Long story but I’ve been down for a little while due to a long term physical condition. I’d normally ride to conquer any feelings of depression but as I can’t I’m sort of limited on options.

My wife suggested today that maybe I should give antidepressants a try (the doc has been tempting me with them for months). I’ve always said that I’d rather not touch them so I’m very wary of taking them, especially long term.

Anyone got any thoughts / experiences?

You can’t ride – what can you do?

Watch Tv, read books and surf the Internet. Oh… And do jigsaws.

I can ride my bike round the block for 10mins occasionally but no more or it ruins me. I have been riding the local DJs for an hour every 2 weeks but I shouldn’t really be doing that.

antideps work well for a very large amount of people… if you don’t get on with them you can always stop.

Anti-depressants can be used to ‘kick start’ your upwards curve, speaking from experience….

It helps you to find the energy/enthusiasm to get on the first rung of the ladder, that is all.

Those on them long term, IMO, are psychologically addicted to them, not chemically.

bushwacked, if you dont mind me asking, why cant you ride.
only asking cos i have been in the same state since october.

They sorted my mood out, but did affect my concentration/attention to activities that I didn’t really enjoy (ie. my university coursework).
I wasn’t looking at using them until I had a massive dip over winter and needed something to pick me up. All good now though!

What would you define long term? I was on a six month course, they kick in after a few weeks but you have to keep taking them even though you feel better in yourself.

I should have said that I’m wondering if they would help with motivation and energy levels

have you tried coke?

Ton – post viral fatigue. Pain in the proved jams. Making good progress but seem to have plateaued on my recovery.

Those on them long term, IMO, are psychologically addicted to them, not chemically.

or just happen to have that surprisingly common thing called chronic (clinical) depression…

I’m not sure why antideps carry such a stigma even now, it’s well accepted for many disorders that long-term treatment is required. Depression associated with a tough period/stress etc may well be dealt with by a few months of the pills, but in many cases people are clinically depressed despite no hardship.

Schizophrenia is another well accepted mental disorder – would you like them to stop heir pills asap to show how tough they are?

i bought a turbo trainer
just put it in the garden and sit a spin for a hour in the fresh air.
mood seemed to lift a fair bit.

Have you got a circle of friends you can spend more time with?
Ones not attached to biking?

Anti-depressants can be used to ‘kick start’ your upwards curve

yep

did affect my concentration/attention to activities that I didn’t really enjoy

yep

I would say if you trust your GP and they are suggesting them to you, then give it a go. Just becuase you start does not mean you will be on them long term and you may never need them again.

a lot of people say nay to anti depressants, however like most things, people only record negative experiences. no one ever posts on here saying “I bought component X and it works ok.”

However, I personally would be inclined to see antidepressants as a method of treating symptoms, not cause. By all means give it a try, but also keep trying to do things that you enjoy as much as you can!

Good luck

Been prescribed Fuoxetine myself recently (20mg per day, probably what they’d prescribe you), refuse to take em though. It’s not so much the social stigma (there isn’t any really), it’s more to do with the amount of other people I know who its had a negative effect on, that and I really don’t want a reliance on anything.

Went back to the doc, having told him I didn’t want to take them, he’s prescribed me something else to help regulate my sleep pattern (ie. make me tired when I should be tired, so I wake up in the morning not mid afternoon!) called Amitryptiline, 10mg at a time. Seems to knock me right out despite the low dosage, and would say after the first few nights (which I felt hungover when I woke up) it’s started to have a positive effect.

Hoping I can go back to work sometime within the next month or so, got an appointment at the specialists on 15th June so wish me luck!

Yeah I have got non biking fiends but it’s less about the biking and more about the fact I’m living such a non-existence at the moment. I can see then light at the end of the tunnel but it’s a long way away over a minefield on the other side of a glass wall with a hidden door.

Anti-depressents worked for me. It took a while to find the right drug, but now I’m much happier, relaxed, able to concentrate, etc.,.
Go see the doc, and give them a try.
As someone has said, if you don’t get on with them you can stop.

Various people in my family have used low dosage ADs for 6months or so to help with the ‘jump start.’ I’d say there’s no reason not to give them ago if the gp is also suggesting them… be open and honest as to how they’re making you feel and certainly if they’re not doing anything productive they’ll be stopped.

Mboy – didn’t realise you were having a little trouble of that nature. Hope it picks up for you. I know what sleep or lack of it can do.

OP – my wife had post viral fatique after a bout of shingles. it totally knocked her sideways for a long while. Hope you start to feel better soon.

I should have said that I’m wondering if they would help with motivation and energy levels

I’ve not really had issues with energy levels, I can still spend all day on the bike etc. Just the concentration as mentioned previously.

Good luck whichever option you choose 🙂

bushwacked, prior to this year, when blokes talked about being depressed, i just used to laugh at them and would have told them to mtfu.
but my views and attitude have changed mate.
i feel for you pal.
just take it easy mate, try to keep your thoughts happy.
hope you get sorted.

Cheers warton. What was her recovery like? Long and smooth or did it speed up as she started getting better? Anything that triggered recovery like ADs?

Cheers Ton – I appreciate the thoughts and kind words

More like the other way B, too much sleep, too often (but probably initiated by lack of sleep amongst other things). Doc is 99% sure I’ve got CFS again, so pretty similar situation to yourself matey! Though I do have enough energy to ride my bike most of the time, it’s just I’m only fully awake for a few hours at a time, I can doze off just like that, and then come 10pm I’m wide awake! Having good days and bad days too, went to Quantocks a couple of weekends ago with Skarki et al, rode the Saturday, felt ok, woke up Sunday intending to ride, felt like I’d been hit by a train!

I can’t remember, it was a few years ago, I’ll ask tonight. she was on all sorts of pills for a long time, and i think she did take ADs at some point, but I can’t be sure

+1 on on the turbo trainer. Keeps you fit and gives you a dose of the old dopamine
Any gentle exercise you can do? An hour’s walk outside? Exercise in green spaces is supposed to be particularly good.
Anything you can do at home which gives you a sense of achievement, learn new stuff? I was forced out of my job a few months ago and started making my own bread and other bits of home cooking to help save money – I’m surprised how much satisfaction I get from it. Takes up a time too. And tastes great 🙂
Also, this site is quite useful. Moodscope

ton – did someone use the fist pie remedy on you?

Mboy – know what you are saying. My frustration is I could ride or do stuff but have to hd back otherwise I have a week of pain 🙁

Warton – any tips she may have I’d be really interested in learning about

Post viral syndrome or ME is controversial in medical circles. Your doc may be in the ‘it’s all in the mind’ camp. There as much good science (i.e. not much) to suggest that he/she should prescribe you a dose of antivirals to get you better. I’d also be asking for a occupational therapy appointment to discuss how you can build up your ability to function in a progressive way, without risking overdoing it and ending back at square one.

I’ve known a nulmber of people use the things because the doc thought it was a good idea. The results a frankly alarming. A car in a hedge, a serious MTB accident, near loss of job. The users seem to suffer a detachment from reality, a lack of undrstanding of the consequences of their action and I suggest you avoid if you can. Would you take up smoking to calm your nerves, drink to get to sleep or coke (the white stuff) to make you feel more confident. If you answer yes to all three go ahead.

Your doc may be in the ‘it’s all in the mind’ camp.

A good Doc makes all the difference.

Last time I was ill, the Doc didn’t understand why I was ill at all, and kept just saying “keep resting, you will get better soon”. I rested for about 3 months, and I was no better, and was sick of being sick (forgive the pun!). I decided to take positive action (perhaps the defining moment towards getting better), and my main goal became to keep up with everyone else on a group ride. As you can imagine, the first few weeks, I was right at the back. But a couple of months in, I was ok. Mind you, did take it out of me quite a bit, and I was lucky enough to not have to focus on much else at the time other than riding my bike on a Tuesday night. Slightly different this time, but I’m giving myself some other goals…

Been on Fluoxetine 20mg for nearly 2 years now after being diagnosed with anxiety. I no longer wake up in the night fighting imaginary beasts or screaming and crying. I can make decisions and don’t panic at the slightest thing anymore. I sleep well, function well and haven’t had a single day off work. I don’t want to harm myself and I do see the point in life despite still facing the many challenges that got me into that state of mind in the first place.

Only noticeable differences are;

1. I can’t drink much alcohol and taking spirits = stinking hangover.
2. I have become a sex god without resorting to integral calculus.
3. I don’t care enough about things I perhaps should care about.

Not sure when I will be coming off them, as the causes still exist but I’m doing plenty of running, some swimming, spin and biking and feel far better than I did two years ago.

I was on them about 15 years ago for a couple of years and vowed never to go on them again as I though I was strong enough to cope.
After a bad 2010 where I buried my head and ignored possible symptoms. I finally admitted I wasn’t strong enough and needed help after I completely fell apart. I have now been on Fluoxetine for about 8 months and have a review next week.
I think had I acted when I felt something was wrong I might not got into the mess I did.
Although AD’s are not for everyone, I certainly wouldn’t ignore them, after all can they make you feel any worse? If they do, stop taking them. and try alternative method’s.
Good luck and I hope you sort yourself out soon.

Anti-depressants helped get me to a point where I was capable of doing things that would sort my head out like eating properly and doing exercise.

It takes a while for them to kick in, and possibly longer if the first ones you try don’t suit you (it took me 3 attempts at 6 weeks a go).

Good luck, and take care of yourself.

quick question before i can offer any advice…. are the feelings of depression from before the physical condition that’s wiped you out, or as a result of the physical condition?

and, did regular exercise work effectively enough at reducing those feelings of depression for you to live your life before the physical condition?

Current feeling of depression is the result of beig seriously bored and frustrated at being able to do jack all. I’ve been quite positive until recently.

Exercise made me feel good and ive not really been depressed even on a mild level for many years. Then get hit by a virus and wham bam thank you and good night to my life.

to be fair you still have a life just no biking/exercise.

what you need is a non energetic hobby

buy a beetle/mini/classic car of choice and restore that/go to shows untill you can ride again.

I’m in a similar position to downshep.
Been on Fluoxetine 20mg for about 18 months. I would most definitely not be around now if I hadn’t started on these. I didn’t want to take them at first, and when I did start taking them, they made me worse for almost 6 weeks. Soon after that I started to feel loads better. Made some massive changes to my life in the last year and feel much more positive about the future now (Quite happy about it most of the time!).
About 2 months ago, at the doc’s advice, I reduced the dosage to every-other day. Started to feel lousy after 2 weeks, so we have upped the dosage to about65%. Seems ok at the moment!
Side effects- I get tired in the afternoons a lot, and I’ve put on a good stone in weight.

I wouldn’t advise to start taking them if you “just feel under the weather”, but if you are feeling really low and/or this is going on for a long time, then maybe give them a go. Be prepared to feel worse for a while though!