is so I'm not surprised your doc released you. But you must look out for yourself.

That said, Ultram (Tramadol) is a non narcotic analgesic useful in pain. Facilities can be very suspicious of nurses who take meds like this, I have found. I suspect they see us as a risk if we have pain, arthritis, or any other disorder they don't wish to see in their nurses. It has been very difficult for me to find work after an MVA and health problems resulting, due to the above.

I am glad to hear that other nurses have not had problems in regard to their medications. I have not been so fortunate. I apoplied for numerous jobs and was hired TIL my drug screen showed I took Prozac, Celebrex and Ultram. Then I never heard from them again and they refused to speak with me when I called.

Granted, I live in a nonunion, employment at will state so we have few rights unless we fall under the ADA.

Best wishes to you...I just hate to see a young person aggravate pre-existing pain through the rigors of a nursing career...we only have one back and nursing is very hard on backs.

Nursing & Depression

Nurses and Depression/Anxiety