Does infrequent bouts of depression really warrant anti depressants?

Question

my man has just been given citalopram. He has about 4 day bouts of depression about once every 4 mnths. The rest of the time he is happy and positive, although he is never able to remain in the same job on a long term basis, simply getting bored and wanting to move on. I have been with him over 10 years and it just simply seems to be something we have to put up with. I have looked at the side effects of the anti depressants and I'm not sure if its worth it. Or could it be a solution at last? What would you do?

Answer 1

How severe are these 'bouts'?  Is he like suicidal or just bummed out?  I agree with you and I don't think drugs are warranted in this situation.  It sounds like he may just need some temporary counseling to talk about why these bouts come up and what he can do to overcome them.  Anti-depressants should definitely only be used for people that suffer from daily depression and have been this way for more than a few days. Yes, anti-depressants do have side effects and some of them can be unpleasant.  My PDR says that Citalporam (more commonly known as Celexa) is used "to treat major depression-a stubbornly low mood that persists nearly every day for at least two weeks and interferes with everyday living."  It lists some nasty side effects like abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, ejaculation disorders, fatigue, impotence, and the list goes on and on.  This DOES NOT sound like your boyfriend.  You said that he only has bouts and they only last about 4 days and are only about 3 times a year!  Celexa isn't warranted.  Your boyfriend sounds pretty much like a normal guy.  Everyone gets depressed once in a while!  And getting bored with your job isn't always a sign of depression but maybe he just hasn't found the job that he wants yet which is the case of many people!  I'd encourage your boyfriend not to take the drug which btw, takes atleast a month to even start working and try just some simple counseling maybe once a week for atleast a couple of months.  Don't you agree?  I do know a lot because I suffer from different mental health problems including severe depression.  I sometimes can't even leave my house for weeks!  If I'm happy, it only lasts a few minutes.  I hate the side effects of the drugs but am trying a new one.  I wouldn't take them if  I was happy most of the time and was able to work (I can't work because I'll start crying at work for no reason).  I wish your man the best of luck!  He's lucky to have a caring girlfriend like yourself!

Answer 2

Anti depressants are wonderful.  Not only do they help the depression, they also help with self confidence, being outgoing, etc.  

There are two problems though:

1.  The side effects which you alluded to.  Most of those will go away after a short period of time.  As an example, I am on the highest dose of Prozac, and one of the side effects, which apparantly only effects me, is it makes me cold for about 1 month, while I am getting it into my system

The other side effect with most antidepressants, which affect everybody is that is takes a long time to have an o****m.  

2.  The other problem is that it sometimes takes awhile to find the right antidepressant, and dosing.  I went through several antidepressants until the right one was found, and then the dosing had to be increased several times.

Answer 3

It sounds to me like he may have bipolar disorder instead of depression.

Answer 4

i suffer with depression also, it usually build up when an unlikely event has happened or passed by in life. I was at loose end until i received some medical help which i found very usfull

I realy reccomend you try to contact socail workers to acess you, and if they think your suffering realy all too much they will refer you to a pycieatrist who will usually perscribe you PROZACK. prozack is a trype of anti depressent which contain fluxoxitine which will help lift your mood.

Answer 5

It is best to ask your family doctor or another psychiatrist for a second opinion. Reading your posting it reads as though there is some information being held back and that is fine. At least from what I am reading in my opinion there are appears to be at least two issues here that might warrant the prescription. First issue it may be his bouts of depression, though short-term, maybe severe where it impacts at least on activity of daily living. Another possibility maybe is that he suffers from Bipolar II a mild form of bipolar disorder. I am not saying that he is suffering from Bipolar but your posting does suggest it might be a possibility.

If either possibility is a reason then in my opinion the medication is warranted. However if neither are a possibility then a second opinion is definitely warranted.

Answer 6

I think the boredom thing is the key to this.

why don't you both join a gym and go 2-3 times week

I think you will find the depression lifts

Answer 7

I always thought that it depression was only warranted if you had severe symptoms for two or more weeks consistently. I've battle clinical depression my whole life, and I've been prescribed several of the anti-depressants on the market, though I haven't been on any for about two years, and I feel great. Our healthcare system has taken to overdiagnosing mental defects and giving drugs out like they're a cure all. Really, antidepressants need to be accompanied by other forms of therapy. I think your husband's bouts sound more like funks, which everyone has. If he's happy most of the time, the emotionally numbing medication will probably make him feel nothing all the time instead of good most of the time and really low for four days once in a while. This would have an effect on you too. I'd advise him against it and I think you should talk to him about non-drug solutions, like counseling or meditation.