Depression Support Group

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

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mrome 10/20/2010

hi.

my doctor suggests i research which of these 3 meds will be best for me. i suppose in a perfect world he should be informed, but he's a general practicioner, and i appreciate his honesty on his ignorace which of these are best for me. I wonder if most doctors really know the differences.

prozac hasnt been effective for me. effexor is a nightmare drug-- i dont want anything that gives me brain electric shocks.

i suffer from severe depression with some mania (bi-polar).

please relate your input, including debilitating side effects on...

Abilify, Symbyax, and Pristiq.

(i researched them online, but basically all the text is the same word soup.)

Thank you!

-Matt

deleted_user 10/20/2010

wow, I've never heard of Effexor giving someone brain electric shocks. I have been taking 37.5mg of Effexor twice a day for three weeks and I don't feel anything. Not even side effects. Haven't taken any of the other drugs you are asking about.

depressiontini 10/20/2010

My doctor added Abilify to my Lexapro and Lamictal regimen and for a while it was great. He increased my dosage to 5mg and for two weeks life was really great but then I started to feel extremely fatigued. Apparently, some people at too high a dosage for them start to feel fatigued rather than energized. That's what happened to me. He reduced my dosage down to 2mg again and that works much better for me.

I have been on Pristiq which was supposed to help with my depression and anxiety, but still had anxiety while on it. I think we determined the anxiety was a complication of the Lamictal, but we had already stopped the Pristiq by then anyway.

Why doesn't your GP recommend a psychiatrist who has experience with these meds? I trust my psychiatrist to know much better than I do what the meds do and what their side effects are.

Hope the info helps. Good luck!

benb28 10/21/2010

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is derived from the Effexor molecule(venlafaxine). Supposedly it has fewer side effects. If you had a bad experience with Effexor then I'd be wary of Pristiq.

Abilify made me very agitated and hyper - I couldn't stay with it. Went with Zyprexa which is a similar drug.

good luck

Heidiclark 10/24/2010

First of all you shouldn't have to be the authority on meds. That's the job of the doctor. If he doesn't know anything about these meds. then you need to find someone who does and I agree that your best bet is a psychiatrist and not a general practitioner. I am 47 and have had severe depression my whole life. Today for the first time in my life I had a good day and it was from Pristiq 100 m.g. I hope this helps and doesn't just confuse you more!

mrome 10/24/2010

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