Antidepressants-what meds have worked for you?

Hi all, I was wondering if those of you who have taken Antidepressant medication would tell me what was the medication that has been the most successful for you in terms of lessening your Depression? I am asking this because I recognise that my depressive symptoms are escalating and I need to take medicine again.
I wish I didn't have to but I want some quality of life! I am appreciative of any information that you are able to share with me. Thanks in advance. Becks.

Hiya, Becks,

Crikey hon, you have asked an awkward question, haven’t you? Congrats for realising a wee bit of assistance may help. Thats a big step to take and requires some bravery, so well done.

I’m about 2 and a half Months into using Paroxetine (Aropax) after nothing since 2006 – I’d had Aropax years ago was not very happy on it but for some weird reason this time, fingers crossed, its made life generally a wee bit more tolerable here in PaddyLand (the wasteland between my ears, lol). I'm taking close to, but not quite, the maximum dosage, so I a wee bit of room for 'adjustment' if its needed.

Most of what I have tried in the past has not gone down well (excuse the unintended pun) and I’ve abandoned them cold turkey, usually (another Not-Smart move by Paddy) because I couldn’t function on them at all well.

I could mention by brand name some of the meds that have not agreed with me and my particular needs, but I know that those very same meds work really well for some others at similar or different dosages. So I won’t dis them, ‘tis not the pills fault that we and our mental illnesses are not all identical and simple to manage.

This time around, I knew I desperately needed the help of some meds and also that it could be a try and retry sorta thing that might take months; simply because we are all different and we all respond differently to various meds and dosages.

I acknowledge that I was very lucky to have a GP who is ‘onto it’ and who is a really skilled observer and who has patience (and patients) beyond any I’ve found before in his line of work.

I’d also like to Acknowledge and Thank Everyone here at TBBD, ‘cos without you and your individual and collective strength, I dunno that I would have bothered dobbing myself in to the GP. You Folk here, made me work to get back on top of being well.

Becks, once you have talked with your medical people, remember, you can find and print out, Consumer-based information on your Meds at the governments MedSafe website. It describes ALL meds available for dispensing in NZ. www.medsafe.govt.nz is their Home Page, from memory?

Take care Becks and be gentle with you, eh?

Paddy.

I did the unspeakable becks.

Along the medical route I chose to take,
anti-depr pills etc, I realised I wasnt getting better;the pills kept me from experiencing the deeper Lows and Higher highs but I wasnt making any progress. I were still none the wiser of why this were happening to me, and I could see that ingesting these medications were playing havoc with my physical wellness, things such as constipation and loss of libido I had to adjust to, by taking as well, further pills to adjust the side effects.

After a few years struggling with life(and ego-deaths) I took over responsibly of my own treatment and began working with a wisened clinical psychologist whilst taking the medicinal-drugs as well.
This worked.

Within two years I was wondering about comming off the chemicals all together and over several months began experimenting with this idea whilst still working with my psyche-man.
Each time I tried, I did the reccommended method of withdrawal, but each time,after a month or so i chose to go back onto the drugs due to getting-stuck within a severe Low and being only able to shift it via the use of my emotions and working with my psyche-man.

The psyche-man and myself had a brilliant time together, using dreaming and self-devining methodologies, I looked and found answers to what i needed to change about my automattic life and my Meditations began to give me stronger experiences as time went by. I have always been a meditator. Started when i was young, about 27yrs Old.

Earlier this year, easter in fact, I had such a huge event in meditation that I became radient,and full of bliss. This were the 'turning point' of my illness; immediately after the event i stopped all forms of medical intervention and from then on the psyche-work fell away and the Dr became horrified, insisting that i could be fooling myself, that She warned me about meditation and stated She wanted to see Me more often and that I had to keep the pills handy. I gave Her this GRACE as She had been a great asset to have in My life, but I wouldnt take the drugs.

I have had a few swings into the depths since then, but with my knowledge gleened from working with the psyche-man I have been ok about handling things alone, by myself. That were six months ago i think!

Today I am centred, radient and softer than i have ever been before in my life and deeply understanding.
The Journey for me took almost 9 years, and im proud of myself as i am without any egotistical side effects.
(test me if you can lol)
I am without fear of death, as this were burnt-out of Me during the depth of meditation I were doing at Easter this year, when i had the realisation of what My power actually was.

I hope this gives you a glimpse through the fog you maybe experiencing at this time,
and gives you faith that you will win,
so long as you can keep trusting in yourself
and charge into illness as though it were your LOVE!

Really,
Its about loving your illness to death I feel,
as this were the attitude i developed along the way.

Hi Becks,
I agree with GM here. Drugs have not helped me at all.... all they do is 'lessen' whatever it is your feeling. If your not coping big time, you become mildly not coping. If your having highs, you now have not-so-highs.

Side effects, most drugs I've been on have caused emotional numbness. Amitriptyline caused dry mouth. Fluoxetine caused sexual dysfunction. Venlafaxine made me nauseas. Citalopram was ok I guess, but as I said, none of these drugs helped me with depression.

Counselling and soul searching is best in my opinion.

Drugs - at least in some cases - treat the symptoms, making it possible to get around to addressing the causes. I know that is the case for me, I am on Citalopram, it isn't a magic bullet, but it does blunt the lows and highs. I can live with that, but ultimately I'd like to be off them in the long run.

My partner is on Aropax, and I have a feeling he may not be coming off tthis for quite a while. In some cases people have a genuine biological/ chemical imbalance which means their brain doesn't make enough serotonin.

laworder wrote:Drugs - at least in some cases - treat the symptoms, making it possible to get around to addressing the causes. I know that is the case for me, I am on Citalopram, it isn't a magic bullet, but it does blunt the lows and highs. I can live with that, but ultimately I'd like to be off them in the long run.

My partner is on Aropax, and I have a feeling he may not be coming off tthis for quite a while. In some cases people have a genuine biological/ chemical imbalance which means their brain doesn't make enough serotonin.

You will also feel the full-effects of the Chemicals with a drop in libido.
This is a rude awakening
as in many cases the Libido is Knocked-off completely
and Viagra is the only way one can get a hard-on!

You can gain Viagra from your Dr by saying your relationship is suffering due to the effcts of the Other chemicals theyve prescribed, and they will give you DIRECTLY, gift-packs of viagra
that they recieve for nothing from the drug-dealers.
These they give out to ppl who cant afford the exorbitant fees on the drug.

Take care.
Happy sailing!

Hi guys, thank-you so much for replying to my post. I appreciate all the things that you have shared with me. Since I asked you this question I have been reading lots of information about Antidepressants. Unfortunately the two that I am most interested in pose problems. One isn't funded by Pharmac and the other has to be prescribed by a specialist before your G.P can start prescribing it. I might just start taking Venlafaxine again. Who knows!! Anyway, thanks again and good luck to you all with your various meds!

are you doing
ANYTHING for yourself whilst youre taking these drugs
when you take them
that is?