[Larfu]

Has anyone done this and shown improvement? If so, could you tell me which medications were involved? I ask because my mom has depression, and she's been wanting to change from Celexa to Cymbalta. I'm hopeful this change will help her symptoms. Please advise if this applies to you. Thanks!

[Christina86]

(Larfu, I moved your post to the Psychiatric Medications forum because I think you'll get better responses here about meds).

Well, I switched from an SSRI (I can't remember which one now, but I've been on a couple) to an SNRI (Effexor). I'm now on a newer SNRI, a cousin of Effexor called Pristiq.

I found the SNRI works really well with less side effects as compared to the SSRIs. But that's just me

[mctripat]

I had been on paxil and was doing ok except for the usual side effects that bother me, sweating. Even my feet sweat. I can stand it most of the time.

if the medication your Mom is on is not working, maybe Effexor or it's cousin will help her, but from what I have learned a lot of it is a trial and error process. Doctors can not anticipate who will respond to what medication ...
I do not think it matters what medical school your doctor went to, how many years of experience they had etc... I just think it is impossible to predict who will respond to what medication and who will not.

They do have guidelines they go by and all kinds of technical information about the chemical structure of the drug etc that they need to know. I am sure they look at clinical trial results and other information about effectiveness of the drug too. I know many patients take several medicaitons that have to be considered also.

But I believe the doctor relies on their past experience with other patients with similar medical issues to a very great degree. If they lack experience, they try to make up for that by reading medical journals and contacting other colleages. So the whole process is "Iffy", although doctors want you to believe it is more scientific than it is.

Also I wonder how much influence the pharmacutical sales reps have on the doctors. I guess this depends on the doctors' specialty and what drugs are commonly prescribed. It also depends on new technology and where research dollars are going. A friend of mine told me many of the docs she worked with refused to eat any of the catered foods, these folks provided. In some states laws are or have been passed about what the sales reps can do to sell their products.

Never again, will I believe a doctor that says "try this it will make you feel better"..... if your medication is working ok and the side effects, cost of it etc are tolerable leave well enough alone. No drug is going to work 100%.

Effexor turned me into a zombie from Jan 2004 until May 2006. Later on, I even considered looking into suing the doctor for malpractice. I did not realize I was a zombie when I was on it... so my responses to the typical questions for medication checks were really useless.

I do not know if I really had legal grounds to sue the doctor or not. I do wish I had looked into it more though. However the doctor I saw got cancer a few years later and was a single mother as well. I was not just interested in money, I did not want this doctor to zombify any other patients if applicable.

This happened after my Mother died. My sister and I found out she had maybe 3 to 6 months to live less than 2 weeks before she died. My Mom did not want to know her long term prognosis and did not have doctors who were in the same medical group. Due to these 2 things, my sister and I were not notiifed when we should have been. There was no "gatekeeper doctor" to coordinate her care with 3 specialists... one who lived 15 miles from my Mom.

People with depression do better if they can find a good therapist. This also is partly a hit or miss process. But if you meet with someone for a couple of sessions or possibly even 1 session, and do not click there may be another person out there who would be a better match for you. I realize not everyone can afford a therapist or has access to one.

In my experience, a clinical psychological with a Ph. D helped me the most. Now there are other doctorates where a dissertation is not required, called a Psych. D. My current therapist wanted to be a school psychologist so she has an Ed D, but jobs were not out there when she graduated so she had additional training to become a clinical psychologist.

I have been chronically depressed most of my life. I have seen many people with Masters degrees in various counseling areas. There are also ministers that have counseling when they get there doctorate degrees. That may be a good option if someone does not have any $ or object to religion... you do not have to belong to a certain church either.

I would contact the closest church to me that was Christian. Some people may have very specific beliefs and need to see a Catholic Priest, Jewish Rabbi etc. Also Mormons training is unique to the Latter Day Saints.

I hope I have not offended anyone. I do not like or dislike people based on their religion or not. My experience with doctors started at age 13 with another chronic disease that is fairly unpredictable. I have been in the hospital and had surgery quite a few times. I have listened to doctors talk to each other, residents, nurses and other patients.... in the past, a lot.

mctripat

[googley]

Hello,
I originally tried prozac and paxil but didn't find any effect. I am now on Effexor and find it to be very helpful. I hope your mother finds what works.

[Umbral_Seraph]

I do better on SNRIs than SSRI's. In my experience SNRI's tend to be more potent than SSRI's (and more expensive...).

[online user]

I was on Prozac for about 20 years, but a fairly low dose most of the time. I had no symptoms to speak of with that. Now I'm on the highest dose of Cymbalta, with Remeron, 30 mg as well. The Cymbalta makes me sweaty, gives me incredibly dry mouth, and I'm gaining weight.

If your mother has no symptoms, now, or manageable, why change? Unless the meds not working, of course. Cymbalta has been heavily advertised, which may make it attractive. If your mother is responding to that, she might stick with what's working rather than try something new. Unless, as I said, it isn't working!