I’m forced to take anti psychotics, and I’m concerned they want to force me to take anti depressants for my anxiety. I’ve tried antidepressants for anxiety before and made me feel horrible both times - so don’t want to go anywhere near them, another dangerous mind altering drug.
But can they force you to take antidepressants for anxiety ? Along with the anti psychotics?
(I’m in the UK)
1 Like
Has your doctor mentioned putting you on an antidepressant? They’re not usually recommended for people with psychosis, except in certain cases.
Welcome to the site, by the way!
1 Like
I don’t see why anyone would force someone to take antidepressants. I don’t think you need to worry about this. They can only force you if you’re incapable of making decisions or are a danger to yourself or others, and antidepressants have a limited effect on depression and anxiety and not much effect at all when it comes to suicide. It seems completely pointless to force it on someone.
3 Likes
I dunno
Antidepressants would be the death of me. I used to abuse Wellbutrin because it made me very psychosic and manic and it was …well let’s just say it was an enjoyable miserable time in my life when I abused my Wellbutrin. Usually u don’t have to accept meds, they will inject u, that’s the way they forcibly make u take meds instead of pills. Do they make antidepressants in injections?? It doesn’t seem to make sense they could force u to take antidepressants especially with the risk of psychosis it can cause!! Don’t quote me though on this!
1 Like
Exactly… I just know they made me super miserable both times I’ve tried them.
I think I’m under a section in the UK (for throwing animal products away and pushing my dad well over a year ago) so they can go to the extreme of thinking 'it’s for my good’
Today they spoke as if they’d give me three months for my anxiety to get better, my nurse said he’s tired of not using ALL help for anxiety. They were speaking as if they really could force me… and I’m scared to death as they caused extreme anger and misery!
You’d think I could just say ‘no thanks’ when it’s nothing to do with psychosis/ the reason I’m sectioned! I’m sick of feeling violated with forced meds.
1 Like
You can be forced to take anything if the court decides you’re a danger to yourself or others
1 Like
I don’t see how they could force you to take pills every day. That doesn’t seam possible.
If you’re interested in a non-medical treatment for anxiety, I use neurofeedback, and it helps me out a lot. It’s a form of brain training exercise that trains your prefrontal cortex to stay active during times of anxiety, so you can think clearly instead of panicking.
2 Likes
The court has decided I can be as I’m under a section in the community
I’m so scared they’ve given me three months for anxiety to improve then they’ll make me take them.
Who gets forced to improve their anxiety?
It’s got nothing to do with my anxiety, psychosis, it’s just another way they get to abuse power over me
Feel utterly violated.
1 Like
If this is the case can you ask for benzos, gabapentin, propanol, or other anti anxiety medications that are meant more precisely for anxiety rather than antidepressants which are more off label?
1 Like
“You better improve your anxiety, or else!” This seems counter-productive. What sort of anxiety symptoms do you get? Do you have panic attacks? Racing thoughts? There are tons of different coping skills that can help anxiety. There is also a drug called gabapentin that can help. It isn’t an antidepressant. It’s actually for nerve pain, but many people find it helps their anxiety. I take it sometimes. If you take it too often, though, it’s easy to build up a tolerance and become dependent.
Does your anxiety lead you to put yourself or others in danger?
2 Likes
There are better medications for anxiety than antidepressants.
What is it they want you to take?
1 Like
In the uk they seem obsessed with ADs for anxiety. Seems like a false economy for me.
1 Like
Exactly!
That seems the tone. It feels like my nurse gets off on scaring me, as last time anti depressants made me suddenly miserable , he was half acting like it’s a problem to stop taking them.
I’m thinking of asking him not to attend the next review meeting as he knows i get scared to take/ come off medications and always veers the opposite way of what I want.
I’m gonna definitely mention that I want anti anxiety medication, not antidepressants
He keeps saying 'you can’t come off them after three days you have to wait one month for them to do anything’
Wait one month of being severely miserable ? I’m not even waiting one day of being miserable! Let alone month just so my anxiety can get better.
Also I’ll just say my anxiety isn’t really an issue lol.
No definitely not making me a danger, my anxiety is purely social and about me struggling to leave the house. They’ve never brought it up as a danger before, only something in the background I need to work on. Then my nurse started acting emotional in a histrionic way, he’s very tired of my anxiety so he wants me to take medication…
I need to ask for a new nurse asap.
My hunch is that if there is a medical need for it they can force you to take any psychotropic med. However, I really doubt that any pdoc will force you to take an antidepressant. I think it is only in the case of catastrophic behavior that a pdoc will feel impelled to force you to take any medication. It’s been my experience that pdoc’s are pretty easy going about antidepressants.
1 Like