I thought I will share this experience with you guys, because I find it ridiculous.

My boyfriend struggles with anxiety, but never tried any meds for it. Recently it got a bit worse, so I remembered one time I gave him hydroxyzine, and it made him feel good (like exceptionally chill for hydroxyzine). So I told him maybe he could try getting it prescribed from a family doctor, since they give it out like candies and it has way less side effects then other meds. He liked the idea and arranged a phone call with his family doctor (who barely knows him by the way - we moved to current city in November last year, and haven’t had much opportunities to get with our family doctors here).

The doctor called him (I was in the same room and heard the whole conversation), and he told her he wants something mild for his anxiety. Doctor immediately (like after 30sec of the phone call) told him she can prescribe him with Escitalopram. He was like hell nah I want something to take just in case it gets bad, not to take daily. She then proceeded to tell him how awesome esci is and that it’ll take a week to work (which is complete bullshit, esci takes 3-4 weeks for full effect), but he insisted on hydroxyzine and she finally gave up, of course telling him that it won’t help him and will just make him sleepy (which I kind of get because that’s what hydro does for most people).

Now, I don’t have anything against antidepressants. I’ve taken them for half of my life, and even though my experience with them isn’t the best, I believe they have a purpose and really help people. What I don’t understand is how they’re given out like fucking candies. She didn’t ask for his exact symptoms, didn’t take time with him, just immediately went into „here, I’ll give you happy pill”. I’m not against family doctors prescribing antidepressants in some cases, there are people who don’t have access to psychiatric care and are really in a situation where these meds can save their life, but I think it’s weird that now family doctors just prescribe them to people who are completely functional, don’t have major issues, just a bit of anxiety that can be managed in other ways. SSRI meds have a lot of side effects, both physical and mental, and I don’t think prescribing them with such ease follows the „benefits have to outweigh the risks” rule in medicine.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the subject, and share your stories.