One thing to look at is the alternative treatments or even adding something like supplements SAM-e or things like Omega-3, folic acids, vitamins etc. I find they do seem to work well with the meds rather than on there own. But some people do seem to survive without meds. Is even a board on DS on alternative treatments that may be worth a look at. http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/beyond-medication

On a personal note I know with me. I know what I'm like off the meds even on sups. It is one reason I keep taking meds and sups together. I also don't recommend taking yourself off meds especially when you on the verge of a melt down ie In the hight of depression.

Thx for your reply. Yah i do tons of supplements. Omega 3, multi-vitamins, bcomplex, vitamind, cranberry. I'll have to ask pdoc about sam-e. Im just tired. Tired of trying so hard and doing so many things and not getting the results. It takes a lot of money and mindpower to manage so many meds and then to feel like total shit and be overweight and high cholesterol and high glucose because of it--- i just am fed up. Sigh...

Sometimes blanket therapy is all you can do sometimes, The brain just needs to process so much that sleeps the best way to deal with it all. Although do contact your doc ASAP.

i wont tell you to take them or not, but i will suggest that you speak to your dr before going off of them... he'll prolly try to suggest something you like better (and you might want to try them) but if you decide you want off of your meds, please go off of them the way your dr tells you to... some meds cant be quit cold turkey without causing lots of damage

good luck with whatever you decide to do

*hugs*

The first thing that came to my mind was SAD...i can't recall...if you told me you have a light box or not?

yes, and the supplements...

so i'll give you a big (((((Hug)))) and hope it all gets straightened out for you...the process of trial and error with the meds is so damn frustrating...i so understand!!!

Yes i have SAD and yes i have the lightbox and have been using it regularly. (Dont really see any benefits)

Thanks for the hugs and the replies guys. I appreciate it

I have heard of one supplement for depression...it is called 5-HTP. Not sure if you have heard of it before, but I have heard that it helps. I too take a lot of meds, and I am tired of taking them. They are causing more problems than they are helping. I am in the process of weaning off of a few of them to see if it helps me any. I have been very depressed lately, and I am tired of my doctors wanting to do nothing but push pills on me.
I hope that you can find something that helps you, and that you start to feel better soon. : )

I would ditch the overpriced supplements to begin with: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/science/herbal-supplements-are-often-not-what-they-seem.html?_r=0

Alternative medicine is now respected in some great medical institutions .... and well worth the try. Omege3 was recommended to me by my own M.D. Also folic acid.

Dreamshadow , thank yu so much for the link.

""I would ditch the overpriced supplements to begin with""

Why not ditch the overpriced over prescribed psych poisons. They cost 100 times as much as natural supplements and you don't get any health benefits out of them. You have a RDA for B vitamins, Vitamin C, fatty acids, etc... because your body needs them, even more so when you are physically and mentally stressed. You don't get depression or chemical imbalances because you have a prozac deficiency or because your not getting enough seroquil in your diet. Most non situational depression is caused by some form of chemical imbalance which is usually caused by some sort of nutritional deficiency, toxicity, allergy, food additives, or environmental toxins, OR commonly the medications themselves. Psychiatrists often tell people depression is caused by a neurotransmitter deficiency... low serotonin, dopamine etc... And that is often the case but psych meds do not increase these chemicals or correct imbalances. Psych meds only take what neurotransmitters you have left and force it to concentrate in a specific area ...the nerve junction (synapse). But in the long run this further decreases neurotransmitter levels because when you force the neurotransmitter to remain in the synapse by inhibiting reuptake (which how most SSRI &SNRI's work) a few things occur. Most relevantly your body responds to the abnormally high levels of neurotransmitters by reducing the number of receptor sites in the post synaptic junction and increasing the production of the enzyme monoamineoxidase which works to break down all that neurotransmitter left in the junction which would normally have been reabsorbed and thus conserved in the pre-synaptic junction. But the medication prevents that. So your left with even lower neurotransmitter levels and fewer receptor sites to receive what is left. These medications throw your whole body out of whack. The body is a integrated system, you can't tinker with one chemical or one part of the brain and think it's not going to effect the rest of the body. Put simply these psych meds don't correct chemical imbalances they create them, they do far more harm than good, and do nothing to get at the root of the problem. Having this woman on twelve pills is ridiculous and most likely one of the biggest reasons she feels so crappy. I had NEVER in my life suffered with depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, memory\cognitive problems, or any other psychological problems UNTIL I let a psychiatrist I had to see 1 time for anger management talk me into taking strattera because she THOUGHT... I....MIGHT have adhd. It destroyed my life as I knew it. I became severely depressed, developed psychosis, and eventually attempted suicide. If you care to read the rest of my story I posted a link. Anyways I strongly feel that you should see about tapering off the meds, at least narrow it down to one or maybe two meds at a low dose. Eat healthy, drink lot's of water, exercise daily, get outside in the sun and fresh air as much as possible. (I know that is difficult in the winter.) Avoid alcohol, and don't drink to much coffee or pop. Don't overdo the supplements but a daily multivitamin\mineral, B-complex, omega-3's would be fine. SAM-e is definitely worth a try if you get off the meds but don't take it especially if your on 12 meds, antidepressants etc... as it can cause serotonin syndrome. A few others that are helpful are L-tryptophan to increase serotonin, L-tyrosine to increase dopamine, soy lecithin (choline source) to increase acetylcholine but really if your eating right you shouldn't need these. Sorry for the long post but I am passionate about speaking out about the harm psych meds cause. I hope my post helps in some way and I hope things get better for you.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Brain_Injury/forum/17713035-scared-i-have-brain-damage

You tried Strattera and it wasn't a good fit for you.
I also tried Strattera and it wasn't a good fit for me either because IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL. Nothing. Nothing good, nothing bad. Just absolutely nothing.

So everyone is different :)

I've been pretty low several times in my life, but I've resisted doctors' suggestions to get on ANY medications. I exercise. I ride a bike and it cures all ails.

Since you're on the pills, I would consult a physician before quitting any of this stuff cold turkey, because the withdrawals could be horrendous, but maybe a gradual weening off process, replacing the meds with nutrition, diet and exercise, over time, will enable you to get off the drugs. I'm not a physician, so please consult one.

I understand your frustration believe me! I have been there BUT I never gave up hope. I would talk to your pdoc and maybe you can work out something. I have been on over 38 meds and hundreds of combinations. Just keep trying. I hope you feel better.

Thanks again you guys. I really appreciate the thought and time you put into your responses. I will have to ask pdoc about 5htp. Thx for that suggestion. Im wondering if abilify would be helpful- as much as i hate to add another pill to the bunch.
Yes i fo take omega 3. Which i think i mentioned in previous posts. Thx for your wordsof encouragement, guys - its helping to nudge me along