Have Anti-depressants made your life better?

[Room101]

I just had a in depth conversation with a buddy who is the bar room fighter bad anxiety attitude type who has made almost a 180 positive turn around. He credits Zolloft.

With out divulging too much about my self, I feel I need anti-depressants.

Have anti-depressants mad your life better?

[Madrone]

1. YES - but not in the manner you mean.

Zyban = a smoke-free gal for 5 weeks now, and counting!

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. There is no stock answer...

You really have to try them for yourself...they are chemicals and they interact differently with everyone.

For me, the side effects were just too crazy and I couldn't handle it...I learned different methods of dealing with it and it's a daily problem that I have had to readjust my life around.

Sometimes it takes a big life change, not a drug.

Just my 2 cents.

[ibegurpard]

3. They SAVED my life.

However, I would recommend getting off them as soon as possible. Once you've had a while for your thought processes to cement in a more positive direction then you can test whether you can maintain that without them.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Yes, they have...

If you feel you need anti-depressants, you probably do. Wish I could help. My "drug" of choice is Lexpro, which causes VERY little harm.

[Maestro]

42. I use Lexapro too

and it has very little side-effects. I have tried Effexor and Serzone and all had side effects. Actually the Serzone didn't but the US banned it as has most of the world because of potential liver damage. Yikes!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. I would not be alive now without them, I fear.

I certainly would not be married with two wonderful girls... so, if you are misrable in marriage and parenthood, well ymmv.

[Don_G]

6. My Freeper Brother Has Used Them

For the past 30 years.

He dosen't get anxiety attacks anymore, but his sole focus is on money with his kids running a distant second.

[truthspeaker]

7. Yes. Paxil didn't cure my depression but it helped.

Note I see a therapist as well. Among other things, Paxil makes it easier to talk to people and more articulate, which helps with therapy.

It has also made me less pessimistic and more self-confident. I can have conversations with strangers, casual aquaintances, and coworkers without being afraid of embarassing myself with every word that comes out of my mouth.

It would probably work even better if I didn't smoke weed but let's not got overboard.

[soleft]

13. I was on Paxil for several years, definitely helped

If I had to go back on, my mother's been taking celexa - she had a bad fall a couple of years ago and ended up with ptsd, she's been doing very well since taking celexa. But I also have to stress therapy is vital to full recovery, I believe anyway.

[sniffa]

8. most definateLy

thank god my wife finaLLy went on em! j/k

i take zoLoft - usuaLLy keeps me happy.

[Lisa0825]

9. I took them for almost 2 years (along with therapy) and

it really was like night and day for me. I was on Celexa, and within two weeks, I was already feeling much, much better. Sometimes I think I could benefit from them again, but I haven't gotten around to seeing the doctor (new insurance and all).

[LynneSin]

10. oh my yes

I put myself through so much stress when I moved to Delaware that I was in a crying fit at the drop of a pin.

I couldn't imagine NOT taking Lexapro. Definately worth it!!

[pagerbear]

11. I couldn't sleep with them

...so I never stayed on them very long. Not sure I could tell any difference during those periods.

I will say, however, that with the help of many years of therapy my clinical depression has pretty much lifted. Or at least decreased tremendously. I still have ups and down, just like everyone.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

12. Anti-depressants don't "cure" depression...

As far as making your life better, a friend of mine said anti-depressants mellow out your moods, so you don't feel the extremes anymore (happy OR sad). So that could be good or bad, depending on your personal preferences.

But anti-depressants aren't intended to cure depression. They may make you feel less depressed, but they should always be used in conjunction with therapy to address the issues that brought on/perpetuated the depression in the first place. With that said, I know they've saved many lives, and I know that many people have found them very helpful. It's best to talk to a trusted physician (I know that is becoming more and more of an oxymoron these days) about it. If they don't recommend a counseling type therapy combined with anti-depressants, they're not operating in your best interests and you should get a second opinion.

Best of luck... :hug:

[Lisa0825]

19. not exactly true

If one's depression is chemically based, then adjusting the chemistry helps. I was not just mellowed out. I was finally ABLE to feel happiness. It's not just a "reel in all emotions" effect. SSRIs, at least do target a particular chemical balance (serotonin).

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

48. Agreed with that...

I feel that my world view before was black and white compared with now which is vivid color.
Although, I did not feel like it was black and white before, and the only change between the two are SSRI's.
It is very difficult to explain to anyone who has not seen the change, and felt the imbalance in your head ebb and flow with the levels of the meds.

[shugah]

46. just want to reiterate what Lisa0825 said

anti deressants are not a "happy drug" or a "fix-all." but for those who are suffering chemical imbalance depression, the right prescription can go a long way toward alleviating suicidal tendencies.

traditional therapies are not likely to help those who suffer depression because of chemical irregularities without something to balance the predisposition to depression and suicide.

i know i am out of my element here on DU- with all the experts and the experts.

to answer the question of the thread starter: yes, anti depressants have made my life better - but i am not the one taking them.

[johnnie]

14. I have never taken them

I could have been a definite candidate for them for the last 25 years or so (if not longer), but I have never got on any anti-depressants.
I have found many different ways to get through the day. I still have many bouts with insomnia, but I just wait until the cycle is over and then move on. I have had insomnia since I was a little child, so at the age of 40 I am just used to it. Depression is something that I had dealt with for many years from my teens until my early 30's. I have found many keys to bring me back to life if depression starts to set in again.
Many of my friends are on or have been on these meds and the only thing that I have noticed is that it was hard to adjust to what they turn in to. Many of them switched from one to another until they think they had it right.
One other observation is that the majority of people I know that got on them has been the result of relationships gone bad or not being able to get in to a relationship at all.
I believe that these meds can be very helpful in many situations, but too many people depend on them to make them "happy". I prefer my methods, but I am me and I respect each person to make their own decisions. I just think that anti-depressants have become the Valium of today and I wish that there was a way for people to live better lives without drugs.

[Bertha Venation]

15. YES

There are some things that therapy can't fix; namely, a chemical imbalance. I have been through therapy and emerged a healthy and a changed woman, but without an antidepressant, I can't get through a day. It's not experiences that causes what remains of my depression; it's biology, heredity, chemistry.

[Room101]

16. Thanks, Everyone -nt

.

[devilgrrl]

17. Yes but they are not for everyone.

As for myself - I can't function without it.

[MissMillie]

18. Definitely helped me

Not too long ago, getting out of bed was like an act of congress for me. I was so depressed. I had so much to deal with that I was overwhelmed, and I shut down. I didn't want to have to face anything, not even the morning light.

Thank goodness I got help. Analysis and anti-depressants have made a big difference for me.

Don't just expect the pills to do all the work. They won't. They may help, but you still need to find a way to dig yourself out. For some people this means analysis. I imagine it may be different for others.

[Susang]

20. Nope, they made me much worse unfortunately

It seems I have atypical depression. SSRIs didn't do any good for me and they gave me neurological symptoms that wreaked havoc on my life. I was not surprised when the FDA demanded the warning labels on SSRIs be expanded to include suicide, suicidal thoughts and self destructive behavior.

Of course many of those side effects weren't listed in the literature, I had to do a little research and find the information myself. Turns out there's a whole lot of SSRI side effects and interactions, particularly neurological, that are not reported in the initial tests that have cropped up in their day to day usage.

I'm not against the use of SSRIs, but I do think that the vast amount of prescriptions being written for them may come back to haunt us later, as we really don't yet know the physical effects of using these drugs long term.

It bothers me to know that we (as in doctors, scientists, etc) don't even quite know or understand why the drugs even work on depression. All we have are hotly contested theories, and quite a lot of them. I'm reading a fascinating book on the topic right now coincidentally, called The Noonday Demon:An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Soloman. Written by a depressive about depression, it's brilliant. I highly recommend it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. yes

[curse10]

22. yes- for the first time in years I was able to function

And I totally credit Lexapro.

I actually felt normal.

[Lestat]

23. Zoloft is working for my anxiety...

but it's doing shit to help my depression. At least Paxil did well on my depression, but it made me sleep. :(

I guess you can't get both conditions helped with just one medication. :(

[sundog]

24. yuck-- hell no...

"they" tried to prozac me once upon a time -- I felt horrible -- nervous, shaky...

After that I dumped the shrink & embarked on self-therapy & inner exploration through LSD & marijuana -- definitely not "doctor recommended" but it worked for me

I feel like anti-depressants work on the symptoms, but not the root of the problem...

Now I have "downs," but if you know your mind & soul, then you know how to deal with your emotions better. Moods affect you less dramatically...

I'm more interested in the WHY behind human feelings... It's all about knowing yourself & not having to fit into other people's ideals of "up" & "down."

I suppose medication is good for some people, but not for me :)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. lsd adn marijuana are medications in a certain sense of the word too

[sundog]

29. yeah, self-medication...

since the doctor will never give it to you -- I guess anything that doesn't line the pockets of pharmaceutical companies is "bad"... friggin robbers...

[Lisa0825]

28. IF the root of the problem is a chemical imbalance, then it IS

working on the root of the problem. However, there is a lot of "the chicken or the egg" discussion about whether stree factors cause lowered serotonin, which results in depression, or whether depression causes lowered serotonin. I believe in my case, I have low serotonin, and when stressed, depression kicks in. Therefore, taking SSRIs elevates the serotonin and relieves the depression.

[Nikia]

35. I don't think there is anyway to know if it is serotonin in a patient

I mean in the case of a patient that comes in with depression or anxiety. There isn't a chemical test like there is for thyroid disorders or anemia (If there is it isn't usually done to my knowledge). For people with the serotonin problem, SSRI do help those people. Some people have bad side effects on those drugs and some get worse. Perhaps their problem isn't serotonin. It is like when they give acid reducers to people with stomach problems who actually have lower than average stomach acid.

[KinkyDem]

32. For psychological health ...

I prefer high quality E.

[Beware the Beast Man]

26. Somewhat

I deal with anxiety & panic, especially over the last few years. I've had a lot happen: moved several times, met the woman of my life, started a new job only to get laid off 2 years later, 9/11, etc. Not to mention I'm just anxiety prone to begin with. I've been taking a relatively low dosage of Zoloft (50 mg a day) for 3 years now, but sometimes I would still feel overwhelmed and anxious. The only difference is that I don't feel the guilt & depression as much, if at all. So I guess it has worked to an extent.
I realized that dealing with anxiety or depression requires a complete restructuring of your lifestyle. Meds alone aren't the solution. My wife & I began dieting and exercising, as well as trying to get out and actually do physical thingsk, and that has helped quite a bit. Also for you spiritual folk, getting in touch with your faith is also a great help. Sometimes, just a prayer or meditation really helps to clear your head.
And most of all, THINK POSITIVE! One of the biggest traps of depression is to think that thinking positive is not thinking "real." There's a lot of negativity these days. Think of all the great stuff that you have and that is out there.

Sorry for such a long post, this has been theraputic for me.

[noonwitch]

27. They could, if my mother would only start taking them!!!!

I'm only kidding a little. My mother has been chronically depressed her whole life, not to mention codependent and having a strange relationship with her parents. Since she and my dad split in 1986, she's only gotten worse. She's not suicidal or anything, just annoying. And I live 140 miles away from her-my poor sister lives 30 miles away and has to deal with her every other day.

[KinkyDem]

30. No

but I have found that periodic use of MDMA two to four times a year has improved my life emensly.

I do not advocate taking E as a party drug and in fact would discourage people from doing so.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

31. Saved my neck, literally.

I have been on them twice in my life, once when I developed panic disorder with agoraphobia and then when I started to go through perimenopause and had crippling symptoms.

As mentioned above, they are not "happy" pills -- I describe the effect like this:

You're treading water in a pool and your feet can't touch the bottom. It's a struggle to keep afloat and sometimes your go under. With an antidepressent, it's like someone lifted the pool bottom to reach your feet - you're still in the water and swimming, but it's nowhere near the struggle.

And as mentioned, I feel therapy (either cognitive or talk) in conjunction with the meds is important. I find that the meds allowed me to accomplish more in therapy.

Have yourself evaluated by someone OTHER than your primary care physician. You need a full-on shrink to help with this. And be prepared to go through a period fo finding the right med in the right dosage -- it can take awhile and be very frustrating.

[djeseru]

33. At first...

...when it was just Prozac, I felt okay. But after the suicide attempt, then therapy with Serzone, then Serzone combined with Effexor, then just the Effexor, I felt worse & worse. But the kicker was trying to come off the Effexor ~ the withdrawals were awful. They were enough to tell me that I don't need a chemical in my brain, especially after having weeks of 'brain shivers.' Did try Depakote for a little but it made me sleepy all the time, couldn't concentrate.

So now I'm anti-depressant-free, trying to maintain it after this 10-year 'experiment.' I think I'm more afraid of the anti-depressants now than my depression. At least I know the depression is mine!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

34. When I was sliding deeper and deeper into depression

in 1989, they kept me from going all the way over the edge.

They didn't cure me, because my depression was more situational than anything, but they stopped the slide, made me able to sleep for the first time in months, and made me functional on a day to day basis.

This was before Prozac, so they also made me gain weight, which I've never really lost, and they left me with a constant metallic taste in my mouth. But it was a small price to pay.

[bubblesby2002]

36. No prozac made my life worse.......

and made my mouth dry and my libido non-existent. Stayed on prozac only long enough to get off.

[Nikia]

37. I didn't have much luck with them

There was Paxil which made me emotionless, have no interest in sex or food, and violent in my sleep. Zoloft made me have a high level of anxiety (but not quite to panic stage) all day, every day. My doctor wanted to try me yet on another SSRI and I refused. My problem was panic attacks. I got a beta blocker (also helped my borderline hypertension), group therapy, and Xanax to take if I had a panic attack. Then I felt better. A year later, my chronic sinus infections and mysterious stomach problems were cured with antobiotics and I felt even better. I would not say I am cured. I have considered getting back into therapy because I have been both down and anxious over several things in my life lately. I am functional and not afraid to go anywhere anymore. I am also relaxed some times.

[AlienGirl]

38. Yes

Here's what it's like when I am on Paxil:

I get an unexpected bill in the mail. I think, "Oh no, a bill! I need to pay it. Hmm, how can I budget this in?"

Here's what it's like without Paxil:

I get an unexpected bill in the mail. I think, "Oh no, a bill! I'll never be able to pay this. How did I run this one up? It happened because I am a terrible irresponsible person. I will never have a good job and I'll never even make enough to get out of the $40000-plus of debt I have, which is more than my life's even worth, so I should probably just kill myself now before things get any worse."

So, yes, antidepressants help me.

Tucker

[geniph]

39. I wouldn't be here posting without them

There are several times in my life that I would not have survived without medication. I've been a chronic, suicidal depressive for most of my life, and antidepressants enabled me to survive my 30s still breathing.

I'm off prescription ADs these days, but I would never fault anyone for needing them for a time.

[TexasBushwhacker]

40. Absolutely

Depression runs in my family and I first started having a problem while I was in college. I've been on and off various AD's most of my adult life. I also found out about 9 years ago that I have an auto-immune thyroid disease that makes my depression worse. Once I started taking supplemental thyroid hormone, I started getting a much better handle on the depression. I do wish that insurance paid more for therapy, because I could definitely use that as well, but yes, AD's kept me alive. I have no doubt.

[Mojambo]

41. I just started on Lexapro 4 days ago

I'm encouraged to hear that it has helped some of you all.
So far I'm only noticing 2 effects.

1. Big-time drowsiness
2. It's taking forever to have an orgasm.

[Skittles]

43. they are being handed out like candy

they should only be prescribed for serious depression

[Nikia]

44. I agree

When I told my new doctor (the doctor was new because I had just moved to the area) that I had 2 panic attacks in three weeks, she immediately wanted to give me Paxil. It wasn't until after both Paxil and Zoloft and I said that I wasn't going to try any other SSRIs that she let me see a mental health professional or even suggested it.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

45. Family dr. had me trying Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor (did I leave any out??)

and finally referred me to a psychiatrist since I kept gaining weight (total of 40 lbs.) all from these meds. I'm now on Xanax and Wellbutrin for anxiety/depression. To lose weight, she has me taking Topomax, which is actually a drug traditionally used to prevent seizures. So far, I've lost about 37 of those 40 lbs.

[LuLu550]

47. yup! and a good counselor

I was circling the drain around Christmas time....feel soo much better now...but you really need to go to a good counselor, too.

[flamingyouth]

49. I became way more anxious when I briefly took Paxil

I would never take that stuff again, nosiree.:scared:

[lazarus]

50. meds can be good

I take a veritable cocktail of medications, and they're the only things keeping me sane. Literally.

Biochemical imbalances are no different in psychological problems than any other problems. My meds are as important and necessary as insulin is to a diabetic.

[Pithlet]

51. Yes. It helped me with PPD

Post Partum Depression. I had it with my firstborn, but didn't realize it till after the fact. I knew what to look for this time, so I didn't hesitate to ask for help after my second born. I wished I'd known better the first time around. I didn't have to suffer. I still feel a range of emotions, but the bad ones don't overwhelm me, and I have more energy.

I'm thinking about asking my doctor to stay on it longer, because it has helped in other ways, too. I tend to have a problem with anxiety, and that has pretty much disappeared.

Everyone is different, though, like others in this thread. Mine was definitely a chemical problem due to hormonal shift. Some people respond better to therapy, or therapy + medication.

[Room101]

52. My anxiety is making me nuts

I hate the felling I get in public.

Thank you, for all the input DU.
I will talk to my doctor soon.

[VOX]

53. Small dose of lexapro has worked wonders with panic disorder...

Like turning down a thermostat. Wish the SSRIs had been available years ago...