Best Treatment for Depression

[Jess's Mom]

I have been on several diffrent medications and have not been able to find one that I am very happy with.  I have taken celexa and didn't feel very diffrent and most recently I have taken cymbalta and while it definatly took the edge off my feelings, it had some side effects that I just couldn't handle.  I gained a lot of weight while on it and I was not at a healthy weight in the first place, I also was sweating constantly and got dizzy.  I thought that I was doing okay, but latley have been feeling unable to cope with just normal day to day stuff.  I break out if fits of crying and rage because my house is messy and feel like I just can't take being in this envirnoment anymore.  I want to take care of this before it gets any worse, but need some advise on what people have had sucess on.  I can't deal with anything that will make me gain weight again, as I feel my weight is the root of many of my self-esteam issues that cause me proplems as well as many of the health issues that I am having.  Please let me know. :)

[bass chick]

I honestly think that medication is not the best treatment for depression, but it seems to be the "quick fix" to get you out of that out of control spiral downward and is definately one of the easiest things to change in treating depression.

I am on sertraline (zoloft). When I first started my stomach felt queazy and I lost my appetite. I'm pretty much a person who can't gain weight or lose weight easily, but am an okay weight for me. But when I started I did lose 2 pounds in the first couple of weeks. I think sertraline is one of the few antidepressants that doesn't usually cause weight gain.

Also, make sure you are getting as much sunlight as possible. If not, take a vitamin D supplement. I've also heard that listening to music that you enjoy increases serotonin and endorphins and those "feel good" chemicals in your brain. Whether it's classical or rock or whatever...just turn that music on!!

[journeymom]

Sounds like you've given it a good try and Cymbalta isn't the right medication for you.  Are you being treated by a regular physician or a psychiatrist?  I urge you to see a psychiatrist, and try a different dose or a different medication altogether, or different combination of meds.  Keep trying until you find something that works better.  Keep giving your doctor feed back about how the meds affect you, they can only go by what you tell them. 

What meds have helped me:  Wellbutrin and Lamictal have really helped me deal with depression.  Wellbutrin caused me to loose weight for a couple of weeks, but then I gained some back.  Lamictal seems to be 'weight-neutral'.   Doctors know that weight gain on meds can be a serious issue, and good doctors are going to take you seriously and address the issue.  Bring it up.

My best treatment for depression:  medication and psychotherapy to help with outmoded coping mechanisms.

Edited to add, another really important reason to see a psychiatrist versus a regular family physician: perhaps your diagnosis needs revisiting.  Actually that's true no matter who your doc is.  If your meds aren't working perhaps you're being treated for the wrong issue.  There are many issues with over-lapping symptoms, that have very different treatment requirements.  Depression, adhd and bipolar II disorder all have over-lapping symptoms.  The tricky thing is that undiagnosed bipolar II can be seriously exacerbated by antidepressants.  Like, say your doc diagnoses you with depression, you start taking an antidepressant and start feeling worse and worse, including intense irritation and rage.  Antidepressants can trigger bipolar mania (the irritation and rage).   Same with stimulants for adhd, they make bipolar II worse.  So see about getting yourself re examined for a possible different diagnosis. 

Don't give up!