antidepressants

[n333]

I have been quite unhappy for quite a long time. I saw a psychologist for a few years, but was always too afraid to take any medication. Now my life seems even harder to deal with and I don't know what to do. I have two questions:

1) I am very afraid of the side effects and withdrawl problems associated with antidepressants. The things I read about antidepressants sound as bad as depression itself. I have been given both celexa and zoloft (the doctor said I could try either one). Zoloft seems to be less shocking to my system, but I've very afraid of gaining weight. I don't understand how antidepressants work. Do they just increase your appetite (so I'd know I was gaining weight) or do they change your metabolism (so I could all of a sudden be heavier without changing my food intake)? Would you recommend one of these two antidepressants over the other (not just in terms of the weight gain issue, but in general)?

2) In addition to being afraid of the medication, I can't imagine my life ever being good. I don't see the point in getting better because I don't think I can be happy. The world seems both painful and pointless. Is this common for depressed people think? Mainly I just think it would be pointless to take antidepressants as I can't imagine anythiing that would make me happy even if I wasn't depressed.

I guess I'm writing because I can't seem to find any tangible reasons to take medicine or to get better. I really don't know what to do.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

First of all, we all agree that the world is not in good shape..not a lot to be optimistic about on the world scene in terms of headlines...but below the headlines, the world is moving along quite well.

But your depression comes before and is separate from that reality.  Taking antidepressants is quite safe, and withdrawals from Zoloft and Celexa can be accomplished quite smoothly.  There is an appetite stimulation, but not in everyone, and Celexa is said to be a little better than Zoloft in that regard, although Zoloft seems to be a bit "smoother" in general.

You should take the medications AND see a therapist for counseling. You can start that process on line by going to the masteringstress program (link above) and become in greater control of your life by virtue of some serious conscious thinking about what is going on within you.

[imabratt]

Hi. You asked "Is this common for depressed people to think?" I'd say it's pretty common, although you must have SOME hope if you are writing to this list. A while ago I took Zoloft and it had wonderful effects on me. Side effects were minimal. I felt like I was meant to be. Relaxed, energetic, productive, confident. The two years that I took zoloft were very happy, and at least I have that to look back upon, and I have no regrets. For whatever reason (dosage, not consistent in taking medication or seeing therapist, drinking too much) the effects wore off, and I stopped taking it. Unfortunately we depressed people have to live in a society in which depression is misunderstood. We have to work a little harder to function normally, and we actually have to work hard to be happy. Hey, there's hope. Take care of yourself.

[loo]

Hi!
"Mainly I just think it would be pointless to take antidepressants as I can't imagine anything that would make me happy even if I wasn't depressed."

That really touches me, because I remember feeling exactly the same way when I started with my therapist.  I was so discouraged and hopeless, before I even got started!  Fortunately, I persisted anyway - with a negative, jaded attitude - and was SO pleasantly surprised.  

My doctor put me on Paxil - only about 20 mg a day, which was cut back to 10 mg after about 6 months.  I found that not only did psychotherapy help me but medication REALLY helped me.  It helped me NOTICEABLY, and with minor side effects.  It changed the way I instinctively react to things, which has made me happier, more confident, more relaxed, more tranquil.

Paxil did make me feel a little nauseaous the first couple of weeks, but that wore off.  Here's what I experienced:
- It kept me from ruminating about things over & over & over again.  I found that instead, I'd think things over, make an assessment, then MOVE ON to something else.
- It kept me calm; I stopped getting that panicky, frantic I-have-to-deal-with-this-right-now compulsion.  
- It made me feel SAFE, like I was assured that I am not going to freak out over any little thing, embarress myself or act irrationally.  
- It allowed me to 'organize' my issues a little bit, like I put them in little piles and then carted them into my therapist's office and dealt with them there.  My issues stopped popping up in the middle of a meeting, or a dinner date or a party.

Paxil changed my life.  I took it for about 2 years then I went off.  Now 6 years later, I had a major catastrophe hit me this Fall, and I knew right away that it would make things easier for me, so I marched into my therapist's office and got back on it.  I have NO worries about becoming dependent on it.  NONE.  

PLEASE, don't disregard the 'antidepressant' option before you even give it a chance.  I swear to you that it changed my life, by changing my reactionary behavior.   And it is highly likely to change yours too.  You probably won't notice the difference for awhile, because it's very gradual but 6 months down the road you'll wish you had gone on it sooner.  

Good luck!  Please talk to someone about trying it out...

[shasta]

I used to take zoloft.  It was the first antidepressant I was on (for aprox. 8 months).  The only side effects I had when I began it were headaches, which were off and on, and passed after the first couple of weeks.  I became very forgetfull after about 7 months of being on zoloft, so I was switched to celexa.  Celexa works wonderful for me!  The weight gain I am told is caused because your brain has about a 20 min. delay of telling your stomach that it is full when taking an antidepressant.  So if you'll just be aware of how much you're eating, you'll be fine in that area.
  Don't be afraid to take antidepressants, they will lift the stress right out of your life.
  Good luck to you.

[heygirl]

I am so furious at reading these posts!  How dare doctors pass out these drugs which are alien to the body without doing a complete test on the thyroid!!!! and I DON"T mean just tsh test.  It is next to useless in many cases.  Thyroid replacement therapy has saved many people...and it is not a toxic drug!  Check out my posting on one of the other threads here.  I give a couple of websites to go to to do your own research.  Don't take my word for it! Research for yourselves!  It is wonderfully freeing!

[Peagee]

SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANTS ARE NOT SAFE.  They are mind altering drugs.  If you get away without damage on them you're lucky.  If you don't, then try looking here and see what you're in for.  If you're unlucky your depression will seem a relief to whats in store.  SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANTS ARE addictive.  Search around.  

Try looking at this Paxil(Seroxat) petition.  READ THEM.  It will break your heart to read people's experiences and in amongst them are people who have lost their children to these poisons too.  Depression is REAL BAD, but adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms such as akathisa are WORSE than can ever imagine until it happens to you.  The petition link is just one.  There are others.  Thousands and thousands of people who thought SSRIS were SAFE.  They don't anymore.  Many people call paxil paxhell.  

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?oky71&1