Out of options

Every antidepresant ive tried since 1992 has failed. I had to give up drugs and alcohol a few years ago because i couldnt take the unreal feeling any more. Thats after 25 years of doing a LOT of drugs and drinking to excess. Now that im sober all the meds i try put me in a dream state and make it difficult 4 me to go outside. I want to feel normal again. And i hope that is possible some day. So im not on anything anymore and im really anxious to see how that goes. Has anybody here have similair problems with antidepressants?

I just started my 6th anti-depressant and like you I used to self medicate a fair bit ( drink 3-4 nights a week). I don't know if its the alcohol that stopped the AD's from working or not but its so frustrating waiting for some relief. I hardly even get side effects and always go to max dose within the first 2 weeks. I quit drinking a while ago. Do you feel better since you stopped drinking ? I just feel the same.......maybe even worse because I don't have that little bit of relief that i got from drinking for a few hours. What medications have you tried ?

I do feel better. I could start nameing off meds but there some that i jsut dont remember. I;ll try. My last was citolapram then before that was seroquel. The rest i dont know the order of but ive tried wellbutrin. amitripoline, prozak, And many others but i just lost track. Its been since 1992 that ive been trieng different meds. Im not even tempted to drink or drug anymore. I used to black out 3 or 4 times a week sometimes. I ve been in jail many times for drunk in public and i'll stop there unless you really want to know then youll have to PM me. I dont want to embarress myself too much here.

I do drink quite a bit - it's usually in social context and not over the top - but it's still alcoholo.

Wellbutrin is the first AD that seems to have worked for me

Yes, it took years (actually decades) to find the right combo for me. But, I still get severely depressed at times, but I think part of that is because Im still battling the SSA to get my disability, been going on 4 years now (with 2 attorneys) what a nightmare. I know I will be glad when it is over, and the depression should lessen alot I hope.

I have been through years of different anti-depressant medications, none of which ever made any difference. I am on something currently completlely different that is actually working to make me feel normal. I was actually misdiagnosed. The depression was a part of a bigger problem. I self-medicated for a short while with marijuana. It had an interesting effect on me, however, and allowed me to function and be productive. People would comment on how well I was doing that day, and had no idea I was stoned. It just took away darkness and fright and allowed me to live me life. I certainly understand why people do it, but it only complicates the issue. Especially when you are trying to take anti-depressants which simply don't work correctly when mixed with alcohol. In fact, mixing them can be extremely dangerous. I don't condone self-medication by any means. I empathize with what you are going through and hope you find something that works.