This may sound rather basic. For many years I was hypothyroid and never properly tested for that. After getting on it, I felt a good change. My adrenals were also checked and I took cortef for a long time. I also still take 5-htp at night because I don't produce enough seratonin. Now, I'm taking Sam-e and that helps with my sleep and relaxation. I take several B viatimins including B6,B4 and 12. I take flax seed oil in the morning and eat some fish during the week. I drink green tea sometimes with caffeine just because I like that but I don't suggest it for everyone. Decaf is best. Some days I take CoQ10. Have never done the vitamin drips. Oh, I recently met with a naturopath and he said my zinc levels were low. So, I've added that and am feeling better. Magnesium has also helped me. I hope this helps. Everyone's different. Are you working with an alternative doctor? if you don't mind my asking? Sometimes they have better testing for these things than conventional doctors. I only took anti depressants once for a short time but that's when I had really high stress levels going on and they helped me with giving up smoking at the time. I'm glad I haven't had to rely on them. My experience is that I have always had to 'fine tune various things.

Ooops a typo. That should be Vit B5 (not 4).

jns532, I don't take medications.

When the depression was pretty bad, I was put on an SSRI, which didn't work for me. I used to wake up nauseous so I made ginger tea from the ginger root then I learned deep breathing which seems to combat that.

I was diagnosed with very low hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) so this was kind of an aid to improving my health. So maybe get yours checked because ALL hormones work together.

I was put on some 3 different bottles of vitamins by Dr. James L Wilson for Adrenal Fatigue. These were magical and started to work within 1 hour. I started these in 2004 and have continued to take them. At my worst I took them 4 times a day. Now that I'm feeling better I'm down to 2 times a day and some days I only take 1 of each, 1 time a day. I began to eat more nutritiously so this made my sugar cravings end. I will NOT stop drinking coffee so I am down to only one 8-ounce cup a day. I get to bed by 11 PM. All of this has contributed to feeling better. On days where my stress is super high, then I begin to feel awful again, I increase my vitamin intake to 2 times a day. These vitamins are magical. I tried taking the ones at the store 3 times a day, they don't work like Dr. Wilson's Adrenal Fatigue vitamins. I've also noticed when I cut out vegetables for a few days then I have trouble sleeping.

this might be a helpful resource to find relief from Depression

https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/category/depression-2/

Also, the doctors that treat naturally say that anti-depressants are in the Benzodiazepine category. When you start to feel the depression again, its a symptom of addiction to the med but people think they need an increase in dose to combat the depression

My best helpers:
High dose sublingual b vitamins especially b12. (we often are anemic)
NSAIDS (I can only take aspirin) once or twice daily for inflammation.
Pukka three ginger tea - has 3 ginger type anti inflammatory herbs. One in mid morning and one by the bed at night for nausea and pain.
Pepsi (made with sugar). When I have to move and I just can't... this is my crutch. I limit myself to one small bottle or can a day (12 oz).
Avoiding the foods that I know mess with me - like grains.
I have taken Buspar ( old school anxiety med ) for almost 25 yrs. I don't get attacks anymore but take 5 mg (teeny amount) twice a day to just help with keeping me peaceful. More makes me more tired than necessary. Docs tend to overprescribe doses on these like crazy.
Most nights at bedtime I take a kids dose of benadryl and a 800 mg 8 hr tylenol. I never (well almost never) eat after 6 at night. I find having food in my stomach and upper belly keeps me awake. Only plain herbal tea after 6. I don't eat again until about 6 in the AM.
Early on I was given all the meds. List a mile long. None worked and all made me sicker. So now I keep it simple and listen to my body...
speaking of which, it's dinner time. Take care folks!

The only things that have helped me are lactated ringer IVs (get them 1-2x) a week at a hydration clinic and "deep sleep", herbal formula for sleep. It also helped to limit carbs/high sugar. Any type of drug/medication has an adverse effect on my system, especially hormones.

I tried so many different depression meds, starting in 1985, and none of them worked well until I got on Effexor 225 mg. Every med works differently in your brain, as I understand it, and the Effexor works on two different parts. It keeps me stable and prevents my emotions from exploding and being out of control...screaming, crying, ranting, etc. For pain I have tried many meds, but hydrocodone 5 mg with ibuprofen 200 mg works pretty good. I take 1/2 tablet about every 4 hrs. I was on Vicodin for many years, but recently my liver was starting to be damaged by the Tylenol in it, so my doc switched me to the hydrocodone/ibuprofen pill. My biggest struggle these days is the total lack of energy, and nothing really seems to help that. I try to keep stress to an absolute minimum, eat plenty of protein (I am anemic and get my blood checked every 3 months) try to at least take my dog out for a walk of a mile or so every day, and try to talk to God when I’m feeling blue or overwhelmed. Hope this helps in some small way. Don’t feel you are alone, honey!