I could not find the old "depression" thread, and I was going to post this there. But, since I couldn't find it...

I have a friend whose doctor recently put her on depression meds. Now, he didn't really "diagnose" her with depression, but she had been having some physical problems, other stuff like that, and he wanted to see if the meds would help her out. Ever since she has been prescribed with these depression meds, she's seemed more "down."

I know that science has proven that depression is real, it is a chemical imbalance, and it can be treated. But this particular example that I gave is a big problem I have with depression. Is this something that is common in depression cases? Where, as soon as the patient is prescribed with meds or diagnosed with depression, that they tend to use it as a crutch like it's OK to feel down? Seriously, this friend was not THIS down before she was prescribed. It's like she was/is now depressed about being depressed, and she can use that excuse... "I'm going through depression!"

In a perfect world, the Dr. would prescribe depression meds but tell the patient they are suffering from overhappiness. I'd like to see the results/affects of that.

tl;dr version - Is this something that is common in depression cases? Where, as soon as the patient is prescribed with meds or diagnosed with depression, that they tend to use it as a crutch like it's OK to feel down?

everyone reacts differently to those meds, so yeah it could be just her body's natural reaction to the drug....that or she is just really really fucking depressed, which in that case give her a perc, weed, and fuck her in the butt

I would never let my GP physician treat me for depression. They are not properly trained for this kind of problem. If her physician suspected that depression could be the cause of her physical problems, he should have made a referral to mental health professional. Most reputable mental health clinics have contracts with or on staff a psychiatrist who are much better at treating and prescribing medication for depression. good luck.

I'm fascinated by the fact that he gave her depression meds for a physical ailment (?)

hmm...

I have a heart condition, in which side-effects of it are anxiety and depression -- especially when going through major life changes. So two years ago when I moved to BGSU (100 miles from home) and broke up with my girlfriend I had been dating for two years, I was going through a slump and my doctor put me on Zoloft.
For the record, antidepressants have AWFUL side effects. I've never had problems sleeping, but those first four-five days I probably only got one decent night of sleep. It also gives you a headache (similar to caffeine headache that you have all the time). Don't even try drinking any amount of alcohol while on them, either.
Did they work in the end? Yeah, maybe. It takes 3-5 weeks to fully kick in, but I didn't necessarily find myself more happy....I was just more apathetic to everything. Things that use to stress me out or make me down, they didn't anymore, but I wasn't any happier either. It was just easier to sit around not doing anything and not caring either.
I still have a lot of problems with anxiety but I refuse to go back on those meds. Instead I have a prescription of ativan I can take as needed. Usually a bottle of #15 will last me a couple months.

As for your friend, she sounds the opposite of me. I never wanted anyone to know I was on those meds or that I let them limit myself. Only a handful of friends/family knew that I was on them. From the limited information you've given, it sounds like she is just attention-seeking and looking for sympathy.

ernest_t_bass;630779 wrote: Ever since she has been prescribed with these depression meds, she's seemed more "down."

P.S. this is a major side-effect of going on the drugs -- they can actually make you MORE depressed.

friendfromlowry;630864 wrote:P.S. this is a major side-effect of going on the drugs -- they can actually make you MORE depressed.

Same thing happened to my wife when they put her on depression meds. She wasn't using the depression as a crutch, that was just one of the MANY side effects of that shit. She's been trying to get off the meds for the last month or so, but keeps going through horrible withdrawal symptoms.

CenterBHSFan;630853 wrote:I'm fascinated by the fact that he gave her depression meds for a physical ailment (?)

hmm...

It was female problems. "Times" twice a month, feeling sluggish, etc.

friendfromlowry;630864 wrote:P.S. this is a major side-effect of going on the drugs -- they can actually make you MORE depressed.

Agreed - they are powerful medication, and need to handled with care.

My father was put on anti-depressants when my stepmother passed away a couple of years ago. In a few days, the medication almost made him catatonic - he went from feeling sad and "down" to being apathetic to the point he didn't bother getting dressed most days. His GP realized she was out of her league, and referred him to a specialist - a quick change in the AD prescription made a world of difference. As he adjusted to life (and as we made some changes in his living situation) over the next year, his conditioned improved and we were able to gradually take off the AD medications altogether.