Anti-depressants & training - Health + Injury

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 09:06

Yes I'm taking them and no its not for compulsive over-training!

Does anyone have any thoughts on the possible impact of anti-depressants on training/running?

I'm not sure but I feel to be slower and more prone to aches/pains than a couple of months ago. Not sure how if they are curbing the motivation as well...

Velociraptor

23/09/2003 at 09:16

You're not alone, Staggers, and I'm sure plenty of people with personal experience will have stories to tell.

I would expect it to depend at least partly on which antidepressant you're taking. The older ones (things like amitriptyline and clomipramine) and mirtazipine are quite sedating and might make you slower and less bothered about training. They also cause weight gain. The more commonly used SSRI-type antidepressants are unlikely to detract from your ability to train. However, it's quite widely (though anecdotally) recognised that they blunt creativity, so there could be some connection there.

Glad you ARE still training!

Plodding Hippo

23/09/2003 at 09:20

Ive boinged you some threads, staggers

23/09/2003 at 09:21

Oh is THAT what's happening, Hippo?!

Heh.

I wondere why the world seemed so down this morning!

(((((((((((ickle bee))))))))))

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 09:25

Thanks Vrap. The training had been helping (a lot) but I had a full week off, missed the need to breath properly...

They are SSRI's and I've just been changed to the one that springs into most peoples' minds after two months.

I didn't want to start trolling through all the US internet sites set up for litigation purposes, these tablets are supposed to help, not giev me more reasons to want to leave the planet!

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 09:26

I shall have a look thanks Hipps. (and stay off your gin :-) )

<< muss leopard >>

Test

23/09/2003 at 11:10

No problem for me - my running stays important and is something I look forward to. I don't get any aches and pains either... well, no more than usual! Got little motivation to do anything else though. :-)

By the way, I've been popping the SSRI's too, initiallly sertraline and now escitalopram (or something like that). No running-related issues in either case.

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 11:28

was on Escitalopram for the last two months, now on good ol' Prozac.
I wonder if I'm feeling low motivation because I've achieved my target (Nike 10K) and what I need is another event to be aiming for. That would provide a reason to be running and might help give me something to look forward to (well sort of).

Test

23/09/2003 at 11:43

Always a good idea.

Pick a half marathon in a couple of months. That's an order!

Lista

23/09/2003 at 12:21

I started taking seroxat (SSRI) before I started running so I don't know about lack of motivation. Got really lardy though despite training for and running the 2001 FLM. Off them now, lost half a stone in two weeks ummm! They really helped me at the time but having had such stuggle coming off them would think twice about using them again.

Hetpayne was Hetfinch

23/09/2003 at 12:31

I was on seroxat for a while. It made me so poorly when I tried to come off them - all the usual things you hear about, electric shock feelings in the head, giddiness, etc. etc.

Staggers - agree with Swerve - pick yourself a half marathon and let us all know which one, so we can build up to it with you :0)

het x

23/09/2003 at 12:32

Yes, Ickle Bee and Nice Legs and NooShoes.

You all do a half-mara

and I'll do a 5k.
:o)

beebs

23/09/2003 at 12:48

Staggers I take it too, have also just started counselling. Must admit I am walking at mo not running or should I say plodding since i never ran

Must eat my toastie then its time for my counselling i'll try and catch up later

Hetpayne was Hetfinch

23/09/2003 at 12:59

Counselling best thing I ever did, BB. Seemed pointless for the first one or two sessions, but after that, I found it really helped.

Good luck.

JJ - am picking my half soon...... honest ;0)

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 13:18

did the coundelling and the psychiatrist when I was 21/22 along with 2 years on drugs of some sort.

Not totally sure where to go at the moment, I need to think and take the first steps with regard to deciding what the problems are and how to handle them.

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 13:18

half of lagar Het?

Test

23/09/2003 at 13:20

JJ, you are my personal online SSRI. :-)

I'm doing a FULL mara on Sunday - surely you can stretch to a 10K?

23/09/2003 at 13:21

[beam]

If I ever crack 30 mins for 5, Swerve, I'll do a 10...

(These li'l leopard legs are very short)

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 13:36

What's cracking 30 mins for 5 got to do with doing 10?
Go for it Jj, just pick one where you check last year's results - then you can be sure of not finish 30 minutes after every one else!

Staggers

23/09/2003 at 13:41

Its not the time, its the distance that bothers me. On current pace I would reckon about 2.5 hrs to do a half marathon, followed by 3 weeks in intensive care!
First step is to find another 10K to do, or possible even get back into a regular routine and start to drag the time down.