estriker asked this question on 5/17/2000:
I have two female friends ages 14 and 15, who are seeing a pyscologist and were NOT prescribed to an anti-depressant. I am not sure what kind of anti-depressant they are taking, but they take over 8 at a time to give them a high. I would like to know what the side effects are and how it could affect them at this amount. I am very worried about them. Could a type of mix with other drugs like alcohol, pot, or an extreme amount of Robotussin be fatal?
Imagika gave this response on 5/17/2000:
What a great friend you are to be concerned for them! And as well you should... this could be VERY serious. If they weren't prescribed anti-depressants, then they're getting them from someone else, which means they may not know what they're getting. Taking 8 of ANYTHING is not good to begin with, but something like an anti-depressant which has potential liver problems associated with it in normal quantities, I can't imagine what they're doing to their bodies. I've been on anti-depressants since I was 16 or 17, and was directed to watch what I drink. Alcohol slows down the liver and kidneys so the body can't process the drugs too well. Pot just makes you paranoid and hungry... though I've never smoked it while I've been on my meds, I would say it's less likely to harm them with the anti-depressants as would alcohol. Cough syrup has alcohol in it, and when taken in large quantities can make you drunk. That risk intensifies with anti-depressants because they have your liver "busy" processing it's chemicals... then to add alcohol... bad move. Can you talk with someone (their parents, your parents, guidance counselor) who can do an intervention? It's hard... I know! I had a friend who was on heroin senior year of high school, and it was the hardest thing in the world for me to go to his pastor and his parents and finally to the police to get him the help that he needed. But please heed this advice, once you have told someone who is going to do something, back off. You've done the right thing by putting it in their parents' hands or the school's hands. The last thing you want is to pull yourself any further into the situation because it will bring you down. I got too involved in helping my friend, I gave sworn testimony to a judge at 2:30 in the morning saying I thought he was in immediate danger of hurting himself and that he should be picked up by the police and taken to a detox. I set him up so the police could get him, and he saw me as they drove away. I still live with the expression on his face (I know now that I did do the right thing because he has straightened out and is doing well, but I could have just left it to his parents and accomplished the same thing). I lost his friendship for that. So please take care. Seek help from someone who can help these girls, and know that you've done what you can.
Please let me know how things turn out or if there's anything else I can do for you.
Take care :)