Antidepressants, what's your experience?

[camillalev]

I got a complex DNA test that measured my tolerance for various types of meds. Turns out nothing in the anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic family of medications is good for me; all produce horrible side-effects without a comparable benefit.

 

What kind of test is this, if I wanted to ask my doctor for one?

[camillalev]

The only real success story I know is my BIL, and it was through CBT. No medication seemed to work well for him but the behavioral therapy did.

 

Have you tried it?

 

Mr. Lucky

 

Would you happen to know what kind of CBT it was? I'm looking into CBT to help with depression and anxiety

[camillalev]

Try 5-HTP. Available without a prescription, it gives the brain the building blocks to make extra serotonin. Essentially, it is supposed to have a similar but milder effect than a prescription SSRI. It doesn't modify your brain chemistry, or have bad side effects if you have to stop taking it. Some people have digestive issues taking it, though.

 

At least read up on it, and see what you think. If you try it, be aware that it takes several weeks to start working. In my husband's case, about six weeks. He's been taking it for more than three years now.

 

What brand does he take?

 

Another 5-HTP lover here! So glad your husband found it, it really helps keep the mind clear and active. Been taking it for about a year myself, someone here on LS brought it up. Whoever that person was, I am incredibly grateful.

 

Would love your recs as well!

[camillalev]

Would you happen to know what kind of CBT it was? I'm looking into CBT to help with depression and anxiety

 

Lol nevermind, I thought you meant CBD.

[major_merrick]

What brand does he take?

 

 

My husband buys it in the pharmacy section of Walmart. It is basically everywhere in the Midwest/Southern US. It comes in a generic yellow vitamin bottle with a "Nature's Something-or-Other" kind of brand name. Sorry I couldn't be more specific I looked but couldn't find where he keeps it.

When I've seen it sold, it will usually be in the Vitamin section of a store, in the category of "Mood" supplements, such as St. John's Wort, L-Theanine, and other similar items.

[mortensorchid]

Love them. I have been on zoloft and xanax (only when it's been really rough to calm me down), but xanax left me so stoned I could barely function. I took that before bed at night to help me sleep. But they are great for me. Don't be afraid of them, embrace them for what they can do for you. But the next steps have to come from you - work out, have a good diet / workout plan everyday, and do work onyourself. There is a mind/body connection and you must acknowledge and work with it.

 

And if you take them, don't share it with others because they will think you're crazy. I have encountered to biggest criticism from those who are undiagnosed bipolar or hopeless het functional alcoholics or drug addicts.

[basil67]

Mortensorchid, it's understandable that undiagnosed bipolar are against antidepressants. What happens is they seek help for their 'down' phase. The doctors don't realise that the patient is actually cycling through phases and so prescribe antidepressants. Problem is, the anti depressants actually exacerbate bi-polar - so the persona's negative experience is very real. I've seen it a couple of times people who were later diagnosed with bi-polar.

 

Alcoholics and drugs addicts are still medicating - they just don't connect the dots and realise that it's self medication.

[Cornputer]

Would love your recs as well!

 

I order mine from iHerb with a bunch of other goodies, have always used brand "Now Foods". I liked the packaging….

 

With a strict routine and healthy lifestyle, it really has helped me.

[goldengirl11]

I've been on Venlafaxine for about 18 months now and have to be very careful not to forget taking them, especially for more than 2 days at the latest, as I would already feel the withdrawal symptoms i.e mainly headache and feeling more irritable, with sickness (whether being sick or not) likely following later. It stays in the system for less time than other anti-depressants do.

[Veronica73]

I've been on Venlafaxine for about 18 months now and have to be very careful not to forget taking them, especially for more than 2 days at the latest, as I would already feel the withdrawal symptoms i.e mainly headache and feeling more irritable, with sickness (whether being sick or not) likely following later. It stays in the system for less time than other anti-depressants do.

 

Yes, that’s what I’m on as well. I seem to be okay if I skip a day every week or so. (Which I do sometimes on the weekends to get a relief from the side effects). But anything more than that and I feel like I’m coming down with the flu or something like that. And I start clenching my jaw really hard to the point that my teeth hurt.

[bathtub-row]

I had a friend that took them for years and they're horrendous. I wouldn't tell anyone what to do because you know yourself better than anyone. However, more people need to understand the absolute control that pharmaceutical companies have over the public. They're a fierce system that will stop at nothing to keep people on drugs. That isn't a conspiracy theory or made up -- it's an absolute fact. There was a CEO of a major pharmaceutical company that quit several years ago and he exposed them. I read the article at the time but I've searched for it since and it has disappeared from the internet. There was also a doctor who left the field because she was constantly bombarded by promoters of drugs. She said that they were particularly interested in doctors "finding" diseases for children around 5 yrs old because they knew they had a person hooked for life after that. Basically, doctors have become drug dealers.

 

My rule of thumb - once we get too far from nature, we're asking for trouble. Drugs are getting us too far from nature and teaching us not to trust our bodies to heal themselves. In the arena of depression, I don't know what to tell you except to say that if a person thinks they can take drugs for years and years and not have serious repercussions, they're kidding themselves. I think you're more on the right track - diet, activity, etc.

[goldengirl11]

Yes, that’s what I’m on as well. I seem to be okay if I skip a day every week or so. (Which I do sometimes on the weekends to get a relief from the side effects). But anything more than that and I feel like I’m coming down with the flu or something like that. And I start clenching my jaw really hard to the point that my teeth hurt.

What side effects do you get whilst taking them then?

[Veronica73]

What side effects do you get whilst taking them then?

 

This is probably TMI, but it is more difficult to have an orgasm, and they tend to not be as wonderful.

[goldengirl11]

This is probably TMI, but it is more difficult to have an orgasm, and they tend to not be as wonderful.

Oh I see! Well I can't really comment on that right now I guess! Is that the only side-effect you have on them?

[Veronica73]

Oh I see! Well I can't really comment on that right now I guess! Is that the only side-effect you have on them?

 

Yes. Otherwise it’s been good. I have also tried celexa, Prozac, and Zoloft. I had much more problems on them.

[alphamale]

Yes. Otherwise it’s been good. I have also tried celexa, Prozac, and Zoloft. I had much more problems on them.

 

I take Zoloft 50mg daily

[Fekenaws]

It's different for everyone. I was diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder as well as Panic Disorder, and I can say with confidence that without my 20 mg of Lexapro a day and emergency .5 Xanax for when I'm having a panic attack flair up that my life would be very, very miserable. They've changed my life, I can't live without them.

Edited June 6, 2019 by Fekenaws

[MINAKO]

Interesting thread. I was on an anti-depressant for anxiety, not depression, and while it did not truly help my anxiety, it made me super happy (as in abnormally happy with everything, felt extreme and artificial). However, it majorly harmed my digestive tract (stomach issues are very common with sertralines), causing me to throw up pretty much every time I ate anything. Even though I was not depressed before Zoloft, I sure became depressed once it took hold. I am still recovering from all that super unhealthy rapid weight loss and I am often exhausted and super sensitive to many food categories. I will never consider this route ever again, no matter how I am feeling or what I am going through. Of course, this is just my own experiences.

 

Something I should add: Xanax, while I was on it, was incredibly helpful.

Edited July 9, 2019 by MINAKO

[Raymeow]

They work only as switching on apathy from any sharp state of mind. If you don't have tons of money and a good therapist, that's the dead-end.

[LightWave93]

I’m on venlafaxine and buspirone. The side effects aren’t bad, unless I miss a dose or two of the venlafaxine, and then I feel awful.

 

I wanted to give another shout out to Venlafaxine. I had absolutely awful side-effects when I first started on them, and if I don't take them on-time...within an hour I get a headache, soon after sickness.

 

Not sure if they "work", although I did feel better around the time they should have kicked in, but yeah...this one's notorious for being difficult to start, use, and get off.