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Medication side effects.

utopiaSenior Contributor27 Aug 2021, 9:30 pm AEST

Medication side effects.

So my Major Depression never responded to any of the antidepressants I tried over the years. This was extra hard, as my depressive episodes also came with suicidal thoughts. It made life a living hell for 6 odd years.

Then last year my Psychiatrist tried me on a very old fashioned medication. Within days it worked. I have been in complete remission for a year now. No signs of depression. No more suicidal thinking.

But the medication has side effects. It can destroy the kidneys, damage the brain, plus, plus, plus.

For me, I have developed Psiorisis. Scalp, elbows, legs, stomach, bum. This medication interferes with the immune system. Not so great as my family has a history of autoimmune conditions already.

Now when I was talking to a friend about the latest side effects, she told me I shouldn't be taking this medication, and if my Psychiatrist was any good, he wouldn't prescribe it for me.

Now this friend has not seen the torturous hell I have gone through for over 6 years. We hadn't seen each other for years, until I was well again. And even though I have explained how savage living with Major Depression is, like most people who have never experienced it, she just doesn't understand.

I have tried to explain to her, that even with a reduced life expectancy due to this medication, it is still keeping me alive. Without it, I wonder how long I would have survived those constant suicidal thoughts. So I said, with this medication I am likely to live longer than if I wasn't on it. So I am happy to take it and put up with side effects, which can be monitored and managed.

Part if the problem with her, is this assumption that i just need to take an antidepressant and that will fix me. Doesn't matter how I explain that mental health medication is extremely underfunded. We don't know why some meds work for some people and don't work for others. Mental illness just isn't really understood.

And I think she thinks like physical illnesses, you just take a pill and it will fix your cholesterol levels, your blood sugar levels, your arthritis pain, etc.

Does anyone else have trouble trying to explain how hard it is to find a medication that helps our mental health. Sometimes you can deal with the side effects. Sometimes you can't. But this is the best treatment that we have at the moment.

6 replies

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In response to: Medication side effects.

outlanderSenior Contributor27 Aug 2021, 11:31 pm AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

@utopia it can be hard to try and explain to someone who doesnt always want to listen or cant see both sides of the situation. If you find this medication worthwhile even with the side effects then thats all that really matters.

i was on medications as well and they worked a very small amount (but side effects were really bad even at a low dose so i went off it) but everytime i saw certain people it turned into arguments because they didnt agree with me being on medications. so from then on i really just avoided the topic as hard as it was to do it was better that way.

In response to: Medication side effects.

BPDSurvivorSenior Contributor28 Aug 2021, 7:09 am AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

Hi @utopia ,

First of all, I'd like to say thank you for sharing and reaching out. Second of all, I need to say I'm not a doctor so what I say is purely from experience.

I can see this dilemma you have -

1) not take the 'magic' pill and live a living death; or

2) take the pill, live relatively depression-free, but suffer the physical side effects.

Now, explaining to people... do you have to? Do they prefer the former or latter You? Here are some things they can consider.

Well, if a medication was THAT bad, and did more harm than good, then according to the stringent regulations we have in Australia, it shouldn't be on the market.

Also, you are now LIVING LIFE! Yes, you may have secondary issues on your scalp, elbow and 'bum', but what are these compared to years of torture? Is the quantity of your live (yrs you live) more important than your quality of life?

Adding to this, do you think the medication you currently take will put you in a better frame of mind to then learn and practise strategies so that when you see the depression setting in, you and n-ip it in the bud? Perhaps later, you will realise you are stronger than you think, and be able to fight off the depression with limited meds?

Im only posing these questions for you to reflect on - no need to answer. It would be good to continuing speaking to your doctor about these hesitances you have, as they can offer the medical advice that I can't.

All the best @utopia - I'm sorry you are faced with this dilemma, but I'm delighted to hear that you have found something that 'works', and you can now taste of what life really is. Sometimes, it's not about how much or what you explain - it's about them seeing the real you. That speaks louder than words.

Im with you,

BPDSurvivor

In response to: Medication side effects.

BlueBaySenior Contributor28 Aug 2021, 8:57 am AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

Hi @utopia

so nice to see you here again, and to chat 🙂 It's been a while

I believe for me if the psych meds are helping me then i would definitely take it. Look how far you have come, I am so proud of your achievement. I am sorry you have developed psoriasis as a side efect. I do understand what psoriasis is like, my hubby has it mostly on his legs, arms, elbows, back. It's a shocking thing, but with creams, sunlight and diet it does help. Not easy, i do know that, he has had it for more than 20 years.

I feel that it is hard to explain to people who don't have a mental illness or know someone who has to explain how difficult living day to day. A lot of my friends think that i 'should' be better by now. why haven't i 'just got over it' or they tell me 'forget the past (abuse)' - if only it was that easy!! I think that people think that by us taking a psych med we will be better; but it's not like that. And yet if it was a physical illness or injury they would be more understandable (that's how i personally feel)

It is very very hard, all the emotions going from very very low to being good for a day or two. It's a very difficult road.

I am sure that your psych would know of the side effects of this med you're taking.

I feel that you don't need to explain to anyone. It's your body/mind/soul - if these meds are working for you then I would take them. And slowly slowly you can work on the psoriasis.

Take care my friend, xxxooo

In response to: Medication side effects.

Owen45Senior Contributor28 Aug 2021, 3:23 pm AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

Thanks for sharing about medication. I can identify, years of side effects on different medications. It takes it toll on mental and physical sides. I am off the medications now for 5 years.

In response to: Re: Medication side effects.

utopiaSenior Contributor28 Aug 2021, 6:08 pm AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

@Owen45 . How are you doing not taking the meds? And can I ask what disorder you were diagnosed with?

In response to: Re: Medication side effects.

Owen45Senior Contributor30 Aug 2021, 1:28 pm AEST

Re: Medication side effects.

Hi Utopia, thanks for the reply. I am doing well without the meds, so far. I try to do daily activities that give me a lift out of the depression during lockdown: shopping, reading, television, piano practice, floor-boarding in my apartment. The key is to keep motivated, keep thinking positive, as difficult as that is. What is your experience with meds ? Regards, Owen.

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