Help Is there an Anti Depressant that actually helps?

[sarahR]

If anyone has one that worked and recommends please lemme know. I have an appointment next week. And everything I've taken so far has no effects. It's like taking an aspirin with bad side effects.

 

[Deleted member 19654]

What have you already tried?

 

[sarahR]

What have you already tried?

long list buddy, Prozac, escitalopram, cymbalta, venaflaxine, trazodone,viorxetine, and lots of risperidone and quetiapine.

What have you already tried?

And you anything successful?

 

[Deleted member 19654]

long list buddy, Prozac, escitalopram, cymbalta, venaflaxine, trazodone,viorxetine, and lots of risperidone and quetiapine.

Wow you've certainly been on a lot. It's my first time on antidepressants so maybe I'm not really the right person to be recommending which one. I've recently started taking sertraline/Zoloft which is working for me so far.

 

[sarahR]

Wow you've certainly been on a lot. It's my first time on antidepressants so maybe I'm not really the right person to be recommending which one. I've recently started taking sertraline/Zoloft which is working for me so far.

Oh yeah taken those too. Didn't do a thing either. My brain is refusing to self activate! Forgot to mention mood stabilisers that basically is for seizures.

Wow you've certainly been on a lot. It's my first time on antidepressants so maybe I'm not really the right person to be recommending which one. I've recently started taking sertraline/Zoloft which is working for me so far.

Setraline is very popular in the U.K. Dont know if you are from there but they hand out setraline like candies.

 

[Deleted member 19654]

Yeah I'm in the UK. I think antidepressants in general are handed out like sweets unfortunately.

I hope you're able to find something that helps.

 

[sarahR]

Yeah I'm in the UK. I think antidepressants in general are handed out like sweets unfortunately.

I hope you're able to find something that helps.

I think there's no hope for me Max. You have no idea how hard I'm trying to fight this.

 

[Deleted member 19654]

What about ketamine? Unfortunately you can't get it on the NHS and it could be quite expensive.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Prozac worked for me for around 8 months back in 97. Worked like a dream. Then it pooped out. Every single AD I've taken since then hasn't done anything except give 'side effects.'

 

[sarahR]

What about ketamine? Unfortunately you can't get it on the NHS and it could be quite expensive.

I heard about that but isn't that a horse tranquilizer. Back in my day that was considered the rape drug. They prob use less mg though. I'll ask my doc. Thanks you Max.

 

[Deleted member 19654]

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/ketamine-service/ here's the link with more info

 

[sarahR]

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/ketamine-service/ here's the link with more info

Cheers beautiful cat!

 

[Gnip]

I have failed on seven of the eight different classes of antidepressants, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and my major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens.

The one remaining class of antidepressants I have not tried are the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, because there is no guarantee they would work either, or that their efficacy would be permanent if they did work, also because their effects are irreversible, and having not worn a wristwatch in decades, there's simply no way I'd ever contemplate wearing a Medic Alert bracelet.

I have been ruled out for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for reasons my knowledgeable and highly experienced psychiatrist has been able to articulate with precision to my satisfaction. The instant vortioxetine was released for use as the eighth category of antidepressants, he immediately prescribed it for me, but to no avail.

My only reason for filling and using medication prescriptions is to satisfy Social Security's requirement that I continue treatment for retaining my life preserving benefits, but my life would be no different with no medications at all, as they might as well be sugar pills. The one exception is 20 mg crushed Ambien (zolpidem) for sleep. I cannot sleep without that medication, and in fact did not sleep before modern medications like Restoril (temazepam) and Ambien came into general use and I was prescribed them by my first psychiatrist. (General practitioners cannot prescribe this class of drugs without risking their medical licenses.)

 

[sarahR]

I have failed on seven of the eight different classes of antidepressants, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and my major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens.

The one remaining class of antidepressants I have not tried are the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, because there is no guarantee they would work either, or that their efficacy would be permanent if they did work, also because their effects are irreversible, and having not worn a wristwatch in decades, there's simply no way I'd ever contemplate wearing a Medic Alert bracelet.

I have been ruled out for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for reasons my knowledgeable and highly experienced psychiatrist has been able to articulate with precision to my satisfaction. The instant vortioxetine was released for use as the eighth category of antidepressants, he immediately prescribed it for me, but to no avail.

My only reason for filling and using medication prescriptions is to satisfy Social Security's requirement that I continue treatment for retaining my life preserving benefits, but my life would be no different with no medications at all, as they might as well be sugar pills. The one exception is 20 mg crushed Ambien (zolpidem) for sleep. I cannot sleep without that medication, and in fact did not sleep before modern medications like Restoril (temazepam) and Ambien came into general use and I was prescribed them by my first psychiatrist. (General practitioners cannot prescribe this class of drugs without risking their medical licenses.)

Yes one of my doctors suggested ECT also but I'm afraid. Zolpidem does nothing for me anymore. I've built a high tolerance to those. So viorxetine did nothing to you too. There's nothing left for me to take then. I'm going to do like you. Just buy and not take any as it doesn't have any effect on me and is making my hair fall. I'm sorry we seem to be the ones without any hope on medication.

 

[sufferingalways]

I have failed on seven of the eight different classes of antidepressants, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and my major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens.

The one remaining class of antidepressants I have not tried are the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, because there is no guarantee they would work either, or that their efficacy would be permanent if they did work, also because their effects are irreversible, and having not worn a wristwatch in decades, there's simply no way I'd ever contemplate wearing a Medic Alert bracelet.

I have been ruled out for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for reasons my knowledgeable and highly experienced psychiatrist has been able to articulate with precision to my satisfaction. The instant vortioxetine was released for use as the eighth category of antidepressants, he immediately prescribed it for me, but to no avail.

My only reason for filling and using medication prescriptions is to satisfy Social Security's requirement that I continue treatment for retaining my life preserving benefits, but my life would be no different with no medications at all, as they might as well be sugar pills. The one exception is 20 mg crushed Ambien (zolpidem) for sleep. I cannot sleep without that medication, and in fact did not sleep before modern medications like Restoril (temazepam) and Ambien came into general use and I was prescribed them by my first psychiatrist. (General practitioners cannot prescribe this class of drugs without risking their medical licenses.)

That sounds awful.
PS, can you explain please what happened here; I'm sad about it but interested to know more;

"My major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens."

 

[sarahR]

That sounds awful.
PS, can you explain please what happened here; I'm sad about it but interested to know more;

"My major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens."

Same as mine, by inexperienced doctors that treated my depression and me like a Guinea Pig.

 

[Sherri]

Same as me, no effect. What keeps me living is Xanax only.

 

[TotallyIsolated]

I tried fluoxetine, citalopram, mirtazapine, and sertraline before I finally found improvement with venlafaxine. What dose of venlafaxine were you taking? The secondary effects don't kick in until you're on a higher dose (the Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition). It didn't work for me until I was taking 225mg per day, and I'm currently on 300mg.

The side effects aren't that bad for me, and it made me able to function and get a job again.

 

[sarahR]

I tried fluoxetine, citalopram, mirtazapine, and sertraline before I finally found improvement with venlafaxine. What dose of venlafaxine were you taking? The secondary effects don't kick in until you're on a higher dose (the Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition). It didn't work for me until I was taking 225mg per day, and I'm currently on 300mg.

The side effects aren't that bad for me, and it made me able to function and get a job again.

I was taking 300 also built slowly. Was a nightmare to come off them. Also did nothing for me. Like I said. Some people like me they do nothing and no improvement. It's sad but true. Can't go on like this anymore.

I tried fluoxetine, citalopram, mirtazapine, and sertraline before I finally found improvement with venlafaxine. What dose of venlafaxine were you taking? The secondary effects don't kick in until you're on a higher dose (the Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition). It didn't work for me until I was taking 225mg per day, and I'm currently on 300mg.

The side effects aren't that bad for me, and it made me able to function and get a job again.

On another note I'm happy it worked for you!

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

This big annoying pink thing has bean a significantly better antidepressant than any of the shitty pills i was prescribed lol.
View attachment DSC_1359.JPG

 

[sadworld]

This big annoying pink thing has bean a significantly better antidepressant than any of the shitty pills i was prescribed lol.
View attachment 50666

I love it hahaha

 

[TotallyIsolated]

I was taking 300 also built slowly. Was a nightmare to come off them. Also did nothing for me. Like I said. Some people like me they do nothing and no improvement. It's sad but true. Can't go on like this anymore.

On another note I'm happy it worked for you!

Thank you. I'm sorry it didn't for you. It sucks that it's such a lottery with antidepressants.

 

[sarahR]

Thank you. I'm sorry it didn't for you. It sucks that it's such a lottery with antidepressants.

Very true

 

[grungeCat]

I have tried quite a lot antidepressants as you and none of them worked the way I expected. Venlafaxine (225 mg, I increased dosage myself lately) has the best results so far but it also makes me feel ... weird. I don't feel as sad as before which is an advantage. Hey, sometimes when I distract myself I feel even a little bit happy. It's the drug that actually helps me to bear the misery of my life. However, often I feel like a creep. It seems to me like I live in my own world and the reality which I perceive is seriously distorted. It's not a bad feeling, it's rather more uncomfortable than unpleasant. I mean I still have no friends, no chance for a normal living but somehow I don't feel bad. It's the weirdest and most annoying side effect of this med.

 

[Squiddy]

If anyone has one that worked and recommends please lemme know. I have an appointment next week. And everything I've taken so far has no effects. It's like taking an aspirin with bad side effects.

Maybe you could do the genesight test to see which ones might work

 

[Gnip]

That sounds awful.
PS, can you explain please what happened here; I'm sad about it but interested to know more;

"My major depressive disorder is iatrogenic, originally installed decades ago by incompetent school psychologists when I was in my mid teens."

After I was taken off amphetamines at age 13, my poor or average grades became failing grades for the first time, and a false rumor was started at my hellhole of a small high school that I was suicidal about it. As a result, I was forced into "therapy" at the hands of young, stupid and incompetent school psychologists.

Well, if you are NOT suicidal at an impressionable age, but treated as if you are suicidal, guess what's going to happen?

Iatrogenic means "caused by treatment."

Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime was putting teachers, psychologists and other degrees into death camps, while summarily executing everybody caught with eyeglasses (which all of the teachers and psychologists who ruined my life wore). I felt the Khmer Rouge had the right idea. Abolish corrective lenses (I have 20-10 eyesight), and torture and execute degrees who deny the rest of us the pursuit of happiness. (To this day, I struggle to think of degrees as human beings. To me viscerally, they are subhuman scum. Ironically, I helped my best friend earn her PharmD, but during our second meeting, after I had told her at our first lunch date what my experience with teachers was and what I think of teachers, she blushed with shame and humiliation upon admitting she had once been a teacher. She also stated that going to college and university was the biggest mistake of her life, and that was the slim margin by which she preserved our friendship beyond her graduation.)

So far as my pure contempt of teachers is concerned, the United States was supposed to convert to the universal metric standard in 1980. Instead, the first nation to ever permanently install a universal decimalized currency system became the ONLY nation to ever fail conversion to the universal metric standard of measurements. (Today, Liberia's the only other nation not on metric, because they have never attempted the switch.)

America successfully decimalized currency because public schools and grades did not yet exist in 1786. (In England, William Farish, the laziest teacher in history, did not invent the disastrous concept of grading students at Cambridge until 1792.) Anybody in the United States who is stupid enough to take pride in being a teacher is given a very simple challenge by me. Find one single legally posted public street sign which states the speed limit in kilometers per hour but NOT miles per hour, and I will give them a check for $1,000.00! No one has ever dared consider accepting that challenge, because I'm RIGHT! And anybody who is actually proud of being a teacher is a complete idiot.

Public school teachers and psychologists are the absolute worst and most completely worthless creatures that exist in American culture, worse than pedophile pornographers, serial killers or drug traffickers. (As Senator Ted Kennedy stated during a Congressional hearing in 1976, the biggest drug pushers in the nation's schools are the nation's teachers, who push to have their students drugged with speed, because they have no teaching skills or abilities. Let's not sugar coat this. Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall is SPEED, and all my incompetent grade school teachers constantly pushed my mother to have my pediatrician prescribe higher doses of Ritalin and Dexedrine once he started me on them at age seven.)


YES, I am ANGRY! I am ENRAGED, and decided at age nine that I would NEVER have a girlfriend, NEVER get married, and NEVER have children, just to spare them the sheer hell which school already was for me at that age. And I was very sorry when the space shuttle Challenger blew up that Chrispy McAuliffe didn't have the rest of America's teachers in that shuttle with her. I HATE teachers, school principals and psychologists. Yes, my parents have caught hell from me for the fact they were also teachers (and my father was additionally an elementary school principal).

 

[Sinkinshyp]

There are so many anti depressants out there. I love your pink fella. What works for someone else may not work for you. It's a matter of finding they right one just for you. There are chemical imbalances and it's a matter of finding the one or more than one due to finding the right one or more for your situation. I hope you can find the right combination to bring you some relief.

 

[VivaldiBR]

No antidepressant works without therapy and without a personal search for your own process of self-knowledge.

Antidepressant is just a palliative for you to have the strength to do those things. Unfortunately no medicine alone can cure mental illness. It's just a mere repository of neurotransmitters.

We have to be aware of that. And psychiatrists must be honest in addressing this issue.

But you may have an antidepressant that works best for you, or a combination of them.

 

[Gnip]

Yes one of my doctors suggested ECT also but I'm afraid. Zolpidem does nothing for me anymore. I've built a high tolerance to those. So vortioxetine did nothing to you too. There's nothing left for me to take then. I'm going to do like you. Just buy and not take any as it doesn't have any effect on me and is making my hair fall. I'm sorry we seem to be the ones without any hope on medication.

I am struggling to ward off tolerance to zolpidem by alternating with 3 mg Lunesta (eszopiclone) augmented with melatonin (as my best friend does), but eszopiclone with melatonin hasn't worked for me recently. I'm hopeful that eszopiclone efficacy might be restored after a while not taking it at all, although Lunesta does leave an awful aftertaste like having slept with a copper penny in the mouth.

My next appointment with my psychiatrist is scheduled for next Monday afternoon (if my tenuous internet connection works), and my PharmD friend (who additionally has a Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry, the ideal background for a pharmacist) is suggesting that the corticosteroid dexamethasone is sometimes used in treatment resistant cases of depression in combination with mood disorders medications.

Also, since Aricept (donepezil) does not seem to be helping with my AD/HD, we think Reminyl (galantamine) might be a superior alternative, since it's also used with Parkinson's, and Parkinson medications show some promise in off label use for AD/HD.

 

[SmellyRat]

Mirtazapine helps put pounds on my waist