Anybody get depressed while taking an antidepressant???

Hi E.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 about 17 years ago with depression, I have been on many medications and Zoloft seemed to work the best with it, but I still get depressed from time to time. I have been off it for 3 months right now due to no insurance and money to go see the Dr to get the script. I tried effexor which really did nothing for me, I stayed depressed alot more on it. You need to talk to your Dr and explain that you don't feel any different on it and you would like to try something else. Dr's don't always know what's best for you if you don't tell them how you feel and what you feel about the medication you are on. Good Luck with it.

Kartia

Kart .. you might try checking the website for the manufacturers of your meds.  Awhile back I didn't have insurance and was able to get the meds I was taking at that time free from the manufacturer.  For instance, if it's made by Johnson&Johnson, they send you a credit card-type of card to use when you pick up that medication.

Good luck!

Bren

Day .. I'm not sure alternative medicine alone can "cure" major depressive disorder.  It sure can't hurt, but I'm skeptical of it alone remediating this disease I suffer from.  As with breast cancer, alternative can help, but you wouldn't turn down chemo if it would save your life.  A good combo of western and alternative medicine might be the way to go. Vigorous work outside on my property alleviates many of my symptoms!

I agree about Effexor.  I would never take that, and refused when my rad onc offered it.  The side-effects when trying to quit are horrendous and it can take months to wean off that med. Thanks for the link.

Bren

Edited:  Typos!

Enjoyful,

The spending trouble you bring up is an effect of bipolar 2, have you asked your Dr about being bipolar also. I am and I am on Nuerontin, and Trileptal for it. I went thru serious highs and spending sprees, then wicked lows until I went on the meds. I would ask you Dr about being bipolar 2, which is not as severe as bipolar 1. Praying for you.

If you are bipolar 2, antidepressants will not help.  they will for a while, but then you end up taking more and more and they still don't work.  I have been on Lamictal for about 2 years (after 17 years of Prozac) and it has really helped.  I am also taking Seroquel which works very well.  Bipolar 2 is hard to diagnose as its not as obvious and people/physiciants are not as aware of it.  One of the distingishing features irritability and I was incredibly irritable and depressed.

E .. for you, from my garden last summer.

It's fine, Bren! t wouldn't have been so beautiful without it beng so huge!

Gardening is a wonderful anti-depressant. It may be hard to do it for some of us because of the surgeries weve been through, but it still is possible to do it. This year I wasn't able to do as much as before, but I still was able to putter here and there, and get more plants started in pots (my boyfriend will help me when the time comes to re-plant them in the ground). I'm just sitting on the ground and weed and plant - I got me some small gardening tools and they work just fine. I cant' do much at once, I work about 15 minutes, then get back in the house and sit or lay down for a while, then go back outside. If it's not windy, I go outside on the lawn chaireither with the laptop or with a book, and sometimes I even nap. This year I focused more on fragrant herbs and only a few flowers.

When you garden, it lifts your spirits. Every plant you seed is a hope for a tomorrow.

Oh how gorgeous! Spring must have come earlier where you are - we had our last bout of snow on the .. spring equinox and the last frost a week ago. I've been putterng all day in the garden - as I said, can't do much at once, and have to take very frequent breaks. But it is so beautiful out! I never use weedkiller my backyard - for several reasons, one, my dogs eat grass (like all dogs), two, I am a herbal healing person and I have a lot of "useful weeds" (like dandelion, several kinds of mint, wormwood, yarrow, and others) so my backyard is usually dotted with all kinds of blooms. I noticed today that my leatherleaf is in bloom - and my weeping willow is all covered in leaves, in only one week. I'm waiting now for a Home Depot gift card to come in the mail (from my debit card rewards) to go and get some potted flowers. I already put seeds in the ground for marigolds, petunias, cosmos, hollyhocks, snapdragons, daisies and a few more, and still have more seeds to plant. I'm waiting for a friend to bring me some lily-of-the-valley. As herbs I've already planted lovage, basil, dill, and spearmint. I am nuts with the mint, I have chocolate mint, apple mint, pineapple mint, orange mint. They make exquisite herbal teas.

Thanks!  The pic is from last summer ... getting ready to fill the pots and set the porch up again!

I like to paint the old pots, rather than buy new ones.  As soon as I have my flowers in them, I'll post a recent pic!  Another cheap tip is to spray paint the plastic pots into vibrant colors.  I have a picture somewhere of small painted water cans hanging on a fence.  Would like to try that this year too.

E .. hope all is well with you today and you had a nice time with DD.

love,

Bren

Edited:  Something I'd like to try!

Candi .. you sound just like me in the winter .. my mood is dark too.  The only thing to do outdoors is shovel snow!  waaahhh.

April is a perfect month is S.W. Virginia.  Low humidity and the sun is shining!

My depression was so poorly controlled on just the Celexa, until my PCP added Abilify two months ago.  I feel like my old self now ... the sunshine helps too.

hugs,

Bren

Celexa doesn't interfere with Tamoxifen metabolization .. neither does Abilify.  I haven't found either one to cause weight gain.  Another mood stabilizer is Topamax, which causes weight loss.

I didn't have chemo .. my weight gain ramped up when I was dx'd and my HRT was abruptly stopped.  I've gained 20 lbs over 3 years and just can seem to get rid of it.

I've heard the same things about Effexor withdrawal.  I also turned down that med when my rad onc offered it.

Bren

Bellergal is a combo of belladonna, ergotamine and phenobarbital.  I've taken it before for stomach spasms.

Bren

Edited:  Typo

Bren....your flowers are beautiful!!!!  hugs, Karen