I am really struggling with my depression and recently anxiety attacks, heartburn, indigestion etc. Someone in the past mentioned an herb or vitamin they used to help with these sympton but I can't remember who. I am currently on Lexapro which in the past worked pretty well. Right now it helps but doesn't quite do the job. I don't really want to up the dose or change meds if I can help it. Any suggestions?

How much you taking, FF? Usually they start you off on a pretty low dose. At one point my IC suggested goosing mine a few mg, but I left it alone and just boo-hooed my way through that patch.

{{{{{FF}}}}}

GC

Aww FF, sorry to hear that.

I have used passiflora incarnata to handle stress in the past. It helped me hugely with business stress and the deaths of my Mom and dad.

AND worked much better than Cipramil when I tried that last year for a while.

Its gentle and cumulative and just llows a little 'space' between the threat and your reposnse.

Sold in the UK as 'natracalm'

Don;t take it without reference to your doc, as lexapro can be affected by some homeopathic relaxants.

All blessings darl.

{{{{{{FF}}}}}}

GC, I am on 10mg of Lexapro which is the lowest dose. I am due for a refill maybe I should call my doc about increasing the dose until I get through this phase of life. I have been trying for weeks to "boo-hoo" my way through it but my kids deserve a fully functioning mommy. Bob, thanks I will look that one up on the internet.

I talked to a friend once, a woman with some of her own depression troubles, about being on Lexapro. She asked how much of a dose I was taking. When I told her 10mg, she said,

"Pfff! You might as well be on peanut M&Ms!"

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

GC

That is a very low dose FF...I was on lexapro, then switched to Wellbutrin, not that Lexapro wasn't working, but it has sexual side effects, which dont matter to me anymore <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />...anyway, THEN the doc recently switched me to Cymbalta and it is the best one so far...I never get depressed, or very rarely do I now, whereas before I was always crying and could not funcition...and like you, I dont want to be a bump on the log for my kids sake...they need a functrioning mom, not one that wants to be in bed all day...

Call your Doc and ask for an increase in your dose or to switch...and if he switches you to Wellbutrin, you need to be on at least 300mg...not 150mg...

also, dont ever take home remedies with RX drugs...it can really do damage...I just read an article on this yesterday...

Mom, Cymbalta has no sexual side effects? I need to look that one up. Lexapro caused some problems in that area for a few weeks, then they went away <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Hmmm...maybe I would be better off with peanut M&M's. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I can't live like this any more. I scare myself with the way I feel. I need a punching bag too. I have a lot of pent up anger and no where to release it.

I suggest exercise and meditative prayer and kickboxing!

This all helps change your brain chemistry ...

oh... and watch some Marx Brothers Movies too ... really silly stuff.

Pep<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Wow, I actually have thought about taking up kickboxing! Laughter I do need, which is why the Idiotville thread has been good for me of late. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Pep. Think I will call the place down the street to see how much the kickboxing lessons are.

FF,
HAVE YOU TRIED TAKING UP A KICK BOXING CLASS OR MAYBE AEROBICS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WAS ON AD'S ZOLOFT BUT THEY MADE ME FEEL WORSE AND MADE MY MIGRAINES COME MORE FREQUENT. I TOOK MYSLEF OFF THE AD BUT STARTED A GYNASTIC'S CLASS WITH MY DAUGHTER AND EVENTHOUGH ITS 1 HOUR A WEEK , ITS HELPED RELIEVE THE STRESS AND MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF. WITH THIS DRAMA/DEPRESSION I SHED OFF ABOUT 15-20LBS AND WHOA! FINALLY! NOW I CAN FIRM UP MY BOD AND SHOW WH WHAT HE'S MISSING!
HUGS TO U ! LOOK INTO TAKING A CLASS WITH YOUR KIDS MAYBE AT A YMCA OR OTHER ORG.?

You can't use some/many of the supplements, especially herbs when you are taking a SSRI (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (antidepressants).

For heartburn try a tablespoon or two of molassas, pure maple syrup, or honey. It usually works for me. Adjust your diet to exclude drinks that contain citric acid and or high sugar.
If you are taking ascorbic acid Vit C try switching to Ester C.

You can add Eskimo 3 fish oil (doesn't 'repeat') Omega 3 fatty acids helpful with brain chemistry.

Take a B Complex (50 mg) vitamin. Good for stress.

I also use a powdered magnesium supplement called Natural Calm.

You can read about the differences in meditation techniques here and click on a link to a tape that has been helpful to me.

Meditation

I use Sam-e but you can't use that with SSRI's. There is an herbal prep called Happy Camper...but you probably shouldn't use that either for same reasons...you can ask you Dr.

I also use homeopathic remedies like bObpure suggested.
There are a several choices...some are better for anxiety, and nervousness, others for stress and depression.
Here are a couple of the ones I've tried.
Ignatia Amara
Kali Phos
I think these would be safe to try for occasional use as needed. Most med doctors don't believe that homeopathics are anything but placebos because there is minute amounts of anything in them. They work for me...however that happens.

LOL...Exercise is GREAT for the depression AND anxiety....I need a punching bag too...

I asked the Doc about side effects on the cymbalta and he said there weren't any reported sexual side effects, but the drug is new...And to be honest, I really dont notice, cuz I dont CARE! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Maybe if I had a man, I would notice! I dont know...I CAN tell you that the cymbalta is working for me right now...My IC noticed how depressed I was and recommended an up in the dosage OR a switche and the Doc decided to upright switch me...

I can also tell you that I am not as anxious as I was before...The alien showed up to a baseball game last night, first time I have seen him in weeks and normally I would get very anxious...didn't even phase me last night...I just went about my business! whereas before my heart would be pounding and I would be sweating...

I'm not trying to promote AD's here, but sometimes we do need them to help us thru hard times...I am more depressed NOW than I ever have been...with the death of my dad, the birth of the baby and my approaching divorce...I'm just not funcitoning as well <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I SUGGEST A KICKBOXING CLASS....DEFINETLY! IT IS AN AWESOME MOTIVATOR, STRESS RELIEVER, AND OF COURSE GREAT SELF DEFENSE CLASS. JUST BECAREFUL IMAGINING THE ALIEN AS THE BAG THEY DO TEAR AND YOU CAN HURT YOURSELF...LOL.
IVE DONE THAT BEFORE!

10mg of Lexapro is a very low dose. That's what I'm taking right now but it's next to nothing. I think the normal dose is 20mg.

You may want to increase temporarily. You can always wean back down once you feel better. That's what I did. I used to be on 20mg.

If things are REALLY BAD, there are things like Xanax which will knock the anxiety on it's butt (put you there, too, if you're not used to them), but they're habit-forming so most doctors are very careful about prescribing, and you don't want to stay on them very long. I have a supply just for emergencies.