Anti Depression pill

Very seriously man - don't listen to us yoyos on the internet. Talk to your DOCTOR.

What works for my depression doesn't work for anyone else I know. It took me two years to get on the right stuff (much of it worked, but had bad side effects), but the journey was worth it. Everyone on an antidepressent in my life is on a different one or differrent dosage. Our doctors helped sort us out.

There's no way in hell I would trust my life and health in a medical matter to us annonymous (or semi-annonymous) people wandering around here. However good intentioned we are (and I honestly think everyone in this thread is well intentioned), we don't know your complete history or other stuff going on in your life.

Use us for sounding board. Use us for asking our experiences. Don't use us as a substitute professional.

Talk to your doctor. They are the one most qualified and able to help you.

[quote - Scanjock8] of course the meds, regardless of variety, should be combined with some form of licensed psychotherapy for most people. i'm always amazed at the number of people i know that get antidepressant prescriptions from other doctors like their gp or ob/gyn, yet never see a psychiatrist.[/quote]

This was my concern as well. I may have missed something, but it is not clear to me exactly what you were taking the Zoloft for. Depression? Anxiety? Compulsive preoccupations? As mentioned before, you need to talk to your doctor. If you posted this thread because you were dissatisfied with the answers your doctor gave you, then you should request a referral to a different doctor. Whomever prescribed this medication to you should have discussed the side effects and estimated time of the relief of symptoms. You shouldn't have to go online to get this information after the fact. It should have been in your hand before you went to the pharmacy.

I suspect you are not getting the proper medical attention you deserve. I don't think it's a good idea to seek specific medical advise online. You should talk face to face with a medical professional and, if you are told that you need medication, try to get prescriptions only from specialists, if at all possible.

Those who advocate going ahead and taking the pills, regardless of the side effects, I agree, somewhat. It depends upon how severe the side effects are.

There is a common misconception that when you start taking antidepressants, the results are immediate. They do not function as other drugs do. You don't take one dose, and 30 minutes later feel as though you are on top of the world. I don't know of any antidepressants that do not have to do a process of protein-binding in the bloodstream and neurotransmitter regulating. This usually takes (as mentioned before) about 2 to 6 weeks.

Most often, over this 2 - 6 week period, minor side effects will lessen and then stop as your body adjusts to it new "balance of chemistries." If you are having just some annoying nausea, stick it out until you can adjust, and stick to your dosing schedule very strictly.

If, on the other hand, your symptoms are severe, (vomiting with the nausea), dizziness to the degree that you cannot keep your balance, others... call your doctor immediately and discuss the problem. Chances are, he will change your dosage or more likely, try another product. Don't give up.

RazorSharp?

I had a short unhappy experience with that drug.

A psychopharmacologist put me on it in Boston when it first was approved. I spent two weeks staring at the kitchen ceiling. When my boyfriend finally called the doctor and said "Stronzo seems to have checked out" my psychopharmacologist said "tell him to stop taking it at once!"

For me it was like being on a bad acid trip (not that I'd know mind you)

And people wonder why I rant so often about experimenting with various kinds of drugs. I worked for several years in The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in a medical school, so I've seen a great deal of the education and research that goes on. Psychotropic drugs and hormones aren't like taking aspirin. They can save lives, but they can also destroy them if not used properly.

I'm glad you had some support there, Stronzo. People often don't realize that changes in your blood chemistry can change your personality and perceptions. Neurotransmitter imbalances are not simple or casual. You probably either 1) had no perception of staring at the ceiling, or 2) realized what was going on and thought "this is scary, its' not like me", or felt like you were watching yourself from across the room but were unable to react.

I've had a very positive experience with Welbutrin.
No adverse side effects at all.

Heres my .02

I just went for my re-check today at my doctors office for my severe depression and anxiety.

Well after trying 10mg of Lexapro, I still am suicidal, depressed, and miserable.
However it did seem to level out my ups and downs a bit.

My Doctor's advice today, after trying a laundry list of pills, is "take the lesser of evils, even if one med doesnt work, try getting the maximum benefit out of one you can stomach"

Celexia is about the same as Lexapro, but You'll have a BITCH of a time trying to cum. You can beat your meat till its blue, and you still will not cum.

Keep trying meds, and see what works for you. Most importantly you MUST give each medication time to work into your system. Most say at a MINIMUM of 2 weeks, and I would agree.

I'm with ya brother...

Yes. It was option #2 for me. Thanks DC. I didn't know your history and background with this business - very helpful.

It was a feeling of utterly heightened anxiety (to the point that I was debilitated) and that I was outside looking in.

Good to have that input.

Because of the PTSD diagnosis I had after an extremely traumatic experience in my life it became necessary to find the appropriate meds to balance me off. I had some false starts and my family General Practitioner was certainly not the fellow to be subscribing anti-depressants for me. (I was corrected by my b/f. It was not the psychopharmacologist in Boston who started me on Zoloft) but rather my regular G.P.

Only after I went in and saw the specialists in Boston was I put on two things that, I'm told, I'll be taking for the rest of my life. Those two drugs and extensive therapy combined to work wonders on what was, in my case, not depression but classic debilitating anxiety.

I don't suffer from depression. I don't ever actually recall being depressed so I wish I could be of more help to the fellow who started this thread. But if this thread serves to highlight that it's essential to be properly diagnosed and seen-to then it's served a terrific purpose already.

There were several times along the way when I considered giving up the ship since my anxiety could be paralyzing to the point of nearly a vegetative state. Yet with due perseverance there's good help out there for anyone who has the wish to be better. Never take anyone's adivce but your own as "gospel" when it comes to these medications which are so readily dispensed.

I encourage this thread's author to not leave any stone unturned.

But I'd also encourage anyone suffering clinical depression or anxiety to seek the proper psychological/behavioral help in synchronization with the medications.

Stonzo is so right, it's best to get the right professional help that you can get, that you won't get from a G.P., treating depression is more that just dispensing a pill, I have found that in recent years, family doctors are just handing out anti-depressant pills like crazy.

the sourse of the depression isn't always a chemical imbalance, seeing a professional who specializes in depression and anxiety is the best route to take.

I know too many people who never acted depressed, or anxious, they go to the doctor for a physical, and walk out of the dr. office with a precription for a anti-depressant.

a good phychotherapist in my opinion would be a good place to start since you have had thoughts of suicide. and if he/she believes that a medication should be taken then start with the medication that he/she prescribes and maybe keep a journal of your thoughts and actions through the day.

as a couple of others on this thread stated, don't just search on the net for your answers, the people here without a doubt, have your best intentions at heart for you, and want you to get better and get the best help possible, but please seek the help of a professional that specializes in this area of medicine.

best of luck.
and please keep us updated.

Years ago when I was working for the airline industry, I witnessed a nasty plane crash and could hardly get myself to go back to work. I started taking Zoloft and seeing a therapist. The stuff made me more depressed than I was before. Then one day I came home from work, downed a fifth of rum, a bottle of Zoloft, and a bottle of Ativan, and woke up 3 days later in ICU. I still don't know why I did that and this was before the black box suicide warnings were put on the labels of anti-depressants. I'll never touch the stuff again. Paxil made me sick to my stomach. Prozac made me nervous. Remeron was fabulous and helped me sleep. I just had to try different drugs until I found the right one. I've had good luck with Wellbutrin XL when trying to quit smoking. I didn't quit smoking, but my sex drive increased! They all make you feel weird at first, but if you still feel strange after a couple of months it's time to switch. If I ever go back on one again I will most likely pick Wellbutrin XL.

Oh Yah...and I found that most therapists just didn't cut it (no offense to anyone). Going to a Psychologist was soooo much better for me. I agree with others here - one MUST have some type of therapy when taking any of these drugs. That should be a mandatory rule.

I talked to my doctor and I told him that I havnt 6 months. Also I lose my appetite. I hardly eat and with Zoloft I even even less food. He suggest that my depression was not too servere and that I dont have to take it. But he did give me a number that I should call him asap if I really need help.

But the best part is I'm seeing life as a good thing even though it doesnt seem like it and I always try to have a happy time.