DH anxiety meds | Imamother

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 8:32 pm

Hi my husband just started seeing a therapist for anxiety and depression and he’s saying he should go on ssri. He went to his dr and got a prescription, but he’s terrified about starting it because of all the side effects. (Even though the doctor went through it with him)
Is there any sort of support group for men starting meds?
He’s really desperate to talk to someone who’s on medication and hear about their experience. He’s in his mid 30’s.
He needs to hear that normal people like him can be on medication.
We’re based in the lakewood area. TIA!

amother

Wandflower

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 8:58 pm

Doesn't he start slowly?
I know many women that have taken, no side effects BH
Which is he afraid of

amother

Honeydew

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:23 pm

Therapist here. He can discuss it with his therapist. I spend a lot of time helping clients with their medications. Either with getting over their anxiety or issues with the prescriber or whatever comes up.

agreer

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:47 pm

SSRIs are often well-tolerated.
He's so nervous about taking it because he has an anxiety disorder. (I've been there myself so I know.)

As soon as it starts working, which can take up to 6 weeks, he should start feeling better. I don't think he needs a support group for taking meds as much as he needs one for anxiety/depression.

Refuah shelaima.

If you PM me his name, I'll daven for him, hopefully as a z'chus for myself.

amother

Periwinkle

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:51 pm

Maybe check out chazkeinu?

Sometimes there are side effects; sometimes adjustments need to be made.
It’s not always 6 weeks and life is better.
But there are lots of SSRI’s to choose from and multiple dosages that could work.
But if hangs in there, iyH he will feel better.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 8:28 pm

amother Wandflower wrote:

Doesn't he start slowly?
I know many women that have taken, no side effects BH
Which is he afraid of

He’s starting at 10mg. Is that called slow?
Mostly afraid of feeling like a zombie/losing emotions. Is that a common side effect and does it go away eventually?

Also he read somewhere that there can be short term memory loss and concentration issues. How common is that?

amother

Geranium

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 8:34 pm

My husband started in his 30s the only side effect he had was little headaches that Tylenol helped with. It changed his life and mine as well:) Hatzlacha!

amother

↑ Cerulean ↓

Sat, Dec 21 2024, 8:38 pm

Can't answer for all of Lakewood but my dh is on ssris and the only side effects is that he has a metallic taste in his mouth sometimes, and that he lasts longer when we're together Very Happy

amother

Peony

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 11:13 am

amother OP wrote:

His dr told him 15-20% of lakewood is on ssri’s?
How true is that?

Very true and I'd say a little more than that. There are literally poskim and roshei yeshiva on it too. You'd be surprised to know how common it is!
Source: my husband was a pharmacy tech filling all those scripts in a very busy high volume Lakewood pharmacy for decades. Yes, even 20 years ago this was normal. It's not a new phenomenon. And before some of you come at me, no he never named any customers.

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 2:53 pm

amother Peony wrote:

Thanks for your response! This is very reassuring

amother

↑ Cerulean

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 3:23 pm

@op my husband is happy to talk to him

You can email me at giveretsecret@gmail.com and I'll give you his contact info

amother

Lightgreen

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 3:32 pm

Way more ppl than you can imagine. High functioning regular people. 10 mg is a very very small dosage— likely he will start at that and might feel no impact until he goes to a bit higher but better to acclimate slowly. I never heard of anybody experiencing memory loss.

amother

Ruby

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 4:04 pm

SSRIs have a very limited mechanism of action so very few side effects. My husband is on them for the past year and it has made a world of a difference.

I agree with the previous poster that most of the anxiety around starting this (quite benign) medication is due to the anxiety disorder itself rather than the unlikely event of side effects.

amother

Aubergine

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 4:07 pm

My husband was on it bec was stressed like crazy abt work. He's perfectly normal.

Doctors hand out Lexapro like candy. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

amother

Lemonlime

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 4:09 pm

amother OP wrote:

His dr told him 15-20% of lakewood is on ssri’s?
How true is that?

The number is way higher!! I am involved in woman’s ppd, and you can’t even imagine how many people in Lakewood are on ssris. It’s normal. I personally am on lexapro. I have been for years (although I have started and stopped a few times, very not recommended.
My only side effects were slight slight nausea and a disinterest in food for a month or two (plus side, I lost weight lol)
He seems to be confusing the side effects with effects of adhd medications. You don’t lose your personality on ssris (you also don’t on properly dosed adhd meds)
His anxiety is doing this, and that’s what the meds are for lol