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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
Very important issue here:
I am in college and did very well academically to get here. My Mom blames my poor performance in school on the antidepressants. I say the AD's have benefited me in so many other ways, giving me self-confidence and the ability to do so many things.
As a note, I had been on Prozac for 2 years up until December. I am now on Wellbutrin and consider it to be the best AD I have been on by far.
My position is perhaps a controversial one: I know these meds make me feel better. Regardless of whether I "need them" per se as far as depression, it improves the quality of my life. I would appreciate comments. What should I do? Is my Mom right?
My Mom has me worried that by taking the AD's my performance will be impacted and I will not be able to be as successful in my lifetime as far as making money in the business world. I aspire to great things as a business executive or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Is there any reason for me to expect that my potential performance could be inhibited by continuing to take AD's? My Mom is beyond adament that she wants me off the AD's.
Respectfully,
Doug
Posted by nicky847 on March 3, 2004, at 16:24:30
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
Grades only get you so far in life..it is much more important to be a happy, healthy person..and it sounds like you are
> Very important issue here:
>
> I am in college and did very well academically to get here. My Mom blames my poor performance in school on the antidepressants. I say the AD's have benefited me in so many other ways, giving me self-confidence and the ability to do so many things.
>
> As a note, I had been on Prozac for 2 years up until December. I am now on Wellbutrin and consider it to be the best AD I have been on by far.
>
> My position is perhaps a controversial one: I know these meds make me feel better. Regardless of whether I "need them" per se as far as depression, it improves the quality of my life. I would appreciate comments. What should I do? Is my Mom right?
>
> My Mom has me worried that by taking the AD's my performance will be impacted and I will not be able to be as successful in my lifetime as far as making money in the business world. I aspire to great things as a business executive or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Is there any reason for me to expect that my potential performance could be inhibited by continuing to take AD's? My Mom is beyond adament that she wants me off the AD's.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Doug
Posted by Kimburtly on March 3, 2004, at 16:40:41
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by nicky847 on March 3, 2004, at 16:24:30
> I second the comment below - your happiness will enable you to make better grades. Should you go in a funk, then your study habits will drop. I found that my mom feels that antidepressants are because people have 'something' not right with them. I just explained to her that the stresses and pressures in the world (hence schoolwork, preparing for the future) cause chemical imbalances and that is all the medicine is correcting. If you provide her with a medical slant vs the how you feel/depression side, it might work a little better. I was frank with my mom and said - look chemically I am more stable while taking the meds - and believe it or not it worked. Best of luck in school!
> Grades only get you so far in life..it is much more important to be a happy, healthy person..and it sounds like you are
>
> > Very important issue here:
> >
> > I am in college and did very well academically to get here. My Mom blames my poor performance in school on the antidepressants. I say the AD's have benefited me in so many other ways, giving me self-confidence and the ability to do so many things.
> >
> > As a note, I had been on Prozac for 2 years up until December. I am now on Wellbutrin and consider it to be the best AD I have been on by far.
> >
> > My position is perhaps a controversial one: I know these meds make me feel better. Regardless of whether I "need them" per se as far as depression, it improves the quality of my life. I would appreciate comments. What should I do? Is my Mom right?
> >
> > My Mom has me worried that by taking the AD's my performance will be impacted and I will not be able to be as successful in my lifetime as far as making money in the business world. I aspire to great things as a business executive or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Is there any reason for me to expect that my potential performance could be inhibited by continuing to take AD's? My Mom is beyond adament that she wants me off the AD's.
> >
> > Respectfully,
> >
> > Doug
>
>
Posted by AnnC on March 3, 2004, at 17:34:49
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Kimburtly on March 3, 2004, at 16:40:41
I agree....some of the most sucessful people I know are currently taking ADs (a partner in the law firm where I work, a friend who's a doctor, etc.). Making sure you're on the right med is important so the side effects (if any) don't interfere with your life but there is certainly nothing inherent (I don't think) in taking AD meds that will sabotage your grades or chances for sucess. I second the idea of presenting your mom with some medical lit. or facts and if that doesn't calm her fears just remember (not to sound too cliched, no one is living your life but you and ultimately you alone are responsible for doing what's right for yourself.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 3, 2004, at 17:40:53
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
Hi Doug,
I guess the real question is, do you want to stop taking antidepressants? If you feel that your quality of life would be deminished by going off of them don't stop taking them.
An antidepressant by itself usually doesn't cause bad grades. (Unless it's making it difficult for you to concentrate, or has made your mood unstable making it difficult for you to function - it doesn't sound like Wellbutrin has done either of those things to you.)
Maybe the solution is as easy as improving your grades and your mom will stop being so adament that you stop taking AD's.
K.
Posted by linkadge on March 3, 2004, at 18:09:53
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by KathrynLex on March 3, 2004, at 17:40:53
The only person who should determine what medications you take and how your mood is affected is you. You have to weight the pro's and cons of taking medication and arrive at a decision.
Personally, if your mother wanted you off them, and you wanted to be on them I would tell her to butt out !!:)
As far as needing them goes, you must determine if your depression warrents them. There are potential long term affects of using the drugs, so you must be sensible.
Best of Luck
Linkadge
Posted by snarley on March 3, 2004, at 18:48:19
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
>I am in college and did very well academically to get here. My Mom blames my poor performance in school on the antidepressants. I say the AD's have benefited me in so many other ways, giving me self-confidence and the ability to do so many things.
so... you say you did great in school before college, and now you're not doing so well--you did better in your schoolwork before taking AD's? Could it be because you're happier and more self-confident and making more friends you are neglecting your schoolwork because of the newfound social scene? If so you just need to work on your time-management skills and balance your new social life with your schoolwork, and things should straighten themselves out.
If you were smart enough to do well in school before college, you definitely have what it takes to do well now. If you put more time into school and get good grades again, your mom will have no reason to gripe about the antidepressants.
And cheers for finding an antidepressant that works for you =D
Snar
Posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 19:07:45
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants » Doug Saving The Team, posted by snarley on March 3, 2004, at 18:48:19
all of you are great! :) Thank you everyone for their comments, they are all very helpful and constructive. All things considered, my conclusions: I want to stay on the meds, I will provide my Mom with literature, and I will work on time management. It is true that life with an AD has spawned a social life unlike before, thus I need to better arrange my time.
Most sincerely,
Doug
Posted by Sebastian on March 3, 2004, at 19:43:09
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
They could do either. Good or bad things. Its realy what your mind is set to do. I took a ton of meds in college and I was only one grade short of perfect. That was when I took on a full time job on top of my school.
Posted by Ilene on March 3, 2004, at 21:29:09
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
I have two thoughts on your problem:
1) Whether you stay on ADs is a *medical* decision. It's between you and your doctor.
2) There could be something your mother's conviction that the ADs are contributing to the fall-off in your grades. Sometimes people on SSRIs, especially, find themselves feeling apathetic. On the other hand, college is so full of new experiences that it's easy to get distracted from the grind. You sound like you are experiencing the latter, in which case you should be hitting the books.
I.
Posted by MarkD on March 4, 2004, at 8:50:03
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Ilene on March 3, 2004, at 21:29:09
Hello Doug, arent these people here great,, more damn support than you could ever ask for... just wanted to say live your life the way you feel the most comfortable, with or without AD's, i also know people high up in the food chain that are on AD and have been for years, their lives could not be any better from what i gathered...i myself have just started an AD (Lex)at age 41, life is too short so try and do anything within reason that you have to do to create a better quality of life..
good luck to you Doug..God Bless
Mark
Posted by Sebastian on March 4, 2004, at 11:24:05
In reply to Re: Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Sebastian on March 3, 2004, at 19:43:09
I should have mentioned that one of the meds I was taking was wellbutrin SR 300 mg
Posted by KXo on March 4, 2004, at 11:49:07
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
If you really need the meds you should continue taking them for as long as necessary.
If not, you should consider the possible effects on your body with the long-term use. If they are worthy or not.
KXo
Posted by PoohBear on March 4, 2004, at 16:30:47
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
YOUR experience with the drug is what's important not your mother's OPINION. It is after all, your life and your body.
There is nothing wrong with taking medication if it helps with your day-to-day life and quality of life issues as others have mentioned. Perhaps your mother is concerned about the ongoing cost?
Good Luck!
Tony
> Very important issue here:
>
> I am in college and did very well academically to get here. My Mom blames my poor performance in school on the antidepressants. I say the AD's have benefited me in so many other ways, giving me self-confidence and the ability to do so many things.
>
> As a note, I had been on Prozac for 2 years up until December. I am now on Wellbutrin and consider it to be the best AD I have been on by far.
>
> My position is perhaps a controversial one: I know these meds make me feel better. Regardless of whether I "need them" per se as far as depression, it improves the quality of my life. I would appreciate comments. What should I do? Is my Mom right?
>
> My Mom has me worried that by taking the AD's my performance will be impacted and I will not be able to be as successful in my lifetime as far as making money in the business world. I aspire to great things as a business executive or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Is there any reason for me to expect that my potential performance could be inhibited by continuing to take AD's? My Mom is beyond adament that she wants me off the AD's.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Doug
Posted by CareBear04 on March 7, 2004, at 18:43:43
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
Hi Doug,
Sorry I'm late getting to this post. I just wanted to say that I totally relate to your situation. I'm in college, too, and last summer, my mom and grandma were convinced that I didn't need medication and that I should stop. I didn't agree with them, but I didn't think my meds were working and my pdoc wouldn't help me find other meds or taper off, so I stopped taking everything all at once. I don't suggest that; it was one of the worst experiences of my life. This was right before I went back to school for fall semester. By the time I got back, I was a complete mess. I ended up in the hospital and out of school for the semester. Now I'm at the point again where I'm much better and my mom thinks I should be off meds. This time, I don't plan to listen to her. I'll stay on the meds for as long as my doctor thinks is necessary. If you do decide to go off meds, make sure it's your own decision, and please make sure to taper off of them! It's incredibly unpleasant going through withdrawals. Good luck! CB
Posted by KimberlyDi on March 9, 2004, at 15:44:47
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
If she is wrong, she doesn't pay the price for it. Go for what you feel is best. I wish Moms would learn to butt out alittle when their *little kids* go to college. Since you're not aspiring to be the emotionally tortured artist who's creativity is fueled by the agony in his/her soul... I can't see how it would impact your ability to become successful. Social phobia clipped my wings early in life, and I'm only now learning how to fly. By not being on the correct medication, I have truly lost 10+ years of my life.
Talk to your doctor about this. Maybe his/her opinion will help you in your decision.
KDi in TX
Posted by greywolf on March 11, 2004, at 11:38:36
In reply to Mom wants me off Antidepressants, posted by Doug Saving The Team on March 3, 2004, at 16:10:05
Do what's right for you, but consider the possibility that your mom might not be sufficiently aware of the new classes of meds and how they differ from what she grew up seeing other people take. I've dealt with a similar issue with my parents, and part of the problem was that their reference point was the effects or conduct of peers on much older medications.
This is the end of the thread.
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