What is YOUR anti-depressant of choice?

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by gini
My first reaction to this thread was light hearted..........I immediately thought about my kitties.....and when I have been down, I can always count on Rascal for some love and reassurance.

With so many people coming forward and volunteering that they need these medications - then no......this isn't a light hearted subject at all.

I think light-hearted may not be the word I was looking for....sort of but not quite - maybe loving or compassionate might have been better? Maybe soft-hearted? Here is a cut and paste of the beginning:
***
Not to offend - but to attempt to take Clinical Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Panic, Bi-Polar and other related illnesses out of the DogHouse and into the public eye and maybe take a look at some of the issues. This poll is NOT meant to be taken scientifically though I did attempt to make the list as complete as possible - but hopefully to get an idea perhaps of the fact that *mental* illness being quite common to various degrees and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. We have had a very (see **companion below) good thread going in the DogHouse but it does not need to be there. So...here we go!

*light-hearted at times is quite OK but please remember that we are talking about Depression as an ILLNESS and not "the blues" that virtually everyone gets from time to time. I think that all of us here would likely agree that our wonderful pets offer the very best therapy of all!! Thanks!!
******
Also: there is a sort of **companion thread called *Withdrawn* that Karen moved from the DogHouse - and here is a statement I made there - also explaining my motivation to continue this topic in the first place:
***
AGAIN - no medical advice here - just discussion to assure people this is COMMON, it is OK, ways of coping are available - some medical, some practical - but the problems so very common and global - OK? See that lovely self assured actress on the big screen? See your physician or lawyer with all the degrees? See the friendly lady that takes your money at the bank or grocery store? See the statesman with the big words and confident speech? The man who keeps the school clean? The lady who keeps people in stitches with funny cat stories? They likely get depressed, probably get counseling and may even take medication. NO BIG DEAL!
****
Serious? YES, potentially
Shameful or odd? NO WAY
Common? like the common cold, sadly
An Easy Remedy? NO, but talking about it is a great first step

[Glacier]

I don't take meds anymore, but I have in the past...Serzone actually. It worked great for me, but it has been pulled from the market. If you've been on this drug, you need to get your liver function tested RIGHT NOW!!! I didn't suffer any ill effects from using Serzone, but lots of people have. There are several class action lawsuits against the manufacturer right now.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

5 1/2 years ago I was a mess. I had a huge problem with anxiety but didn't know it. I just considered myself as shy. It was a lot more than that. I was afraid to go anywhere or do anything, I also couldn't talk to people. I was always in my bedroom. I became very depressed and was always crying or sleeping. I also was a cutter. I would cut my legs, and even burned them a couple times.

I've never really talked about this before to anyone except for a counselor, who didn't help. Then about 5 years ago I was put on paxil. Wow was I a new person after that!! Today I still am fighting the anxiety, but it's much better, and no depression. Also no cutting for about 5 years.

I am in the process of switching my meds because Justin and I want to have a baby soon. Paxil has too many side-effects that I've been dealing with for too long. Also you shouldn't be on paxil while you are pregnant or nursing. My doctor is switching me to zoloft, which has not proven to be harmful to babies. I am currently being weaned off the paxil.

[aguu]

Sirrahbed - this is a good thread.
For the first time in my life I am on anti-depressants - Paxil.
It has done WONDERS for me.
Things got pretty bad for me - to the point that I did not even feel like getting out of bed or playing with my Mishka.
BUT - I think he (Mishka) may have saved my life on one or two occasions as well. I'll leave it at that.

[lynnestankard]

Wow Debbie - well said - wish I had your way with words. Thanks.

Lynne

[sirrahbed]

Hi! I am bumping up this thread to ressurrect it as I think it was going well - also as a companion to "Withdrawn" - gee - wish we could combine them without this silly title I came up with!! Take care all!

[kimlovescats]

I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with Major Depressive Illness and Panic Disorder. Through the years I have tried many different medications with many different undesirable side effects. About 5 years ago I tried Celexa (when it was new) and I have been on it ever since. I had to increase my dosage once, only about 6 months after starting it ... but have maintained on 40mg. per day since then. It has helped greatly with my panic attacks as well, although very rarely I will still have one, and I take a Xanax for that.

Debbie, thank you so much for starting these threads, and being caring enough to share your story. Although I am not in the deep gloom that I was many times before, I still have my down times when I need to remember that I am not the only one who has this disease.

HUGS,

Kim

[leslie flenner]

what is citalopram? Sounds like a generic name for something but can't imagine what!?
Kim- sorry you didn't follow A's "Withdrawn" thread and wonder if you have by now? Sirrahbed very open and honest! Very brave of her! (Bravo and thanks to her for this sharing of something so very very painful). Do read the thread when you get a chance if you have not yet!
Never tried Paxil but have been on Zoloft for a very long time. And Neurontin as prn for a year. (for panic and extreme anxiety)- there have been times when I'm driving to work or elsewhere and I feel like I'm gonna crash the car, or I left the coffee pot on, or I'm afraid my apt. will burn down with all my cats- to the point that I can't stop thinking I'm either going to die or get killed (on the road) or pass out or somethink horrific is going to happen! Then I start crying because I can't stop the awful feeling- can't shake it by thinking of something else, deep breaths, fool with the radio- nothing helps. So if I take a few Neurontin, it calms me way down, but is non-addictive like Xanax and Klonopin and Ativan.

[sirrahbed]

citalopram = generic for brand name Celexa

[NoahsMommy]

Most, if not all, of these medications are made to be taken along with weekly (or more) visits to a therapist.

Its sad that regular MD's can prescribe all these types of medications. There isn't a lot of monitoring done. When I worked for an MD, he was prescribing Paxil to anyone that asked for it!! We even got some of their new marketing literature that asks doctors to prescribe it for women to have it onhand for small occurances like being late for work, having a fight with their spouse/children, even stress of a mother-in-law!!!! Rediculous!!!

I work with two women who see the same psychiatrist. Their doctor will not prescribe them meds if she thinks they aren't working on themselves as well as taking their medication. They both suffer from anxiety as well as depression and really are benefiting from that type of monitoring. She requires them to see her monthly and to see a psychologist weekly/twice a month.

I didn't say this to offend. Please no one take it the wrong way. Its my major, so of course I'll have an opinion. Its just my opinion.... I haven't had to take any drugs like this, so maybe it'd be different if I did have to. I almost went on an anti-anxiety drug in hopes it would help my Crohn's, but both my GI and Rheumatologist said they didn't think I needed them/want me on them.

My MD called in an RX for Ativan...nice! This is what I mean...Ativan is for panic attacks...I don't have panic attacks!!!

[sirrahbed]

The silly title really isn't what this thread is about Kelly. It's about all sorts of phobias, fears and anxieties that are so, so common. The title was a silly gimmick on my part to get attention. Well not attention exactly - but an attempt to spread an understanding of the widespread misunderstanding of emotional illnesses and the tendency towards seeing them as weaknesses or something to feel ashamed of or embarrssed by and thus kept in silence. Me? I am a blabbermouth these days - is part of my healing. But your observations are VERY valid as far as over prescription of medication as a cure-all. Sometimes they are overused and other times they save lives. This is individual and can only be determined with the help of a trained physician and hopefully along with a therapist. There is also a "companion thread" called "Withdrawn". You could likely offer some good input there as well! Lots of us have decided that our animals should have been added to the mock "poll" here

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
The silly title really isn't what this thread is about Kelly.

I'm sorry! I guess I missed the point...

I agree...phobias and mental illness are not weaknesses.

[animal_rescue]

grrrrr I hate Paxil(no offense to those it helped but..)
I used to take paxil and guess what I got the suicidal effects!!
I now have a huge scare in my arm the says H.A.T.E and I almost overdosed on anything I could find!!
My mom put me in a mental hospital for 3 days until I begged her to take me out of it because this girl heard voices in her head and had a crush on me!! She also wanted to hurt someone and you know waht she looked at me an awful lot!!
We were so neglected in that place it wasn't even funny!!
So now I'm talking to my mom about sueing because I found a lawer who deals with people who had the paxil effects!!(go to paxhelp.com)