Diving on anti-depressants

[pilot fish]

Spoke to a dive buddy today that just returned from a dive trip with his long time friend. He said that the friend has been on anti-depressants for about 5 years and just recently got certified - 23 dives total. He is more experienced with 110 dives and is current with no long lapses in diving. While they were diving the friend on anti-depressants kept making newby-type mistakes, would not stay close at depth, had continious problems getting down, changed depth all the time, up, down, down, up, etc, things like that. My friend said that when he would point out things on his slate uw to the friend, he would not respond, or just shrug his shoulders. After the dive my friend noticed that the dive buddy was flat, unmoved, unusually even and continued to make the same mistakes on subsequent dives.

My question is, is it safe to dive on anti-depressants, do they numb your responses, your natural alarm system, so you think everything is alright? Do they make you less self aware? He also said that when he made the friend aware, post dive trip, that there could be a problem if they did not shed some of those practices, the friend on medication said that there was a lot to be said for solo diving. He said he almost fell over because that friend could not dive in a group properly, let alone dive solo. Is this the meds talking?

 

[ScubaTwo]

Spoke to a dive buddy today that just returned from a dive trip with his long time friend. He said that the friend has been on anti-depressants for about 5 years and just recently got certified - 23 dives total. He is more experienced with 110 dives and is current with no long lapses in diving. While they were diving the friend on anti-depressants kept making newby-type mistakes, would not stay close at depth, had continious problems getting down, changed depth all the time, up, down, down, up, etc, things like that. My friend said that when he would point out things on his slate uw to the friend, he would not respond, or just shrug his shoulders. After the dive my friend noticed that the dive buddy was flat, unmoved, unusually even and continued to make the same mistakes on subsequent dives.

My question is, is it safe to dive on anti-depressants, do they numb your responses, your natural alarm system, so you think everything is alright? Do they make you less self aware? He also said that when he made the friend aware, post dive trip, that there could be a problem if they did not shed some of those practices, the friend on medication said that there was a lot to be said for solo diving. He said he almost fell over because that friend could not dive in a group properly, let alone dive solo. Is this the meds talking?

It depends on the person and the kind of anti depressent they are taking makes a big diff also. There are many diff kinds with diff effects. If your friend was aware his buddy was taking meds he may have been worrying and looking for things. The comment his friend made about diving solo sounded like he was being sarcastic. Mabe felt defensive. Usually there is no visible evidence a person is taking anti depressents. They dont "wig" you out so to speak.

 

[Kim]

Diving under the influence of mind altering drugs is not a good idea.

 

[ScubaTwo]

Diving under the influence of mind altering drugs is not a good idea.

they are not mind altering drugs and to say that ppl on anti depressants shouldnt dive is so wrong. why that would just make us more depressed if we couldnt dive

 

[Kim]

Our own DocVikingo has written an article on this topic that can be found here:
http://scuba-doc.com/alertdiver2.html

 

[KidK9]

3 out of 5 Americans are on Anti-depressants. I guarantee everyone has either dove on a boat with someone or with a buddy that was on anti-depressants. And ScubaTwo is correct - they are not mind altering.

 

[ScubaTwo]

Our own DocVikingo has written an article on this topic that can be found here:
http://scuba-doc.com/alertdiver2.html

Very good article. Sounds right on. Also notice tho that many of the probs mentioined have to do with depressed ppl who are NOT on meds. The meds are not like like a drug that makes you silly or drunk like.

 

[Kim]

I'm not saying that they are for everybody all the time. However to me it's clear that if a person is depressed (a mental condition) and takes something to change that mood then something (your mind) is being altered. Now - as DocVikingo says - that will vary with different people and the specific drug being used. The judgement call on how much an individual is actually effected by the drug will therefore depend on the individual circumstance. I agree with you that you generally won't be 'silly or drunk'. I just think that you need to be very aware and make honest (to yourself) decisions.

 

[lamont]

3 out of 5 Americans are on Anti-depressants. I guarantee everyone has either dove on a boat with someone or with a buddy that was on anti-depressants. And ScubaTwo is correct - they are not mind altering.

They are definitely mind altering. that is, in fact, their very point.

They may or may not cause significant impairment. Usually significant impairment is a side effect which will lead to discontinuation of the drug, though.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem diving with someone on antidepressants provided they had it together underwater, and they'd been stable on the meds for awhile.

 

[pilot fish]

It depends on the person and the kind of anti depressent they are taking makes a big diff also. There are many diff kinds with diff effects. If your friend was aware his buddy was taking meds he may have been worrying and looking for things. The comment his friend made about diving solo sounded like he was being sarcastic. Mabe felt defensive. Usually there is no visible evidence a person is taking anti depressents. They dont "wig" you out so to speak.

Not sure which med it is but I think he said paxil or prosac. Not sure. Again, he said he noticed no overt signs of a disorder from the med, other than this who cares attitude, or lack of concern for basics.