topic Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs in Wellness

Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

moon_gazer — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 02:56:51 GMT

My doctor has suggested I try Lexapro for the bouts of depression I experience. I don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant. I've read horrible things about these drugs. I would really like to hear from those who have tried this drug and had good results. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not for the next, but, it would give me some idea of what I should do.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

makena — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:02:56 GMT

I would follow your physician's advice. As you said everyone will react differently to different antidepressants. If this one does not work for you, he can prescribe something else. I believe they start you off on ones that are of lesser strength. It's all about how your body reacts.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

jaxs mom — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:18:53 GMT

I've never anti-depressants myself, but I wouldn't take them unless you're being monitored regularly by a psychiatrist. They should see you every week or two at the beginning and then monthly and eventually every three months to monitor side effects.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:22:25 GMT

I have a friend who has taken Zoloft for years, and it changed her life, for the better.I'm no doctor but it seems like it is worth a try, if it improves your quality of life.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Reba055 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:36:11 GMT

Lexapro is usually pretty easy for people to take. As long as you start on a low dose, you shouldn't have anything too drastic as far as side effects. Of course, as noted, everyone is different.

Good luck. Hope it makes you feel better.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Justholdingon — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:25:41 GMT

@moon_gazer wrote:
My doctor has suggested I try Lexapro for the bouts of depression I experience. I don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant. I've read horrible things about these drugs. I would really like to hear from those who have tried this drug and had good results. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not for the next, but, it would give me some idea of what I should do.

My dr. tried me on prozac first and I had severe side effects from that (horrible nightmares, brain zaps and paralysis) and I immediately reported them to my dr. who took me off. She then put me on cymbalta. I also had side effects from that (itching everywhere),so she took me off of that too. I'm now on lexapro with no side effects and I feel better. I was very afraid of trying another anti depressant as I had not had good luck with the other two, but my husband has noticed a change in my demeanor also. He says I seem more out going at times. I'm on a very low dose.

I do notice my libido has diminished more than ever though and I've heard anti depressants will do that.

Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon. Just think ... if you don't like taking the lexapro, you don't have to continue, but, what have you got to lose?

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

hckynut — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:58:52 GMT

@moon_gazer

Addressing (thread title only). There is no best Anti-Depression Drug. As you said in your thread, "everyone is different". Safe? Depends.

If you trust your doctor, I suggest you follow those plans. You can read "horrible things" about a lot of medications and medical procedures. Does that make them true? Not in my book, or plenty of my own personal life experiences.

I have been taking 3 medications since the mid 1990's for diagnosed Clinical Depression and Panic/ Anxiety Attacks. They are still working for me a no "terrible things" to report.

hckynut(john)

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Poodlepet2 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:30:59 GMT

I don't want to come off as sounding rude and nasty, but nobody here is a good resource. The only people whose opinion you should trust is a physician-preferably psychiatrist.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor first and foremost: there can be underlying physical issues that contribute to depression.

They have the ability to weed out what might be symptoms of physical problems, vs. psychological issues. They are highly trained in pharmacology.

When I studied pharmacology years ago, one of the first things I learned is that all drugs can have unforseen potential side effects. Period.

Does that mean we shouldn't take them? No. It's always a question of benefits outweighs risks and starting at the lowest possible dose to achieve the desired effect.

We are putting the cart before the horse on this one however: supportive therapy and counseling may actually be what you need- but a psychiatrist is the one with the expertise to help you achieve your mental health goals.

If you don't know where to begin, why don't you make an appointment with your primary physician? Thanks to insurance or lack thereof, many have had to fill the role of psychiatrists to some degree. They still have far more training than anybody here.

I wish you well,

Poodlepet2

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

goldensrbest — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:56:21 GMT

I have been on medications since 1991, started with paxil, then zoloft, cimbalta, have been on venlafaxine,and trazodone for many years , no trouble with any of those,except some i use to take stopped working for me.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

jackthebear — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:06:09 GMT

@moon_gazer wrote:
My doctor has suggested I try Lexapro for the bouts of depression I experience. I don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant. I've read horrible things about these drugs. I would really like to hear from those who have tried this drug and had good results. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not for the next, but, it would give me some idea of what I should do.

do you like being depressed better?

I agree with the other poster here some on this board are very anti RX meds for whatever reason.

Best to talk to your Dr about this and not rely Dr. Internet.

as for you you should do, either take the meds or not but but your Dr. can help you figure that out, he probably has some samples to try

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

sidsmom — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:34:50 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
@moon_gazer wrote:
My doctor has suggested I try Lexapro for the bouts of depression I experience. I don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant. I've read horrible things about these drugs. I would really like to hear from those who have tried this drug and had good results. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not for the next, but, it would give me some idea of what I should do.
do you like being depressed better?
I agree with the other poster here some on this board are very anti RX meds for whatever reason.

Best to talk to your Dr about this and not rely Dr. Internet.
as for you you should do, either take the meds or not but but your Dr. can help you figure that out, he probably has some samples to try

"....samples to try..."?

Srsly?

Anti-depressants shouldn't be treated like aspirin. If a doctor threw me a couple of free packets of SSRI, wow....I would run, RUN, out of their office. If they're that casual w/ this dangerous drug, I cringe what else is acceptable to them.

OP: I agree w/ those upthread. Check w/ your doctor...but leave no stone unturned to handle this naturally. Read, study, learn about depression. Be TOTALLY educated before going to the doctor. Know the differences between going through a difficult time vs serious mental condition. I would assume the latter would be diagnosed by a doctor in mental health care & not a GP.

Many criticize when I bring up Nutritional therapy, but when you're dealing w/ mood-altering drugs, food/drink has the same capacity. During the extended times when I felt depressed/blue/off, it was married during the same time my diet wasn't good (fatty, meat/cheese/eggs). Once I cleaned up my food source, it lifted the cloud. Those days are long gone.

If you don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant, honor that feeling. Exhaust every single natural therapy (including talking to a mental health professional) before taking something which chemically alters your mind. Anti-depressants should be the very last resort. Any doctor, any ethical doctor, would say that.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Zhills — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:22:22 GMT

I was analyzed for a anti-depressant study at USF years ago and they determined that I did not have chronic depression and did not qualify for their study.

If you have depression caused by your current situation, I don't think any of them really help, they just mask the problem.

I was informed that if I changed my current lifestyle (which in this case was a divorce) my depression would change also.

This was MY case, not every case or Doctor's opinion.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

henderson — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:17:05 GMT

I've been on them before as well as my son and it's been a lifesaver. I also went to counseling which is important. Never had any suicidal thoughts. Of course you need to be monitored. I haven't tried that drug so I can't comment. It may be trial and error to see what works for you, so be patient. It takes a while for them to work -- it's not a "happy" pill that you take immediately and you're not depressed.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Nightowlz — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 18:04:10 GMT

ITA you have to try it to see if it wil work for you. I can say start out at a lower dose & build up if you have to.

My doctor said he thought I should take one. I told him I would pass.

I took prozac years ago & I did feel a lot better. I did not think I would be able to take it a first because it threw me for a loop. I had to cut it in half & take every other day then every day before I could take the whole pill. I tried 2 others before prozac & one gave me nightmares & the other did not feel like it was doing anything. Those were zoloft & paxil

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

Reba055 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:10:25 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
@jackthebear wrote:
@moon_gazer wrote:
My doctor has suggested I try Lexapro for the bouts of depression I experience. I don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant. I've read horrible things about these drugs. I would really like to hear from those who have tried this drug and had good results. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not for the next, but, it would give me some idea of what I should do.
do you like being depressed better?
I agree with the other poster here some on this board are very anti RX meds for whatever reason.

Best to talk to your Dr about this and not rely Dr. Internet.
as for you you should do, either take the meds or not but but your Dr. can help you figure that out, he probably has some samples to try
"....samples to try..."?
Srsly?
Anti-depressants shouldn't be treated like aspirin. If a doctor threw me a couple of free packets of SSRI, wow....I would run, RUN, out of their office. If they're that casual w/ this dangerous drug, I cringe what else is acceptable to them.

OP: I agree w/ those upthread. Check w/ your doctor...but leave no stone unturned to handle this naturally. Read, study, learn about depression. Be TOTALLY educated before going to the doctor. Know the differences between going through a difficult time vs serious mental condition. I would assume the latter would be diagnosed by a doctor in mental health care & not a GP.

Many criticize when I bring up Nutritional therapy, but when you're dealing w/ mood-altering drugs, food/drink has the same capacity. During the extended times when I felt depressed/blue/off, it was married during the same time my diet wasn't good (fatty, meat/cheese/eggs). Once I cleaned up my food source, it lifted the cloud. Those days are long gone.

If you don't like the idea of taking an anti-depressant, honor that feeling. Exhaust every single natural therapy (including talking to a mental health professional) before taking something which chemically alters your mind. Anti-depressants should be the very last resort. Any doctor, any ethical doctor, would say that.

@sidsmom That's ridiculous. Just because a doctor offers samples does not mean they take it casually. Since some people have to try more than one before finding the right medication, it's not unusual for them to offer samples

Also, it's a bit irresponsible to suggest that a depressed person is motivated enough to study up on depression and exhaust all other possibilities before seeking help/taking an antidepressant. Besides, most people have exhausted all their known methods of trying to help themselves before they bring it up to a doctor.

Depression is serious and sometimes a person needs medication to help them be able to do things to help themselves. And one can never know the extent of another's depression.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

goldensrbest — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:20:24 GMT

It took several weeks before i found i was feeling better,on one occasion, i felt like all the clouds had parted,and the sun was shinning again,i would not be able to handle everything that has happened in my life without medication.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

MomCat — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:26:29 GMT

My doctor prescribed prozac and it has worked fine for me. I'm going through a very rough time, and I am so thankful for the help. This is the first time I've ever experienced depression and I feel sure at some point I will get off the pills and be fine. For now, I am one happy lady. Good luck on finding what works for you. As stated here, communicate with your doctor!

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

LTT1 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 23:31:49 GMT

@moon_gazer

While under a professional's (psych) care, I received samples.

You might discuss this idea with your doctor.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

moon_gazer — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 23:48:02 GMT

My depression is always triggered by loss in my life. It began 17 years ago when I lost a young son to cancer. I tried a couple of anti-depressants back then, but they just didn't seem to help very much. The grief was overwhelming. I was beginning to get out of the fog when three years late, another blow struck - the sudden death of my mother and then soon to follow --- my dad. I do realize that these are loses we all expect and try to prepare ourselves for at some point in time.

Now, I am looking at another loss - one some might think trivial compared to the other losses - but, not so for me. I have a little 15 year old dog that I know I will not have much longer - he is quickly declining. I got him 2 years after my son had died and he was the medicine I really needed. I can't imagine life without him. If you are a dog lover, you know what I am talking about.

So, what I am saying here is that anti-depressants are not something I need all the time and certainly wouldn't want to be on all the time.

Re: Safe and Best Anti-Depression Drugs

NickNack — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 00:09:21 GMT

@moon_gazer wrote:
My depression is always triggered by loss in my life. It began 17 years ago when I lost a young son to cancer. I tried a couple of anti-depressants back then, but they just didn't seem to help very much. The grief was overwhelming. I was beginning to get out of the fog when three years late, another blow struck - the sudden death of my mother and then soon to follow --- my dad. I do realize that these are loses we all expect and try to prepare ourselves for at some point in time.

Now, I am looking at another loss - one some might think trivial compared to the other losses - but, not so for me. I have a little 15 year old dog that I know I will not have much longer - he is quickly declining. I got him 2 years after my son had died and he was the medicine I really needed. I can't imagine life without him. If you are a dog lover, you know what I am talking about.

So, what I am saying here is that anti-depressants are not something I need all the time and certainly wouldn't want to be on all the time.

@moon_gazer I'm so sorry for the losses in your life. I understand about losing your dog. I had a dog die very shortly after my mother died. I wouldn't have thought anything could compare to losing my mother, and of course it wasn't the same. My grief over losing my dog was very real. It was an extremely hard loss.