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My daughter has just been prescribed Aropax and I am very worried. I have read the manufacturer's guidelines, seen the documentary that says that it can be very effective, read the Investigate magazine blasting of Aropax, and then the horror stories about how hard it is to get off it.

Can anyone reassure me that Aropax has helped someone they know? Or is it all bad?

For me, I have tried anti-depressants years ago and they were bad for me (and didn't work). My own philosophy is that I try to work out what is going wrong with my life and make manageable changes to improve things so that I feel better eventually. But I know that is not possible for everyone and some people need more help than that.

It is just awful to see my daughter so down.

Please can anyone give some relevant comments?

I was on Aropax myself for a couple or 3 years, Lee Donna. My only gripe with it was that it cut out all my highs as well as my lows, and that in itself was depressing to someone who is used to laughing out loud and enjoying a good old cry at soppy movies. When I mentioned this to my GP, he switched me onto Cipramil, which allowed me some emotional leeway. When I decided that I no longer needed antidepressant meds, my GP suggested I wean myself off them by reducing the dosage gradually, but did I do as I was told? Did I hell! I simply let my supply of Cipramil run out and didn't renew the presciption. No withdrawals, no relapses and life is good. I needed those meds to see me through the dark times, but once I'd made the necessary changes to prevent their reoccurence, ditching the antidepressant meds was as easy as falling off the proverbial.

Good and Bad, hubby on them, makes a huge diff, but his system gets used to them and he has to increase dose periodically. I dread the thought of him changing meds and coming off them so will not approach that until dtr has moved out in a few years. 8 years of mostly wedded bliss would not have happened if it were not for aropax.

Thank you so much Jode and Delta. That is a bit reassuring. I have read that sometimes Aropax can have the reverse effect and suicide rates increase for 18 - 24 year olds (and my daughter is in that age range). Her dad and I had a hard time sleeping last night after we found out more about the drug.

I'll keep the Cipramil point in mind too. My daughter has never been a real high and low person (unlike her mother!) so is likely to not miss the outrageous party spirit as it wasn't there before.

Maybe the withdrawl is easiler with Cipramil too.

Anti depressants cause dangerous side effects in patients with Bipolar disorder, has your dtr been very thoroughly assessed?

One thing to bear in mind is that drugs like Aropax can make things worse before they get better. I was on Prozac, which is in the same family as Aropax, and for the first two - three weeks I felt terrible but then the fog lifted. And I was one of those people who just couldn't make the fog lift on my owndespite trying to make lots of changes to improve my situation. It showed me how it was obviously chemical, not mental. If you are really worried about your daughter then how about seeing a psychiatrist if the Aropax is not suiting her but give it a chance first. As for the stats on how it can affect young people, remember that most young people are just fine on it but they have to let people know the risks. I hope things improve for your daughter soon. Me thinks that in a few weeks you will see a new young woman emerge. Kia kaha.

Is Citalopram the same as Cipramil? Someone close to me has been on this med for a few months and it has been great - they started on half a tab a day for a week then one and now on two daily. It's made a huge difference to their mood and no loss of top notes either. I believe it is a gentler thing than Arapax? I don't know much about it but I do think that meds are over prescribed in the Western world as we are suspicious of some of the more spiritual approaches to melding mind and soul that help to balance life, not to mention the fact that for every decent practice or teacher there seem to be ten loonies with a tea towel wrapped round their head and a garage full of Beamers!

Yes, Cipramil & Citalopram are the same. I have been on it for 3 years now, I was on something different before that. Without medication I am terribly anxious, worry all the time & find it hard to just get out at all. I weaned myself off my previous medication( cant even remember what it was ) & found myself at the Drs. crying & feeling that I would never feel like myself again. I was put on Citalopram & within 2- 3 weeks I was fine. I can now accept the fact that it is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes these feelings. I have no problem taking my medication now, I have a great quality of life now, I have been on antidepressants for about 8 years now, & can have a life now. I still get upset & a bit down now & again but can cope with the bad times - this year has been the saddest in my life - but I'm ok.