depression medications? the good and bad?

[raysnkaysmom]

In college I was on Paxil CR, but more importantly, I had a psychiatrist available at the student center. They initially set me up with a psychologist, but after one session, she referred me to the Doc. I think the sessions were the most important part of my treatment. The Paxil helped for sure; I didn't gain weight and it didn't seem to effect my libido at all (but I WAS in college ) but the therapy did more for me than anything. It helps to talk it out with someone and make SENSE of it all.

I think it's important to have theraputic support when starting antidepressants b/c of the potential of side effects. I was lucky in college that I had alot of support from friends.

All I really know is well-butrin is a mild one...something good to start with..AND, if you smoke, helps you stop if you want!!

My mom takes prozac and swears by it

oh..maybe it's paxil she take!!
See...guess I dont' know much anyways...
I know it starts with a P...and she says it's GREATTTTT
(even got her calm down enough to fly out here and she's afraid to fly)

 

[chattyann]

I have taken many different kinds over the years. Welbutrin did not work for me at all, made me grumpier than ever. Zoloft worked but absolutely no libido. I am on Cymbalta now. It works good for me. Sometimes the only way to know is trying out different ones with doctor supervision.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I tried a lot of different medications years ago when I had serious deopression problems, and I had the most success with Effexor and had no weight gain and no drop in libido. I'd had a serious drop in libido due to the depression, so anything that made me feel better put me more in the mood for love. I also had a lot more energy after startign the Effexor.

I had been presecribed many different medications, including Wellbutrin, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, and a few others I can't remember now, before settling on Effexor. A lot of them just didn't work or made me incredibly tired.

Each person is different, and I would caution you to not expect the first one to work. I also agree that therapy is crucial to feeling better. Even if you go only once a month to therapy, it will probably only cost about $100 - 150, and it is *so* worth it.

 

[midwest-mom]

Thanks everyone, for your wonderful posts. I truly appreciate each and every one of them. You're the best, I really mean that.
I'm sorry any of you are dealing with anything slimilar to me, because it stinks. My life was never perfect, far from it, but as many of you said too, I was able to cope with just about anything before, and not so much now. I Just want my old life back
But I have more hope now, just reading about your experiences. I appreciate your kindness. Also doesn't it seem like its even more of an ugly world out there lately, people are just so stressed and not very kind lately, but you have been and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please keep any other ideas coming. I will post back after I see my doctor. Will he be able to tell I need something? Or will I have to really explain everything?

 

[ToddyLu]

Tell him how you are feeling, he will ask more questions, hopefully, and then be able to help you with an appropriate med...

 

[hoosll]

I was on effexor for 3 years for antianxiety and depression.

I really could feel physical changes while going on and off the drug. Most noticeable was being lightheaded.

I decided to go off the drug 2 years ago. The drug made me feel numb, I was unable to cry and let my feelings out when my father died. Also I was unable to express deep joy over the birth of my first grandchild.

After 2 years off the drug and at home in an anxiety-free environment, I have found that my body had been fueled by anxiety for years. Even when there was nothing to feel anxious about, my brain would create anxiety-inducing scenarios in order to get an adreneline rush.

I still get Seasonal -affective depression, but since I am menopausal I no longer get the monthly mood swings I used to have.

 

[daisax]

I was on Zoloft for about 15 months -- started working immediately. I was also in therapy, but had been in therapy for a couple of years before "giving in" and trying the drug, and once I did the relief and improvement was immediate and remarkable. Was able to wean off it the following year and it's been about 10 years. If I ever have to go back, I will have no reservations doing so.

Only side effects for me were dry eyes (not dry mouth as the side effects list says!) So I had to go back to wearing glasses. A little bit of insomnia. Don't know about the libido because I wasn't in a relationship at the time and frankly the depression wasn't exactly making me the life of the party, either. SSRIs tend to lead to weight loss, if anything, I believe. I think I only lost a couple of pounds but I still felt 100 lbs lighter!

My shrink did say that he gets very good results using half the recommended dosage of Zoloft and started me out there (with the option to go higher if it didn't work) We never had to go higher, and over the course of the following year we tapered it lower. It may be that many docs go by the recommended dosage and thereby cause more side effects than is necessary.

 

[midwest-mom]

Thanks for the latest replies. Again, I am very grateful hearing your personal stories. I'm taking notes too so I'll be an educated patient! Even talking about this and knowing I will be better, has been very helpful. Thanks again for your kindness and still open to hearing any thoughts or personal experiences. God bless you all.

 

[raammartin]

I started out with Paxil. It worked ok for a couple of years, but then didn't seem to work so well. I don't recall a libido problem with it. Then I switched to Lexapro for two years. It worked, but libido was a huge issue and not just for hubby. But I had bigger things to worry about at the time than my libido so I continued it. Then it too didn't seem to work so well for me, even after increasing the dose. Sometime after the Lexapro adjustments I decided I didn't need to take my medicine for hypothyroidism anymore (because I'm a genius and who needs a little ol' thyroid pill anyway). I stayed off of it for about a year. I mentioned all this to my new family practice Dr and he put me on Zoloft and ran a TSH. My TSH results were out the roof, I got mildly scolded by my new Dr, and started back on thyroid medicine. Restarting my thyroid medicine alone helped me a good bit emotionally. I never felt any kind of improvement with Zoloft at all. I know many who swear by Zoloft, but it just didn't work for me. So, last November my Dr switched me to Pristiq and rechecked my TSH. He said his patients had really good results on Pristiq. My TSH levels came back normal (yay!) and I must say I love the Pristiq! I can actually see the good sides of things now and not stay so down in the dumps. Talk to your Dr and he'll make suggestions for you. And make sure you have a Dr you feel good about/confident about and who asks you questions. For years I used my OBGYN for these kind of issues and all he did was say basically here try this. I found a general/family practice Dr once I realized I really needed someone else for my hypothryoidism and depression/anxiety. If you've never had a thyroid panel run you might ask your Dr to do that too since it can play a role in a lot of mental and physical symptoms.

 

[my3sonsagn]

I took Welbutrin SR a few years ago, and it worked wonders, so I went back on it last year when I started heading for the bottom again. In Jan, though, I started having major panic attacks (didn't know what they were at first - took a month and a 6k er visit to figure it out), so my Dr switched me to Celexa which is supposed to be a better antidepressant for anxiety; I'm also currently taking low dose Xanax until the Celexa fully kicks in (also on Zantac 300 and Protonix because I have an ulcer, too, and the ulcer/panic were "feeding" off each other). I only started them a week ago, so I don't really have anything to report about Celexa yet - just wanted to point out that, if anxiety is also a problem, they may recommend something other than Welbutrin.

Best wishes on feeling better!

 

[pandora174]

Unfortunately, in the United States, therapy is not an option to many people. Most insurances do not cover mental health like they do physical health. It's a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

OP, I've had good luck with Celexa. The side effects (for me, anyway - yawning, upset stomach, diziness, gritting my jaw) went away after about a week or two. I've not noticed any change in my libido.

Exactly my situation. I have panick attacks, anxiety & depression. My insurance will pay for a physchiatrist but not a therapist ??!! . They offer a 24hour assistance line to deal with mental health ??? So I went to a great Dr. & take Paxil for anxiety & Effexor for depression & both have worked very well for me for the last 3 years. I still have my moments but nothing like before. But I understand when I tried to explain to my sisters, they told me it was all in my head & take some tea to relax. My DH understands & is very supportive. I have told two close personal friends but no one else since I had a "former" friend throw that in my face in the way of "I guess your nerves can't handle it huh ?" Said in a very mean way when we had a disagreement, that was the first & last low blow. I ended the friendship shortly after that. So lots of hugs & do what is best for your health.

 

[dcentity2000]

I'm a huge fan of Moclobemide, an RIMA antidepressant (basically a reversible MAOI), but unfortunately it's not licenced in the USA, same as Tianeptine.

Darn shame. They could really help so many people.



Rich::

 

[daisax]

But I understand when I tried to explain to my sisters, they told me it was all in my head & take some tea to relax.

Karma sometimes works in mysterious ways. My best friend said much the same thing to me about my depression (I needed to get out and do things and stop moping ) Within a year she started having panic attacks, and she apologized profusely because she realized how completely dense she had been about what I was going through.

 

[pandora174]

Karma sometimes works in mysterious ways. My best friend said much the same thing to me about my depression (I needed to get out and do things and stop moping ) Within a year she started having panic attacks, and she apologized profusely because she realized how completely dense she had been about what I was going through.

Yup, my BIL recently was diagnosed with cancer & thankfully it was found in time & my sister called me recently concerned b/c he only wanted to sleep all day, didn't want to get off the couch, doesn't want to see people & crys all the time, etc. I said classic symptoms of depression. She STILL doesn't buy it & thinks he just doesn't want to go back to work ! I told her take him to his Dr. & get a medical opinion, she's no MD. I just don't even mention my situation & they don't ask how I am feeling. They feel b/c I have a good job, a good DH who works from home & DS that it's all no big deal. YEAH RIGHT, not. I have a super stressful job, DS was a preemie & for the last 6 years has been in therapy, DH works from home but makes "very little" b/c our priority is DS & his school & therapy. So no I have no stress, a tea will make it all better That's why I have gastritis & mild IBS which my GI said came from my anxiety. Some people just don't get it. & if you're not supportive or understanding the last thing people with anxiety/depression need are people telling you go exercise, lose weight or take a tea ! Trust me they wouldn't say that if they had an anxiety attack that had them on the bathroom floor, stomach cramps, racing heartbeat or couldn't move from the couch for 2 days ! I'll be there with a nice tea !

 

[SereneOne]

I wanted to reiterate how important it is to include therapy with medication. Therapy helps you realize certain negative thought processes and actions that contribute to the depression. As I previously stated, it is a symbiotic relationship and will help much more than just meds or just therapy.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Google Effexor. I would do everything possible to not take it. It really did a number on me.

Best of luck to you.

 

[wehavesix]

I took Prozac for several years but have been taking Cymbalta for the past 3 years. It's worked well on my fibro symptoms but I have gained weight. I'm sort of thinking maybe I should ask my doctor for Welbutrin when I go in for my next check up since it seems to not have the weight gain problems. Maybe I'll finally be able to actually get back down to my normal weight again if I switch. I never used to have any problems maintaining my weight until I started taking Prozac and it only got worse with the Cymbalta so much so that I am now about 45 lbs. overweight.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

A good friend of mine has been on anxiety and depression meds for years. She recently went to a new psychiatrist (she moved) who basically convinced her that the medications do not do what companies claim. I think the book he told her to get is called "When Panic Attacks" or something like that. I know it's not specifically depression-related, but I think it does have good info. Anyways, she is doing very well now and is using behavioral cognitive therapy instead of meds to work through her anxiety and depression. Just another idea if you're looking for suggestions or info.

 

[maelstrom]

I'm on Pristiq for depression and Xanax for anxiety. I used to be on Zoloft for depression and it didn't work as well as the Pristiq. My dad is on Zoloft and it seems to work well for him. Xanax is what really helps me though; I don't know what I'd do without it. And I use Ambien to fall asleep.

 

[midwest-mom]

I wanted to reiterate how important it is to include therapy with medication. Therapy helps you realize certain negative thought processes and actions that contribute to the depression. As I previously stated, it is a symbiotic relationship and will help much more than just meds or just therapy.

Could you explain this a bit more, please? What all do they do? Do you think that it is it at all possible to do that on your own, reverse negative thoughts, without therapy or drugs?

I've always been into exercising and jazzerszie and it always helped lift my spirits, the endorphin rush thing. I've been so busy that I haven't really done anything in a long time, so do you think that would be enough with more positive thinking? Actually, what am I saying haha, thats what I've been trying to do!

But seriously, what exactly do they do in therapy that helps reverse those thoughts? Thank you all again very much, you have no idea how much I appreciate it.