Posted by Viridis on June 18, 2003, at 23:59:56
In reply to Is there anyone who had benefits from AD ? , posted by Francesco on June 18, 2003, at 15:19:47
ADs work well for many people -- I've seen lots of very positive reactions in friends using ADs like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, Wellbutrin etc. But of course, most of those people don't post on boards like this -- they get a prescription from their doctor, their depression improves, and they get on with their lives. This board is skewed towards people who don't respond well to the "standard" meds and are looking for alternatives. There seem to be a lot of us out there!
I can't tolerate SSRIs at all -- even at very low doses, they induce rapid mood cycling, anxiety, various physical side effects, etc. Most I've quit fairly quickly; I took Prozac for a long time and got somewhat used to it, but even after many months at various doses, I was "wired" and almost completely emotionless at the same time. Wellbutrin was a disaster for me, and I tried it for two months without any reduction in side effects.
However, like btnd, I finally found a pdoc who prescribed Klonopin (clonazepam). It dramatically decreased my anxiety and anxiety-induced depression, and I too consider it my "primary" AD. I also use Xanax (alprazolam) here and there, and it's a big help. I also have ADD, and use Adderall at low doses, which helps as an antidepressant too (Provigil = modafinil also improved my mood, but didn't help as much with concentration). And, I just started Strattera (atomoxetine); it's too early to tell, but it seems to be making me feel calmer and happier as well.
So many doctors are focused on the newer ADs, and they really do work for a lot of people. But they don't work for everyone, and if that's the case for you, then it's crucial to find an open-minded psychiatrist whom you can trust, who is willing to try different approaches and combinations. With all the meds available, it's unfortunate that so many doctors stick to the mainstream, heavily promoted, still-under-patent drugs, but I guess that's not really surprising.
This board is very helpful for self-education; I've often suggested meds I've read about here to my pdoc, or expressed reservations about certain ones based on experiences reported here. He really listens, and says he appreciates the fact that I have some knowledge of the meds we're trying. Not all doctors are that way, but it's well worth searching to find one who is.
poster:Viridis
thread:234845
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030614/msgs/234978.html