Antidepressant advice needed - ThinnerTimes

LisaM · 09-06-2007, 06:10 AM

Advice needed... from the people I trust and care about. I know that many people on the forum were on antidepressants prior to WLS and post-WLS as well. I have been talking to a counselor a lot of late, and she suggested that I speak to my PCP about getting on an antidepressant. She believes it will help me, particularly with the mood swings, which seem to be getting worse, not better, and the homesickness, which is only getting worse.

So, my questions, should you choose to address them: Do antidepressants actually help you? What did they change for you? I can look up the substances online (and I will!) and get the medical viewpoint, but I really need the personal viewpoint from people I trust. Anything you'd like to tell me would be grand, so that when I walk in to talk to my PCP tomorrow, I feel like I'm on solid ground. Feel free to PM me about this if you prefer... I'm sure that for many people this is a private matter. I appreciate any and all answers--this is freaking me out a tad.

Toony · 09-06-2007, 06:19 AM

If you go on a medication --- make sure it's easy enough to get off of! I'm on PAXIL for panic attacks, and it's doggone impossible to wean myself off of it!!!

VanessaSFL · 09-06-2007, 06:27 AM

Lisa,

I was on Lexapro,20..than 10g...then off.No problems comming off.(over a 2 yr period)

I went on it to help/stop crying spells..OMG!!!It worked and then some.I could not even pinch a tear if I wanted to.I can remember while having a "difficult" conversation with my DH..I was thinking to myself ..."This is wild,two months ago I would have shut down and been crying"

The Lexapro also helped a little with my OCD...I am off of it now and just have to keep an eye on my OCD.

I felt good on Lexapro and in control of my emotions.I was a wreck after surgery in the mental department.

Good Luck~

Claire-in-Texas · 09-06-2007, 06:47 AM

I have a weird history with anti-depressants,so I might only confuse the issue by telling of my depression history.

However, I think Toony is right on the money - whatever you take, it needs to be non-addictive.

What "anti-depressant" you take depends a lot on your specific symptoms, which only a doctor can address. I didn't realize that anxiety was causing my depression, worries, fears, agitation, inability to sleep. And when it was all said and done, I have taken an occasional low dosage of Xanax, and it is not addictive (at least not in the low dosage). I say this cautiously because I can only speak to my own experience. It pops me out of that anxious state, and I feel better.

I hope you feel better - depression is the worst kind of pain.

LisaM · 09-06-2007, 06:53 AM

Thanks, guys--yeah, addiction is a big bugaboo for me, as a charter member of the formerly MO club and a recently crowned non-smoker. Toony - glad to see your pretty face again! Love the 'toons...

To add to the above questions--do antidepressants help with impulse control? I know that's kind of a vague question, but I'm not ready to define that more pointedly yet.

Claire-in-Texas · 09-06-2007, 07:22 AM

Lisa, some meds do control impulse control, and some don't. Some do in combination with other meds. Here again, you have to trust your doctor with ALL your symptoms and concerns so that he/she can pick and choose the right combination (or one) for you. And it could take a bit of time to tweak things.

Unfortunately, I have a family full of mental illness in varying degrees from basic depression (situational more than anything) to the very big stuff. And I know I am not alone in this regard. My info above comes from my observations of these family members over the years and very recently. And also over a lifetime of my own depression and sadness.

Congrats on quitting smoking!! That's HUGE!!!!!

Debz · 09-06-2007, 10:52 AM

I have taken Wellbutrin for about 8 years. I was tried on all of the SSRI's (a class of drug to which Prozac and Paxil belong called Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) with very little success. They made me drowsy, and removed the ability to have an orgasm. (Seemed like such a raw deal; here I am depressed as hell and the one thing that makes me feel good gets screwed with.)

Wellbutrin makes my world colorized. From the very beginning, it took my black and white world and added color to it. I find that it activates me and makes me capable of doing so much more. It doesn't make me manic but it definitely gets rid of the low lows....I truly can't imagine my life without it.

The only thing about this is that what works for one person may not work for another. It often takes several tries to find a med that works for you. Something that I find anecdotally is that checking with close family members can help. I have often seen that what works for a parent works for their offspring, or vice versa. Good luck!

Linda58 · 09-06-2007, 11:20 AM

I have been on antidepressants for almost 20 years. Like others have said, your experience with them will be different than anyone else's. With that in mind: My pattern with all of them has been that they work for a while, and then they don't. My psychiatrist used to change medication, but the psych I have now wants to just add new medications on top of the old ones. So currently, I'm taking three of them.

I've been on the old tricyclics, and they worked for a while, most made me sleepy. All created dry mouth and sexual difficulty.

Lexapro and Celexa both made me too sleepy during the day, even if I took them at night.

I have been on Wellbutrin (300 mg extended release) for about 10 years now. It works really great in the beginning, I have more energy, don't want to eat, etc. But it also causes anxiety, so if you already have a problem with that, Wellbutrin will make it worse.

I am also on Cymbalta, on a low dose. It seems to calm my angry impulses, I don't scream so much at people in traffic, I don't get easily frustrated and cry and overreact in minor situations. I take a low enough dose that it doesn't cause any sexual side effects. I take a 30 mg capsule and empty half of it out, and take 15 mg.

I am also on Geodon (20 mg), which is an anti-psychotic (used for treatment-resistant depression) which I don't recommend. It was great in the beginning, I was happy, I was more outgoing, things didn't bother me. But I found out the hard way that you have to take it pretty much the exact same time each day, because your body starts going through withdrawal symptoms that fast. I ended up in the emergency room one Christmas eve with a panic attack, and didn't know why. I also had disturbing thoughts while on this, that are too scary to even share with you. You also can't comsume any caffeine with this drug, or you'll shake all day.

There is a website called crazymeds.org with great information written in straightforward, and often comic, style

Having a good doctor or psychiatrist is what really makes the difference. Most of this medicine is experimentation. Good luck to you.

kellyinvirginia · 09-06-2007, 11:21 AM

I know I don't really know all of you, but this thread touched me for some reason. I haven't been on here much at all since my surgery. Like many of the others I too have suffered from depression, and taken and tried many medications. If and when you decide to start taking something please remember that you have to give it time to work and it may take several changes in dosages or types of meds. I have been feeling like I need to get back on something myself. As far as "impulse control" goes, there are many meds out there that can help with that. I have a hard time being honest with my Dr. about my situation and it is very important to explain all your symptoms and concerns in order to get the right meds! There are a lots of things out there that can help make your life so much better/ I wish you
luck....if there is anything I can do to help or listen, or help you look up any meds or anything please let me know.

LisaM · 09-06-2007, 12:20 PM

Thank you, both to those who have been so kind as to answer here, and to those who are sending me private messages. You are, as always, my best bet for both understanding and info. A thunderstorm is nearing (no, not a metaphor, an actual thunderstorm...

) so I'm off the web for a bit...