Anti-depressants

[Tiggeroo]

My college son has been having anxiety and depression issues. A change of schools greatly alleviated it and he's begun counseling. But they think he'd benefit from an anti-dep. Lexapro is the one they want to start with. He and I each have concerns with this. He knows friends who take them and they get a flattened mood. He is a competitive runner and it might affect his desire to win.
My concern is the sexual side effects at a crucial development time. I can't bring this up with him, he'd kill me. But I wonder if that is part of what is worrying him.
OTOH- I want him back to his happy, carefree self. He's normally such an upbeat person.

 

[Hedy]

Anti-depressants are a pain (getting the right one that works for you can be heck). But if he really needs it, it's worth it.
JMO.

 

[Christine]

I know of a few college-aged kids who have used anti-depressants to get "over a hump". A young girl I know used Zoloft when she first started college due to some social issues. It seemed to help her get past that tough point of starting out and she's doing fine now without it.

I know another young man who is plagued by anxiety, insecurities, etc. and took Effexor for awhile. I'm not sure it really helped him and it did cause him some serious sexual side effects. He finally got off the medication.

The only thing I can say is maybe your son just needs to try it. Just because you start something doesn't mean you have to stop. These medications effect everyone so differently. Some people get no side effects and others get them so bad that they cannot continue with them (me!!).

Wellbutrin is sometimes added to drugs like Lexapro/Prozac/etc because it reverses the sexual side effects. Wellbutrin can often be good for depression just on it's own. However, it is a stimulating medication and can cause a problem if you have anxiety.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I believe this is a situational thing due to college transition and a couple bad experiences. I've encouraged him to try the meds. But I'm wondering if once on them you will know if they are wrong for you and recognize they are too strong? He's a pretty outspoken kid so i'd imagine he'd talk about these concerns with his dr. but i'm not sure. I wish he and his dad were closer and they could have this talk.

 

[hydster]

Having been on anti depressants for the last 11 years I can so feel what you are saying! I did have a little giggle though because DH and I have said for years we're going to put our oldest DD on them just at the beginning of high school so the sexual side effects come into play *JUST KIDDING*

My dh takes Lexapro. It mellows him out but he has more anger/depression than anxiety depression so it actually makes him "normal"

I can say that if you get on a pill that isn't working most of the time you KNOW it. Prozac drove me insane! Wellbutrin made my DH worse in the anger parts! Some of the time you have to put up with the side effects for a little while just to get your body regulated but if after a few months they aren't getting better, getting worse or you don't feel right it's time to find another one.

I agree trying to find the right one is a total pain! Lexapro for the 1st year made my DH's legs twitch in the night and it was so bad it would wake me up out of a dead sleep. He finally got over that part after a year on them and a year of taking Dilantin and now doesn't take anything but Lexapro but trying to find the right one can be really complicated and time consuming!

 

[Christine]

I believe this is a situational thing due to college transition and a couple bad experiences. I've encouraged him to try the meds. But I'm wondering if once on them you will know if they are wrong for you and recognize they are too strong? He's a pretty outspoken kid so i'd imagine he'd talk about these concerns with his dr. but i'm not sure. I wish he and his dad were closer and they could have this talk.

Well, I can tell you my experiences. I was *very* aware of the changes that it made in my personality (I won't even go into the side effects). One of the reasons that I have tried the SSRIs is that I get this "ruminative" thinking. Sometimes it's bad. I took a drug called Buspar--a very, very mild anti-anxiolytic (not an SSRI). Within 3 days of taking it, it had definitely stopped my ruminating. In fact, I "tried" to ruminate about something or even dwell on something and I totally could not do it. I kind of liked that feeling. On the other hand, I started to not really care too much about things. Maybe that's a good thing but it felt so odd to me because it was just so foreign to my way of thinking. Then, I couldn't sit still on the medication. I just couldn't sit down and read a book or be calm. I was constantly cleaning up around the house or trying to do something. It was refreshing at first, but by day 5, I had had enough. I decided not to take it and that very DAY, my last day on it, I had a MASSIVE panic attack that almost put me in the ER.

Sorry to ramble. My point is, I was VERY aware of all the changes that were occur in me. The drugs, in my experience, do not wipe out your judgment or self-assessment. When people say that the drugs made the "zombies" they are well aware of their zombie selves! It's not like they didn't know and someone told them they were acting that way.

Your son will be able to feel all the changes; now, how he chooses to deal with them is another matter.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dbf is on Paxil for anxiety and we did a LOT of reading about it before he would go on them. There's a forum for people with anxiety disorder and everyone had so many different side effects. dbf did get mild sexual side effects, but nothing bad. (sorry, can't go into detail ) and a few other side effects. However, others on the same med got completely different side effects. If he doesn't like it, he can always switch. Good luck to him and to you!

 

[Tiggeroo]

The ruminating is the problem. And it led to insomnia and anxiety and then depression. I really feel counseling should help with this. Teach him ways to deal with concerns other then thinking on them for hours. Help him to be a bit more assertive on things that bother him so they are dealt with rather then left for him to worry on.

 

[Pigeon]

I was on Lexapro for situational depression following a cancer diagnosis. It helped me a great deal. I'm now weaning off it after about a year and a half.

I was undergoing chemo, radiation, a year of Herceptin and a lumpectomy so it's hard to separate Lexapro side effects from all the other stuff. But on the whole, I thought it was very well worth it.

 

[Christine]

The ruminating is the problem.

I will tell you that I am a life-long ruminator. Probably more than my mom ever had an inkling of.

At 43 years of age, after several medications, and a few therapists, I will tell you that I believe it is strictly due to the way that your wired. Call it "chemical" call it "personality" whatever, it is hardwired in there for ME.

In my case, I do not believe that therapy/counseling can help it. Well, it does help a little bit, but nothing has been able to stop it as well as the medications did. Unfortunately for me, the medications have side effects that I just cannot tolerate. I think if I could use them I would be a whole different person and feel much more free. But I can't.

Tiggeroo, I don't know anything about your son, but is he predisposed to this kind of behavior. Have you seen this in episodes throughout his life? Maybe if it is a one-time, unique occurrence, I would agree that some counseling might be all he needs. If this is a pattern, medication will probably really do him some good. (This coming from a person who will not take them!)

 

[Tiggeroo]

I would say he's had problems with this in the past, not so extreme. But he's also a very high energy person with an Adhd diag. He surfs, runs 80mpw, skateboards, and is in several church groups. So he keeps so busy that I think it's held it in check. When he went away to college he had way too much free time, never got enough physical things to do for his personality, and had all the typical new college problems. He neglected some problems until they snowballed and he created alot of stressful situations for himself.
So the meds may help.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Well I can say from experience with DH.He was on Lexapro for about 18 months and did really well and then he started having really bad side effects.He got to the point to where he couldnt stand himself or anyone or anything around him.He started having thoughts of suicide and we took him off of it.He swears that he will never ever go back on anything like that.
I was on Wellbutrin and I tell you it was Wonderful.I loved it but then it started making me very jittery and I could not handle that so I went off of mine to.

But please just be careful.There are so many suicides and things on anti Depresseants.Especially in teenagers and young adults.

 

[mcco5543]

I am on antideperessents becuase I have a chemical imbalance (seratonin).

I think meds are best for chemical depresssion (your brain chemicals are off kilter)

counseling seems to work best for situational depression (bad experiences, bad siutaitons, but perfectly normalized brain chemicals).

But for the right reasons i am a HUGE fan of whatever it takes to help someone through. Some people get so depressed they can't even begin to deal with their issues in counseling without first elevating their mood. IF this is your son's case then I say try the meds, he can ALWAYS change meds if he notices side effects. A good doctor/psychiatrist/counselour will discuss side effects to look out for and constnatly moniter your son for these effects.

As long as you dont' feel his counselor is trying to quick fix with meds, it can be a wonderful thing even if it's a pain to find the right one for you sometimes.

 

[Maggimus]

When I started college I got the worst case of anxiety imaginable and the doctor put me on Effexor. I have horrible responses to these type medications-- it makes my body really figity and I cant sleep at night (its like a huge dose of caffeine or something). It took me over a week to adjust each time my dosage would be upped. The initial day I began (or changed the dosage) I felt as though I was really dizzy- my stomach felt like the flu, and my body ached like I had been ran over by a train a few times-- those days there was absolutely nothing I could do more than lay around on the couch.

I have since went off the meds and now dont take anything. I still have anxiety-- but it seems as though there's an ingredient that I dont respond to well (the same in products with Sudafed, weight loss pills, etc)-- makes me stay awake all night and my body never rests-- really figity!

I feel it may have effected me sexually. Im not quite sure what it is, it may even be the anxiety itself.

 

[Christine]

I have horrible responses to these type medications-- it makes my body really figity and I cant sleep at night (its like a huge dose of caffeine or something). It took me over a week to adjust each time my dosage would be upped. The initial day I began (or changed the dosage) I felt as though I was really dizzy- my stomach felt like the flu, and my body ached like I had been ran over by a train a few times-- those days there was absolutely nothing I could do more than lay around on the couch.

Don't feel alone--I get the same side effects. This is why I cannot continue the meds. I have a full time job, with a glorius commute attached to it, two kids who need their mom. I can't lay around on the couch for a few days to weeks.

 

[dcentity2000]

There are loads of different treatments for depression, ranging from counselling to leukotomies(!)

Not all antidepressants carry sexual depressive side effects - some even stimulate in this area.

Try and have a look at the antidepressants here:

http://www.seratis.net/page3/page21/page21.html

I try to cover everything so if you find anything wanting, drop me a line



Rich::

 

[mudnuri]

Well, here's some food for thought.

I was first put on 10mg of Lexapro. Started with 5mg for a week, then upped to 10.

1st off, it helped the mood- I was less of a *****, but I still sorta felt "depressed" lazy, crappy feeling about my life etc.. when it was all good...

went back to doc, seems I'm not an SSRI kinda girl. My body needed noepinephrine....My sexual side effect- I could NOT orgasm for the life of me. I know this is a family board, but this was WAY WAY WAY out of wack for me. I told the doc- listen happy pill=no orgasm = not so happy 30 year old!

She added wellbutrin 300mg to my lexapro, and since then, I've been much better all the way around.

The one thing she did tell me the 1st appt I had was- "i am almost positive my first drug choice is not going to solve everything, so bear with it, and keep that in mind, this might take awhile."

Trust me on that- she was right.

The one thing I want to warn you of though- please do not listen to others side effects, and chose not to use a drug because of them. DBF can not take wellbutrin- because he litterally wiggs out on it....I can without a problem...we are all different.

Brandy

 

[iggbees]

i LOVE, i repeat, LOVE being on lexapro. i have pretty severe anxiety when i am not on it and while i'm on it i feel great! i had a pretty severe panic attack in oct of 2005, which is why the dr started me on lexapro. my boyfriend has noticed such an improvement. i'm happy most of the time (everyone has their ups and downs) and i don't stress over things too much. the key is finding a dose that takes away the anxiety, but doesn't make it so he's numb. my dosage now is 20mcg.

as for the sexual side effects. i honestly haven't seen any. i have more side effects on bcp than with just the lexapro (i've been off bcp and on lexapro at one point and vice versa). i wouldn't worry too much about that. i'm sure that what will happen will happen.

 

[HeatherH]

I believe this is a situational thing due to college transition and a couple bad experiences.

If you believe it is situational and NOT a chemical imbalance, I would encourage him to give counseling a VERY solid try before resorting to meds...especially if he has ADHD as well. Is he treated medicinally for the ADHD?

Situational anxiety is just THAT...related to the SITUATION. Good therapy CAN help...been there, done that myself. I would just be VERY VERY sure before trying any med with potential side effects that it is really something he needs. Double that with a kid with ADHD, especially if he is on any meds for that too.

Before anyone bashes me, I TOTALLY believe that anti-depressants are a godsend for those with chemical imbalances that cause the depression...I know that from many personal experiences.

I just don't think that in a case of SITUATIONAL anxiety or depression that they are always necessary...and I would exhaust every alternative possible before trying meds.

All the best to your son.

 

[Brianne]

I think the worst thing he can do is ignore it, so I'm glad you're being proactive in trying to help him.

Each med is going to affect each person differently. I'm currently on medication #4 in about 6 months just trying to find something that works.
It's not an easy process but it is really necessary for me to do it. A doctor worth his/her weight in gold is the one who asks the right questions & is willing to work with you to get you where you need to be.

One med he might want to consider trying is Cymbalta. It's one of the newer ones on the market so there's no generic for it but the side effects are more minimal than a number of them. I had the most success on that until it quit working for me, which was a shame because it was fantastic while it was working!

It's not an easy journey no matter how you slice it.