Antidepressants/Running

The Zoloft should not hurt your running, if it seems like it is it is just the placebo effect.

I don't know much about Xanax, I believe one of its uses is to treat anxiety. I do think that stuff will hurt your running.

You say you won't take it on a training day, but if you are going to be a runner, nearly every day is a training day. So I think you make a choice: Take the Xanax every day and let the chips fall where they may, or quit taking the Xanax and try to run every day and build your life up from here by running, positive thinking and the Zoloft.

Those SSRI's will take a while to work and will work best if taken consistently.

Listen to your doctor, ask questions, try and do what he/she says and give it time to work .... and GOOD LUCK.

BillyPilgrim wrote:

Anybody else take antidepressants while still managing to compete?

Yes. I don't know any great studies on the effects of SSRIs (like Zoloft) on the competitive performances of endurance athletes, but I think that you'll probably find that any direct effect on your race performance will be minimal. Of course, as you become less depressed, running may take on a different role in your life, and that may affect your competitive goals and performances in a variety of ways. Also, if you are less aggressive while on antidepressants, that may carry over into your running. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to take an antidepressant while training and competing. In your case, it sounds like an easy choice, particularly since depression has "savaged" your motivation for running in the past.

The SSRI is a good thing if you suffer from depression. You will run more consistantly because you will have less holding you back. Be very careful with the Xanax though. That will not help your running and more importantly, it is habit forming and will sap you of energy and motivation. If you have serious anxiety problems, and want to run competitively, you should explore alternatives to drugs. The running itself should help reduce anxiety if you keep it consistant. Meditation is also very helpful, but takes more effort on your part than swallowing a pill. Keep running and make goals you can commit to. Self respect is the best anti-depressant out there.

I have found that drugs such as Prozac, when needed, help running if anything. If you are confident in yourself you will run better. People with depression lack this self confidence and the drug helps you be a better you and your running follows. It does take consistancy though. It may make you worse if taken irregularly. If you go on it, stay on it, and you will be fine. But like anything, be patient. It is also not a cure all, but it helps.

When I went on Prozac my running went into the dumpster.

Talk to your doctor. I would dismiss 99% of what has already been said, again, talk to your doctor.

There seems to be quite a bit of the usual "think happy thoughts" and "change your attitude" nonsense. If someone could do this ... then they wouldn't be suffering from chronic depression. It's like telling someone with Alzheimer's to "focus and try to remember".

A miniscule change in the balance of neurotransmitters could cause someone to renounce their religion, hate their significant other and become suicidal.

Was going to reply to the original poster, but after reading your reply, no need. 'Nuff said. Excellent advice.

PS - I do hope some day there is more info on endurance athletes and antidepressants.

Unfortunately, most pyschiatrists know diddly about endurance athletes, esp. the kind of training we do. At one particulary low period of my life, my dosage of Prozac was raised quite high and I didn't notice any difference in normal things, but all of a sudden I couldn't go further than 8 miles for one training run. I was regulary running about 80mpw at the time. I'd ask the Dr. about it and I'd just get this blank stare, like he was thinking, "Why would anyone WANT to run further that that!?

Well said, CO-Runner.

My personal experience with SSRI's is that, yes, they do have a negative effect on your training (obviously, if they make the rest of your life bearable, this is a price you'll be willing to pay). They leave me feeling a little groggy, and hard workouts seem to be especially affected. This effect seems to have eased somewhat over time. I have also experimented somewhat with the dosing, trying to find the absolute minimum dose that still has a helpful effect. You have to be a little bit careful about that, though.

I read an article on Derrick Adkins, 1996 400H gold medalist, in which he talked about going on antidepressants and losing his edge. If you remember, post-Olympics he virtually disappeared, and when he did race, it was more like 49's instead of 47's.

So I would say, yes, anti-depressants can affect your performance. I'm sure it varies significantly from person to person. If it helps you get out the door, then that's a positive effect, even if it detracts slightly from your peak performance. And like CO-Runner said, rely more on a qualified professional rather than message board posters like me.

TomM wrote:

And like CO-Runner said, rely more on a qualified professional rather than message board posters like me.

Actually, I think that many of the message board posters have more knowledge about this particular issue than many psychiatrists who prescribe SSRIs.

That said, don't let the tail wag the dog. Running isn't as important as good mental health. Concentrate first on getting healthy, then see how running fits into your new and improved life.