Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team

National Drugs Helpline 0800 77 66 00



Anti-depressants

(Bambs, Blue, Blue Angels, Blue Birds, Blue Bullets, Blue Devil, Blue Dolls, Blue Heavens, Chorals, Christmas Rolls, Stoppers, Tooties, Tranq, V, Yellow)

Anti-depressants are only available by prescription. It is not an offence to possess the drug but it is an offence to supply.

Brand names are tryptizol, anafranil, cipramil, prothiaden, sinequan, tofanil, gamanil, zispin, allegron, seroxat, edronax, lustral, molipaxin, efexor. The names you are most likely to recognise are prozac or seroxat

What does it look like?

Anti-depressants can come in the form of tablets or syrup.

How is it taken?

Can be swallowed, drunk, or injected.

What effects does it have?

When taken:

Anti-depressants are used to treat people who are depressed, anxious, shy, or withdrawn, or who suffer from insomnia and panic attacks.

They help increase the ‘feel good’ factor in your body so that your mood is elevated and you feel brighter, cheery and more interested in what is going on around you. You may also feel more energetic - this is common with [Prozac].
Other anti-depressants can have the opposite effect and make you feel sleepy and drowsy.

Long term:

Anti-depressants are usually used over a period of time, and it can take up to 3 weeks for the drug to produce an effect.
Anti-depressants can have many possible side effects. You may experience drowsiness, nightmares, headaches, trembling hands, blurred visions, sensitivity to sunburns, impotence, reduced capacity for orgasm, changes in menstrual cycle, weight gain, reduced blood pressure, constipation, faintness, nausea, skin rashes, or diarrhoea. These effects vary according to the anti-depressant used.

Withdrawal from anti-depressants needs to be done over time. Stopping suddenly will cause you to experience balance problems, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, and chills.

Mixing with alcohol can increase drowsiness. Mixing with other anti-depressants can cause shock or vomiting and in some cases the effects can be so severe you would need to go to hospital.