Meds that work for me for treatment resistant depression

Thank you for timing the arrival of this new forum to coincide with my first day here. I'm pushing fifty and have been in and out of treatment for nearly 30 years.

Some meds seemed to strengthen my coping skills for a while, but I am not so sure any of them actually lift the depression to any significant degree or length of time. Wellbutrin and Effexor were pretty good until they were not, Depakote and a few others didn't help at all; I am struggling big-time right now, after a few years of reasonable success with Cymbalta. Recently started supplementing that with Trazadone and it helped a little.

Except for a lucky seven-month stretch about a year ago, I don't think I've ever been anything but depression or manic for more than a few days. The mania is rarely dangerously high (except to my bank account) but the depression can dip pretty deep and I've been hanging on the precipice for about two weeks now....which is why I am here. I tend to have a lot of anger with my depression, and I want to bite everyone's head off. Mostly I manage to restrain myself, by sheer strength of practical-reality awareness and years of practice - some days my acting reaching academy-award level.

My depression is rarely the "my life sucks" or "I am a bad person" brand; it is more along the lines of "people in general suck" and "the world sucks," so anything from a news headline to a dead kitten in the road can plague me for hours. Mostly I just don't give-a-flying flea one way or another. I don't actively want to die, but I don't particularly see why any of us work so freakin' hard to go on living in this world. Seems like the main thing "non-depressed" people have going for them is some kind of delusional gift for pretending things are better than they are.

I'm watching the trials with ketamine for severe depression. there might be hope there. if given the chance, I'd be 1 of the trial participants.

Hi, this is my 2nd post as a newbie on this site...and I noticed you mentioned use of cannabis...is this for physical pain or your depression? I was going to ask my GP about using it to help my MD and anxiety but I cant find supporting documentation to support use of it for major depression and I'm nervous about her reaction to me asking. I have been on various meds for over 2yrs now but I haven't found any magic elixir yet. I would say my depression is persistent at this point..with very little relief by way of pharma meds.

I'm watching the trials with ketamine for severe depression. there might be hope there. if given the chance, I'd be 1 of the trial participants.

I am beginning to believe I have treatment resistant depression as the years pass. I have basically been on some kind of psych medication since I was 13--I am now 24. There have only been a couple of periods (lasting only a few months if that) I have not been on any medication due to my mood.
I am beginning to lose hope in anything working. I don't have the energy to fight anymore. My hopes get dashed too often, my attempts to change don't last and the roller coaster with the medications are starting to frustrate me.
I feel so lost and that there is no hope, no help for me. The hospitals around me are more for those struggling with addiction. For people like me, who have psych issues the hospitals are more for a stabilization or "just until the storm passes" so to speak.
Has anyone heard of TMS? Has anyone had this treatment? What was your opinion?
Thanks

I forgot to mention I think psychedelic substances have potential...in my personal experience I notice after a good trip I have a noticeable mood lift that is ongoing after the drug effects wear off. I would never advise anyone take such things on a daily basis...but maybe when used sparingly they can have beneficial effects. It would be interesting if there was more research being done on this, especially since physically they are quite safe so for people it could help there would be minimal side effects. But I doubt they are going to star prescribing psilocybin and LSD anytime soon.

Is ketamine a short-acting thing? as regards psychedelics, is there some way to control how it acts? I had a bad trip more than once (back in the day)....maybe I'm too anxious.

Methamphetamine would really help me...depression, weight, production, oh well.

stephanie

I forgot to mention I think psychedelic substances have potential...in my personal experience I notice after a good trip I have a noticeable mood lift that is ongoing after the drug effects wear off. I would never advise anyone take such things on a daily basis...but maybe when used sparingly they can have beneficial effects. It would be interesting if there was more research being done on this, especially since physically they are quite safe so for people it could help there would be minimal side effects. But I doubt they are going to star prescribing psilocybin and LSD anytime soon.

One of my best friends took LSD in the late 60's when it was popular. One trip and he was never the same again. He's functional but not all there. Thinks people are watching him all the time, even from outer space. very dangerous drug.

though I should have posted my last post in here...but just noticed this section.

I have just joined this group also as I knew I needed some support with my depression. My doctor has been playing with my meds but nothing helps. Now Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. My depression is the kind where I hurt so bad that I can't stop crying. I have been depressed for many years but when I was young I used to do drugs to numb my feelings and "feel good" a temporary fix but I think what happened is that for years I numbed myself so much now the emotions and feelings are hitting me so hard I feel sometimes like I can't cope. I don't want to do this any more and I want some treatment that works. Does anyone know if medical marijuana would help and if a doctor would prescribe it or is it just for end of life issues. Anyway I am glad I found people who understand. My friends and family just say breathe and get over it but they don't understand Thank you for listening sad eyed lady

My current cocktail is the best one I have ever been on. I have been at treatment for twenty years.

I have been clean and sober for twenty years but to be honest I have experimented with pot for depression and anxiety. What I found was that it was no good at all for my depression. Some people say it helps. I found that for anxiety it does help but it has to be the right strain. Some strains make me to paranoid. So I have thought about getting a card sometimes but I decided against it. Klonopin works much much better and I don't want to be a chronic smoker.

It depends on the state but it is not usually hard at all to get a card. Personally I never worried about it. It is very easy for me to get very good stuff if I were to want to.....not so legally. I don't care if I get it legally or not. Certainly never stopped me in my drug and alcohol using days.