Depression

[oldmegan]

My son who is nearly 30 has just told us that he has been suffering from depression from about the age of 17. He has never told us this. We are not awful parents. We have tried to be supportive in his life with education, money, problems etc. We both feel really dreadful that he has been carrying this burden and not felt able to tell us. He takes colchine every day of his life for a medical condition. Does anyone know if depression is a side effect of this drug please?

[bednobs]

check it out yourself on www.bnf.org

[bednobs]

if you mean cochicine the registered side effects are Side-effects most common are nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain; excessive doses may also cause profuse diarrhoea, gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, rashes, renal and hepatic damage. Rarely peripheral neuritis, myopathy, alopecia, inhibition of spermatogenesis, and with prolonged treatment blood disorders

[dot.hawkes]

It confuses me does depression, my daughter has been off work feeling very low since just before Christmas, she went to the docs yesterday and he diagnosed depression and he gave her some medication and referred her for counselling. she is only 23 and usually a very level headed girl who is always cheerful and works very hard, nothing ever seems to bother her and she enjoys life. This last year has been horrendous though, and it must have really got to her, as far as I can tell, the medication should start to work in about 2 weeks and then she should start to feel more herself, she is off work for w while though, which she would never normally do. I have been worried about her for a while now, about how she was coping, but we could never talk properly and both work long hours.
As there seems to be a reason why my daughter has become like this it is more understandable, but I did realise there was something more than just sadness and emotional upset going on, certainly when she would have a drink she would get worse, maybe it is possible that certain drugs do influence thew chemicals in the body, this drug she has been given says in it's info leaflet that it is possible that alclhol will accentuate the side effects

[Lonnie]

Hi oldmegan, and dot,
I feel for you both, just like to relate a personal experience, I went through a really bad bout of Depression not too long ago, councelling didn't help, and because of my job, I coudn't take any medication, but what pulled me through, was 'Fish Oil Capsules' nothing else.

I'm not saying it will work for your offsprings, but it would be well worth giving it a go.

I wish you both well, and of course, your offsprings.

[China Doll]

What would you like to know exactly? Depression oldme is not something that switches on and off and while it can be a side effect it is more common as an illness itself.

That being the case, would you like to know what to do to support your son? Has he spoken about his triggers? What help is he getting?

There is probably nothing you could have done if that's any help. (Now not a good time to start quoting the latter of that sentance back at me any cynics reading).

[jno]

China Doll is right, don't go blaming yourself or worrying about what you could have done. He's had 13 years to tell you; if he didn't, he may well have had good reason not to - but it was his choice, he's an adult; and you're not at fault for not being able to read his mind. Give him what help you can now, but don't fret about what's past.

[Ice.Maiden]

It's true that there's no point in blaming yourself for not spotting your son's depression, but most loving parents would go through the same emotions. I have a relative who takes colchine for a gout-type condition, and understand that a side effect of this medication can be nerve irritation - but not depression. Depending on what the colcine's been prescribed for, it might be advisable to ask the doctor for an alternative. Certain medical complaints can cause depression by their very nature, but if this isn't the case for your son, he needs help to explore the ways of coping with his depression - which can be a deep-rooted and horrible condition. It can be quite removed from simply feeling "down". The best of luck to you.

[China Doll]

I would say that suffering half your life with depression is not due to medication. So again, perhaps you might like to ask about the depression rather than looking for reasons?

[andy-hughes]

Sound answers from those who know.

You should not look for 'reasons' for your son;s condition, they may not be there for you - or indeed for him - to find.

Reactive depression can be triggered by circumstances and events, but clinical depresion can be stimulated by an absence of a correct balance of chemicals in the brain - both respond to medication once the correct anti-dperessant is found to work.

All you can do for your son is be there to listen if he wants to talk, and don;t presurise him if he doesn't. One of the major issues with depression is the sufferer'sability, and more importantly need - to conceal it from those around him. It is far too complex to discuss in detail here, but if you would likfe any more advice, so re-post, there are those on here who can speak from experience, and will be happy to support you in this difficult time.

[oldmegan]

Thanks everyone for your input. I don't seem to be getting messages into my email now when I get a reply, so I didn't know you had all been so helpful. It doesn't seem to me then that his medication is the problem. He can't stop taking it ever, he has a condition that is very common in races such as Israelis, called Mediterranean Fever, but if he stops the tablets or even forgets for a day, he is really, really ill, incapable of going to work. Of course, we want to help and support him, but there is the guilt too that in all these years we never realised what he was going thru. And we are a really close family. Thanks again.