For those of you who treat Diabetes related depression with antidepressants

kaup said:

Hey,

1. How long have you been on antidepressants?
   
   
2. Why are you taking them?
   
   
3. Do they help?
   
   
4. Any side effects?
   
   
5. Which antidepressants are you taking?
   
   
6. Have you tried any other antidepressants?
   
   
7. Why did you decide to take antidepressants?
   
   
8. Which other methods have you tried to treat your depression?

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Hello,

1) I was on AD for about two years.
2) I was taking them because I was in a very dark place after my accident in 2013. I was barely sleeping and I couldn't complete every task for university.
3) They helped to an extent but the side effects were far too great compared to the benefits of the drug.
4) Yes, I gained weight, intimacy was not there, dizziness and sleeping far too much - 18-19hrs.
5) Citalopram
6) No, I was given a list of sister drugs to citalopram by my GP to research it but I never went back to discuss it again.
7) AD was prescribed because I have exercised all options left available to deal with my mental health.
8) Breathing exercises, talking (counselling) and CBT.

Not directly Diabetes related although the diagnosis contributed to a very stressful year last year, starting with my father's accident, stay in care and death a few weeks later. Then it ended with an arson attack on the bungalow next door (our lofts connect).
I've been on sertraline for 4 months
Only help a little - my anxiety is still high and it affects sleep.
Side effects are nasty, and include incontinence which I've never had issues with before. and my total cholesterol and total/non HDL level is up.
I agreed, reluctantly, to take them for a few months because the waiting time for therapy for PTSD was over 7 months.
I tried waiting, hoping the reaction was temporary, then had an assessment for therapy, meanwhile I tried a couple of online modules which were no help.