Concerned - stopped meds

[rumpled]

I am concerned. I have a family member that stopped taking their antidepressant medications. He feels that he is okay without them, and that he can manage with some OTC herbs.
He is not doing well with the herbs. He is clearly having issues at work, and is very stressed.

Any suggestions on resources for him on how to cope or me on how to guide him to help? He hates the meds for how they feel, but he is clearly worse off them.

[evewisewoman]

Hello there,
Having experienced very undesirable side effects from certain antidepressants, I can understand why your husband may have chosen not to take it anymore. However it is very unadvisable to just stop a medication cold turkey. In my case, I was on a certain antidepressant for only two days and I knew this medication was not the one for me. I made an appointment with my doctor at that time. I told her that I was experiencing a lot of side effects from the antidepressant I was taking such as heart palpations, profuse sweating, horrible nightmares. Those are the ones I can remember. My doctor put me on another antidepressant which agreed with me.  May I suggest that your husband make a follow up appointment with his family doctor. At that appointment he could tell his doctor about the side effects he had been experiencing while on the antidepressant the doctor had prescribed for him. You said your husband is trying to deal with his depression by taking herbs. His doctor should know that the antidepressant he prescribed for your husband is not being well tolerated by your husband. The only way the doctor will know this is if your husband tells him.  There is a certain antidepressant called WELBUTRIN which is supposed to have the least number of undesirable side effects. Do you mind if I ask you what antidepressant your husband was taking ?  I had to try a few of them myself before I found an antidepressant that agreed with me and that helped me cope with my depression which in my case is pretty much hereditary. So I would suggest that your husband make a follow up appointment with the doctor who prescribed the antidepressant to him. As to suggestions on resources for him to cope. Besides medication, perhaps your husband could benefit from group counselling if that is an option or individual counselling. Talk therapy is just as important as medication. As far as I know, herbs are not helpful in dealing with depression. Perhaps including more omega 3 sources may be helpful. I myself take several omega 3 fish oil capsules every day. You have to be careful though which brand you chose. They are sold in health food stores. I wish you and your husband well.   Eve

[bobdylan1958]

Hi is their anyway of getting a Doctor to him ?? ,The Doctor my Section him for his own good , it can't be easy for you both , but i will still say he needs help ,Herb's will do nothing for him , sara12345 has stated what he will be going through and its not a nice place to be in , so if you can get a Doctor to him all the better
Please take care ,

[rumpled]

Thank you.

He does not see the effects. He is my husband - but he is extremely sensitive about any criticism - real or perceived so if I moved out I  think he would really go bonkers and really not get better but get worse.

I keep trying to push the doctor angle, but he is just trying different herbs. They are not working.

I am doing counseling, but of course, he will not participate. Thanks for the lead on telomeres.

[sara12345]

And bobdylan above also makes very good points.

[sara12345]

If he is hates the meds, suggest that he try a different anti-depressant. For example, Effexor can affect one's sex drive, but the newer version, Pristiq, brings back sex drive for most people.  

If he doesn't see the bad effects of his depression, there may not be much that you can do to convince him.  Unless he is against meds because he thinks they are dangerous.  Tell him the info below.

The benefits of anti-depressants go beyond being productive and happy.  Depression is linked with major health conditions, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic pain, disability, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis and obesity.

It is because of the deterioration of telomeres in the body.  Go online and search "telomeres and depression" to confirm what I am saying.

He sounds pig headed and there may not be much that you can do to convince him.  UNLESS he is your husband, then you can set boundaries if he doesn't take the anti-depressants.  If he is really a problem as you hear often from the wives, then you should separate from him until he sees the light.  Wish you the best.

[bobdylan1958]

Hi it can be dangerous going cold turkey on med's , Please try and get him to sit down with his Family Doctor and ask him to tell the Doctor what is going on in his head , the Doctor will do her/his utmost to help him and treat him , Take care ,