[Slowlegs]

Hi all,
A bit of a rant... I went to my GP Tuesday. I had been off work for a couple of days and have been feeling a bit off colour for about a month with confusion, headaches, dizziness bladder/kidney issues and a couple of pressure sores I can't seem to get rid of. I thought I had the flu as I started sneezing and went to the doctor about the pressure sores and UTI issues as well. As I had been sick at home I didn't bother shaving and had a couple of days of stubble. So, after a five minute consult, I was told I was "depressed again" and given a prescription for anti depressants. The doctor said "these will cure everything".

Admittedly I was feeling off colour and not the best but I wonder if anyone else has had doctors who seem to never forget you were once depressed. Thursday morning, yesterday I woke up with dizziness, nausea, violent headaches, puking my guts out and orange smelly and cloudy urine and had "the shivers" and a fever, obviously because I hadn't started taking my "wonder drugs" yet. I changed doctors yesterday and may have pseudomonas in my lungs. Funny enough today I am feeling a lot better on the Noroxin my new doctor prescribed. I wasn't aware it also worked as an anti depressant.

This post has been edited by Slowlegs: 27 March 2009 - 04:14 AM

[nomis]

I shouldn't respond to this cos I've got an one enlarged prejudice against doctors prescribing anti-depressants willy nilly. Idiots. So, ok, there are a few who really really need anti-depressants and they definitely should take them. But in all other cases you should challenge your doctor's decision to his/her face.

I'm sorry, slowlegs, to hear that you were put to the trouble of changing doctors but it sounds like the right move. Anyway, if your health is a bit rundown with coughing, your skin's breaking down and you think you've got a uti, I'd be more concerned about your mental health if you were garbed in bright colours with peacock feathers, singing happy songs and hugging everyone you met.

Now that you're feeling a bit better, you can make this day one of a dedicated programme to get your health back on track.

[Hapahowlee]

I very much agree with Nomis. Many people who are taking anti-depressants really shouldn't or they truly don't need them. Doctors just tend to write out prescriptions for anti-depressants like it's nothing to be concerned about as long as you take your drugs. BULL! In many cases it can cause it to get worse and it's particularly dangerous to miss a dose or suddenly stop. Getting to the root of the depression is the true answer.

I'm glad you're feeling better. There are meds out there that are used to treat a number of issues. I was on migraine prevention meds (I tried many different types) for many years and everytime I'd go to pick up my prescription, the pharmacist would say, "Oh, your anti-depressants?" No wonder I was moody! I thought I was taking migraine preventatives! These were all meds that had a dual purpose. I stopped taking all those preventatives years ago and even though I did it slowly, I had problems with strange panic attacks I'd never had before. I learned to control these attacks on my own. Now, they are non existent.

Slowlegs, if you are taking a med that is used for depression as well as other issues, please be very careful about how you take them and know what to expect if you stop.

[Slowlegs]

Thanks guys, one other thing. I came off the anti depressants a few years ago under supervision of my specialist. Everything has been OK for three years by following an exercise routine and being more proactive with friends and socialising. The thing that really annoyed me is that I told him that I was on a particular anti depressant in the past because a couple of the other ones tended to make me more susceptable to UTI's. He tried to put me back on one that caused me to get UTI's and was all ready to sign a prescription for them with a pen from the company that made that particular drug.