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by CalvinCD on September 27th, 2006

CalvinCD

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What is a good depression medicine? I've tried welbutrine, prozac, and cymbalta.

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Answers. 47 helpful answers below.

  • by Eric_d_redbone on December 23rd, 2006

    Eric_d_redbone

    Depression is caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters, serotonine and norepinephrine. One class of medications that can be very effective for this are called SSRI's - selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors. The problem is, one shoe does not fit all. We are unique beings and anti-depressants can be a try and try again, until the right one is found.
    Secondly, and just as important is addressing your lifestyle, diet, do you exercise, and have you tried any psychotherapy? Another issue is overall health -> get a full physical and blood workup...Thyroid disease, hormone imbalance, diabetes, rhuematism/arthritis, restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea can cause someone to become depressed.
    I work in mental health and from my observations, SSRI's (Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and related meds), have fewer complications and more effectiveness over tricyclic medications.
    Always check with a qualified Mental Health Professional, ask for an evaluation from a psychiatrist, do not just rely on any doctor.
    All medications have some side effects, and be aware that almost always there is a way to deal with them with minimal discomfort....
    Good Luck

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  • by SalientAlien on September 27th, 2006

    SalientAlien

    Try eating bananas instead. 2 a day will increase levels of some chemical in the brain blah blah. I can't seem to remember where I read that. Anyway I've had a lot of bananas in my diet and seem a bit happier. Plus they're good for you and don't cost much. Hey, if you've tried pills something different couldn't possibly hurt.

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  • by Snooch on December 23rd, 2006

    Snooch

    What might work for one person.. could very well be harmful to the next. Our chemicals are not always leveled right and even the smallest dose of a mild anti-depressant could cause bad reactions with some. I would talk with my doctor and often times.. the first try is not always the last. It takes time to find what works well for people. What could be a wonder drug for one person is not for the next. I am leary of such drugs myself but urge those who do need help in the combat against depression to seek help .. from a professional.

    Edit.. also.. the worst reaction I have seen was not from someone on an anti-depressant but someone who was feeling better and decided to take themselves off of their medication without a Dr's help in being weaned off. Please, if you are on such medication.. and want off.. do so at the advice of your doctor and not on your own.

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  • by tigerlilly_2000 on September 27th, 2006

    tigerlilly_2000

    Exercise has been proven to simulate the effects of anti-depressants.

    Heres a link from the Mayo Clinic:

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

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  • by Namaste formerly future_health_educator on September 27th, 2006

    Namaste formerly future_health_educator

    Different people do better with different medications. It's frustrating I know having to keeping trying one after the other. You might want to ask you Dr. about tricyclic medications. The have a lot more side-effects but for some people they work better.

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  • by thinkin on December 26th, 2006

    thinkin

    I agree lexapro is a great one. I would still be on it if I had insurance it is really expensive to pay for out right.
    I had trouble finding the right one I just would tell my doctor what they were doing to me and we tried alot before I found the right one. The main thing to remember is give yourself atleast a week of no meds before you try a different one. Hang in there I'm sure there is one out there.

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  • by Mirage V2.0 AWOL on November 23rd, 2006

    Mirage V2.0 AWOL

    This is not a promising, or hopeful answer. But check it out with a psychiatrist for accuracy.

    http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/depression/treatment/antidepressants/index.asp

    Often, some people feel better while taking anti-d's. This doesn't mean they helped.
    When you check the detailed medical inserts that sometime accompany the drug, you can read about the studies regarding drug safety and efficacy.

    Whan compared with a control group, anti-d's as a whole, just barely produce better results than a placebo/sugar pill. But for a percentage of people, they seem to work.

    Depression is not always related to the brain chemistry that anti-d's effect. It can be thyroid, emotional, and unknown. Talking and reality therapy are equally effective. Electro convulsive shock treatment, ECT, works for chronic anxiety. Life style changes can help. Depression can be hard to pindown.

    Therefore, I say again, a psychiatrist is best suited to guide your treatment.

    NEW MATERIAL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.................
    Article excerpt. Link below.

    What most patients and clinicians alike don't know is that in the 47 trials used by the FDA to approve the six leading antidepressants on the market, more than half were unable to outperform sugar pills. Placeboes gave better results than the medicines!

    Even in those cases where antidepressants outperformed placeboes, the differences were slight. You are not going to hear about this, of course, because the drug companies can't make their accustomed outrageous profits from sugar pills. And it is likely that the demand for antidepressants would seriously diminish if all the facts of their research were widely known.

    http://www.bcx.net/hypnosis/placebo2.htm

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  • by orlyhope on December 26th, 2006

    orlyhope

    i take zoloft and geodon and i'm so happy

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  • by JameyHG on November 21st, 2006

    JameyHG

    Whenever I come across something like this I try to think of the most natural solution. A few people have mentioned some things: exercising as much as you can really does help you feel better, eating a balanced, healthy diet and literally getting out to places all increase your confidence and consequently your drive to fight this depression.

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  • by kyannie72 on December 23rd, 2006

    kyannie72

    My daughter is taking Zoloft and it is amazing the difference in her attitude. I can certainly tell when she's missed one. I took paxil for years but it started having less of an effect on my and went on welbutrin and that really worked for me. But I'm not on anything now because circumstances have changed in my life. I do keep a bottle of them just in case I feel a panic attack coming on and I will take them for about a week until I can get myself out of the slump. Make sure you talk to your doctor before you do or try anything new. If you're not getting the results from your doctor that you are expecting, try a new doctor. Mental health is not something to mess around with. I wish you all the best in your search and good luck in all you do.

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  • by staffie on December 23rd, 2006

    staffie

    with antidepressents you need to find one that works for you. What might work for one person might not work for another. You need to be on antidepressents for a few weeks before you will notice a difference in your mood and generally how you feel. at the moment i am on citalopram which is working for me. maybe you need to have a chat with your doctor and see if you can work something out.
    good luck :0)

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  • by genx-guru on December 21st, 2006

    genx-guru

    If your gonna put drugs in you system your not getting at the root cause of the problem.
    You might as well do drugs that will give you a buzz and find things that distract and entertain you.
    Everybody has ups and downs better to learn to deal with it than use drugs to try and escape it cause life only gets harder. You'll need more and more powerfull drugs the older you get.

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  • by Robert77 on December 21st, 2006

    Robert77

    I took Lexapro for a couple of years. I always felt really anxious and depressed. It really takes the edge off of normal annoyances throughout the work day. I really liked it and it helped me keep cool at work and make lots of money $$$$$$. Now I can afford my own Condo, woohoooo! I'm not really as depressed because I can move out of my parent's house.

    I'm weaning myself off of it now and hope I don't need it anymore.

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  • by pertiponi on December 20th, 2006

    pertiponi

    effexor saved me from self-destruction.

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  • by eddie1 on November 16th, 2006

    eddie1

    Lexapro is a good medication. Also Lunesta is a good sleep aid if your having trouble sleeping.
    A good nights sleep can really make a difference when dealing with issues.

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  • by cristnalyn on November 16th, 2006

    cristnalyn

    Zoloft works for me but I am also trying to change negative things in my life so I can eventually survive without it. You can also try kava kava (an herbal supliment) but gete doctors approval first. Even herbal remedies can cause trouble when mixed with prescriptions.

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  • by Anonymous on November 16th, 2006

    Anonymous

    I was on welbutrin for a few months, and I didn't see any improvement. The only noticeable change was that I had racing thoughts and a lot more trouble falling asleep at night. Then my doctor suggested pairing the welbutrin with another medication called selexa, which treats anxiety. As a pair, they are very effective. I hope that helps.

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  • by Amy on November 16th, 2006

    Amy

    St. Johns wort, a herbal prozac type pill

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  • by HappyJeans on November 16th, 2006

    HappyJeans

    How long did you take them for? Some people take ages for them to show any affect, I think it was nearly a year before i saw any great difference in how i was feeling.

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  • by cristnalyn on September 28th, 2006

    cristnalyn

    I have found Zoloft to be helpful but I also find that making positive changes in my life helps more. They have also recently come out with a generic for Zoloft so it is much cheaper now.

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  • by Pookie Bear on April 10th, 2007

    Pookie Bear

    I'm on prozac and its pants. The best thing is a hobby... no one looks forward to taking a tablet. Find something you look forward to.

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  • by Anjana on March 8th, 2007

    Anjana

    I found that the best medicine for depression is Spiritual practice. i was depressed for over a year. luckily i stumbled upon a website giving the root cause of certain diseases lie in the spiritual realm. I started chanting the name of God as per my religion of birth. I started feeling better in 2 to 3 weeks and was completely cured thereafter. i suggest you visit http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritualresearch/mentalhealth/

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  • by Anonymous on January 25th, 2007

    Anonymous

      Based on other content you've posted, it appears that your problem is that you're taking too many drugs already.  You're taking drugs that mess you up, and now you're looking for other drugs to straighten you out again.  It doesn't work that way.  Stop using marijuana and cocaine and “shrooms”, and methamphetamines, and alcohol, and whatever other similar crap you're taking.  This stuff will screw you up — this stuff has already screwed you up — and the remedy for this is most certainly not to take even more drugs.

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  • by VOD on January 24th, 2007

    VOD

    if you take antidepressants AND smoke dope you are creating a problem.

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  • by Robert77 on December 21st, 2006

    Robert77

    I took Lexapro for a couple of years. I always felt really anxious and depressed. It really takes the edge off of normal annoyances throughout the work day. I really liked it and it helped me keep cool at work and make lots of money $$$$$$. Now I can afford my own Condo, woohoooo! I'm not really as depressed because I can move out of my parent's house.

    I'm weaning myself off of it now and hope I don't need it anymore.

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  • by Tuscan on December 20th, 2006

    Tuscan

    Certain assumptions must be made here:
    1. your medical provider is treating you for an appropriate period of time and sees you on a regular basis
    2. you take your medication REGULARLY.
    3. your medical provider raises the dose of ONE medication at a time until the maximum dose proves to be ineffective. For instance if you are started on Prozac 20mg, your dose should be raised incrementally every 6-8 weeks until you reach 80-100mg/daily.
    4. you take your medication REGULARLY.

    If these steps aren't adhered to in a logical manner, you will never find the right medication to treat your depression...
    4. you take your medication REGULARLY.
    5.

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  • by JUSTNORMAL on November 17th, 2006

    JUSTNORMAL

    From my medical standpoint the best antidepressant out there is Paxil. No side effects, it's safe and works pretty quickly. Welbutrin is a crappy med and is supposed to be taken off the market. I have known people to take it to stop smoking and that had horrible side effects.

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  • by AntigoneRising on November 16th, 2006

    AntigoneRising

    I'm on Effexor XR. Welbutrin and Zoloft do not work for me.

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  • by disciple on November 16th, 2006

    disciple

    if you want the truth they all suck.if it is possible try and do something more fun in your life.take up fishing or any kind of excercise,especially martial arts.i understand some deprressions can be extreme but if thats not the case try eating extremely healthy and excericiseing.but if it is that bad see a doctor.

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  • by Simply msFortunate on January 24th, 2007

    Simply msFortunate

    Your doctor will know better than anyone here what meds will work best for you - simply because he/she has been overseeing the process of getting medicated. Most of all, you need to give each medication at least a month to start working, unless there are dangerous or incredibly bothersome side effects. It's a difficult process, but eventually, with the help of your doctor and a willingness on your part to keep trying, you will find the best medication to help take the edge off your depression.

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  • by taylor on February 18th, 2007

    taylor

    I like lexapro too, great for depression with anxiety.

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  • by staffie on December 16th, 2006

    staffie

    for depression medication to work you need to take them for atleast 6 months maybe longer. there isnt one medication better than any other because each person reacts different to the drugs so what works for one might not work for another.most of depression drugs take a few weeks before you see any effects from taking them

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  • by fruityloop on January 24th, 2007

    fruityloop

    I have taken most of the medication available on the market today. A lot of them gave me unpleasant side effects. I was on Efexor XL for a long time but had to come off it because it is not good for patients who have a family history of heart problems.

    Now I take Escitalopram (Cipralex) and it is very good. I have no side effects at all on this medication.

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  • by JESUSCHRIST on January 24th, 2007

    JESUSCHRIST

    IF YOU HAVE PAIN, I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO TAKE OXYCODONE 30 MG'S. THEY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I AM ON TOP OF THE WORLD!

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  • by Reginald on February 28th, 2007

    Reginald

    Lexapro had the optimum combination of effectiveness and least number of side effects. I felt a little zombie-fied but it helped. Life is a lot more interesting unmedicated though :)

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  • by SonicSand on March 8th, 2007

    SonicSand

    Zoloft has helped my teenage son's mood, but it has also caused him to gain weight. My friend's son is on Lexapro and she raves about it.

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  • by DavidHume on January 25th, 2007

    DavidHume

    Drugs are not the answer.

    Try eating good food and exercising regularly. Talk about your problems, to your friends and family if you can, or if not then find a good counsellor. Take up a new hobby, or if your taste runs that way, join a church.

    If you must take SSRIs, be aware that there are studies which rate them as no more effective than a placebo, ie a sugar pill. They often have side effects which are as bad as the condition people take them for. I believe we will see a horrible health scare over anti-depressants some time in the next few years.

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  • by littl_foggy on December 23rd, 2006

    littl_foggy

    9 mm

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  • by light_medic on June 15th, 2007

    light_medic

    BIG kudos to the first poster for knowing how to use wikipedia.

    Take this off a combat wounded veteran that has spent a few years coping with a lot of terrible shit. My hellish upbringing doesn't really bother me, but in Iraq and Afghanistan I saw some things that took me down a peg of two. Meds are great, damn are they awesome. I've been on more than you. Avoid two things: Relying on a girl and relying on meds. Don't substitute one thing for another. Do something that benefits you and someone else. Join the Army and go to Iraq that'll keep your mind off your troubles for at least a year, or become a Fireman and do some fucking good while staying on an ever present adrenaline rush. It might not be the 'healthiest' bet in the world, but I guarantee you it'll work. Not all of us can be the healthy guy anyway.

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  • by CaRbOnPrOdUcK is Baccuss on November 28th, 2008

    CaRbOnPrOdUcK is Baccuss

    Lamictal. It's new, but very expensive. If you talk to your doctor, and he agree's for you to try it, he can become y our advacate and you can get it for free or almost free from the pharmacutical company. It saved my life. It's a miraculous new drug indeed.

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  • by Nanoo on November 28th, 2008

    Nanoo

    Why don't you try 5-HTP its a great natural way to help with serotonin levels..
    It worked for me and i have tried most things :)

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  • by mac1896 on February 18th, 2007

    mac1896

    I was on Effexor for about a year after my (late) wife died. Kept my head above the water pretty well.

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  • by Mushen on August 25th, 2007

    Mushen

    Shopping. Try some retail therapy,

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  • by LORD SKO on August 25th, 2007

    LORD SKO

    PAXIL

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  • by silo singare on April 22nd, 2007

    silo singare

    Latest feedback is no depression medicine is any good - they're all a crock of sh*t. Go into rehab & cleanse your system with rhubarb, artichokes, & yoga. That's what Im doing & I'll never look back.

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  • by Bonitaverano on May 16th, 2007

    Bonitaverano

    Have you tried Lexapro?

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  • by Anonymous on April 10th, 2007

    Anonymous

    pls i what to know the causes of rhuematism, the treatment and those it affact young people of 27yrs of age.

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