[Supernovarocks]

I'm new here, so hi...

I've been reading around the forums and I see that some people have been on many different drugs and many different combinations of drugs. I'm on Celexa and I tried to get Abilifybut the cost was prohibitive so I couldn't get it. That combo has worked for me in the past, but I was on a discount card and that is no longer in effect.

I asked my Pdoc for a different med, but he only offered Pristique. It's not on my formulary but Effexor is. And as I understand, Effexor is generic. Has anyone gone from Celexa to Effexor and gotten help. I'm way down now and suicidal. In my mind only, I can't kill myself, I have to many bills.

How many different drugs does it take to find the right one/combo

[LadyShadow]

I'm so sorry that you're down, meds are funny. I would be happy that I didn't get Ambilify I read about it and there are some very dangerous side effects including death

I have been on a lot of meds. Zyprexa, Lithium, Lexapro, Geodon, and countless others. I am on an old medication now, Haldol, that does the job of keeping the mania away but it makes me depressed. I don't want any more pills so I don't ask for an anti-depressant. The less pills the better.

I don't know about Effexor or Celexa so I hope you get your answers. I am stable though and not suicidal, just pretty lazy thats about it.

[TheOriginalMe]

I was on Citalopram (Celexa) and it had only a mild effect on my mood. My doc changed me to Venlafaxine (Effexor) and the change was almost immediate, I felt calm and peaceful almost straight away and within about 10 days I was feeling positive and after about 2 weeks I felt happy. The initial side effects with Effexor can be pretty strong so the docs usually start you on a small dose and build it up. It is a drug that people either love or hate but it has certainly been the most effective anti-depressant I've taken. Unfortunately, my bladder doesn't tolerate Effexor very well, so I'm now coming back off it again.

[Supernovarocks]

All these drugs scare me. I'm not afraid of dying, heck, I'm depressed, but I don't want to end up with TD or some other medical issue.

[TheOriginalMe]

I try not to think about the side effects too much, at least when they are theoretical. After all side effects of being depressed include cancer and heart disease. Well at least if your depressed you have a higher risk of developing those and several other conditions. The reason some people dislike Effexor is that some people have discontinuation symptoms when coming off it.

[regretful]

I've been on Lexapro (3 times), Wellbutrin, generic wellbutrin, cymbalta, mirtazapine, and venlafaxine (generic effexor)...there's side effects with all of them, but as I said before, I'm a side-effects machine. Good luck.

[ChangingMyMind]

I have tried a few different meds.

I have been on Celexa (name brand) and Citalopram (generic), Citalopram worked very well for me. I was on 20mg for many many years. After awhile I had to adjust to 40mg and then 60mg (when they allowed that, 40mg is now the max). I was finally back down to 20mg and was doing just fine. No depression and barely any anxiety. However, I did have side effects. I had weight gain and frequent urination. Finally in 2010 I started to become extremely tired on Citalopram. Even now Citalopram is great for my mood but it makes me way too tired.

I tried Cymbalta for about 3 months, worked great, had some side effects, headaches from what I remember, but then after 3 months the depression set in so I went back to Celexa.

I am now on Escitalopram (Lexapro) 10mg. It is working ok so far, I've only been on it for about 10 days. I do have some of the side effects, a bit tired (but nothing like Celexa), flatulence, minor abdominal pain. The only problem is my mood is not quite as stable just yet. No anxiety really but depression is still there a little bit.

I have never been on Effexor but my old primary doc did prescribe if for me once. I read up on the side effects and decided not to try it.

Unfortunately I'm somebody who gets side effects with nearly any drug I try.

As far as how long it takes to find the right combo. I think it depends on the person. Trial and error, unfortunately. I know this is not the answer you're looking for because it wasn't the answer I wanted either but I think it's true. Although I think you will find something that is right for you if you keep at it.

[Hellion]

I've tried I think all generics of prozac, mirtazapine, wellbutrin, effexor, klonopin, zyprexa, serequel, and some varying anti-histimines(for anxiety/sleep) and probably a couple others I can't remember the names of none of those have worked and most just make things worse.

Now I am taking valium for anxiety, just had the psychiatrist adjust the dosage so I can take 5-10 mg for anxiety once a day instead of 2.5-5...suppose I will see how 10mg works for anxiety attacks. I also take trazodone for sleep which works pretty well...And I am prescribed celexa but am having difficulties getting myself to take it so not sure what will happen with that one. Not having much luck with these psych meds.

[Altered Moment]

I have taken just about all of them and every combination you can think of over the past twenty years. I am sure there are some I haven't take, the older ones, because there are so many.

[Denman]

I started on Lexapro. It did nothing for me, so they added Abilify. That combination is not working for me either, so they changed it to Cymbalta and Abilify, and still nothing. The dosage was increased on both medications, but so far, I'm not feeling anything positive with these medications. My pdoc is resistant to changing my meds at this time.

[Nobodyandnothing]

I stopped counting at 50 (not kidding).

Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Prozac, Ritalin XR, Ritalin, Adderall XR, Lamotrigine, various benzodiazepines, Trileptal, and perhaps a handful others that I've forgotten about. Diagnoses and misdiagnoses. Trial and error. Adjustments and readjustments.

[Hellion]

I of course only included prescribed psych meds in my list...but I've tried other things. And somehow I've had worse experiences with pharmaceuticals....I'd rather have a bad trip again than undergo the effects of Prozac or wellbutrin ever again.

[HALLIEBETH87]

celexa, Prozac, Zoloft, wellbutrin, Risperdal, lithium, lamictal, latuda, Neurontin, trazodone, ambien, Depakote, zxprexa, klonopin, symbyax, abilify, Geodon,seroquel, buspar, Effexor, doxepin,adderrall, topomax, saphris, invega, hydroxyzine

soo.....26 I can count. 4 that I am on currently. these are all that I can remember. I have had some crummy doctors in the past and wasn't always compliant. so yeah.