You need to function now, not six months from now. What you are experiencing is major psychological trauma--probably the worst life will ever deal you, but that doesn't mean you don't have to function. You do.

There have been some good suggestions on here (Chrysalis's and Sadmo's posts were excellent), but you should be consulting with a mental health professional regarding your situation. If you cannot function, then you should be exploring all options, including medication.

There is still a social stigma associated with anti-depressants, just like there is for seeing a psychiatrist. People don't want to take a pill if they don't really need it, especially if it will make them seem weak somehow. But if you had an infection, would you take antibiotics? If you had heart disease and a soaring cholesterol level, would you only rely on diet and exercise to get things under control, or mightn't you think about adding a medication, especially if it is known to work? ADs help lots and lots of people.

Talk to a mental health professional.

see SD, I have a different thinking than you do.

If I had high cholesterol, etc, I WOULD try diet and exercise first to control the problem. Pretty much any health ailment can be brought under control with proper eating and exercise. Proven fact. It is so easy to just pop a pill and keep eating the way you are and not exercising. BUT, what good is that doing your body?

Same with antibiotics. I will only take them as a last resort. Take them too often, your body becomes immuned to them. Then what?

I don't see antidepressants as a quick fix. Some of them take several weeks before you even see any effects. Several weeks of good diet and exercise would give you the same results. And doing some kick as* exercise starting right now, every day, would give him quicker results. Get those endorphins going. Occupy the mind. Work out the sadness and anger.

Drs, the pharmaceutical industry, they all just want us to pop a pill instead of actually addressing what is really going on or having us just take better care of ourselves. IF we all ate right and exercised, etc, for the most part, most of us would not need any medication at all and those companies would be put right out of business.

Medication should be a last resort.

mlhb

http://publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=328

http://www.smartmoney.com/breaking-news/smw/index.cfm?story=20080116081818



I tell you from experience, having worked for Pfizer (and selling Zoloft), these pharm companies are interested in only 1 thing....money. And they make a lot of it by keeping secret the little things like certain meds kill people or they are not helpful.

very interesting medc...

mlhb

Sorry, but I have to disagree with the majority, and even MEDC, my hero.

I have never taken anti-D's in my whole life, but after D-day, I had trouble sleeping, working, eating, etc. I continued on like a zombie for about 6 months, and then my doc put me on Zoloft. On day 22, I woke up with a whole new outlook. It happened overnight.

The drug helped me to react to the mess proactively. I felt better, had more energy, in fact got a promotion at work.

I stayed on Zoloft for about 9 months and then felt good enough to taper off.

The only side effect was the sexual one. But since I didn't have a partner, it was no problem.

And there are other drugs (Effexor and Lexipro, I think), that don't have those side effects.

After I fell asleep while driving (and I have to do a fair amount in my job) and nearly went off the road, due to the anxiety and insomnia, I had to get something to get more sleep.

After several trials, my doctor has me on an old AD, a generic called trazodone. It isn't as strong as the modern SSRI's, but it doesn't have the side effects, and doesn't put you in a stupor. It's only effects are that it can lower your blood pressure, which for me is a good thing. It also causes drowsiness for the first 4 hours after intake, so I take it before bedtime and it serves as a sleeping pill, as well.

Drug companies don't push this AD, because its been off-patent for a while, and they don't make any money off it. A 30-day supply cost me $2.85 Overall, I'm satisfied with it.

h8inlife....

Ok....for me the AD's are what kept me sane...kept things on an even keel. I am on Zoloft. I also take Xanax when needed. I suffer from acute anxiety and panic attacks. When they come on a more frequently time basis, I end up going into depression.

I was on Zoloft BEFORE my WS A. My family and I went through a very tramatic experience which brought on the panic attacks. I suffered terribly for a year with them. My dr. wanted to put me on them, but I refused. Social stigmata and such. I had excercised through this period, my diet was ok, yet NOTHING seemed to help. Once I went on Paxil (did that one first....I do not recommend it, but not all drugs work the same way for everyone....), things did seem to help, but the side effects were horrible. I took myself off them cold turkey (DO NOT EVER DO THAT....), the panic attacks came back. Went on Zoloft, everything went good and back to somewhat normal. I was actually in the process of weaning myself off it (with my Dr.'s supervision) when I found out about the A. Two days after Dday, I went back to my DR. told what was going on, we upped my doseage back up, got some Xanax just in case, and I have to say without a doubt, I would NEVER EVER have been strong enough emotionally to deal with WS A. The roller-coaster ride I was just beginning when I found out (which was actually early on.....continued for another 4 1/2 months....) I would have never survived.

Now, only you and your Dr. truly know whereyou are at. If you have been going to your Dr. regularly (which I do....you know you are there too much when nurses start fighting over who is going to see you....) and you have been dealing with these emotional issues for some time, then I say try it.

not2fun

ps....MEDC, dude, I love and respect your opinion all the time, even if I don't agree with it. I do think you have some valuable insight into this, being your work history, but when you say drug companies are in it for the money.....I have to agree. Now MY stance on that is "who isn't????". Isn't that why we all work??? to make money?????....little tongue in cheek for you....

No, not all of us!

What I mean to say regarding the pharm companies is that they HIDE information that they are well aware of in order to increase profits...even if it means people will die. See Merck (Vioxx) and Pfizer (Celebrex, Trovan). The information is there and they are slow to get it out because it means lower profits.
Very shady business and I do not think that most people would condone the killing of others to make a buck.

Believer..it isn't me you are disagreeing with...it is the FACTUAL studies conducted that have proven these drugs to be no more effective than placebo. I do not rely on opinion when it comes to medical issues...there is no reason to when the data is available.

Thanks all...now get back to your Memorial Day weekend drinking!

I'm not going to argue with you guys over the effectiveness of ADs. Life is too short.

Lots of people get helped by ADs, myself included.

And MEDC, as a scientist who goes to work for Pfizer every day trying to design new medications to help suffering people, I'm glad you no longer work for us.

Actually the NIMH research studies have been consistent in supporting the effectiveness of antidepressants.

NIMH Findings on Depression

Here are the RESEARCH STUDIES that are continually being conducted:

RESEARCH STUDIES

me too

BTW...I left Pfizer in protest of reps taking Drs. to strip clubs and then expensing the outing(and I was hit by a truck during this whole fiasco...hey, who was driving that thing???). I brought it to the attention of the DM and then the FBI...it was quite an interesting time. Lots of rule changes since then.

Have you ever seen one of the "shopping sprees" that DM get to do for meeting certain quotas...kind of sickening actually. I thought managed care was corrupt until I went to Pfizer.

I worked as a cop but had to go into health-care to find the real crooks.

unrelated...but highly reflective of the way business is done. PG has some telling posts.
http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/01/pfizer-strengthens-suicide-warning-on-chantix-label/

Mimi, its time to update your info. There are NUMEROUS studies that the pharm compnaies did not release and others they manipulated that showed that the efficacy fo these drugs is equal to placebo.

ETA...if they work for someone...even if it is a pacebo effect...great. IMHO it is a mistake to try these medicines without doing everything else first. The risk of these meds does not outweigh the benefits for a lot of people.

NIMH is the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and it conducts ONGOING, non-stop research everyday.

I agree with you that GREAT CARE should be taken in prescription of the medication but it's efficacy when used safely and correctly is unquestioned in the psychiatric and psychological literature TO DATE.

I don't know about drug company literature. Yes, I would think that literature would be biased.

Wrong, it is now questioned. And since you obviously failed to read the clinical studies(you know, the ones that were supressed and then manipulated by the pharm companies) regarding this, I am left with no reason to debate you. The information is out there if you want to read it...the head in the sand approach seems to work for many things..so, I suggest not actually educating yourself regarding the clinical trials.

http://body.aol.com/condition-cente...sants-often-shelved/20080117113709990001

Personally, I took myself off the AD's a few years back because they made me feel numb. However, I do have a regular prescription for Xanax that helps out with the anxiety that I can use on an "as needed" basis and it works just fine. I do take a vitamin supplement on a regular basis that loads me up on the healthy stuff though because my body and mind need all the nourishment they can get.

I echo what someone said about them just helping level you out though and what you choose to do to recover your M will have nothing to do with the meds. So sorry you are having to deal with this. It can make the best person in the world feel like they need some help. Do what you feel is best for you. Good luck!

MEDC = Tom Cruise

If it makes you feel better to cast me in the same light as that nut job, go ahead. It is a standard tactic of the pharm company to discredit those that oppose them. What I have brought up(re the clinical trials) are verifiable and absolute facts. I assume that being on the science end that you have very little understanding of what goes on in the company on the business side...and that's fair. But if are unwilling to admit that Pfizer has been a whole lot less than honest when it comes to the studies in question...I will say you are either clueless or lying.
You obviously are a bright enough guy SG...you KNOW that the pharm companies, while they have done a lot of good, have been way too influenced by the almighty dollar and that has resulted in some very shady practices that have led to the deaths of many, many people.
Your comments would be like me saying that there is never police brutality...sticking my head in the sand and failing to hold accountable those that I once called colleagues. It would be a completely disingenuous position to take...as it is for you with the pharm companies.

Ya know, MEDC, I think we had a simular convo a couple of Mos. ago along the same lines.

It was position then, and still is, that the doctors(at least mine) are too busy to look at clinical studies, and simply take at face value, whatever it is that the pharm rep tells them at their very breif sales appointment.

Mr Dr. hands out these free samples of "new meds" from sales reps like they are candy. In essence, YOU, become the guinea pig to see if what the rep was telling the good DR. is true or not!

All AD literature says less than 5% of people have adverse sexual side effects from AD's. I have not found one person yet, who takes AD's tell me there were no sexual side effects. Not one! But my inquisition is NOT a clinical study.

The rep's job is to maximize their commision, not heal patients. Nor should it be, thus, it should be the DR's job!!!

SD, as a scientist, I would venture to say that you do not see the aggressive sales techniques being practiced by your reps, who have probably never intencely scrutinized a clinical trial either.

All blessings,
Jerry

edited to add: I wish I could spell!

it's funny, but that is exactly how it winds up being...but in practice it is the reps job to educate the doctor about a particular medicine and get the doctor to use the product on patients that would benefit from the drug.
Bottom line is though...a rep cannot do their job effectively when the company is hiding information about adverse events and a lack of efficacy. It is my nature to learn more about things..I have closely studied the clinical trials (which really are quite easy to understand) and believe the pharm companies are seriously injuring people by their lies of omission.
Large punitive awards and class action settlements are finally starting to get the attention of the industry...but, I am sure it will be along time before we see any meaningful changes.

eta..Jerry, I agree that the doctors are a pretty busy group. BUT, that does not relieve the pharm companies of their responsibility for hiding the info. The executives are cut from the same cloth of the old tobacco leadership...lie, lie, lie.
I am the executive director of a non profit organization that seeks to deal with the issues that put a strain on primary care doctors. If you are interested in learning more about the organization, email me and I will pass on our website.

I guess I sound a little bitter today, but this just happens to be a very touchy subjuect to me, and I apoligize for the TJ.

As I watch friends and relatives drop away one by one, in spite of the great advances the Pharm companies of this great country esposed, the bottom line is exactly where they stand on Wall Street, not Main street USA.

In my opinion, The Pharm companies of this country are the new "evi empire." Why else would senior citizens need to make bus trips to Canada to get their meds at a reasonble price???

And our government cowtows to these folks because they are the most welathy lobby in the US. Arrggggg!!!!

We are all being dealt a MAJOR diservice!!

All Blessings,
Jerry