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I've been taking antidepressants since I was 15. At that age, I never took them as prescribed. I'd miss doses, even a few day's worth doses, and then take them again, so--I don't have a fair idea of which works the best for me. What has been the most effective for everyone else?
Even though I don't really suffer from depression, a very good natural mood-enhancer for me is salmon, due to its Omega-3s. I definitely notice a more positive outlook after taking it. I'm sure certain prescription anti-depressants work better, due to its higher potency, but people shouldn't disregard the natural uplifting properties of Omega-3s, preferably in salmon or tuna.
That's very interesting. I've never heard of that combo. If you would care to share on this thread or maybe PM me about how you came to this combo I'd love to hear it. I've struggled with depression and have tried Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor and am currently on Wellbutrin and have been for several years. I've stuck with it because it works fairly well with the depression and I also have ADD which is now commonly treated with Wellbutrin. But what caught my eye on your post was the Pamelor......that's a very old antidepressant and it's actually what I was first prescribed after they diagnosed me with depression when I was 19 or so. Anyways, I've typed more than enough here, but like I said I'd love to hear how this combo came about and how it works?
#135722 - 06/21/0602:11 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
Trampy
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/02/02
Posts: 2111
Loc: Southwest U.S.
Psychiatrists are going back to prescribing tricyclics because they're more effective than SSRIs.
They'll combine it with a low dose of a newer drug so they can pretend that they're not giving you a treatment you could have gotten in the 1960s. The Lexapro is thrown in there as an expensive placebo ... you can probably skip it.
Imipramine (Tofranil) used to be the Gold Standard in Phase III trials, but the new drugs couldn't compete, so the FDA changed the Rules and new antidepressants are now approved if they're P>0.95 better than placebo. That's progress, huh?
Anyway, Pamelor might have less side effects than the other tricycles, but they're all around the same.
#135723 - 06/21/0602:21 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
Trampy
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/02/02
Posts: 2111
Loc: Southwest U.S.
I've found that the most effective antidepressant drug is definitely Dexedrine. The time-release Spansules are the best.
Combining Dexedrine with an opiate will make it much more effective. If there is anxiety-depression, then Valium is a good addition to the mix.
These should keep your depression from bothering you even if you stay home all day watching TV. If you can't sleep and get tired of sitting there, take a Quaalude.
Oops. Wrong decade!
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#135725 - 06/21/0603:29 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
abbeyart
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 06/13/05
Posts: 3462
Loc: Somewhere out there...
A good bottle of Vodka and a straw always work for me.
But, seriously, I can't do the whole antidepressant thing. My doctor tried me on just about every SSRI known to mankind for a sleep disorder and they either completely shut me down mentally or made me physically ill.
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#135726 - 06/21/0603:33 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
tarheel1
Enthusiast
Registered: 07/12/04
Posts: 272
Loc: North Carolina
I thought lexapro was good but BEWARE of the withdwawels from this medicine.It is a living nightmare from the electric shocks going through your head to the feeling that your brain is frying.The stomach cramps and the mood changes are also really bad.Please discuss coming off this medication as well as the questions you have before you begin to take it.Do your reasearch.
Quote: I thought lexapro was good but BEWARE of the withdwawels from this medicine.It is a living nightmare from the electric shocks going through your head to the feeling that your brain is frying.The stomach cramps and the mood changes are also really bad.Please discuss coming off this medication as well as the questions you have before you begin to take it.Do your reasearch.
#135728 - 06/21/0611:11 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
tarheel1
Enthusiast
Registered: 07/12/04
Posts: 272
Loc: North Carolina
All I know it was about or if not the most horrible thing I have ever gone through.At the peak of coming off that mess I really thought I was losing my mind.If there was a gun in the house a may have used it.What's funny is that a couple months ago sitting my doctors waiting room a pharmacutical rep with a lexapro name badge sat down beside me and acted totally suprised about my symptoms.
#135730 - 06/22/0604:32 AMRe: Best Antidepressant?
abbeyart
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 06/13/05
Posts: 3462
Loc: Somewhere out there...
Why aren't doctors prescribing some of the older, safer antidepressants anymore (well aside from the obvious fact that they don't get perks for the older ones)? The older antidepressants seem to be safer, cheaper, and less harmful, both while you are taking them and when you stop.
_________________________
Everything's conditional. You just can't always anticipate the condition.
#135731 - 06/23/0608:38 AMRe: Best Antidepressant?
Trampy
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/02/02
Posts: 2111
Loc: Southwest U.S.
Safer? Not really. More effective? Certainly!
Doctors make a lot of money switching people from one ineffective drug to another. I posted that the FDA changed the approval process for new ADs when they could not be proven better than imipramine; now the drugs only have to be slightly better than placebo.
The only problems with tricyclics are the anticholinergic side effects. Sure, they can be used for suicide, but it's no easy way out. MAOIs have even more side effects and tyramine ingestion while taking them can be fatal.
Edited by Trampy (06/23/0608:42 AM)
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#135733 - 06/23/0608:48 AMRe: Best Antidepressant?
Trampy
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/02/02
Posts: 2111
Loc: Southwest U.S.
Quote: Even though I don't really suffer from depression, a very good natural mood-enhancer for me is salmon, due to its Omega-3s. I definitely notice a more positive outlook after taking it. I'm sure certain prescription anti-depressants work better, due to its higher potency, but people shouldn't disregard the natural uplifting properties of Omega-3s, preferably in salmon or tuna.
If that works for you, then you could also try liver and onions, which is almost as powerful as fresh Maine lobster.
_________________________
Vote Libertarian if you want freedom. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
I've only tried two - Paxil and Lexapro. The Paxil made me gain weight rapidly, which was depressing in and of itself. I'm on 20 mg of Lexapro now. I lost the gained weight and feel "okay" for the most part. I think it's helping the depression somewhat. I weaned myself off of it awhile, crashed and burned emotionally after about three months off of it, and then went back on it. I don't feel so hideously depressed anymore, but I still wish I felt overall happier than I do for the most part.
I've actually found Kratom to be a good short-term antidepressant.
I have taken tricyclics (back in the 60's and 70's. Then switched to SSRI's such as Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, and finally Effexor which is not just a SSRI. Effexor is generically (and chemicaly called venalafaxine. This drug not only prevents reuptake of seratonin but also cause extra seratonin to be manufactored. It is fairly powerful. Being desperate, and at the end of mu rope, I deceided to establish my own nedication plan. 3, 75 mg tablets in the A.M. (9:00 A.M.) followed by 2, 75 mg tablets in the P.M> . This was ineffective as my appetite increased dramatically (i.e. 3 nto 4 sandwhiches at each of my up to 5 meals a day along with numnerous snacks daily of questionable nutritive value. I gained 10 pounds in 1 week.
Needless to say that I stopped this trial with relative ease and am nor back to my old dosing schedule. My weight has returned to below normal and my appetite id non exsistant. As far as depression goes, I would give the Venelafaxine the best overall marks.
#135736 - 08/13/0605:58 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
theborg
Old Hand
Registered: 10/20/02
Posts: 426
Loc: Large cube
The best antidepressant is the one that works for you. Everyone is different. I've been on Effexor XR (75mg) for about 6 years. This was a miracle drug for me. It changed my life. But all good things must come to an end. It's finally "pooping out" on me. I'm considering either upping the dose or switching to Lexapro.
If anyone has experience with Lexapro that they would like to share, please PM me.
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I started using zoloft then swithched to Effexor. I had terrible side effects with both of these, I was depressed and suffered from panic disorder also. I believe the panic disorder was because none of the depression meds were working for me. I then started taking klonopin about 8 years ago and I swear I have never felt better. I stopped taking them when I got pregnant with both my children and never had withdrawels. I am not sure that this is even an anti-depressent but it works for me. I take one mg. in morning and 2 mgs at night to help me sleep. I hope this helps you.
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Opiates + amphetamine in moderate doses. A # 1 best. Trouble is shrinks try everything else first, so you run out of $ and quit going, before most get around to prescribing something effective. First day my wife came home with dexedrine was a good day for her. She is probably in the lucky minority.
#135743 - 08/26/0609:43 PMRe: Best Antidepressant?
maximumc27
Threadhead
Registered: 01/19/05
Posts: 637
Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa
I just moved to another state and went to my first doctors visit. He gave me 60 10mg Lortab to treat my depression. I told him that was the only thing that controlled it and he handed me the script no problem
Quote: I just moved to another state and went to my first doctors visit. He gave me 60 10mg Lortab to treat my depression. I told him that was the only thing that controlled it and he handed me the script no problem
I too have a friend whose doc gives her #30 5/500 vicodin and #30 5mg Valium per month for anxiety & stress!
I've been meaning to switch over, but I got so much other drama in my life switching docs is low on the list. But they are out there.
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