[x123]

I'm 48 year old male, and I've had problems with depression all my adult life. Usually I have been able to function by getting a cardio work-out every day.

About 15 years ago, I took antidepressants (wellbutrin, zoloft, and something else) for several months, but I felt absolutely wretched. The cardio work-outs no longer made me feel better. Food tasted awful. I gained weight. I had sexual side effects. In short, I was miserable.

About 6 years ago, I tried lexapro, but I only took it a few weeks.

I need to start therapy, but I'm sure the therapist will recommend antidepressants. To be honest, I get feeling of panic when I think about taking antidepressants (almost like if I had to go sky diving).

Does anybody else feel that way about antidepressants? It's almost irrational. (BTW I don't think I will agree to take antidepressants. It's hard to explain.)

[Fuzzybear]

[regretful]

Sounds like you've been through a similar mess that I have with medication. I don't panic about them, but I am sure on the fence about taking them, possibly for the same reasons - after a lot of deliberation, I reluctantly started taking Viibryd about 8 weeks ago. On the positive side, it keeps me from crying, but on the negatives, the weight gain and sexual side-effects are again my reality. Prior to Viibryd I've been through Lexapro (twice), Wellbutrin, Remeron, Effexor, and Cymbalta...so, it's a mess of medication. Depression just sucks the life out of me.

If you can do this with therapy, that's a very good thing, and in my opinion, a good therapist will work with you and rely on referring you for medication as a last resort. I hope that you can find a good therapist...Best to you.

[Secretum]

I'd find a therapist. Many times, depression can be treated with therapy alone, unless it is really severe. Regardless, your therapist can't force you to see a psychiatrist for meds. Even if you were in the hospital, they can't force you to take meds. It's your choice. Hope that helps!

[Altered Moment]

My opinion is you don't have to take them if you don't want to regardless of what a therapist or pdoc says. It's up to you. Anti depressants only work in some percentage of people. I don't think the exact percentage is known. 30 to 60? Some people keep trying different ones and combos of things until it works. This is a grueling process but a lot of times works. Some people can't tolerate them or only get side effects and no relief. I don't think it is irrational if you had bad experiences with them.

Therapy and exercise is a good strategy. Maybe throw in meditation, journaling, whatever else may help. Diet. See how well it works.

[Jolisse]

Meds don't always work and the side effects can be awful. You can refuse to take meds and still have therapy.

[Cathartic02]

I agree! Antidepressants aren't always the best solution.
Have you tried changing your diet? Some foods can be depressants for certain people.
It worked some for me!

Be well!

[vital]

Originally Posted by x123

I'm 48 year old male, and I've had problems with depression all my adult life. Usually I have been able to function by getting a cardio work-out every day.

About 15 years ago, I took antidepressants (wellbutrin, zoloft, and something else) for several months, but I felt absolutely wretched. The cardio work-outs no longer made me feel better. Food tasted awful. I gained weight. I had sexual side effects. In short, I was miserable.

About 6 years ago, I tried lexapro, but I only took it a few weeks.

I need to start therapy, but I'm sure the therapist will recommend antidepressants. To be honest, I get feeling of panic when I think about taking antidepressants (almost like if I had to go sky diving).

Does anybody else feel that way about antidepressants? It's almost irrational. (BTW I don't think I will agree to take antidepressants. It's hard to explain.)

Trust your body. I don't think your reluctance is irrational at all. Before taking antidepressants, I would advise anyone to look at these two links:

Why Antidepressants Don't Work for Treating Depression*|*Mark Hyman, MD

Celexa (Citalopram) Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Will They Last?

ALSO, for alternatives, I really recommend listening to this talk

About 13:44 in, he talks about depression specifically and points out the any of the following can cause it:

1. Gluten -> Autoimmune disease thyroid
2. Acid reflux -> acid blockers -> vitamin B12 deficiency
3. Vitamin D deficiency
4. Took antibiotics -> Altered gut flora -> Changes the way peptides and neurotransmitters are produced
5. Love Sushi -> Mercury poisoning
6. Hate fish -> Omega 3 deficiency
7. Love sugar -> Prediabetes

Every one of these things causes depression, the treatments for each are different and none of them will be helped by antidepressants.

There are lots of things to do besides exercise that are good for depression and healthy for you anyway. You can find some in the "depression success stories section". Also, because it worked for me and is so easy, and because I think it's getting directly getting to the root cause of depression, I recommend trying "SNAP CLUB"

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

As Steven Colbert says: I'LL SEE YOU IN HEALTH!!

- vital

[lilypup]

I only take antidepressants and other meds because the alternatives are suicidal behaviors, severe depressions, or mania that destroy relationships.
They do make me sleepy and do have sexual side effects.
I also do some "natural" things but am grateful for the drugs because my life was a living hell before them.
I think if you get bad enough you'll try anything. If you can go it without meds, I think that's absolutely fantastic! Good luck to you.

As mentioned you do not have to take medication to receive therapy. It's complicated. Some people respond well to ADs and some have awful reactions. And then you have organizations like Scientology who try to scare people with false claims about ADs. It was Zinco I think who mentioned that ADs only work for a certain percentage of the population. I read a study a while back on a specific AD med in which it was reported a slightly greater percentage of the people involved in the med trials responded to sugar pills (placebo) than responded to the med. If it works it works... if it doesn't then theres no reason to use it especially if it causes a reaction or if the side effects are too much.

[SoggySketti]

yes I agree, medications can be very scary!

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by George H.

As mentioned you do not have to take medication to receive therapy. It's complicated. Some people respond well to ADs and some have awful reactions. And then you have organizations like Scientology who try to scare people with false claims about ADs. It was Zinco I think who mentioned that ADs only work for a certain percentage of the population. I read a study a while back on a specific AD med in which it was reported a slightly greater percentage of the people involved in the med trials responded to sugar pills (placebo) than responded to the med. If it works it works... if it doesn't then theres no reason to use it especially if it causes a reaction or if the side effects are too much.

Those are clinical trials with placebo but they only last 6 to 8 weeks. Hardly enough time to tell. Real world results seem to tell a different story. I only know of one long term study that emulated clinical practice. The STAR*D. You can find criticism of that study too. I believe there is a very large international one going on now.

Here is a good article.

NIMH · Antidepressants: A complicated picture

The study below looked at all the clinical trials. It seems they are more effective the more severe the depression. The draw backs are 6 to 8 week double blind placebo trials that included the placebo wash out period. To me 6 to 8 weeks doesn't tell you much.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article....ticleid=185157

[TheOriginalMe]

I certainly relate to being afraid of antidepressants. It seems that any med that works on serotonin makes me lose control of my bladder, that includes natural remedies and supplements. The docs acknowledge that this is a problem, but can't explain it. Unfortunately, nearly every available anti-depressant works on serotonin. The med I'm on at the moment, works on different neurotransmitters and I don't get the problem. Unfortunately it doesn't work that well, it has improved my sleep and regulates my appetite (for the first time in years I can recognise hunger and satiety) and it has minimal side effects, but on its own it just isn't enough to shift my mood.

After a long battle I finally got to see a pdoc and of course the first thing she wanted to try is changing my meds back to SNRIs or SSRIs so that she can try augmentation and combinations. I stood my ground and said that I don't want to risk going back to a life where I can't pee when I try and then the floodgates open without warning when I don't want them too. So far my pdoc has listened and is researching other options and is hopeful that having the right therapy and social support may be enough for my current med to kick in. It is your body and you don't have to take meds if you don't want to. I hope you find an understanding therapist who can help you make good choices.

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

Those are clinical trials with placebo but they only last 6 to 8 weeks. Hardly enough time to tell. Real world results seem to tell a different story. I only know of one long term study that emulated clinical practice. The STAR*D. You can find criticism of that study too. I believe there is a very large international one going on now.

Here is a good article.

NIMH · Antidepressants: A complicated picture

The study below looked at all the clinical trials. It seems they are more effective the more severe the depression. The draw backs are 6 to 8 week double blind placebo trials that included the placebo wash out period. To me 6 to 8 weeks doesn't tell you much.

JAMA Network | JAMA | Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity: A Patient-Level Meta-analysis

Maybe but I was thinking of a study of a specific AD that lasted longer than 6-8 weeks. A study in which internal corporate documents pertaining to the study were either subpoenaed or leaked.
Yes indeed, the author points out some of the problems with that STAR*D study and you probably noticed one or two yourself.
Okay... I'll get back on topic now. I'm not afraid of ADs but I have much less faith in them now than I once had. And I also feel some resentment that the doctors who originally prescribed my AD did not mention withdrawal effects at all. Or what they so nicely call discontinuation syndrome these days

[x123]

Thanks, everybody. Sorry to be slow to respond. My depression has ups and downs, and yesterday was a down. Today seems to be an up.

Most friends and family seem to think that depression is 100% treatable with antidepressants. It makes me feel like I'm unnecessarily punishing myself and everybody who depends on me by being unwilling to try antidepressants again.

For me the worst thing about antidepressants was losing the ability to feel good from cardio exercise. Exercise is the only thing that keeps me going, so giving that up to experiment for months trying various antidepressants is terrifying.

So I think I will try the therapy and keep exercising as long as my body will cooperate (my knees are fragile). I'm glad others understand how I feel. Thanks.

[vital]

Originally Posted by x123

Thanks, everybody. Sorry to be slow to respond. My depression has ups and downs, and yesterday was a down. Today seems to be an up.

Most friends and family seem to think that depression is 100% treatable with antidepressants. It makes me feel like I'm unnecessarily punishing myself and everybody who depends on me by being unwilling to try antidepressants again.

For me the worst thing about antidepressants was losing the ability to feel good from cardio exercise. Exercise is the only thing that keeps me going, so giving that up to experiment for months trying various antidepressants is terrifying.

So I think I will try the therapy and keep exercising as long as my body will cooperate (my knees are fragile). I'm glad others understand how I feel. Thanks.

Hi x123, You might want to look at this quite alarming link that just arrived today:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/psych...-imagined.html

- vital

[x123]

Originally Posted by vital

Hi x123, You might want to look at this quite alarming link that just arrived today:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/psych...-imagined.html

- vital

Thanks, I looked at the thread,but I didn't read the link yet.

One hopeful development is that the scientists are beginning to use more objective measures like the electrical activity in the brain to see what the drugs are actually doing. This should give the scientists a better understanding.

[Webgoji]

Without antidepressants I would be dead right now.

Ergo, it depends on the person.

If your depression can be managed without medication, that's always the preferable method. But just because something like Effexor causes a side effect, it doesn't mean another will have the same side effect so if you do decide to try medication, don't give up just because one didn't work.

[x123]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

Without antidepressants I would be dead right now.

Ergo, it depends on the person.

If your depression can be managed without medication, that's always the preferable method. But just because something like Effexor causes a side effect, it doesn't mean another will have the same side effect so if you do decide to try medication, don't give up just because one didn't work.

Thanks, and I realized I forgot to mention that I have been using some herbs for depression. They help a little bit.
- licorice: 3 cups of tea per day helps sometimes
- SAM-e: 200 mg once per day gives energy and motivation (sometimes too much though and I get jittery)
- kava: once in a while if I'm having panic it helps, but it makes me sleepy

[vital]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

Without antidepressants I would be dead right now.

Ergo, it depends on the person.

If your depression can be managed without medication, that's always the preferable method. But just because something like Effexor causes a side effect, it doesn't mean another will have the same side effect so if you do decide to try medication, don't give up just because one didn't work.

I'm really glad your alive Webgoji.

What upsets me is not someone who tries antidepressants a last resort. What upsets me is the routine prescription of antidepressants to anyone who seems depressed without trying anything else first. I see that happening and I really think that can be a very bad mistake.

- vital

[vital]

Originally Posted by x123

Thanks, and I realized I forgot to mention that I have been using some herbs for depression. They help a little bit.
- licorice: 3 cups of tea per day helps sometimes
- SAM-e: 200 mg once per day gives energy and motivation (sometimes too much though and I get jittery)
- kava: once in a while if I'm having panic it helps, but it makes me sleepy

I had a similar experience in that herbs (St. John's Wort) and various teas did little or nothing for me either.

Here's something that I think might be very surprising for you but worth your consideration. The little snapping thing I do

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

is not like the herbs. It's not like it helps a little. It was a VAST change for me. It was far more powerful than any drug I took.

I'm similarly impressed with a couple of stories about meditation not helping a little, but helping a HUGE amount.

As Stephen Colbert says: I'LL SEE YOU IN HEALTH!!!

- vital

[x123]

Originally Posted by vital

I had a similar experience in that herbs (St. John's Wort) and various teas did little or nothing for me either.

Here's something that I think might be very surprising for you but worth your consideration. The little snapping thing I do

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

is not like the herbs. It's not like it helps a little. It was a VAST change for me. It was far more powerful than any drug I took.

I'm similarly impressed with a couple of stories about meditation not helping a little, but helping a HUGE amount.

As Stephen Colbert says: I'LL SEE YOU IN HEALTH!!!

- vital

Thanks, I started reading your post last night and it had some very good ideas IMO. I need to read the rest of it too.