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I've been on anti-depressants twice now. The first time was in 2017 until 2019 and I was prescribed fluoxetine because I refused talk therapy. I ended up taking myself off them in 2019 because I wanted to see what I was like without medication, at this time I also took myself off birth control which I had been on since I was around 14. I'm now on sertraline which I have been on since December of 2021, because my doctor felt I needed them, and to be honest, I did, and still do.
So, what should you do when you get prescribed anti-depressants? Firstly, don't panic. They're really not as scary as they're made out to be. And secondly, don't feel like a failure. The first time I got prescribed them I felt as if I was stupid, how can I not control my own brain? After all, it is mine. It is totally okay to need some help from medication. It's no different than needing paracetamol for a headache or throat sweets during a common cold. I still remember sitting there for at least half an hour staring at this little pill in my hand. Thinking, do I really need this? Will I still be me? What happened for me to need this? And those are all totally valid questions to ask but please remember it is okay, and you will still be you!
First off, I would speak to your doctor or therapist about the type of anti-depressant they are prescribing you, there's so many different ones out there. All have different side affects but everyone is different, I know people who can't function on sertraline, but I do. I'll discuss my side affects further into this post.
Your health care provider will give you the one they believe will help you the most.
Questions you might want to ask include (but of course, aren't limited to):
Why have you prescribed this one and not another? This will help understand the reasonings behind the type you're given and give you more of an insight into how the selected medication will help you.
Why have you given me this dosage? This will help you to grasp what your therapist or doctor thinks of your current state of mind. Sometimes we are in denial. I remember my fluoxetine dosage got increased and I didn't understand why, until I had the larger dose.
What should I expect? We all love a google, but the first advice you should take is from your health care provider (and the leaflet inside your pill box). Although googling is acceptable to get other peoples experiences and opinions, I had to google sertraline to calm my nerves. Take it with a pinch of salt, everyone is different.
Secondly, speak to those close to you. The first few weeks on anti-depressants can be tough both mentally and physically. Remember, everyone is different. It's good to be transparent with those near you so they can be understanding to any changes you have because of any side affects. This will help keep and even strengthen relationships. Some more people you may want to talk to include your boss at work or teachers / tutors. Once again this is so they're aware you may go through some tough times in the next coming weeks.
Now lets talk side affects. I must make it clear that everyone is different so everyone will experience different side affects, you may not even experience any at all. It's also important to mention again that each type of medication have different side affects. I can't talk about fluoxetine too much because it was a while ago and I don't really remember the side affects all too much apart from insomnia. For this, I switched taking my medication at night to in the morning, this seemed to ease the insomnia for me. Now onto sertraline, for me the first few weeks whilst my body was adjusting was very difficult. I felt numb, empty and lost. I could barely hold conversations some days because I was confused and my brain felt all foggy. I lost my appetite and the last thing I wanted to do was socialise. I felt more tired than normal and had little motivation. This is why it is important to speak to those close to you, the support I had from my boyfriend, my family and my friends was what kept me going, and by explaining this to them, they understood if I cancelled plans or wasn't showing emotions like I usually would. The side affects will usually fade within a few weeks, although some people experience them throughout their time on the medication. My experience? The only side affect I currently experience is not being able to cry. I still cry occasionally, but I used to cry 3-4 times a week, even happy tears. Now I may cry once a month, if that. This is something I can deal with. If you find yourself unable to cope with any side affects, speak to your doctor. They can help guide you through the tough first weeks or switch you to another type of anti-depressant.
Thirdly, it may be worth keeping a mood diary, especially if you don't have a therapist at the time. This can help you when you get a therapist to help give them an insight but it can also help you to understand your feelings and emotions and help to highlight triggers which cause a dip in your mental state. If and when you do start therapy this is one of the first things they'll ask you to do (in my experience anyway).
The fourth thing you should do is make sure you are continuing your medication! Even forgetting one tablet can cause some mood swings. Don't panic if you have forgotten to take one, just take it as soon as you remember. Alongside this, make sure to put in a repeat prescription before running out of your medication, it can take up to 5 days to get a new box of pills so be sure to keep track.
I hope these tips ease your mind if you've just been prescribed some anti-depressants, or if you're looking to be prescribed some. Please remember to be kind to yourself. And don't just take this advice, speak to your doctor or therapist about further actions you can take.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!
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