Should i insist on an antidepressant? and which?

[ILoveLife]

I've been depressed for years and years now. When I started my mood stabilizer things did get better, mostly due to relieving anxiety.
But I've been with suicidal ideation anyway, low grade and in the background that I got used to it but I'm tired of feeling like shit.

Days just pass, I take no real pleasure from anything except books and playing with my pets. I'm tired of feeling this way.

I'm afraid of going further into therapy without a cushion too.

Before I insist with pdoc I would like to have more information, I don't know anything about anti depressants.

I know meds work differently for everyone.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Suzetig]

I recently started on a pretty low dose SSRI mainly for anxiety, the early side effects weren’t fun (feeling physically anxious, hot flushes, fatigue) but they’ve passed pretty much after 4 weeks. I’ve noticed I’m much more resilient, less reactive and calmer - it’s like they give me time to think.

I’m starting to see my focus and enthusiasm come back again and feel much more on an even keel. It’s worth exploring in terms of just dialling down the feelings a bit.

 

[cherileisman]

From the get-go, I refused meds but THEY just kept pummeling & pushing drugs at me, so I had a difficult struggle on the question of meds or no meds and thought I'd throw my two cents in...I think if you want to try meds, you should be as infomed as possible about the pharmaceutical options before you ask/discuss with your doc, and that the best way to do it is research, research, research, but as you may already know, it's Pandora's box out there and sometimes hard to tell good information from bad (quack) data.

I have tried traditional anti-depressants and they just didn't give me what I wanted, needed, or expected so I decided to try a controversial alternative med & not only has my quality of life has improved dramatically and impressively, I'm also no longer chewing anxiety meds like Pez and down to only two zopiclone at night for sleep.

On a side note, I saw your post about quitting smoking and wish you success with that! You probably know this already but in case not, bupropion (an NDRI) aka Wellbutrin, Zyban are anti-depressants which also bind to the nicotine receptors and can be prescribed for smoking cessation but I haven't tried it myself...I'm a dinosaur lol, the chemicals in cigarettes are probably least harmful ones absorbed by my body :)

 

[ILoveLife]

I’ve noticed I’m much more resilient, less reactive and calmer - it’s like they give me time to think

That's what I'm hoping for really.

It’s worth exploring in terms of just dialling down the feelings a bit.

I think so too. Thanks @Suzetig

@cherileisman I'm on meds, an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer. I just want info on which class, side effects, etc. The anti depressant market is huge and I don't want to fall in the pits of the internet.

 

[cherileisman]

Wikipedia has very extensive information about anti-despressants which may be helpful...food for thought :)

 

[ILoveLife]

Oh cool. Thanks @cherileisman :)

 

[Suzetig]

With SSRIs you need to be prepared to hang in with some less than pleasant side effects for a couple of weeks - my doctor and I agreed between us the point at which I’d ask for a change (for me very suicidal ideation or mania wouldn’t be ok, but nausea, headache, fatigue would be manageable). By doing that beforehand I was able to cope with the side effects without panicking that I needed to come off.

 

[ILoveLife]

Thanks, yeah. Worse SI or mania would be barriers for me too.
I'm waiting for my pdoc to call back.
Really thanks guys, you helped a lot.
Once I get home I'll browse the wiki article.

 

[blackemerald1]

Hi @Sietz,

There is literally a smorgasbord of various brands, dosages, types etc. and varying costs too.

Completely agree with @Suzetig - it does take a few weeks for everything to settle down and see what side effects are lingering on, what is tolerable for you and what therapeutic benefits you are receiving.

I tried one many years ago...it was totally amazing the difference it made. Unfortunately I plateaued every month or so until I had to stop it completely because I had to take too much, the side effects were intolerable and the therapeutic effects reduced over time to the point where the side effects outweighed benefit.

I've had no luck finding anything that matched this particular medication since but if I could - I definitely would.

I think having a really good discussion with your psdoc is an absolute must. He/she may have their preferences and opinions or what is ok for your particular situation and will also knowing your psych and medical history is so important.

All drugs have side effects, all drugs interact differently on each person (in my experience).

Good luck my friend,

 

[ILoveLife]

Thanks b. :)

 

[bellbird]

Personally, the antidepressant combination I'm on currently - mirtazipine (?tetracyclic) and venlafaxine (SNRI) is really helping me. Like it has reduced my SI and anxiety to the point where I'm staying at my parents' house for the first time in 8 months (an absolute no-go zone when my mental health is bad).
I still have a ways to go, for sure, but it's helping. I feel more grounded, and subsequently more able to make rational decisions.

I am on high doses of each, and I always had week of super bleurghness and nausea whenever I had a dosage increase. (And venlafaxine is notorious for majorly shitty withdrawals when you come off the med fyi). But I suppose the point I'm trying to get across is: yes, meds definitely can help. If you'd have told me 2 months ago when I was inpatient that I would voluntarily go and stay at my parents' house and enjoy it, I would have thought you were quite mad :joyful: but here I am.

 

[ILoveLife]

That's awesome @bellbird! I'll have to wait until September. Can't see pdoc before that.