have you ever been prescribed anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication?

[© tweed]

have you ever been prescribed anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication?

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Yes.

[dead0man]

no

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

no...though I did have to undergo a mental examination by a shrink

[Sewer]

i take antisomething

forgot what

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Sort of yes to both. The main reason I stay on the Ritalin (beyond the stopping me from being a troll) is that it controls my anxiety. I feel anxious, much more anxious, but my brain can control it. As for anti-depressants, yes.

[Gustaf]

I don't do medication.

[Ebowed]

Self medication, so no.

[Torie]

No. I don't do depression. But sometimes I have given it. 

[Bacon King]

Yes to both, though I took the antidepressant for its anti-anxiety properties.

I was prescribed Lexapro and Klonipin in October 2009 to receive treatment after a medical leave of absence from Tulane. My wisdom teeth had become impacted in the middle of the semester, and I was completely out of commission for three weeks after the surgery; I had a bit of a nervous breakdown while trying to catch up on all my midterms and essays and such afterwards. They were a great benefit at the time, certainly, but once I was back in school I was only taking them to avoid the negative repercussions that came from withdrawal. The side effects were certainly annoying at times, though, especially for my sex life.

I had to leave Tulane this past January after both of my parents lost their jobs; it was too late for me to transfer somewhere else so I took my then-girlfriend's advice and used that opportunity to get off those meds. I gradually weaned myself off of Lexapro over a two month period, and the withdrawals were absolutely horrible- constant dizziness, depression, and lethargy, some occasional intense aggression, and horrible insomnia. I was fine once that was all over with, though, but it was really bad while it lasted.

With the Klonipin, I've been slowly reducing the amount I take since June or so. I wanted to quit cold turkey, but after going three days without sleeping I decided that wasn't really a good idea. With the gradual reduction I haven't experienced many side effects, other than some moments where I'll be overwhelmingly nervous about something for no reason. I put my dose reductions on hold last month when this anxiety began to impact my grades, but I'm aiming to be off of it completely by the end of the year.

My advice to everyone is if you ever decide to go on a medicine to treat anxiety or depression, make sure you know what you're doing, because if you decide to quit them the withdrawal will be hell. Just my two cents.

[minionofmidas]

Gustaf / Ebowed

[Tender Branson]

Nope, not directly.

But beta-blockers, because I had high blood pressure.

[angus]

no...though I did have to undergo a mental examination by a shrink

Same here.  No prescriptions, but recreationally I've tried them all.

I also had to undergo psychotherapy.  Apparently there's nothing wrong.  Or so I'm told.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

no...though I did have to undergo a mental examination by a shrink

Same here.  No prescriptions, but recreationally I've tried them all.

I also had to undergo psychotherapy.  Apparently there's nothing wrong.  Or so I'm told.

I had to undergo examination by a shrink before I could get cleared to enter nuclear power plants, because I apparently failed a written test due to the drastic change in behavior after being saved (I went from a punk to a model citizen).  He was a bearded shrink who looked down his nose at me while I recounted my conversation.

[angus]

I guess he had to decide whether you were yanking his chain with the Jesus schtick.

I had to get a DOE clearance and apparently they wanted clarification or justification for some of my written answers as well.  Like you mentioned elsewhere, I also had to explain some brushes with the law that occurred during my misspent youth.  From punk to citizen.  Who knows?  Maybe Jesus is looking out for me as well, although that never came up during my interview.

[ZuWo]

Fortunately not.

[Sbane]

No, I have not been prescribed these drugs. Very common in America of course, especially the antidepressants.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

No, although one time I went to a shrink. His verdict was that I was perennially depressed because I was living in an area that isn't suited for me and that I should just tough it out until I leave for college.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No.  How does 1 person not remember what drug they took?

[memphis]

No, I have not been prescribed these drugs. Very common in America of course, especially the antidepressants.

^^^^^^^^^
And people stay on them forever. And they don't really have great long term outcomes.

[lowtech redneck]

Yes, I have severe OCD.

[Insula Dei]

No, I'm not American.

[opebo]

No.  I once went to some government agency - I can't remember which, and told them that I was mentally ill because I couldn't work, so I needed a dole. 

They had me talk to a psychologist, who I told that I had never had a  job or been able to hold down a job (I was around 27 or 28 at the time.  The psychologist just looked at me and said 'are you from a rich family?'  I couldn't help but smirk a bit and said 'well yes, a bit, and I suppose I must admit a rather indulgent one, but in my defense I do live like a churchmouse'.  Well, suffice it to say she didn't give me any money or any nerve-pills.  Alas.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Yes

[courts]

Yes, multiple times but it's never worked for me. Sort of at the end of my rope here.