I finally got myself on medication and I was really scared as well. I had to hit rock bottom before I got there, and at first the pills weren't working - they take a while to get started, and my dr slowly increased my dose to avoid side effects. After a few days at my current dosage, I felt so vibrant! I had forgotten how amazing life could be, and the pills lifted the clouds.

Don't do pills alone - then it becomes a lifelong crutch. You need some kind of other therapy so you gain the skills to keep from re-depressing yourself when you do go off the pills.