ALLERGIC to ANTIDEPRESSANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been suffering from stress and anxiety for the past 30 yrs. I have tried therapy, bio-feedback and antidpressants. The first time that I took an antidepressant my throat closed up, my tongue swelled, my muscles ached, my blood pressure dropped, my eyes felt like they were going to explode along with other side effects. Over the years my doctor tried every antidepressant from A to Z all with the same reactions. The doctor finally told me that I could not take antidepressants because of my terrible reaction to them. I even tried other doctors who when they saw my reaction to the antidepressants just sent me to another doctor. So my PCP had no other ideas so he put me on Xanax 1mg. It helps with the anxiety, but does nothing for the depression. Anyone have any ideas ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I must have seen 12 psychiatrists in the past 30 yrs.

[ILADVOCATE]

That's unusual because there are a variety of classes of anti-depressants that work in very different manners. The site "Depression Central" has full information on what is available but I would suggest the best thing to do is see a mood disorders specialist and see if they could determine if there is any medication you could take that you would react to better including medications that are FDA approved but in clinical study as anti-depressants. Also good are psychopharmocologists (I see one) as they are "medication specialists". Also if you are having the same adverse reaction to multiple medications that need to diagnose what it is and figure out why as that would help them determine potential treatment choices.