Im planning on going on anti depressants. But i heard that they can be addictive in that once the person isnt depressed anymore and he/she goes off the pills, then they feel down for no reason cause they like...need the pill for support. is this true? are anti depressants any good anyway? i mean do they work? which ones do you suggest? which brand? i want like a friggin happy pill, something thats just going to make the world seem right and just basically make me happy permanently.
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Anti-depressant
- Thread starter densy88
- Start date
Sorry, no such thing (as a "happy pill" that will make you happy permanently). And it's not that they're addictive, it's just that you can't stop taking them abruptly, as they're altering the chemicals in your brain, and you need to be WEANED from them slowly.
As for brands, I would recommend Wellbutrin. It has the least amount of side effects. It doesn't affect your appetite or your sexual function like the others can. Good luck!
As for brands, I would recommend Wellbutrin. It has the least amount of side effects. It doesn't affect your appetite or your sexual function like the others can. Good luck!
Well I'm a nurse, and I've never heard ANYONE complain about Wellbutrin. A lot of my patients take it. I've taken it myself and loved it simply because it INCREASES your sex drive. (My bf loved it for me too, lol.) I've never heard of anyone having paranoia or anxiety on it, but anything's possible. Best thing is to ask your doc, but more than likely, they will recommend whatever the drug reps pay them to recommend.
hi densy88, im studying psychology at the moment and although im no dr or expert i have been studying somatic treatments for different forms of psychosis for 3 years and i can say that going onto drugs to alliviate your symptoms isnt the best idea. i am saying that only because ALL drugs which are issued for all forms of psychosis treat the symptoms not the cause. so this means that it may take the feeling of depresstion away, but once you stop the pills you most likely will get dreppressed as before and a possibility of the depression being even more intense. the best way to treat your problem is to find out why you are getting depressed, if you can do this then you will find the cause. although it is tough, you can find out the root causes of your depression through a psychiatrist.
i hope this is of any help to you, jim
i hope this is of any help to you, jim
How old are you?
I just want to say that I'm super against anti-depressants. Now what I say is just an opinion and I understand that everyone is different but here are my thoughts:
1. Like Neuro pointed out many doctors get paid to recommend brands (who can you trust if you can't trust the doctors?)
2. They have terrible side effects. I have been on a few in my teenage years (zoloft, wellbutrin, etc.) and I got awfule side effects with all. Getting off of zoloft was hell for me. I got terrible migraines and was very sad.
3. They are drugs! A drug that will alter you for the rest of your life. I've seen too many women get put on one, then another one, then a different one. They crash on one, get weaned off another, slowly start another one, etc. It's a vicious cycle. To me it's like being addicted to any drug. Except in this case you're like a guinea pig for the doctor.
Just MY experiences and thoughts. I've never met anyone in person who have had good experiences. And if they do have good experiences it usually ends after a few months/years and then it starts all over.
I ask how old you are because when I was a teenager I was sad all the time. The reason I was sad? I was in a bad living environment (bad parents) and my hormones were all messed up due to growing up. Instead of putting me on chemicals that were altering my mind the doctors should've been talking to me and finding out why I was depressed and hated my life. Not blaming the amount of serotonin in my brain....
~Nicole
I just want to say that I'm super against anti-depressants. Now what I say is just an opinion and I understand that everyone is different but here are my thoughts:
1. Like Neuro pointed out many doctors get paid to recommend brands (who can you trust if you can't trust the doctors?)
2. They have terrible side effects. I have been on a few in my teenage years (zoloft, wellbutrin, etc.) and I got awfule side effects with all. Getting off of zoloft was hell for me. I got terrible migraines and was very sad.
3. They are drugs! A drug that will alter you for the rest of your life. I've seen too many women get put on one, then another one, then a different one. They crash on one, get weaned off another, slowly start another one, etc. It's a vicious cycle. To me it's like being addicted to any drug. Except in this case you're like a guinea pig for the doctor.
Just MY experiences and thoughts. I've never met anyone in person who have had good experiences. And if they do have good experiences it usually ends after a few months/years and then it starts all over.
I ask how old you are because when I was a teenager I was sad all the time. The reason I was sad? I was in a bad living environment (bad parents) and my hormones were all messed up due to growing up. Instead of putting me on chemicals that were altering my mind the doctors should've been talking to me and finding out why I was depressed and hated my life. Not blaming the amount of serotonin in my brain....
~Nicole
If you're depressed because of a temporary situation, like a divorce, death of a loved one etc. Do NOT go on antidepressants. You have to let the natural cycle of emotional pain and healing run its course. you'll be a stronger and happier person because of it.
If you are chronically depressed then maybe drugs can help but ONLY after other strategies like counselling and lifestyle changes have been exhausted.
If you are chronically depressed then maybe drugs can help but ONLY after other strategies like counselling and lifestyle changes have been exhausted.
I am on Zoloft, and I certainly notice when I go off them (usually due to running out and then having to get a refill). I am TERRIBLE when I go off them, hence the "don't go off them abruptly. WEAN yourself."
Wellbutrin seems to help some people. I know somoeone who was on it and it worked really well for her. And did someone mention that it increases sex drive??? Hmmm...perhaps I should switch...Does it help with Orgasms too? LMAO
Anyway, the best thing is to talk to your dr and also you might need therapy. I know that in combination it could/does work really well.
Best of luck to you!
Wellbutrin seems to help some people. I know somoeone who was on it and it worked really well for her. And did someone mention that it increases sex drive??? Hmmm...perhaps I should switch...Does it help with Orgasms too? LMAO
Anyway, the best thing is to talk to your dr and also you might need therapy. I know that in combination it could/does work really well.
Best of luck to you!
S
sparrow
Guest
I formerly was totally against anti-depressants of any sort until I went through a really hard time in my life with a lot of really bad garbage and needed them to get through. However, I fought it tooth and nail to stay away from them. I believe that there really are people who have a chemical imbalance for whatever reason and may need them for a time. Forever? no. I'm not sure I believe that you should exhaust all avenues before getting on them. I know for me I was so in my own little world of misery that I wasn't about to sit in front of a therapist who was trying to get at the root of my crap and give me tools to make me happy. I just couldn't get out of it, it was very deep and I was literally at the end of my rope. No amount of talking it out would have pulled me out-plus, I just wasn't interested in sharing with ANYone. Starting the drugs PAIRED with therapy was the ticket. When you have the support of the chemical you lack in your brain you are able to think through things more rationally and have more of a motivational spirit. Getting stable through them allows you to gain the psychological tools you need for when you go OFF of them. You waste less time and money with the psychologist if you are more in a state of mind to cope with what they're trying to get you to talk about and help you with.
That being said, some people use the drugs as a cop out and think they are a magic little pill that can make them happy all the time. I think they should only be used in extreme circumstances, not just during a little patch of "hard times".
I was on Wellbutrin and I loved it. At first it made me jittery almost like a diet pill. I was anxious, fast heart beat, insomnia and no appetite. but because i'd used diet pills I actually liked that feeling. It helped me get things done. The side effects wore off in a few weeks and I had a notable change in my attitude towards life. I went through therapy and was good to go in about 6 months.
That being said, some people use the drugs as a cop out and think they are a magic little pill that can make them happy all the time. I think they should only be used in extreme circumstances, not just during a little patch of "hard times".
I was on Wellbutrin and I loved it. At first it made me jittery almost like a diet pill. I was anxious, fast heart beat, insomnia and no appetite. but because i'd used diet pills I actually liked that feeling. It helped me get things done. The side effects wore off in a few weeks and I had a notable change in my attitude towards life. I went through therapy and was good to go in about 6 months.
Hi densy. There's alot of info that needs to be addressed before anyone can give you drug advice, IMO.Im planning on going on anti depressants. But i heard that they can be addictive in that once the person isnt depressed anymore and he/she goes off the pills, then they feel down for no reason cause they like...need the pill for support. is this true? are anti depressants any good anyway? i mean do they work? which ones do you suggest? which brand? i want like a friggin happy pill, something thats just going to make the world seem right and just basically make me happy permanently.
Do you know why you're depressed? Is it circumstantial? Have recent events (or people) had a negative impact on your life? Or has this been a lifelong struggle? Do you feel you've always had depression? Have you suffered from low self esteem your entire life? Or has it all come in waves of really high "highs" and low "lows"......
I think knowing the answers to these questions can help determine what would be best for you. IMHO, psychotherapy (with a doctor you like) should be the #1 option. A therapist is one of the best tools that can help you work your way out of it. Because let's face it, everyone goes through rough, depressive times in their lives - and having an outside person offer insight, empathy, and experience with helping others, can help tremendously. Research psychotherapists, therapists, or psychologists on your health plan. Did you know most health plans cover a certain amount of "mental health" doc appts. per year? Find out about yours.
This isn't to say you should rule out drugs. Medication can help greatly too, but as everyone else has stated....you will suffer side effects, and terrible withdrawal symptoms should you ever go off them. (But as a sidenote, I know 2 people who've had very successful treatment with Wellbutrin.) I say to give it a shot with a therapist first as a foundation - if it's not working for you, you can try meds (therapists can also give you feedback on that, and at that point, you would meet with a Psychiatrist.)
Hope this helps. Good luck to you.
Yeh, I'm on zoloft and I have just realised that one of the side effects I am having from this is weight gain. No matter how much diet/exercise I do the weight very slowly creeps on. It's pissen me off, but in my current state, I value my life more than I do my stomach.
But hell, it works like a charm - for a bit, then I have to increase the dose, currently on 125mg/day. You have to have a prescription to get one though.
Tim
But hell, it works like a charm - for a bit, then I have to increase the dose, currently on 125mg/day. You have to have a prescription to get one though.
Tim
Yeh, I'm on zoloft and I have just realised that one of the side effects I am having from this is weight gain. No matter how much diet/exercise I do the weight very slowly creeps on. It's pissen me off, but in my current state, I value my life more than I do my stomach.
But hell, it works like a charm - for a bit, then I have to increase the dose, currently on 125mg/day. You have to have a prescription to get one though.
Tim
*knock on wood* I haven't noticed a weight gain issue. I have been on it for about 3+ years. I just got my dose increased yesterday. I was at 100mg/day for probably 2 yrs and then just got bumped up to 150mg/day. I love it. It works for me.
Anybody in here who's on some medicated antidepressant should get off it and try a natural antidepressant WITH NO side effects. It's called St. John's Wort and works well. People become depressed when they have a chemical imbalance in the brain.
You have 3 neurotransmitters in your brain:
serotonin,norepinephrine &dopamine. If the levels of these 3 neurotransmitters become too low, you become depressed.
What recent research shows is that Saint Johns Wort seems to act like a combination of these 3 neurotransmitters.
So if you take Saint Johns Wort you’re apparently helping to increase the levels of these 3 essential neurotransmitters.
You have 3 neurotransmitters in your brain:
serotonin,norepinephrine &dopamine. If the levels of these 3 neurotransmitters become too low, you become depressed.
What recent research shows is that Saint Johns Wort seems to act like a combination of these 3 neurotransmitters.
So if you take Saint Johns Wort you’re apparently helping to increase the levels of these 3 essential neurotransmitters.
Yeh, I'll think about it.
About the weight gain issue, some people don't experience any side effects with antidepressants, whilst others do. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects caused by anti depressants. Youre lucky uve been on them so long with no side effects - I have been on the about 3/4 of a yr and am already seeing this side effect plus a little dizziness. But again, I value my life over my stomach.
Tim
About the weight gain issue, some people don't experience any side effects with antidepressants, whilst others do. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects caused by anti depressants. Youre lucky uve been on them so long with no side effects - I have been on the about 3/4 of a yr and am already seeing this side effect plus a little dizziness. But again, I value my life over my stomach.
Tim
75 % of all anti-depressants sold in the world are sold to people living in the United States. What does that tell you? First off, if your going to go on an anti-depressant I'd recommend seeing a therapist first and see what she has to say about your depressiong. Going to family doctor and getting prescribed anti-depressants is ridiculous because they are so busy and only see you for a few minutes and therefore have no way to properly diagnose your condition.
Furthermore, it is a fact that doctors get kick backs from pharmacutical companies to prescribe their medications. These inlcude money, lavish vactions ect. Have you ever noticed at your doctors office advertisements for anti-depressants and the like? Doctors are basically being sponsored by the pharmacutical companies to advertise and push their product. Its not unlike these huge body builders like Jay Cutler who are sponsered by cell-tech and what not and push that product like its the best thing ever.
Also, Anti-depressants have only been in use since 1988 and many doctors have written medical reviews and books on the dangerous side effects of anti-depressants over time, such as nerological deseases like parkasans ect. Hell even smoking cigerattes takes decades for a person to develop cancer so why take the risk on a drug that alters your brain chemistry when the brain is a mystery to us still?
Furthermore, it is a fact that doctors get kick backs from pharmacutical companies to prescribe their medications. These inlcude money, lavish vactions ect. Have you ever noticed at your doctors office advertisements for anti-depressants and the like? Doctors are basically being sponsored by the pharmacutical companies to advertise and push their product. Its not unlike these huge body builders like Jay Cutler who are sponsered by cell-tech and what not and push that product like its the best thing ever.
Also, Anti-depressants have only been in use since 1988 and many doctors have written medical reviews and books on the dangerous side effects of anti-depressants over time, such as nerological deseases like parkasans ect. Hell even smoking cigerattes takes decades for a person to develop cancer so why take the risk on a drug that alters your brain chemistry when the brain is a mystery to us still?
Does anyone notice you seem to put on weight with anti-depressants?
Im on Citalopram and have been taking it for about 5 months and now Im about a stone heavier?
Im on Citalopram and have been taking it for about 5 months and now Im about a stone heavier?