celexa and abilify or celexa and Ritalin, or Effexor?

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SophiaMarie
SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
edited April 2015 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
celexa and abilify or celexa and Ritalin, or Effexor?
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  • SophiaMarie
    SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
    edited February 2015

    I've been on Tamox for over a year. A year ago depression crept in. My MO put me on a low dose of effexor, which didn't help. It was increased, but still way below therapeutic levels for depression - and I was super tired and felt like crying. Maybe just depression symptoms since the dose wasn't high enough? Well, I was switched to celexa last August. It took months until I finally was close to feeling "happy" - and then recently it feels like it just quit working. Back to sadness, wanting to cry, no interest in anything, etc. So, now they're considering adding some Ritalin as a stimulant, or Abilify. Or, the other option is going back to effexor and moving it up to the therapeutic levels.

    I hate taking any prescriptions to begin with, but I'm not going to stop the tamox - which I feel has a lot to do with this depression. I'm tired of struggling with this though and just want to get on with life. Wondering what your experiences have been with these drugs? Any suggestions

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  • farmerjo
    farmerjo Member Posts: 518
    edited March 2015

    Bump. Anyone with feedback? 

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  • cwayman650
    cwayman650 Member Posts: 102
    edited April 2015
    1. I have been on Celexa for years. There are times when I have had it increased, during particularly difficult, stressful, hard times. It works for me. Good luck.
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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    Have your Vit Dlevels been checked? SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is very real with low level Vit. D levels. This is not unusual during winter as we do not get enough sunshine. T is also not unusual with BC DXs. I've been fighting SAD for close to 20 yrs and am able to keep it under control by increasing my Vit. D and using my light box from Sept - May. Increasing Vit D and using a light box does not 'work' immediately as it takes time to build up IF it hasn't been used which is why I start using before I have issues each year.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited April 2015

    I recently started celexa because Aromasin was making me depressed. So far, so good. I've never tried Abilify or Ritalin, but we tried Abilify on my son (he has autism and has been having behavioral problems due to puberty). He had a paradoxical response -- Abilify was supposed to help him focus and slow down and it has the potential to cause weight gain. Instead, Abilify made him manic and violent and he barely ate anything while he was on it. The good news about Abilify is that it has an almost immediate impact, and you can tell in a few days whether or not you're having a typical response to it. So, if it's not working for you, you can stop it right away and it will leave your system fairly quickly.

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  • SophiaMarie
    SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
    edited April 2015

    to update - they wound up adding a low dose of Ritalin with the celexa. It's fantastic! I finally feel like a normal person again. I can think clearer, have more forward momentum, and no longer feel depressed. I absolutely hate taking meds like this, but I hated how I felt even more. I'm thrilled to have found something that works

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    SophiaMaria - how are you doing since starting speed added to antidepressants? I see you haven't been back since so worried. Has anyone heard anything?

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  • SophiaMarie
    SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
    edited April 2015

    I'm doing great! I was so apprehensive, but now im glad I started it. It's such a low dose of Ritalin, but it's enough to top off the celexa so I I feel feel normal again. As far as energy, I'm not where I'd liked to be, but least I can now accomplish things!

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited April 2015

    what type of dr prescribed the meds for you? I have no doubt that I am clinically depressed but don't know where to turn.

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