should i

[melly]

take the meds. really scared. Feelreally panictonight, head feels really light. CAn onlytake them on friday but need something soon.

[winegirl]

Hi Melly

My advice is to do it. I was petrified about taking mine but the gp said to me that I would probably come back to him in a months time asking why I had not had them sooner. So that kind of clinched it for me. The first couple of weeks may be tough, although around half of people have no side effects at all, but it could be so worth it.

Here if you want to talk about it x

Winegirl x

[melly]

thanks for your reply. Not allowed to take them until friday as i have been taking saint johns wort. But i just dont know what to feel anymore. Iv have been so off today crying, tingly, face numb, arms numb not feeling with it, convinced im gonna die of something terrible. My head feels like there is nothing in it anymore. Really struggling but im not depressed.

[stevensmummy]

Hi melly

I know I said i camw off my meds and I did discuss that in another thread with you but i would advise you to do it. I think in the long run the vast majority of people feel better on them. I have done alot of research on it b4 I took mine initially and basically it makes you better quicker. The general feeling is people found they made life more bearable and able to get on with normal life which helped them get better. As for the side effects that % of people who got side effects was quite low, lower than I expected

Love and hugs, Keep talking we are all here for you

Sarah x

[melly]

I have been on citlapram which made me worse. I know how they can effect u and dont know if im willing to take that risk. I did feel better to start with, but they made me bad in the long run. Now they want me to take venlafaxine. Why did u come off the meds?

[stevensmummy]

Hi melly

maybe you are going to be like me then. i just couldnt cope on them. I admit I really did feel better initially but as i began to be me again I began to realise that this wasnt right. I'm a biologist and I know all about chemical signals etc etc (I wont bore you by explaining it all) but basically all the meds do is give you a false version of what u should have already but for some reason outs isnt being made, I think thro the trauma of childbirth etc. When I felt better I saw this rationally and for that matter rom a biologists perspective and I realised that this wasnt me, this was fake and I wasnt the person I am on them. My friends said oh your such alot better but I knew this was a false pretense and I would never be right until I was off them. So I (rightly or wrongly I have yet to decide) came off the meds and refused point blank not to go on any kind. I have since had pni second time round and at one stage wanted meds but my epilepsy prevented it, which I now am glad of as I still feel the same about them.

i'm not saying for a second that you shouldnt take them, this is just my reasoning. Is it just the thought of possible side effects that is bothering you?

[winegirl]

I have to say the side effects terrified me, and I am not going to lie, it has been really tough. But I am remaning positive that as the seretonin is raised in my brain and my body adjusts to it that these drugs will act as my life jacket until I feel ready to come off them.

I personally dont want to continue struggling until this illness goes, and will take what help I need. SSRI's raise seretonin in the brain, and when coming off the drugs the idea is that this chemical remains at thie correct level.

Everyone is different and you should do what you are comfortable with, I think in the end I caved to meds out of desperation.

Have yuo had any more thoughts on it? Let us know what you decide. We are here either way x

Winegirl x