Best Antidepressants?

Luvtobemum

Im on Zoloft now for the second time and the first time I gained alot of weight, hoping not to this time,. But I see you mentioned other side effects your not keen on, did you happen to get headaches when you started it? im taking zoloft again cause it was a great way to prevent my chonic headaches the first time, and also for depression. Thank you for any reply.

GratefulRCC

5-HTP

RllyGudTweetr

I love how people seem to think things like sex & a walk or massage will 'fix' depression.

No... it MAY fix a bad mood.... but not diagnosed depression.

Being in a bad mood or a slum is totally different.

OP asked about ANTI DEPRESSANTS.... not how can I get out of a mood.

I'm trying to determine if the majority of folks in this thread figure you can also mend a broken arm by rubbing some dirt on it and getting back to chin-ups, or if they just don't think that the brain is a part of the human body that can sustain damage.

Have you ever actually tried being consistent with the things everyone is suggesting and see if it helps in the long run? Why can't they be antidepressants too? Thinking outside of the box is a good thing sometimes you know...I just feel really sad that you assume that only pills can solve problems (at least that's what I'm assuming that you're assuming.)

Antidepressants don't cure depression, just like taking cough medicine doesn't cure you from having a cold - it only masks the symptoms. If you're using medication to help with depression but don't attempt to make any lifestyle changes a long with it, once you go off of the medication (if you ever can - it seems like many people I know that are on it are too afraid to try and function off of it, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to be medicated for the rest of my life just to be able to deal with, well, life) many of those same triggers that influenced the depression in the first place will still be there. And then what happens? The depression comes back. Suprise surprise.

I'm with what everyone else has been saying. I used Cipralex for less than a year and it helped quite a lot, but you know what helped even more? Dumping that boyfriend that was triggering the stress and depression the most, getting a new job to get out of a toxic work environment, being active and getting outside in the sun instead of sitting on the couch and eating my feelings, and changing my diet to include more fruits and vegetables, whole foods, and meals made from scratch rather than eating everything from a box or drive-thru. Also taking the time to learn to love myself and all my imperfections and to embrace change instead of letting all those little things in life bring me down.

Positive lifestyle changes. They make the best antidepressant I've found so far.

You mean, like daily exercise and watching what I eat, singing every day (an activity I enjoy), while reminding myself I need to shower and groom myself every day day to look presentable? Yes, I have. No, these steps did not help my depression. At all.

I'm really, honestly glad for you that sunshine, sit-ups, and smiling before you felt the need were sufficient to 'cure' your depression. Please do not presume that these will work for others, any more than a hug from Mom - a perfectly viable cure for many a skinned knee - will fix all physical wounds. Antidepressants do more than 'mask the symptons;' they provide or help the body produce chemicals associated with feelings of positive well-being that many depressed people do not produce in statistically 'normal' amounts.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/MM00660

pinkraynedropjacki

I love how people seem to think things like sex & a walk or massage will 'fix' depression.

No... it MAY fix a bad mood.... but not diagnosed depression.

Being in a bad mood or a slum is totally different.

OP asked about ANTI DEPRESSANTS.... not how can I get out of a mood.

I'm trying to determine if the majority of folks in this thread figure you can also mend a broken arm by rubbing some dirt on it and getting back to chin-ups, or if they just don't think that the brain is a part of the human body that can sustain damage.

Have you ever actually tried being consistent with the things everyone is suggesting and see if it helps in the long run? Why can't they be antidepressants too? Thinking outside of the box is a good thing sometimes you know...I just feel really sad that you assume that only pills can solve problems (at least that's what I'm assuming that you're assuming.)

Antidepressants don't cure depression, just like taking cough medicine doesn't cure you from having a cold - it only masks the symptoms. If you're using medication to help with depression but don't attempt to make any lifestyle changes a long with it, once you go off of the medication (if you ever can - it seems like many people I know that are on it are too afraid to try and function off of it, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to be medicated for the rest of my life just to be able to deal with, well, life) many of those same triggers that influenced the depression in the first place will still be there. And then what happens? The depression comes back. Suprise surprise.

I'm with what everyone else has been saying. I used Cipralex for less than a year and it helped quite a lot, but you know what helped even more? Dumping that boyfriend that was triggering the stress and depression the most, getting a new job to get out of a toxic work environment, being active and getting outside in the sun instead of sitting on the couch and eating my feelings, and changing my diet to include more fruits and vegetables, whole foods, and meals made from scratch rather than eating everything from a box or drive-thru. Also taking the time to learn to love myself and all my imperfections and to embrace change instead of letting all those little things in life bring me down.

Positive lifestyle changes. They make the best antidepressant I've found so far.

You mean, like daily exercise and watching what I eat, singing every day (an activity I enjoy), while reminding myself I need to shower and groom myself every day day to look presentable? Yes, I have. No, these steps did not help my depression. At all.

I'm really, honestly glad for you that sunshine, sit-ups, and smiling before you felt the need were sufficient to 'cure' your depression. Please do not presume that these will work for others, any more than a hug from Mom - a perfectly viable cure for many a skinned knee - will fix all physical wounds. Antidepressants do more than 'mask the symptons;' they provide or help the body produce chemicals associated with feelings of positive well-being that many depressed people do not produce in statistically 'normal' amounts.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/MM00660

This +1


Know how much sex I'd have to be having to make me feel better each day? I'd never be able to leave bed.

peachcats

people who think depression is just being sad and thinking it can be fixed by jogging and some vitamin D are incredibly wrong.
seek real help, not armchair psychologists.

nikilis

Oh God. SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!

/thread

iron_jj

Weed & Exercise :drinker:

pinkraynedropjacki

Weed & Exercise :drinker:

Actually weed would have the opposite effect for depression. It's not a wonderful magical drug, nor one that should be used at all IMO

julesyb1982

Walking away from a 24 year career worked for me. I was lucky that my depression had an external cause.

I think that's exactly what I need.

DMZ_1

Frequent sex

inside_lap

I've found good sleep, meditation and prayer, exercise daily, and eating healthy keep me balanced.

Agree.

Medication is a tool, not a cure. It needs to be utilized to supplement the aforementioned lifestyle along with counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy.
All the medications OP listed have multiple side effects, not just weight gain, including chemical dependence and suicide.

I've been a nurse for over 25 years and have doled out more drugs to anxious, depressed people than I can count.
I've given doses of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety agents and other mood altering substances that would snow a horse.
Without lifestyle changes, counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy, they're still anxious, depressed, miserable people.

Want to explain that to my mother who despite all of that 'therapy' she was still schizophrenic, or to me where I am borderline manic.

Best treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is medication. Therapy can increase compliance and help facilitate understanding of the disorders and manage/improve the relationships in these individuals lives. Also recognizing patterns, triggers, and indications of hypo manic, depressive, or schizophrenic episode is key for the individual. It can ake a long time to find the right combination of medications. The best practice answer for one mental health disorder does not apply to all mental health disorders. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are significantly different from anxiety and depression (even though, yes, depression is a component of bipolar disorder).

inside_lap

This thread makes me incredibly sad. OP work consistently with a good prescriber (be it a psychiatric nurse practitioner or psychiatrist) and a good therapist (psychologist or social worker) that you can establish a healthy honest rapport with. Good luck in your journey.

Edited to fix autocorrect.

soldiergrl_101

I did Celexa and Zoloft, neither helped me. Getting my life in order and my weight helped more than any pill could

mellowadam

I've taken all the meds on the market. Struggled with bipolar and alcoholism from the time I was 16. At one point I was on 5 meds and weighed 300 pounds (I'm down to 201 now). It got so bad I was hospitalized. I realized a couple of years ago that the people in the mental health industry couldn't help me. While they had good intentions I just felt insulted by their suggestions. The only advice they had to offer was a lifetime of meds and therapy. They told me I would always be sick. I still take a small dose of Lamictal (a mood stabilizer) and I have no problem taking that one tablet for the rest of my life. It has worked wonders.

What worked for me...

A diet with mostly whole foods (A massive nutritional intervention!)
Tons of veggies and fruit
Tons of water
Strong coffee
Incredibly supportive friends
Putting myself out there to make more incredibly supportive friends
Long walks with my dog
Prayer
Meditation
Yoga

Good luck to anyone struggling! It gets better!!!

"The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step..." Lao tzu

_Fenrir_

Best cure for depression? exercise and lots of it.

dbmata

I've gained most of my weight since starting antidepressants. I'd say I'm almost more depressed now that I'm so fat. Anyone have recommendations of an AD that worked well and didn't increase weight gain?

Exercise
Wholesome Food
Steady supply of human trampolines.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

GTDS

Capt_Apollo

ice cream

arubamfp

tom_olech wrote: »

Pristiq...my doctor switched me onto it because in clinical studies it was shown not to cause weight gain....that being said, the studies were only for 8-12 week periods, so the long term effect are still unknown

tom_olech wrote: »

Pristiq...my doctor switched me onto it because in clinical studies it was shown not to cause weight gain....that being said, the studies were only for 8-12 week periods, so the long term effect are still unknown

This med caused a 20ish lb GAIN for me (without dietary changes) and didn't help with my depression. In fact, all I wanted to do was lie in bed and isolate. I'm currently weaning off it, which is its own special hell. It works well for some people (I assume), but not me. I have read that the drug is weight neutral, but for me and for many other people, it causes gains. In some people, it causes losses, though. Go figure.

Wellbutrin helps my mild depression and actually allows me to maintain a healthy weight.

Good luck! I hope whatever you are doing now is working well for you.

Peter_Brady

TheRoadDog

I've never taken an anti-depressant. When I have a problem, I share it with the world.

singingflutelady

I've tried more meds than you have and never had any weight gain

kchuskey

I'd start with a Psychologist.

FabulousFantasticFifty

Sugar & Sex!

_John_

ultraliting for bluegills is my go to...

Timshel_

zombilishious wrote: »

Exercise
Eat clean
Have sex...a lot...preferably not alone
Smoke weed

Eat better with less sugar and caffeine
Lots of sex, even if alone.
Exercise and get into a sport or something to occupy your mind/body/spirit.
More sex, even if alone.