Do I Need to Inform My Doctor About Using Over-the-Counter Medications?
For the past several years, I’ve been struggling with depression. It peaked two years ago when I was just 16. At that time, my mother offered me her prescription antidepressants since she no longer required them, and those made a significant difference for me. Unfortunately, I never found any effective support through the NHS for my mental health issues. Now that I’m 18, I’m eager to obtain my own prescription for antidepressants, especially since my current supply will soon run out. Recently, I had a phone consultation with my GP, during which I requested a prescription. However, she informed me that I would need to participate in therapy first, a suggestion that fills me with dread, considering that, alongside my depression and anxiety, I am autistic. I comprehend the concerns regarding the prescription of antidepressants, but I am convinced of their benefits for my situation. I’m uncertain if I should disclose to my GP that I have been using my mother’s medication. Will this influence her decision to prescribe me antidepressants? Could it lead to any consequences for either myself or my mother? I would greatly appreciate any guidance on this matter.
Answers (1)
2/17/2026, 8:10:35 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable that you are concerned about discussing your use of your mother’s medication with your doctor. Being open about your experiences and current situation can be crucial for receiving the best care.
Main Points:
- Informing your GP about your use of your mother’s antidepressants is important for your treatment and safety.
- Addressing your mental health effectively may include a combination of medication and therapy.
- Your GP's recommendation for therapy before prescribing antidepressants is common practice, especially in managing mental health conditions.
Explanation:
Your mental health is a priority, and it's great that you are seeking help. When it comes to medication, doctors need to have a complete understanding of what you are currently taking, including over-the-counter drugs and any prescriptions you might have used in the past—such as your mother's antidepressants.
Being transparent about this can help your GP make informed decisions about what treatment will work best for you. Additionally, sharing your experience with the effectiveness of those medications can provide valuable insights for your doctor.
Next Steps:
-
Be Honest with Your GP: When discussing your mental health, clearly state that you have been using your mother’s antidepressants and explain how they helped you. This honesty allows the doctor to understand your past experiences and current needs better.
-
Discuss Alternative Support: If you have concerns about therapy, express them clearly. Your GP may suggest different types of therapy that could feel more manageable for you.
-
Explore Medication Options: Ask about the possibility of medication in combination with therapy. Sometimes, doctors can consider prescribing antidepressants based on your history and current situation while recommending therapy as an adjunct treatment.
-
Educate Yourself about Mental Health: Knowing more about mental health conditions and treatments can empower you and ease some anxiety about therapy.
It's essential to prioritize your mental well-being while maintaining open communication with your healthcare provider. Seek support whenever you need it, and remember that taking steps to improve your mental health is a sign of strength.
Related Questions
A Disturbing Nighttime Experience
Greetings, Not too long ago, I encountered a terrifying event that left me unsettled. I had just settled into bed, ready for sleep, when I unknowingly drifted off. Suddenly, I found myself trapped in what felt like a bad dream, observing my own body curled up and lifeless in bed. An overwhelming sensation washed over me, as if I was on the brink of death or encountering something dire. I felt completely paralyzed, unable to speak or move. In that moment, I witnessed a version of myself drifting away, desperately attempting to cry out. Abruptly, I jolted upright and shouted to my partner, only to find myself again lying face down, just like in that unsettling vision. I struggled to breathe and panic surged within me. Gathering my courage, I managed to utter, "Something isn’t right with me," before breaking into tears. My partner recalled hearing a grunt I made before calling out as well. He quickly brought me a glass of water and urged me to breathe deeply and calm myself. I was shaking so much that I could scarcely grip the glass, and an intense headache had set in. After a time, I eventually fell into a deep sleep for hours but woke up feeling terrible, needing to take naps throughout the following day. On top of that, I started experiencing strange spasms and pain in my neck on one side. This incident has left me quite frightened, as I can’t shake the worry that it may have been a seizure. For context, I am a 36-year-old woman and I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Should I mention this episode to my neurologist? I’m hesitant because I fear it may be a trivial concern. The entire experience felt like it lasted just a few minutes.
Bizarre Experiences of Nausea and Dissociation?
Hello, I'm a 23-year-old female currently taking 50mg of sertraline daily to manage anxiety, a routine I've been following for approximately three months. Occasionally, during my day-to-day life or even while asleep, I experience peculiar sensations akin to dissociation. It feels almost like a fleeting out-of-body encounter, which is then followed by a wave of intense nausea. This dissociative feeling tends to last around 30 seconds, and the nausea persists for about a minute. I cannot identify any discernible triggers for these occurrences. In addition to sertraline, I have a history of being prescribed other SSRIs (always as directed and never concurrently). I did not encounter any side effects with those medications. My medical history is relatively unremarkable aside from a couple of surgeries addressing right-sided thoracic outlet syndrome. Currently, I am enrolled in an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which leaves me feeling perpetually fatigued and under stress. However, I noticed these episodes began prior to the start of my studies. I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice!
Struggling with Aftereffects of a Bad Experience on Edibles
Hey there! I’m not a frequent user of Reddit, so I’m a bit unsure how to present my situation, but I'm hoping for some advice. About four months ago, I had a really intense experience with an edible. I had consumed edibles a couple of times before, and I've been smoking for two years, so I thought I knew what to expect. However, this time I ingested around 80mg, which was a full gummy. The outcome was quite overwhelming; I greened out in a way I can hardly describe. After recounting the episode to several friends, they all mentioned they’ve never encountered anything like it. I'll do my best to articulate what I went through: I became intensely conscious of my tongue, which felt numb, while the rest of my body was oddly warm, even though I was shaking. The overall sensation can only be likened to the texture of marshmallow. It felt as if waves were washing over me, and I appeared pale as well. The next day, I felt normal again, but around two weeks later, I attended a concert where I decided to have a tiny nibble of an edible—literally the smallest piece—and shockingly, I greened out yet again with the same uncomfortable sensations. A month later, I tried a single puff from a joint and was met with the exact same feelings. Curiously, my friend pointed out that my eyes weren’t even bloodshot, and in their view, I didn't seem high at all. Is it possible to develop something akin to PTSD from a bad experience with edibles? Since that initial experience where I greened out, I haven’t felt like myself. I find myself in a fog, feeling disconnected from reality sometimes, and I occasionally get that same marshmallow-like sensation in my body and tongue without any substances in me. It's worth mentioning that I do struggle with anxiety and tend to panic easily. Could this derealization stem from anxiety? How can I regain my sense of self and alleviate this disconnection? Will I ever feel comfortable consuming cannabis again? I haven’t smoked anything for about a month and a half now, and just as a side note, I’m 4’11 and weigh 110 pounds. Any guidance would be appreciated!
Experiencing Discomfort During Masturbation
At the age of 15, I've been dealing with some unusual sensations. For the last couple of weeks, I've encountered pain during masturbation. Interestingly, this discomfort seems unpredictable; at times, I might perform the act multiple times a day without any issues, while other times, even a single occurrence leads to pain. I consulted a physician who examined me and confirmed there were no lumps or swelling. He advised me to refrain from masturbation for a while, suggesting that it might be a result of overexertion. I recognize that my high frequency could be contributing to this issue. Although I haven't paused my activities yet, I’ve noticed a slight reduction in discomfort, yet my anxiety remains high. I often grapple with health-related worries and have a persistent fear of developing conditions like cancer. With this ongoing concern about my body, I’m left wondering—should I be particularly alarmed about this pain?
Prolonged Sleep Disturbances Linked to Antidepressant Use
**Prolonged Sleep Disturbances Linked to Antidepressant Use** **Profile:** 17-year-old female, Caucasian, 5'6", 215 lbs. Since childhood, I have been grappling with moderate to severe anxiety, which dates back to my early school days (around 3rd or 4th grade). The situation deteriorated after the death of my father when I was 13, escalating my anxiety and leading to periods of mild to moderate depression that have fluctuated over time. My anxiety manifests as a persistent, uneasy sensation often without cause, and during stressful times, I experience severe panic attacks. I also engage in repetitive behaviors, such as skin-picking around my nails. When I endure milder depressive episodes, I struggle with basic tasks like brushing my teeth, but generally manage my daily routine. In more severe depressive phases, thoughts of self-harm and suicide have unfortunately surfaced. In February 2025, I sought professional assistance for my mental health issues. **February**: I was prescribed a 10mg dose of Lexapro and 10mg of Hydroxyzine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) by my primary care physician. I noticed significant relief from my continual anxious feelings, although panic attacks with physical symptoms persisted. **March**: My doctor added Buspar 10mg to my medication regimen to help with the panic attacks. I felt content with my treatment after two to three weeks. **April**: Around this time, I began experiencing extraordinarily vivid dreams that felt almost real. These dreams included elements—people, places, conversations—from my life, often distorted in some way. I could recall them for hours or even days, leading to confusion about what was real and what was dreamed. My PCP suggested discontinuing Buspar and referred me to a specialist. Even after stopping Buspar for two to three weeks, the vivid dreams persisted, and my panic attacks returned. **July**: I finally had an appointment with a psychiatrist, who recommended reducing my Lexapro dosage to 5mg while continuing Buspar at 10mg twice daily. Unfortunately, my dreams worsened, becoming more frequent and disorienting. The frequency of my panic attacks shot up to more than five a week, alongside constant anxiety. **August**: My psychiatrist initiated treatment with Prazosin at doses between 1mg to 5mg to help mitigate the dreaming issues. About one to two weeks later, I noticed an increased heart rate for the initial hours of the morning accompanied by heart palpitations. I also started weekly talk therapy sessions. **September/October**: Due to poor record-keeping, the timeline in these months is somewhat unclear. I transitioned from Lexapro to Prozac 10mg along with Buspar 10mg once daily. However, I found myself becoming increasingly irritable and aggressive while on Prozac, and my road rage intensified to a concerning level. I felt it was unsafe for me to drive and therefore scheduled an appointment with my psychiatrist two weeks earlier than planned to discuss changing my medication. The dreams continued unabated, and when I raised my worries with my psychiatrist, she responded unfavorably. Consequently, I returned to Lexapro at the 10mg dosage and began searching for a new psychiatrist. **November to February**: Throughout these months with a new psychiatrist, my progress felt stalled, leaving me fatigued and frustrated. I couldn't keep detailed records during this time. In this four-month span, I experimented with medications like Cymbalta (20mg and 30mg), Gabapentin (100mg), Topamax (25mg), and Klonopin (0.25mg as needed). Currently, my regimen includes Cymbalta 30mg daily, Buspar 10mg daily, and Klonopin on an as-needed basis. I am still plagued by distressing dreams, which I can describe as having full access to my memories, with 20% being dreams. Disturbingly, about 10% of my memories blur the line between reality and dreams. There are moments when I mistakenly act on information I believed to be real, only to realize it was fabricated by my mind. Many treatments prescribed to me target PTSD-related nightmares, which do not align with my experiences. I have struggled to find useful insights in forums or medical literature. I am desperately seeking support since discontinuing antidepressants entirely feels too risky; I'm worried my suicidal thoughts could return more intensely if I stop the medication completely. If there's anything specific you need to know, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to provide a quick response.