MC has suggested Anti-d's for both of us.

I am very resistant, I have seen too many people turn to marshmallows when on them. I am feeling pretty OK most days, and I tbelieve that the days I am down are pretty normal considering the circumstances.

WH has been diagnosed as dperessed for over 2 years now and MC thinks thye would be good for him especially. He had tried paxil and wellbutrin and was unhappy with the feelings/side affects.

Any feedback on which ones have had good affects/bad, etc would be appreciated
thanks

I was on Lexapro during the worst of the godawful mess last year. In all honesty, I think I would have gone entirely insane without them. Did I turn into a marshmallow? Physically, yes. (But I was already on my way.)

Mentally... hm. I guess I would put it this way. I was at about 3% of mental capacity. The Lexapro brought me up to about 75%. When I was finally recovered enough to go off of it, I got the rest of the way there.

While I was on the Lexapro, I found that my ability to be a diplomat went up dramatically. Meetings went more smoothly, clients fell in love with me, and I rarely had anyone get annoyed with me.

At the same time, though, it was much more difficult to tear into a hard problem and do the highly analytic work that usually comes naturally to me. (I have these geeky degrees and spend lots of time making Excel spreadsheets stand on their heads for me.)

If you're in a situation where your life is already negatively affecting your work and your ability to live, you might want to consider the anti-depressants. They really helped me, but it depends on just how bad things have gotten in your world.

I am on Clecex. I believe it helped me a lot, without it, I will be worse than mashmallows.

I resisted going on ADs for a year, for much the same reasoning, plus feeling that other people were wimps. I'm on Celexa now. I have to say that it has not changed me, except that I now am able to maintain my attention, sleep better, and deal with the ups and downs of life without totally falling apart. I do still feel emotions strongly, but now I can talk about them.

I wish I had started these sooner. I was waking up in the morning and wishing for bedtime, and missing wonderful times with my kids and others. I'm so glad I've got the chance to be happier.

My husband was also put on ADs about three months after me, and he was depressed even longer than I was. Of course, someone once joked that "real men don't get depressed, they get drunk!" This is an unfortunate reality for many people who are struggling with substance abuse.

I would urge you to give them a chance. When my doctor suggested these, she told me that she would recommend that I commit to giving these at least 6 months after I got to my optimal dose. My dose was increased in the fall, and I haven't felt this good since my first child was born, so I won't have a problem staying on until late this year.

I am not sure what it is with our society and taking ANTI-D's. Do you take tylenol when you have a H/A? YES...Do you take allergy meds when you have allergies? YES...so what is the difference. We do things to make us FEEL BETTER!

I take Effexor...and YES I feel better on them. I cannot function without them. without them I am irritable, depressed, anxious, tired and I dont want to do a thing. I sleep al day long and dont take interest in anything...

With them, I am happy, and I can function. I am calm and dont blow up at the first sight of trouble. I never take naps anymore, even after staying up til all hours of the morning talking to FWH.

Why would you want to feel down all the time, when you can be happy again and enjoy your life again. It may take several different ones to find the right one that works best for YOU. It took me about 5 of them. My H is also on ANTI-D's..he takes Prozac...Prozac does not work for me.

Get on the drugs. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing! and NO ONE has to know about it if you dont want them to. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

thanks for the responces. Not afraid of social commentary on using of them.

BUT I am very committed in my volunteer work (two boards of directors, one county commission, girl scout and boy scout troop) a part time job, a home to maintain and a marriage to rebuild.

The nervous frenzy is kind of working for me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Really, my resistance is the thought of being too numb to work on the isues we are facing. Flip side, I am working too hard for his liking often, and he feels pushed when I have too much "research" to share!

I also do not want the weight gain and loss of sex drive.

Hmmm...

I think it would be a good thing for the WH to try again, his depression has been hanging around a looong time...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by anotherone:
<strong> thanks for the responces. Not afraid of social commentary on using of them.

BUT I am very committed in my volunteer work (two boards of directors, one county commission, girl scout and boy scout troop) a part time job, a home to maintain and a marriage to rebuild.

The nervous frenzy is kind of working for me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Really, my resistance is the thought of being too numb to work on the isues we are facing. Flip side, I am working too hard for his liking often, and he feels pushed when I have too much "research" to share!

I also do not want the weight gain and loss of sex drive.

Hmmm...

I think it would be a good thing for the WH to try again, his depression has been hanging around a looong time... </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I never gained weight...loss of sex drive, YES..which led to the A in the first place. Wellbutrin and Celexa are SUPPOSED to have a low libido affect.

I am a SAHM of 3 boys, so I do my share of volunteer work. I also run a household and am trying to restore our marriage...I must tell you I am much happier on the meds than off. My meds have never once made me fuzzy or incoherent or unable to do my work. If anything they have enhanced my ability to do it better! JMHO <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Anotherone,

I'm also using Celexa and it works perfectly for me. I'm using it chronically for a year now. I have only experience MINOR side effects during the first 3 months and have not really experience any sexual side-effects. It has only disturb my sleeping pattern, but after the first fiew months my sleeping pattern was adapted again. I can strongly recommend Celexa. It is also a very 'clean' drug and can be used safely for years without any consequences. Personally I have experienced that this drug don't make me 'numb - I still experience strong emotions and my normal ups and downs, but the drug just keep everything under control.

<small>[ April 02, 2004, 12:52 AM: Message edited by: Suzet ]</small>

I was on Zoloft about 2 yrs ago. Worked really well. Dr. Told me I could just stop taking them-cold turkey. DON'T DO IT. I went through terrible withdrawl.

When this all began I was on my way to emotional breakdown. Dr. put me on Effexor right away, made my head go numb (I only weight 98 lbs)

Then went on Lexapro. Saved my life, my sanity. I am not a marshmellow. It gave me my ability to concentrate, smile and just generally deal with this situation in a lot more stable state.

My H didn't want me on them, and now I know why. It gave me my backbone back. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I agree with MO1069...NEVER stop taking any anti-D cold turkey! The first time I used it, I tried to whean it off too fast and then I also went through terrible withdrawl (mostly anxiety issues). If you want to stop using them just whean it of VERY VERY slowly.

I also deal with issues in a more stable state now and my H don't want me to go off it again! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> Overall, I feel much more relaxed and be able to deal with all things more effectively without becoming emotionally overwhelmed.

<small>[ April 02, 2004, 04:46 AM: Message edited by: Suzet ]</small>

I never took A-Ds. Looking back, I don't regret it. I needed to face reality.

However, I have gained close to 40 pounds since I said, "I want you to care about me more than Sophia" and he said, "If it wasn't for the kids, I'd have been long gone."

Funny -- within a few days, I noticed I was eating a lot. That was more traumatic than his breaking my arm a few weeks previously.

Lots of people take A-Ds. I read the other day that 142 million prescriptions were filled last year. I think they may help people to tolerate what it would be better if they didn't tolerate.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> I have to say that it has not changed me, except that I now am able to maintain my attention, sleep better, and deal with the ups and downs of life without totally falling apart. I do still feel emotions strongly, but now I can talk about them.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">HERE IS WHAT A-D'S ARE NOT:

1) They do not make you feel happy or up.

2) They cannot keep you from feeling down.

3) They do not make the pain go away.

4) They do not keep you from facing reality.

What A-Ds do is reduce excessive levels of certain chemicals in the brain that cause the wildest or greatest range of mood swings.

1) They do take time to work. Sometimes up to 6 weeks depending on the person.

2) Not every med works for everyone so you may need to try different dosage levels, different meds or even combinations of meds.

3) Side affects do occur for many people so that's another reason you will probably need to try different meds and different combinations.

Many people have unrealistic expectations for A-Ds. That in turn leads to the belief by some people that A-Ds did nothing for them.

For example suppose you took an aspirin yet you still had a headache....most would assume the aspirin did not work because they still had a headache...but in reality the aspirin did work on some level...without your headache would have gotten worse.

I think A-Ds are mislabeled. When you read ANTI you assume it stops whatever word follows the word anti. Anti tank gun stops a tank.

But Anti-deodorants don't always stop odor they keep the odor from being worse. Same applies to anti-depressants.