I am currently on Cymbalta, and I don't think it helps at all. But, I tried to go off of it, and I had terrible withdrawl symptoms (which is typical with this drug), and it was sooooooo scarey that I took another Cymbalta pill.

I cannot go off of this drug without being violent. I have never told anyone that before, and now I just told everybody.

I completely agree. I am so afraid of going on a drug but am frustrated with feeling this way. It seems like there's a drug for everything anymore. I'd like to learn how to cope without relying on a medication

Some people are really helped by medication....I'm not one of those people. Between 1999-2004 I think I tried every drug on the market for depression/anxiety and all that jazz. Adderall was the only thing that had any positive results for me but even that was followed terrible side-effects and massive weight gain.

IDK...I'm doing ok right now (could always be better though, right?) so I guess I made the right choice.

How did you have weight gain on Adderall? and Why was it even prescribed? It is for ADD and it is pretty much legalized Meth, so i am surprised about the weight gain. I tried it for a while and lost 40LBs in 2 mo..

I think both sides of this issue are really very valid. For me, I am just stubborn and choose to grit my teeth without medication, with the exception of panic medication (I was housebound for a few months due to severe panic attacks).

Some people credit medication with saving thier lives, in a very literal sense. That's a wonderful thing, that's what medicine SHOULD do.

However, I find it a bit disturbing that you pretty much say "I'm sad" to a doctor and you are sent on your way with a prescription for something that can cause horrendous side effects or get you addicted. That just seems wrong to me.

Also, the young age at which kids are being prescribed anti-depressants is sometimes really effin disturbing.

Big Business and Big Pharmacology are hand-in-hand, which sucks hardcore. They turn out products which help some while hurting others. We're a society that's been taught to pop a pill for everything, from a cold to depression.

So what's the answer? Hell if I know. Think for yourself and do your research before putting anything in your body, that's all I've come up with so far. Perhaps I'll get wiser with age.

Sorry for the long reply...this is a bit of an issue with me...peace to all :)

Mac Addict-No, I gained weight when I stopped taking Adderall. I was on a dose of 120 mg for 2 or 3 years. I had already lost a pretty considerable amount of weight before it was prescribed to be as an addition to an anti-depressant to treat both depression and ADD.

It helped me lose maybe 10 lbs in all that time but as soon as I stopped taking it the weight just piled on. Nothing I did could stop it and I am still have trouble getting my metabolism back in order.

I agree with a lot of what summerwind pointed out. You're right, mycroftt - in some cases, yes, psychiatrists seem to be prescribing strictly to support the pharmaceutical industry, which is disgusting. And, sure, we don't quite understand enough about depression to create the fail-proof anti-depressant yet. And, as you so validly pointed out, it can certainly be a merry-go-round for some, being that we're not yet sure why some work and others don't.

As far as that's concerned, though, if a person has a psychiatrist they trust, it really shouldn't be an issue. For me, it's like going to any other doctor. My dentist looks at my teeth and says, "Hey, you know, you could probably use a bite guard," I believe him because I genuinely think that he wants what's in my best interest. The same goes for the psychiatrist I have now. I have to say that the one I saw previously was definitely trying to load me up with medications for no reason other than to drain me of what little money I have. But not all are like that, nor would I even say the majority who are actually following the ethical guidelines of the profession.

Summerwind is correct, though - while it's sometimes a toss-up on whether or not medication will work, what did work for me saved my life. It didn't "cure" me, as that's not its intent - but it did make crippling darkness and anxiety manageable, to the point where going to therapy could help me again (because I wasn't sitting in the chair lifelessly with tears streaming down my eyes as the therapist stared at me, for example). So I would caution disregarding medication as a viable solution completely. By no means do I think it's for everyone, or that everyone "should" do this or that, including trying medication. But perhaps let's not sneeze at those it has worked wonders for, especially since there's so much stigma surrounding the issue anyway. A sizable group of people is comprised of those success stories, despite all we've said here.

I do hope things improve for you, mycroftt. Very rarely is anything easy for those of us with depression. Gotta stick together!

Elle

My adult son was recently put on Cymbalta (we come from a long line of depressives; at least, we don't try to self-medicate with alcohol, which a number of our predecessors and relations did.) You know how they always give you that song-and-dance about how it may take several weeks to feel the effects, yada, yada. . .

He said he felt better almost immediately. You can see it just looking at him - the way he carries himself, his energy level, the optimism and energy when he talks about things. He has been resistant to being on anti-depressants for a long time. He says now that his only regret about this one is that he didn't know about it sooner.

I was on Pamelor for years and it worked just fine until I hit menopause, and then it stopped. TOTALLY. The doc tried me on several others and they did not work either. I've given up on trying to find an anti-depressant and just try to get by without it.

In a way I feel the same but then again I am not sure. I was on Welbutrain XL (not sure of the correct spelling) and that crap made me literally crazy. I was on something else as well but I can't remember the name of it. To be honest (not to sound sexist) but I think for guys it's harder. For example we don't go to the doctors as often if ever as we should. But women seem to go when they know something isn't right. I think for men we feel somewhat like the problem will fix it self. But that's not always the case.
Depression has stole a lot of my life from me but then again (as my father told me) I was dealt with a lot of "life lessons". But to be happy and feel like a normal person would be nice. I can't tell you how many people ask if "I'm OK" or to smile. Sometimes it's not that easy. And I am not one of toughs people that paint a fake smile on my face and act like all is well in my world. I can't and have never been able to even if I try.
But I think that if it will help then why not do it? I mean I would love to talk to someone and maybe get on meds because right now my head is not my own. I can't control, process, comprehend what is going on. I feel like I am in a fog and I am just sitting here rotting away creaming for someone to talk to but no one ever does. I pray for a friend and I have none. The loneliness is really starting to take a HUGE toll on my life right now. And it seems as though I try to fight it some times it gets the best of me. To be honest, I hate it. But I can't do anything because of the fact I once again was laid off from my job and I have no health ins. So I can't even talk to a doc. even if I wanted to.

It comes down to a risk vs benefit really. I definitely think drugs are the first option many times and should not be in some cases. BUT, when people come in that are suicidal or not eating - depressed to that extent - the risk of NOT trying a drug outweighs the risk of trying one IMO. And it is a quality of life issue as well. If you are so depressed that your quality of life is suffering, then, a drug may be needed. But there are many things you can do to help yourself besides drugs. You just have to be willing to do them. Just my opinion though.

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