Depression and Anti-Depressants??

Ok, let me just say up front that for 7 years, Zoloft worked really well. Then, it just pooped out on me and stopped working. It was a horrible feeling, but of course, I didn't totally notice it until I hit bottom.

My family doc tried Effexor next. No go. Made me feel flat. Ditto with Paxil. Then it was Wellbutrin. That was just absolute hell to endure, and made me a complete shrew. I know I can be sarcastic, but normally I am a happy person who loves teaching and working with kids.

Went to a psychiatrist who was recommended by my employer, who turned out to be worthless and didn't care to do much since our co-pay is only $10. He put me back on Zoloft, never said much or suggested much else. Sigh. It didn't work, and I had to go through feeling crappy all over again. After a year I switched doctors, and he's never once called to say "Hey, you've never come back or requested a refill." So involved. I think he just hated the fact that he made next to no money off our school district because of our low co-payments with our insurance policy.

So, new psychiatrist since July, and I'm now on Prozac. It felt ok after the first month, but then after 3 months I felt blah again. Even more depressed than previously. So, he doubled the dose a month ago. I'm feeling even worse now than before!! I don't know what to tell this new doctor except "Get me off this medicine and on something that will work!" He wanted me to try Adderall, which when I researched it, found out it was mainly for ADHD and is an amphetamine, and since I'm not ADHD, will act like an amphetamine in my body. NOT what I want. I am not taking it, and the pharmacist even suggested it was a bad choice of meds.

I'm also on Ambien to help with my sleep (because for a long time I was suffering from insomnia, but yet, being depressed I didn't want to get out of bed... not that I slept, but I just couldn't get out of bed, if you understand this at all...).

I'm so frustrated right now. I feel like crap. I want to feel better. I even have a prescription for a Light Box to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder, yet my insurance company says it only covers light boxes for skin disorders??

Everything is stressing me, and I feel so out of whack. :o A couple people who I'm really close with said Prozac was horrible and made relatives of theirs suicidal. While I'm NOT there, I'm not feeling great.

Has anyone else experienced this???? Any suggestions???

I've bought some St. John's Wort, and I'm looking into a few other herbal supplements. Wondering if maybe it's hormonal as well? My whole body feels out of sorts really. I just want to crawl into my bed and stay there. :(

JENN - Copy your post and send it in an email to each of the following. There's strength in numbers, and you need experienced people to get the help you DESERVE.

At least they might know a really good psychiatrist who will work WITH you.


http://www.mhasp.org/

http://www.mhanp.org/

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Family/Me.../003670136.htm


HUGS!

I can try the DPW, that's PA in general. The other two don't deal with my county of residence (Lehigh) or my employer's (Northampton). I can see if they can recommend someone in this area though... thanks!

I have a psychiatrist, and I do think he's a great guy. I haven't been able to get a counselor yet because no one in his practice accepted my insurance. Not sure how it is in Canada, but here psychiatrists just do meds evaluations, and you have to go to a counselor to "talk". If they don't have a counselor who takes your insurance, it's very pricey. My psychiatrist is normally $100.00 for a 10min. time slot. :eek: Thank god I have a 10.00 copay for doctor visits. I'm still waiting for one of his counselors to participate with Capital Blue Cross (which is a major insurance company).

I'm just feeling extremely down at this point.

It IS tough to find one that works. And when one poops out (had that happen too) it is he** trying to cope with depression AND find a med AND a doctor AND on and on and on.

Not much to suggest, just can sympathize, been there.

You will be in our prayers. Please don't try St. John's Wort without speaking to a knowledgeable doctor, as it can interact with other medications in dangerous ways. I know what a struggle depression can be, not first-hand. But I know how frustrating it can be when a medicine just stops working, or becomes unavailable. Maddening!

You will be in our prayers, that you find a solution that works for you.

When my mother was in college in the 1940's, her professor told her that he was sure that in ten years they'd know everything there was to know about the human brain and how it functions.

Would that that were true, even 60 years later! (And yes, she thought he was crazyily optimistic then.)

I am sorry to hear you are going thru what you are going thru ((HUGS)).

I don't know first hand about these meds, but I do have some close people in my life who take them...one was on Zoloft, like you, and went off it, and is now on Lexapro and it's been working well for them, their issue is anxiety, though...not really depression, but it is used for depression. Not sure how you feel about that one, maybe a doctor could lead you in the right direction...I hope you get some good answers/help from a good doctor soon.

((HUGS))) again.

Robyn

First, let me just say that I'm sorry that you had such a crappy doctor!! There is nothing worse than a doctor who couldn't give a squat less about you.

While I know that each person is different, and different medicines work for different people, I will always swear by Lexapro. I, too, was on Zoloft a year or so ago, and ended up HATING it. Not only did it get rid of the "depression", but it got rid of all my emotions all together. I felt nothing. No happiness, no sadness, nothing. I didn't care. So I took myself off, and things got back to normal and my depression was in full swing. That's when I went back to my doctor who suggested Lexapro. And ironically enough, that's what both my parents take and my brother takes. My dad and brother take it for anxiety and my mom takes it for depression. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It's personally a lifesaver, and I am not only my old self again, but I am a BETTER person living a much better and healthier life. :)

Jen,

I've been on MANY anti-depressants over the years. Zoloft quit on me as well, so the doctor switched me to Effexor. BAAAAAAAD news that Effexor. Then I was put on Paxil for many years till it stopped working. I'm now on Celexa and it's working great.

Finding an anti-depressant that works for you is a crap shoot. The doctors have to try different ones, different doses, etc. until one works.

Karen is right. Be careful using Black Cohosh or any kind of all natural supplements. It can intereact with any meds you are presently on.

((((((HUGS)))))))

Donna

Please do be careful with what you do take. I am Bi-polar, and I am on several different meds for it. I can tell you what works for me for depression. I can tell you you what has worked for me for my disease. I am on Xanax, cymbalta, Celexa, Topamax, Abilify, Trazadone, and Lititium. They work for me. Celexa, would probably be good for a normal person with depression.

I hope you get help for you depression, I really do know how that feels. I will be praying for you.

Willie

I've been on most of the major name brands of anti-depressants myself with almost no changes or bad side effects, one tranquilizer and have been through several councelors, a psychiatrist (not a very good one) and a few psycologists. My dr. finally gave up and gave me a referal to a specialist who is supposed to work with both medications and behavioral modification stuff, however I'm in the same boat on insurance, mine won't cover the specialist. I've finally gotten to the point that I don't take any meds, I pray alot, and just have to live with the fact I guess I'll be like this until I get rich or specialists get cheaper.

I wish there was something I could say that could help you out, or a phone number or something I could give you that would steer you in the right direction, but unfortunately I'm at a loss. I do want you to know I totally understand what you are going through though. *HUGS*

Jenn - I hope the DPW knows a counsellor who will accept your insurance.

RE ST JOHN'S WORT - My doctor had me stay OFF that for a FULL month before starting my Celexa. It was a looong month...but the interactions could have been nasty.

We North Americans tend to think that "natural" means "neutral".

Some natural things that aren't: thunderstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes....you get the idea. :)

Celexa has worked well for me.

Oh Jenn, I completely know what you are going through. I started out on Prozac, which worked for a while but then quit on me (as it does tend to do for many). I switched to Effexor, which worked well for me for several years. I tried to go completely off everything when I wanted to get pregnant. I was anti-depressant-less for about 2 months and about as miserable as I could get. I talked to the doctor about it and she said I could take Prozac throughout my pregnancy, so I went back on that. Seems to be working ok. Soon I have to switch to Zoloft, which is the safest to take when breastfeeding. I have been lucky that the meds worked for me. My mother, on the other hand, went through many different medications before she found something that worked. She ended up on a couple different kinds (can't remember what they all are) but that seems to be working. I know it's discouraging to keep trying meds that aren't working, but keep trying them! Something out there will work, you may just have to try different meds and doses.

There are cases of people commiting suicide while on anti-depressants, and having suicidal thoughts. Usually this happens because the person is on the wrong medication or dose. They think that since the medication isn't making them all better that they will never feel better and why bother living? Don't give up, there is something out there that works for you. ((((hugs)))) I am here if you ever need to talk!

Jennie, have you tried Cymbalta? I was given that for pain I'm having and it has changed my life. I really can't say I was depressed but it makes me feel so much better overall. I know several people that are taking it and they're also like new people. I hope you find a good solution soon :( Please PM anytime for more info or just to talk.

I'm not sure who all has seen my posts about my grandfather, however, he is manic depressant and bi-polar. He has been in and out of the hospital since May because he's been unable to control his emotions. He tried ending his life during a stay at home last month. They've tried several medications, therapy, electroshock therapy, etc. Everything.


Before this whole bit happened, he was on Lithium. His doctor took him off Lithium because it was messing up his kidneys. They recently did a kidney test and are talking about putting him back on Lithium. We are hoping this will be his answer and this is what will bring our Papa back to his old self. He may have to go in for monthly blood cleansings to help out his kidneys.


Sorry, I just felt like sharing this here because I thought you all would understand what he and the rest of my family are going through.

{{HUGS}} to you Jenn.

I started on depression meds a few years back. They first tried me on several different ones but I finally got results from effexor. After Rob died though, it helped me feel not so down but did nothing towards getting me motivated to do anything. So my doctor added Celaxa and with the two I am doing very well. I am not going to a psychiatrist for meds. My family doctor prescribes them and to be honest I would rather deal with a family doctor than a physchiatrist having dealt with one for a family member. Because of a change in jobs and therefor in insurance coverage, I am now going to a different doctor than I did for 20 years. I liked the way both handled my depression problems.

I am not sure what your answer is - although I have had both drs and others tell me that exercise is a natural medication and I know it is for when I do get on a real exercise plan I do feel better. I will pray that you find a medication that will help you feel better. There is nothing worse than feeling like nothing is worth living for.

Hi Jenn,

Unfortunately people are right in saying that everyone reacts differently to medications and some will poop out. There are alot of other meds that you can try before you go to something like Adderall.

In the mean time you might want to talk with your MD about trying some of the other SSRI's such as Luvox, Celaxa, Lexapro, etc. If those do not work for you, there is an older class of drugs call tri-cyclic antidepressants. These drugs have side effects that are different than the SSRI's but you might find one of them works.

In the mean time PLEASE do not use any herbal medications (such as St. John's Wort). Many of these drugs work similarly to the SSRI or interfer with them, both of which will result in bed news for you.

If you would like a few more suggestions for meds (from your online pharmacist) please contact me...

I stopped the St. John's Wort... it gave me a headache and I felt really really agitated. I think it was conflicting with the Prozac. :(

Jenn, have you had any bloodwork done? For stuff like your thyroid?

Possibly talking to a nutritionist might help too.

I know that i have to avoid certain food and smells if i want to avoid becoming depressed. (Lavander, though i love it makes me VERY depressed.)

I've certainly heard of dietary changes getting rid of depression, but it's usually pretty radical (vegan, gluten-free, all-local - all stuff that takes a lot of extra time, costs more, and/or takes a lot of getting used to). Herbal supplements can be helpful, especially if you can't afford to go to a doctor (I'm in the USA and see that often) but if you can, make sure to tell EVERY doctor EVERY medicine or supplement you use. And don't assume that they talk to each other! Your diabetes doctor or your arthritis doctor might send copies of your records to your psychiatrist, but that doesn't mean they're getting read. It's a good idea to keep a list of the medicines and supplements you take regularly in your wallet for quick reference.

St. John's Wort is often said to "neutralize" other medicines, but it's not quite that simple. It speeds up the cytochrome P450 enzyme pathway, which is the way many medicines are metabolized, and can cause the medicine to zoom right through your system so fast that it doesn't get absorbed properly. Here's a table that lists a bunch of things that affect and are affected by P450.

Love, Columbine