Suicide Warning

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  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,411 Member
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    I take an antidepressant for what used to be an off-label use but is now an approved (or whatever) use. It's not necessarily kickbacks, it could be because that particular medication treats what you need without side effects that others might have. You could ask your doctor why that particular medication was prescribed vs whatever other medication you thought should be prescribed.
    I agree. Sometimes a medicene with multiple uses will be prescribed because it works as well as a more expensive 'designer' or 'popular' drug. So check with your doctor if you have reservations. They can explain and work with you to get the results you want.
  • sparkle814
    sparkle814 Posts: 78 Member
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    Hi OP! You obviously have every right to decide which meds you do and do not want to take, so I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to do. But I thought I'd offer this tidbit in case it changes your opinion at all about the suicide warning aspect of this:

    The main reason anti-depressants have a warning label (and are related to an increased risk of suicide for some people) is that some people who are severely depressed have not yet killed themselves only because they just cannot work up the energy. When they start taking anti-depressants they start to feel a little better and have more energy - just enough to come up with and follow through with a suicide plan. So this probably would not be an issue in your case. (I'm not a drug expert or anything, but I'm a clinical psych graduate student so I've had a little exposure to discussion about this issue.) It IS surprising that your doc didn't talk to you about what he/she was prescribing and why, and what the potential risks are.

    Good luck with your sleep! Not sleeping is the worst. Hope you are able to get some rest - by whichever means works best for you. :)
  • lunglady
    lunglady Posts: 526 Member
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    Off label use of medications is quite common. Internet forums are not a reliable place to come for medical advice.

    Some of the biggest medical discoveries were by accident; side effects are sometimes beneficial.

    For example, Viagra was developed as an antihypertensive and antianginal. The study physicians were wondering why the men didn't want to give the medication back at the end of the study...it had this "side effect" of better erections. And hence one of the most mass marketed medications was born.

    And so it is with many other medications....
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
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    My doctor has me taking rat poison. If I don't monitor my dosage I'll die, just like the rats do. But as long as I take the right amount it keeps me alive.

    Many meds have multiple uses. No bonus points given for overacting to warning labels. If you have questions, contact the pharmacist and ask her. Or your doctor. Not the forums.
  • payupalice
    payupalice Posts: 126 Member
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    It's actually pretty common to prescribe a medication for what's called an "off-label" use. That being said, I would be leery of taking antidepressants, because they have many dangerous side effects.
  • maiaroman18
    maiaroman18 Posts: 460 Member
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    I've taken an anti-epileptic for pain, an anti depressant, blood pressure medication, bipolar medication, and an an anti epileptic for migraine prevention, and an anti depressant for sleep, just to name a few. Those side effects were ridiculous. I would check with the pharmacist or doctor if you're that concerned. But drugs do have multiple usages.
  • ramziabd
    ramziabd Posts: 41
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    a
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
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    I totally agree with you! Try tart cherry juice concentrate, or hops extract. Try meditation. A lot of sleep aids have too much melatonin. Tart cherry juice has low levels, and since it has a cumilitive effect it is a much genteeler option over being groggy. All day. It takes some time to get an effect, but it will help. Totally love the sleep study idea way safer than just accepting you need a sleep aid. Try the hops extract mixed with water. Like 1/2 an hour before bed.
  • ramziabd
    ramziabd Posts: 41
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    google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

    http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

    I asked about this and she said over the counter meds were not as safe.

    I've been very pleased with the doc and the care I received up until this point that I didn't think to question it. The drug was Trazadone.

    Hi I am a medical student (1st year). Still starting out but my best advice is to find a good sleep medicine doctor (They are becoming more numerous these days). They can actually monitor you sleep and give you an alternative therapy. Every sleep disorder is different (and they are complicated). If you can't find one in your area try a neurologist. Different opinions is a good approach. Hope it gets better!
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
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    You can so what you want, personally I'm super anti medications if I can avoid them (except for nose spray, if I'm congested I'll beat a loved one if they get between me and my fix). I use lavender oils to help shut my brain down, it's great for relaxation. Use it on my 3 year old too. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but he's so much easier to coax to sleep after a nice warm bath in lavender oils with lavender soap.
  • payupalice
    payupalice Posts: 126 Member
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    I totally agree with you! Try tart cherry juice concentrate, or hops extract. Try meditation. A lot of sleep aids have too much melatonin. Tart cherry juice has low levels, and since it has a cumilitive effect it is a much genteeler option over being groggy. All day. It takes some time to get an effect, but it will help.

    I had a friend who was prescribed 1 cup of cherries per day by her naturopath for sleep issues. It worked for her.
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
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    Hey OP, I'll take those off of your hands if you don't want them...
  • YolieCreator
    YolieCreator Posts: 173 Member
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    They gave my husband trazadone to try to help him sleep and he became horrible! He was a zombie within like 10 15 minutes of taking it and would be horrible towards me! I was pregnant at the time and cried all the time because of the things he was saying to me that he NEVER would have other wise. I've had a female friend recently have a bad experience with it as well, and our neighbor started sleep walking once he started the medication. I would use trazadone as a last ditch option for helping with sleep. It can change your mood and actions dramatically
  • professorRAT
    professorRAT Posts: 690 Member
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    My doctor has me taking rat poison. If I don't monitor my dosage I'll die, just like the rats do. But as long as I take the right amount it keeps me alive.

    Many meds have multiple uses. No bonus points given for overacting to warning labels. If you have questions, contact the pharmacist and ask her. Or your doctor. Not the forums.

    Thanks for the voice of reason. It is rare around here.

    Many medications have multiple uses and all have risks. The doctor is not getting kickbacks. Seriously, people, get a grip. Ask questions to your doctor if you have them. It is that simple.
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
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    Thanks for the voice of reason. It is rare around here.

    Many medications have multiple uses and all have risks. The doctor is not getting kickbacks. Seriously, people, get a grip. Ask questions to your doctor if you have them. It is that simple.

    EXACTLY what someone on the take would say.
  • nsdodge
    nsdodge Posts: 20 Member
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    I would echo what others have said and try melatonin. It is very cheap and safe and doesn't turn you into a zombie like the more intense prescription sleep drugs. Personally, I find a hot bath, melatonin, and a cup of chamomile tea to be the perfect combo for a restful night's sleep.
  • yenilopez1985
    yenilopez1985 Posts: 52 Member
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    last year i was trying to lose weight and was getting b12 shots with amino acids to help me, the doctor that was giving me the shots did my consultation and stuff and prescribed some pills, when i went to get them filled i also noticed it was an anti depressant/anxienty... a co worker looked them up and found out that they were also testing them on people trying to lose weight.. i guess so you dont get depressed while dieting???... i didnt take them i was afraid to become addicted to them and end up with bigger problems.. i wonder if they are the same!
  • bregalad5
    bregalad5 Posts: 3,965 Member
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    I've taken Amitriptyline (an anti-depressant) for fibromyalgia. It definitely helped me sleep (if I sleep well my pain is much less than if I sleep like crap, so we try to attack my sleep issues first), but I couldn't take it every night because I went all zombie apocalypse, even on low doses, and didn't help the pain. However, I know it works exceptionally well for others! I now take Cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxer).

    To echo other posters, anti-depressants have many uses. Your doctor prescribing them for you doesn't mean they think you have an anxiety or depression issue - it means they think it will work to help you with whatever issue it is you're having - be it pain, sleep, or whatever.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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    google melatonin, it is used as a sleep aid and is natural, maybe it is an alternative for you.

    http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

    if a doctor doesnt mention melatonin first hes an idiot

    Or he does not make any money from mentioning melatonin ;)

    Or neither of you are doctors, neither of you examined the patient, and neither of you know what the eff you're talking about.
  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
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    I take an antidepressant for what used to be an off-label use but is now an approved (or whatever) use. It's not necessarily kickbacks, it could be because that particular medication treats what you need without side effects that others might have. You could ask your doctor why that particular medication was prescribed vs whatever other medication you thought should be prescribed.

    ^ This. You are taking it for an approved use. It has nothing to do with kickbacks. Especially if there is a generic counterpart.

    The warnings you get from the pharmacy are generic. They don't know why you are taking it. In people who have severe depression, one of the potential problems with anti=depressant use is suicide. Many depressed people have a desire to kill themselves, and may even have a plan to do so. The one thing they lack is the energy to carry out their plans. Once they become medicated, after a little while, they begin to feel better, and find they have the energy to carry out their plans. Hence the suicide risk warning.

    If you are taking it strictly for it's sleep issues, this warning should not apply to you. If you have questions, you should ask your pharmacist.

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