Tough choice. Depression is a conundrum -- lots of different causes, manifestations, and treatments. It is possible to spend years... and your children's inheritance... trying to sort it out and find the right med. First thing I'd recommend is to learn all you can about the nature of depression. Surf. Google. Ask people whose wisdom you trust about best resources. But also: DailyStrength has groups for depression. You might want to hang out in one (or more than one), reading the discussion threads and asking your own questions. Next, start keeping a mood diary. Third, listen to yourself before you listen to anyone else... and keep listening to yourself.

Best wishes

I sent you a private reply, but other than amantadine, which helped me 100% in 48 hours!!!!!!!! there is no drug I'd want, but....many herbs work well...yes you do have good reason for sadness....

There are many diseases that can cause depression. For me my thyroid problem caused me to become severely depressed. The hormones were all off and it totally caused my brain to go haywire. Once I got on the correct meds I felt much better and could think more clearly. Seriously, I would be dead today w/o being treated properly for the thyroid. It was VERY bad. Best wishes to you.

Oh CM... I understand what you're feeling and I'll write you a message on my experience with antidepressants... I do appreciate what you are saying though... I have a very very good friend who is a clinical psychologist... He's always there for me when i need to talk.. i was going through a period not too long ago where i would cry a lot... i thought i needed to maybe get on an anti depressant again but he explained to me that if i knew why i was crying or feeling "down" (and feeling down is not being depressed) then it's not really depression but an awareness of a lot of things going on... You've had a loss recently... you have PD... and now the shoulder... i won't labor on this here... but frankly i think you're doing a great job handling it all and if there's a little sadness so be it .. vent it out...
hugs... paula

CM you mentioned that the source of your mood is really a pain in the shoulder and neck. I would reccomend mesage theropy. If you can resolve your pain issue your depression will surely improve. Ggood luck and good health Alex

Hi CM, Depression and anxiety are symptoms of PD. I was very depressed especially after being diagnosed. People with life changing diseases definitely can become very depressed. The Azilect then sinemet immediately removed my depression and anxiety (at this stage of the game). I have changed meds 2x. First by adding sinemet to azilect and second adding more sinemet and both times the first increase of symptoms I noticed was an increase in my depression and anxiety. If I remember rightly I think you are in a trial study. I would consult the trial study people to see what they think. If you are not taking meds yet then maybe a low dose antidepressant would be just the thing you need right now and when you get ready to go on the meds - with your drs.' help get off the antidepressant and see if the PD meds help you with your cognitive issues. I also had success with a therapist who deals in cognitive behavioral therapy. Good luck!!!

CM - Wow, you're sister should walk a mile in your shoes....I think anti-depressants do work to bring your mood back to a "level" but not to put you in a good mood, just sort of numb. And this is from my personal experience, not my wife who is the PDer. From my experience with her, you go through stages as you become aware of the reality of PD. We've known for five years (I think) that she might have PD and with the DATscan last year it was confirmed. Its been a roller coaster of emotions. Quite frankly, and this is what I would tell my relatives - you deserve to - are allowed to - feel anyway you want! When you're on meds in the early stages, people dont SEE the symptoms and dont understand. The disease is not real to them like it is to you. I'll get off my soapbox with a parting piece of advice - my wife's biggest complaint for years was the head and shoulder ache. I think that Gabapentin was her savior for a while. Good luck and hang in there!

My Doctor put me on lowest does of lexapro and it worked well me for.
It just made me feel relaxed and in a oh-hum atttitude(good) without feeling all drugged up( OUT-OF-IT) . I was still working at the time , and it didn't interfere with my job. Best of luck. Brian

When the reality that had Parkinson's set in, I spent about six months on Remeron and it really helped me. Once I accepted my condition and made the decision to get on with my life I tapered down the Remeron and have been okay without it.

Thanks everyone for all your kind words of support, and for all the hugs. Your replies meant so much to me cause I know you totally get where I am coming from.

My sisters comments hit me hard - but as I thought about how I really feel (for 2 days now) and reflected back over all the "stuff" I have been dealing with the past 5 months I came to the concludion that I don't need an antidepressant - I need a vacation instead!!! lol

While I know antidepressents can be a God send for many - and depression is a real and a horrible condition that often requires a chemical intervention, I don't think that normal periods of being sad, down in the dumps, and just plain exhausted require medication. There may be times, especially for us PDers, when we will need to get help for real clinical depression - but I don't feel this is one of those times for me.

So - I am picking myself up off the floor - dusting myself off - and mdoving forward. I may not be as happy as I usually am, I may not smile as much as I use to, I may even be a little more introverted than normal, and I am definitely more tired these days - but I am going to be OK and keep plugging along to try to figure out this new pain issue. Cause honestly - thats the real problem right now - not depression.

Oh - and I have to tell you all - I had my first professional massage yesterday! Oh my goodness - it was so great! Fire the doctors, skip the meds - I think I have found the cure!!! haha Now I just have to win the lottery so I can have a daily massage for the rest of my life. Seriously - that is the best I have felt in weeks and for most of the day after the message my tremors were pretty calm. Now thats what I really need!!!!

CM, I've had 3 so far, I get one a month. I'm thinking bi-weekly. But I don't want to get spoliled. lol. Truly heaven on earth!!!!!! Brian

Now massage may be your answer! With the cost of medicines now, massage may even be cheaper! You know I hate meds even tho some of them help but the anti-dep issue came up and I tried lexapro for 4 months. Be careful with these if you decide to quit - go gradual. The problem was the docs want you to take large doses. I kept mine small (and risked irritating the docs).

Overall it was ok but I didn't like the side effects which to me were night sweating just in my torso area (bad) and libido. And I still protest that I am not depressed. There is a new one out called Villibyrd that is supposed to have very little side effects.

I love what tee said about how PDis not real to others as they don't see our symptoms and don't understand.

Message me if you have questions and good luck - get another rub!!

If I might add a footnote to this thread. I *know* about the importance of exercise in controlling effects of depression. And I know very well how difficult exercise is when we are already hurting. BUT it is still important. Here is a helpful article in today's WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/does-exercise-help-depression?ecd=wnl_dep_072712&ctr=wnl-dep-072712_ld-stry