Depressions out of control and I'm about to blow!

I was finally able to get off my last AD...the third of a very painful process. Of course the drs saved the 'best' for last! It took me a month to finally be free from Effexor. I did alright for a short time but I'm drowning and at this point crashing at anything to keep my head above water. My T made me go see another PDoc...I didn't want to buy I did. I've explained that I have tried 3 AD's over 3 years and I'm not interested in going through it all over again. So what happens after an 1 1/2 ht trip to the new guy...he wants me to go on another one! (Took me 3 hrs to get home too, plus the couple of hundreds that I had to pay for the hour). I'd rather die then go through all this again. I can't take it

I wish you well; it sure is a huge struggle. I'm on Effexor now (300 mg), and I swear this stuff, and my psych nurse, have saved my life. She added Abilify in sept., and that made a good thing better. Effexor was the fourth AD I tried over two miserable years. I haven't had much of any luck with therapists though. My point is that you never know what's going to work for you, and it stinks because anything you try takes so long to give it a shot before you can honestly say it isn't going to work. And in the meantime you have nothing to help you put up with your pain. It sounds like the people you're working with do care, so that's hopeful. Maybe they'll find something that helps you very soon. Maybe they'll figure out something that'll help everyone cursed with this rotten disease. Please keep up the fight and stay safe.

The time/distance and expense would themselves be significant deterrents for me, much less the failure of the med trials. Have you looked into other treatments or depression management techniques?

Hi Jpny, Iremember talking to you when you were going off the efexor. I am so sorry to hear that you are not coping but the sad fact is that maybe you do need to try another AD. I know that is not what you want to hear and I do know how you feel. Trying another AD is a depressing thought in itself, not knowing will it have the desired effect or will the side effects outweigh the benefits. Having a long distance to travel and the expence would put nearly all of us off it, but you can't go on as you are, can you? Best Wishes.

No, you're right, I can't continue like this. My T found some PDoc that he wanted me to do to and I did. I told him that I didn't want to go on another med...but in the end I did. It's been almost a month and although the side effects have been next to nothing...there still isn't anything sound. I'm convinced that after trying four AD's, that they simply don't work for me. So what now? Well, I've been waiting for an answer from my T and PDoc for weeks...
I heard a statement that resonated to me about this situation...if you see a person in pain, even for a second, how can you turn your back on them.

It may take a combination of multiple AD to get you to the right level. And that can be a frustrating process too. It's like playing with a chemistry set. I have been on the same AD for over 10 years and have had to try adding at times.. Prozac worked for a while- felt better than ever but it only lasted a brief time and didn't work again after I was off it and went back on. Tried a few other SSRI but they don't balance me out. I've found that I have to research meds and then suggest to my doctor- its actually my PCP that prescribes. After years of seeing a Psych, and trying different meds, she said we were out of options which was unacceptable. so I did my own homework and found one doctor,thePCP, who suggested new alternatives as well. I'm at a low point now and still searching for the right combination. I wish you all the best.

Physically my body can't take anymore antidepressants. I can't deal with the side effects and know have to deal with the withdrawal from one more...psychologically, this is all just killing me.

I was on an endless trials of different meds, for years and years! Now at last I am on some meds, including Effexor, which have really helped. I went through some awful side effects, and some rotten Pdocs and counsilors. Please don't give up this fight.

I decided to go to the hospital tomorrow. I can't take the side effects of meds and the withdrawals. I've been off the latest for only three days. All I keep thinking about is hurting myself but since I haven't been able to think straight I can't even do it. The hospital is the only thing I could think of. I can't take care of myself anymore.