Antidepressants

[seraph69]

Alright. i've been on lexapro for 2 weeks and i am so tired in the day. I know it might go away but it just seems to be getting worse. If anyone could tell me when the sleepness normally goes away or if i should try something else. Although i do hear this is the best antidepressant out there with the fewest side effects, but i can't deal with being tired all day and up all night. Thanks

[shelley]

sleepiness is one of the more common side-effects to this drug. You can try a lower dosage or take your dose late at night and hope the sleepiness affects you while you are actually sleeping. Otherwise there's not much you can do, because the drug monkeys with seratonin and seratonin is all about wakefulness.

[jlogan]

Shelley, what is your opinion of antidepressants? Do you think that they are harmful in the long run? I know someone who is also about to take Lexapro; her doctor said it was for a possible chemical imbalance. Would Lexapro correct this? I am worried that she is going to end up getting addicted.

[shelley]

It depends on which antidepressent and whether tests have been run to determine whether the person is really one of those people who have problems with seratonin uptake.

There really is a physical ailment that prevents the brain from taking up seratonin, and the implications of that are profound and really should be alleviated with medication so the person has a chance at a normal life.

Unfortunately, there are also millions of people who have no issues with seratonin but instead have lived too long on the wrong diet or have thyroid issues, and they are prescribed anti-depressents! I can't tell you how many times doctors tried to put me on Zoloft when I had a wonky thyroid that was making me miserable! I'd tell them my troubles and they'd get out their samples right then! They were so positive that that was what I needed that I started taking it just to see what it was like. It was total hell. I couldn't feel ANYthing but this really awful anger. I was pissed at the entire world, just wanted to KILL. Later I found out that the kid at Columbine who opened fire was on Zoloft or similar too.

So if you know anyone who is taking antidepressents, tell them to make sure and get tested thoroughly to see if they really need them, find out exactly what the "chemical imbalance" is. If they have no seratonin, schizophrenia or bi-polar issues, drugs are NOT the answer! And yes, they can be very very harmful in the long run, not just physically but mentally/emotionally too. If there are real emotional issues that aren't getting dealt with, that just gets worse over time. Psychotropics should only be given IF the patient is undergoing psychotherapy.