Aa
antidepressants before therapy
Hello all,
I am due to start treatments in about a week and am wondering whether I should be starting on an anti-depressant now or wait to see if I need it. I got a prescription for Paxil but it almost made my moods worse. I'm irritable a lot of the time now and am afraid it will get worse once I start treatment.
Can anyone recommend a good anti-depressant without a lot of side effects? And are there some natural anti-depressants that might work?
Thanks,
NancyPF
I am due to start treatments in about a week and am wondering whether I should be starting on an anti-depressant now or wait to see if I need it. I got a prescription for Paxil but it almost made my moods worse. I'm irritable a lot of the time now and am afraid it will get worse once I start treatment.
Can anyone recommend a good anti-depressant without a lot of side effects? And are there some natural anti-depressants that might work?
Thanks,
NancyPF
Thanks everybody. Sounds like different drugs do different things to different people. I guess I just need to wait and see how they effect me.
NancyPF
NancyPF
First off, I HATE anti-depressants. I hate the way they make me feel and can't understand why anyone would abuse them. With that said....
The first time I treated I treated I braved it without ADs and at about 4 weeks into tx I about lost it. By then it took almost 2-3 weeks for the anti-depressant to kick in. That time I used Wellbutrin which made me jittery, sleepless and loose weight like crazy. Wellbutrin is not sometheing I'd recommend.
My 2nd tx was in the Vertex Prove 3 trial. My doc was very proactive and started me on Lexapro 3 weeks before the first shot. I also hated Lexapro (especially while not taking INF injections) but proactively taking it helped me avoid the symptoms of deppression. My doc gave me some good sleeping pills that helped counter the feelings of ADs.
I have no experience with Paxil.
DO take an AD in advance of tx. 2-3 weeks is what I'd recommend.
Good luck,
miked
The first time I treated I treated I braved it without ADs and at about 4 weeks into tx I about lost it. By then it took almost 2-3 weeks for the anti-depressant to kick in. That time I used Wellbutrin which made me jittery, sleepless and loose weight like crazy. Wellbutrin is not sometheing I'd recommend.
My 2nd tx was in the Vertex Prove 3 trial. My doc was very proactive and started me on Lexapro 3 weeks before the first shot. I also hated Lexapro (especially while not taking INF injections) but proactively taking it helped me avoid the symptoms of deppression. My doc gave me some good sleeping pills that helped counter the feelings of ADs.
I have no experience with Paxil.
DO take an AD in advance of tx. 2-3 weeks is what I'd recommend.
Good luck,
miked
PS. what I like about XANAX and Lorazepam is that they DO NOT change your brain's chemistry --- I'm just not into diverting or changing my chemistry THAT much. Plus - they make me feel really weird --- twitching and constant MONKEY yawns just doesn't look good on a lady... LMAO!
From what I understand, tx induced depression doesn't get kicked off for several weeks after starting. jerry
I can't do serotonin reuptakes - they give me the "YAWNS" --- non stop yawning...
I did Xanax and Lorazepam...
For all day - Xanax --- for short fast acting Lorazepam.
When I was on a roll of anxiety or just "uncomfortableness" I would take the Xanax... Or if I was feeling super grumpy --- and couldn't shake it --- or if I was "down".
If there was a situational moment where I just couldn't stop feeling "freaky" OMG can't breathe - I'd take a Lorazepam and 20 minutes later - phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
It made a huge difference.
Start off on lower doses and figure out what your body needs.
Remember the best thing to do is to journal your daily thoughts.
Also ---- watch happy movies and read happy books...
Keep happy "floaty things" around you.
Watch your moods --- do NOT let yourself slip into depression - if you notice it --- COMBAT it.
Hugs!
Meki
Always find out what your body needs because EVERYONE reacts differently --- I fall asleep on ritalin... OK?
Have a great day.
I did Xanax and Lorazepam...
For all day - Xanax --- for short fast acting Lorazepam.
When I was on a roll of anxiety or just "uncomfortableness" I would take the Xanax... Or if I was feeling super grumpy --- and couldn't shake it --- or if I was "down".
If there was a situational moment where I just couldn't stop feeling "freaky" OMG can't breathe - I'd take a Lorazepam and 20 minutes later - phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
It made a huge difference.
Start off on lower doses and figure out what your body needs.
Remember the best thing to do is to journal your daily thoughts.
Also ---- watch happy movies and read happy books...
Keep happy "floaty things" around you.
Watch your moods --- do NOT let yourself slip into depression - if you notice it --- COMBAT it.
Hugs!
Meki
Always find out what your body needs because EVERYONE reacts differently --- I fall asleep on ritalin... OK?
Have a great day.
Hey Bill,
I actually requested them from my hepatologist, and they gave my Paxil. I took it three days, and two people told me they are addictive and cause some side effects. I have heard Lexipro and Wellbutrin are good. Just not sure whether I should get started now or wait until if and when I have problems. But I've heard by then it might take a while to start working. I've only got five days until I start.
Nancy
I actually requested them from my hepatologist, and they gave my Paxil. I took it three days, and two people told me they are addictive and cause some side effects. I have heard Lexipro and Wellbutrin are good. Just not sure whether I should get started now or wait until if and when I have problems. But I've heard by then it might take a while to start working. I've only got five days until I start.
Nancy
Hey there,
I haven’t heard from you in a while! I have taken Lexapro with good results for the last three and half years; nearly as importantly, I stopped abruptly about three weeks ago with no apparent ill effects.
Ad’s shouldn’t make you feel worse; properly administered, you really shouldn’t notice much, other than the load carried might be a little more manageable. Not a cure all by any means though.
It’s really up to the individual how they react with the meds; remember though, that SSRI meds can take a few weeks to deliver full therapeutic value. Are you doing this as part of your doctor’s protocol, or did you request the AD’s?
Good to hear from you, and stay in touch when you can—
Bill
I haven’t heard from you in a while! I have taken Lexapro with good results for the last three and half years; nearly as importantly, I stopped abruptly about three weeks ago with no apparent ill effects.
Ad’s shouldn’t make you feel worse; properly administered, you really shouldn’t notice much, other than the load carried might be a little more manageable. Not a cure all by any means though.
It’s really up to the individual how they react with the meds; remember though, that SSRI meds can take a few weeks to deliver full therapeutic value. Are you doing this as part of your doctor’s protocol, or did you request the AD’s?
Good to hear from you, and stay in touch when you can—
Bill
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