Anyone on anti-depressants?

SLX

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Ok, so i've been suffering from depression for several years. Nothing in particular has to trigger it. I also go through extremely "up" periods where i'm hyperactive, super talkative, go up to 36 hours without sleeping, and generally accomplish a lot. But when i'm depressed, i prefer being alone, don't talk to many people, feel sad, and my mind's "chatterbox" constantly tells me negative things that only keeps me in the hole. As a kid, i was diagnosed ADHD, but my dad was against me being medicated in case it was a false diagnosis..as was the case with a lot of kids back then. After 2+ years of suspicion via self-diagnosis, my doc officially diagnosed me with type II Bipolar disorder, and reconfirmed my childhood diagnosis of ADHD (now Adult ADHD)

I have been seeing a therapist and psychiatrist, and they put me on Citalopram, generic for Celexa (An SSRI). I've been on it for a week, and have noticed some strange side-effects (lets be honest, they're just EFFECTS). About an hour after i take my daily pill, i feel zombified..emotionally deadened. Nothing bothers me, and i feel apathetic to everything around me. I can stare at a wall for an hour and not be thinking about anything. i just drift off. I also get minor shakes, like a nervous tick of just bouncing my leg up and down or both of them side to side. I also feel tired and fatigued, with little motivation to do anything at all. These side effects don't bother me too badly, the doc said they would go away within 2 weeks as i adjust to the medication.

As for the positives, In the morning before i take my pill, and later in the evening, i feel normal. Actually, i feel better than before, like my depression is finally starting to lift. I don't have as much nervous agitation and I just generally feel "chill", as opposed to my old ways of feeling mild paranoia of people around me, and anxiety. I know its too soon to say if the medication is actually working, as its supposed to take 2-3 weeks for its intended effect to begin to work.

The doctor intends to put me on Straterra for my ADHD next month, once I have been evaluated on how the current medication is working for me.

Has anyone else been on anti-depressants? If so, what was your experience like? Did any work for you?
Just curious, i thought it would be a good discussion topic.
 

Goatcheese

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If you depressed, do like I do, don't give a shit. ^o) I do that and everything works fine! No Depression, More Life! :) and no, I never drink pills.
 

SLX

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This isn't something that "not giving a shit" can fix. My manic-depression severely effects my life, and I only went for psychotherapy once I had exhausted all other avenues. I might add that I have been smoking pot to self-medicate for several years. Works as a temporary fix, but its not a long-term solution.
 

Tired

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Goatchesse's advice is horrible, and is the best way to make you depression far worse.

Let me tell you a little bit about my background. I used to suffer from severe depression and even suicidal tendencies. I beat depression a long time ago. Since then, I have consoled a lot of people with the illness. Right now, I am in training with an agency which deals with those who suffer from depression or abusive backgrounds.

To be honest, most people who take anti-depressants should not take them BEFORE receiving some kind of consoling. If you take anti-depressants when you don't actually need them, they become really addictive. So when they wear off, your mood swings will become much more agressive. Consoling will reveal just how much (and more importantly, how often you should take them).

The "not giving a shit" option is a horrible one. In theory, it should make the bad things seem less bad. But it makes it a lot harder to appreciate any good things. It will make you feel like that good things never happen unless you are drunk.
 

Goatcheese

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Well, works for me? If I don't give a shit, depression doesn't give a shit. ^o) but anyway, hope you become better soon bro! And that you become un-depressed :)
 

Tired

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Double post.

Just re-read your second post. DO NOT take the medication just yet.

The best thing you can do for your depression is stop taking pot. As you said, it works as a temporary fix. But like with all medicines, it needs to be regulated properly, otherwise it becomes a symptom of the illness that you are trying to cure. And the imbalance of chemicals from pot and your medicine could have nasty side effects on your physical and mental health.

Get the pot completely out of your system first.
 

TheDoctor

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Goatcheese said:
If you depressed, do like I do, don't give a shit. ^o) I do that and everything works fine! No Depression, More Life! :) and no, I never drink pills.

Goatcheese said:
Well, works for me? If I don't give a shit, depression doesn't give a shit. ^o) but anyway, hope you become better soon bro! And that you become un-depressed :)


.........................................................
:notsure

 

Blue Warrior

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Goatcheese said:
Well, works for me? If I don't give a shit, depression doesn't give a shit. ^o) but anyway, hope you become better soon bro! And that you become un-depressed :)
Are you sure that is actually depression?

I never suffered from chronic depression, but I heard many stories by many people. Some say medications don't actually help, and that it's just state of mind that makes you feel better, not meds. For ex. You start taking pills and you think they work, but actually they don't. But I think this is not one of those cases.

Good luck man, I KNOW that you will make it ;)
 

AKI Man

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Goatcheese man, you honestly don't suffer with depression. If you did, you would not be giving out that sort of advice.

I have suffered from depression in the past, not to the level you have reached, bit to the point I was seeking help via a doctor. I was offered anti-depressants, but declined as I was given some sound advice by a close friend who had taken them and in all honesty they are a quick fix to a problem that needs more than a pill. The human mind is so unique. At times we can not control our emotions and tend to lash out! That's what makes us human and who we are. Pills are not natural in any form.

Smoking weed will play a huge factor in your recovery with depression bro, so I suggest you nip that in the bud and quit smoking weed asap. Also, as I am sure are aware, seeking help via a counciler would be the route to go or even a loved one slash close friend. You will need support with this and it won't be easy, but have faith and know that road will take time, but will get better for you.

Sorry to hear about your problems bud.
 

SLX

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The doctor said that while she doesn't advocate smoking weed while on the medicine, it doesn't actually have any notable interactions because they work on separate receptor sites. Also, i have friends who have been smoking weed for ages and don't have depression, as well as having a few friends who say smoking weed is good for depression.

I appreciate everyone's advice though. The medication seems to be working in that i don't feel as depressed anymore. The side effects go away within 3 hours after taking my pill and I haven't yet felt any of the significant side effects people worry about the most. The weed does definitely help with the nausea induced by the medication.

I'm not sure if i'll quit pot for sure until I have enough evidence that they are a bad combo. Most research, including experience reports on Erowid, seem to indicate they work fine side by side. Weed helps me cope in the short term and the SSRI will help in the long term. If i don't see results within the next two months i'm just going to get off the citalopram. The depression isn't so bad that I can't cope, I just need help. For that, my therapist is pretty good.
 

Christian

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You're still young to take pills.
My mother is 42 years old and she has been on them since 2001 , so basically around 10 years.
She has changed , in the way the she is getting tired easier and is not that talkative.
Only thing that is the same , is when she smiles , she does it for an hour long or so.
If you would take them consider the fact that in the coming years you will need more and more, if you don't watch out how are you doing it.
I was depressed till i got to go on collage. Till then i was eating a huge amount of chocolate. In my opinion try first with the chocolate thing. If it isn't helping , take the pills.
 
D

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I sent you a PM, but I really want to stress how pills are not going to solve anything in this situation, they're just drugs. That's it, just drug's with an unfriendly, cold name.

They don't even make you feel good, just feel less.
 
D

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Goatcheese said:
I never drink pills.
Sorry for the double post.... but today I learned that goatcheese never drinks pills.

:sgctc:
 
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What some people have stated is correct. I've suffered from depression for many years and it's only in a "coma-like" state because of my fiancee, honestly. From time to time I have to fight the urge of old tendencies, if you know what I mean... The worst was when my mother found me trying to hang myself a few years ago. To this day I feel sorry for her as she's such a wonderful person. She didn't deserve that. But it was almost uncontrollable.

Medicine may be nice to help you "get up", but you must not depend on it. In my case it never helped, not even after months of use. I only felt... well, kinda like you do, and it wasn't my organism adjusting to medication. I felt like a zombie most of the times, like if I couldn't express what I was feeling. I was feeling terrible and still it was if something made it impossible for me to cry or express it. So I decided to stop and that's what I did. Really, it was a terrible feeling. I tried different medicines back then but it didn't help.
I also don't agree with the use of pot. Not only because I don't think drugs will help anyone or are good but also because depression is a terrible thing - one that isn't to be "disguised". You may feel good for some time (I don't know about it because I never used a thing besides medicine in my life) but as even you are pointing it out, it's not the "answer", the thing that will make it go away. It's just for some time. You're not really healing yourself with it.

I'm not sure what to say because I may not be the best person for it, after all I still fight depression (if my fiancee was to leave me I know what would happen). But for your own sake, the sake of good things in life, your family and friends: fight. Try to work on something you enjoy doing, as it helps a lot. Spend more time with friends and family. Talk to your doc and find a way to leave pot behind and use medicine only to help you in your first steps - you must fight it yourself or at least calm it down, not depend on the medicine for it, believe me. Depression, in a level like that, never goes away but you can totally calm it down. It only takes good will and love. Yes, love, be it for yourself or for the things/people in your life.
I'm sorry if I'm not able to help you properly or my words aren't the best to express what you need right now. But if I can be of any help, just PM me. :)
 

Goatcheese

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I do drink pills! Just not Anti-Depressants! ^o) lol

Edit: oh well, looks like I am going for the "most dislike" post again..... :wall:
 

I_Dont_Suck

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I don't think that pills are the best solution, but what do I know?...

Goatcheese, don't be a fag. :/
 

Goatcheese

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I'm a fag hey? Didn't you learn a lesson? I called someone a fag, and look at my warn level. I'm just gonna shut the f*** up then.
 

SLX

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Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll take it under consideration.

It should be noted that I wasn't prescribed the medication to treat simple depression, but rather, Bipolar Disorder. So far Citalopram is helping to level out the mood swings. I do in fact feel like my old self again, just not for the first few hours after taking my pill..thats the only time I feel "zombified". Other than that i feel much better.
 

AKI Man

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Oh well Goatcheese and I_Dont_Suck. Due to your discriminating remarks Ie Fag comment, you guys are no longer a part of OSR. Thanks to Micheal for doing the deed on your candy asses. You can Fuck off to that WWD rip off forum now and suck PSPProffesinal's dick!

This goes for anyone else. Considering SLX has opened his heart about his personal troubles, why would you moron's say words like that?

Honestly, if you guys have a problem with each other, you should have expressed that via PM. Not here!

EDIT: Oh I dont suck? That IC title has been stripped from you! I will leave it up to Gunderson to decide what to do with the belt now. Congrats fucker!! :toast:

 
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