Does anyone take any type of medication for depression, or gen anxiety disorder?

[MissSuperb]

If you do, can you post what medicine, and how the medicine makes you feel?

I had a friend who said that Paxil, or Zoloft made him feel like a zombie. Like he almost got into an accident with a friend, and his friend's heart was racing from adrenaline, but his wasn't. it was just normal, like it didn't even happen. Is this what Anti-Depressents do to you?

Also, how does the medication help you? Do you need it for the rest of your life? If not, how do you cope when you don't have the medicine anymore?

Ok, hope you guys can help me out, thank you.

 

[ImTyping]

Just go see a shrink. Psychiatrists can dispense medications that are tailored to whatever is causing your problem. Getting medical advice about specific psychoactive drugs from AT is just about the dumbest thing you can do.

 

[Czar]

I´m taking something called Modigen, not sure if its doing anything but I feel as if its working. Its a very mild depression medicine and doesnt reqire a doctors perscription. Recomend you give it a try.

 

[Hakunin]

I used to take Prozac for anxiety; It made me feel good, I didn't notice any major side effects, and it didn't really bother me in any way.

I stopped taking it for some reason, but I didn't feel like I needed it, I certainly didn't go through withdrawal or anything. I do feel more anxiety than I did when I took it though.

You definitely should see a psychiatrist, I'm sure they are better at explaining it than AT is.

 

[Looney]

Just go see a shrink. Psychiatrists can dispense medications that are tailored to whatever is causing your problem. Getting medical advice about specific psychoactive drugs from AT is just about the dumbest thing you can do.

Chill out, it doens't sound like she's asking for medication advice... how would she obtain them anyways? Pick them up besides the aspirin shelf? Sounds like she was asking for experiences, whether it's worth being zombied for alleviation from depression.

 

[Random Variable]

I take Zoloft for anxiety, but I'm not convinced it does a darn thing for me.

 

[LethalWolfe]

<< Just go see a shrink. Psychiatrists can dispense medications that are tailored to whatever is causing your problem. Getting medical advice about specific psychoactive drugs from AT is just about the dumbest thing you can do. >>



I agree. If you have computer issuse, come to AT. If you have medical Q's, go to webmd.com or consult a real Doc. That said, here is my 2 cents.

Anti-depressents restore a particular chemical balance in the brain. People who are clinically depressed are that way because they have a chemical imbalance. The anti-depressents are takin for a limited time. It's kinda like a band-aide for the brain. The most glareing side effect my friends/family who take Prozac mention is the meds kills your sex drive.


Lethal

 

[nateholtrop]

paxil

nate

 

[Schlocemus]

I have taken medications in the past. I did not like the effects on me, and I stopped. I'm not sure if I am better now, before, or on the medication.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

When I was terribly depressed I never took any of that sh1t, learn to live with it you'll feel better about yerself after.

 

[Bleepeep]

get off them now. They don't do squat for you. They don't help anything. In fact, they do way more harm than help. Every school shooting has had these types of drugs involved in them. People take these things and some of them go berzerk. Do you really think people need these. Why can't they just handle their problems without them.

And there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance. I'd check out any allergies you might have, reactions to certain foods, vitamin deficiencies, etc. That's probably the cause of any troubles your having.

You'll be doing yourself a big favor if you stay away from these drugs.

EDIT: by "you" I mean anyone. Whatever your friend is taking is definately causing that weirdness. Do everything you can to get him off the drugs.

 

[BlueApple]

I was on Zoloft for a bit, then tried Prozac, then effxor, now I am on 20mg of prozac and 225mg of effxor. They are working pretty well for me now, still have some downs but they aren't as bad as they could be.

 

[RossMAN]

I think I just need to move away from the depressing-dreary-grey-cloudy Portland weather and I'd perk right up.

 

[rmblam]

Paxil and Zoloft are anti-depressants. They work by elevating the levels of serotonin (neurotransmitter) in the brain.

For some patients they cause restlessness as a side effect. Others can get drowsy from them, but these effects usually wanes as the person gets used to the med. Another side effect common to older anti-depressants was an elevation of blood pressure. The newer ones don't have this problem so much. Although in overdose situations we do see it again.

Anti-anxiety meds are different. A common drug for anxiety is Xanax (Alprazolam), for example, which is a mild sedative (benzodiazepine) like Valium. There are others of course... Sometimes drugs like Propranolol are used to anxiety also, since in that state the individual gets sweaty and a fast heart rate. Propranolol helps to block the effects of our "sympathetic nervous system".

In most cases counseling is used in conjunction with the medicine. I would not rely on the drug as a cure all. Funny how most Pharmacists think that in general.

I am a bit tired after a week of 12 hours shifts at the hospital so I am close to rambling.

PM me if you need more info.

RMB Rph.

 

[LethalWolfe]

<< get off them now. They don't do squat for you. They don't help anything. In fact, they do way more harm than help. Every school shooting has had these types of drugs involved in them. People take these things and some of them go berzerk. Do you really think people need these. Why can't they just handle their problems without them.

And there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance. I'd check out any allergies you might have, reactions to certain foods, vitamin deficiencies, etc. That's probably the cause of any troubles your having.

You'll be doing yourself a big favor if you stay away from these drugs.

EDIT: by "you" I mean anyone. Whatever your friend is taking is definately causing that weirdness. Do everything you can to get him off the drugs. >>




This is why you don't ask med Q's on a computer forum. Unless, of course, you're looking for uninformed opinions.


Lethal

 

[amnesiac]

<< When I was terribly depressed I never took any of that sh1t, learn to live with it you'll feel better about yerself after. >>



Dark4ng3l, that's probably one of the most intelligent things I've heard for a while. I've been on several meds and in all honesty the side effects are usually worse than the ailment.

Here's what I've taken and the side effects I recall:

Wellbutrin - Extreme sweating during sleep, sleeping problems, stomach problems, easily distracted

Paxil - Irritability, zombification (seriously, I lost all emotion)

Wellbutrin / Paxil - Mood swings, sleeplessness, sweating, mild zombification

Wellbutrin / Paxil / Depakote - like before but a bit less


Now I've been 10 months without drugs and feeling better than ever thanks to fighting my depression and anxiety on my own (and with a little help from my friends). It's mind over mind when it comes down to it, and by putting things in perspective and realizing it's all just a state of mind you see the world in a whole new light.

*edit*

Keep in mind these are side effects which *I* personally experienced. It may be very different for other people. Who knows, they may work wonders for you, but for me, I prefer "coping" over all else.

 

[SilverThief]

Amen amnesiac 2.0!

 

[Schlocemus]

<< Paxil and Zoloft are anti-depressants. They work by elevating the levels of serotonin (neurotransmitter) in the brain.

For some patients they cause restlessness as a side effect. Others can get drowsy from them, but these effects usually wanes as the person gets used to the med. Another side effect common to older anti-depressants was an elevation of blood pressure. The newer ones don't have this problem so much. Although in overdose situations we do see it again.

Anti-anxiety meds are different. A common drug for anxiety is Xanax (Alprazolam), for example, which is a mild sedative (benzodiazepine) like Valium. There are others of course... Sometimes drugs like Propranolol are used to anxiety also, since in that state the individual gets sweaty and a fast heart rate. Propranolol helps to block the effects of our "sympathetic nervous system".

In most cases counseling is used in conjunction with the medicine. I would not rely on the drug as a cure all. Funny how most Pharmacists think that in general.

I am a bit tired after a week of 12 hours shifts at the hospital so I am close to rambling.

PM me if you need more info.

RMB Rph. >>



Just to nitpick about the "elevating levels of serotonin" ... I believe they are what are known as SSRIs: Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitor. This does not mean that they somehow magically "balance" the chemicals in your brain, but they control how and when each brain cell uptakes this chemical. It's sorta confusing, more so than I can make a coherent post with, but I believe there is a signficant difference from what you said...
Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[amnesiac]

<< get off them now. They don't do squat for you. They don't help anything. In fact, they do way more harm than help. Every school shooting has had these types of drugs involved in them. People take these things and some of them go berzerk. Do you really think people need these. Why can't they just handle their problems without them.

And there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance. I'd check out any allergies you might have, reactions to certain foods, vitamin deficiencies, etc. That's probably the cause of any troubles your having.

You'll be doing yourself a big favor if you stay away from these drugs. >>



You sir, are an Asshat.

I have never heard anyone speak out of their ass more vehemently than this. What kind of babbling fool are you to make these statements? I'm not going to even start to ask how you can claim to disprove something that modern medicine has discovered (namely, chemical imbalances). I suppose you have a GREAT explanation for why my dad, a manic depressive, went beserk (manic) when he was on absolutely NO medication? Hmm?



<< Every school shooting has had these types of drugs involved in them >>


Ok, prove it. Provide newspaper clippings of the last few known shootings and show proof that the drugs were directly linked to the shootings.



<< And there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance >>


Prove this too. I think you should present your findings to all the Institutes of Psychiatry so they can save billions of dollars on research.

Can you please shut up before someone has to use the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge your foot from your throat??

 

[Bleepeep]

in backing up what I said

Click on the left where it says "online exposes". check out any page off that link. You'll find out the true story behind psychiatric practices. Including drugs (anti-depressants) and a host of other stuff.

That's only if you want to see what I'm talking about. You don't have to unless you want to know the truth.

It would take me too long to find a reference for the school shootings thing. but if you do a search on any news site, you should be able to find that in columbine, eric harris (sp?) was on drugs sometime before going nutso.


EDIT:

<< I suppose you have a GREAT explanation for why my dad, a manic depressive, went beserk (manic) when he was on absolutely NO medication? Hmm? >>



well, i'm not saying your dad wasn't a manic, I'm just saying he probably wouldn't have been helped very much by pumping his system full of psychiatric drugs. Obviously something was wrong with your dad, otherwise he wouldn't have gone berserk. Just logically speaking, of course.

 

[amnesiac]

<< well, i'm not saying your dad wasn't a manic, I'm just saying he probably wouldn't have been helped very much by pumping his system full of psychiatric drugs. Obviously something was wrong with your dad, otherwise he wouldn't have gone berserk. Just logically speaking, of course. >>



Exactly why it's been clinically proven many times over the last 50 years that lithium stops manic depressives from becoming unstable?

 

[Schlocemus]

<<

<< well, i'm not saying your dad wasn't a manic, I'm just saying he probably wouldn't have been helped very much by pumping his system full of psychiatric drugs. Obviously something was wrong with your dad, otherwise he wouldn't have gone berserk. Just logically speaking, of course. >>



Exactly why it's been clinically proven many times over the last 50 years that lithium stops manic depressives from becoming unstable? >>



You too should be careful Amnesiac 2.0 ... it MAY (perhaps most likely, but not definitely) stop manic depressives from becoming unstable, not it WILL stop all of them...but yes, I generally agree with everything you've been saying

 

[arigato]

I started taking paxil and xanax for my anxiety. After several months, I was able to wean myself off of the xanax which wasn't easy as it can be addictive. I continued taking the paxil for another year or two until it started to put me into kind of a daze, switched to celexa for a year or two and after almost four years of being on medication, I stopped. Most of my trouble with panic-anxiety is more of an emotional issue than a chemical imbalance and I didn't feel the drugs were helping.

 

[MisterPants]

I took Celexa for Obessive Compulsive Disorder. Fogged my memory and made me feel a bit dull. I'm now taking a vitamin supplement called TrueHope, 32 pills a day. Works quite well. It is a relatively ordinary vitamin taken in massive doses. Haven't felt any negative side effects.

This may be an option for some, more traditional drugs may work for others. EEG Biofeedback is also an option.

I find those Exposees rather pathetic. Anyone can spout conspiratorial drivel. I didn't like these drugs, but I view Psychiatrics as a valid form of medicine. Those articles merely quote people as support for their theories. With no factual basis, I find little reason to believe them. If you don't think Psychiatric care can help a person with a mental disorder, you've obviously A. Had one and not been committed enough to solve your problem, B. Gotten over it with more pain than necessary, due to resistance to pyschiatric care, or C. Never experienced any of this. I was type A for a while, but after improving significantly with the help of drugs and psychoanalysis, I've changed my outlook.

 

[Swag1138]

When I get depressed, I turn to my good friend Jack. If hes busy, I call on ol Jim.



But seriously......

Ive been on Paxil, Prozac and Celexa.

Paxil helped me tons, but it made me hungry all the time (not good when Im overweight to begin with)

Prozac was ok, not really worth the time it took to swallow the pill though.

Celexa didnt help at all, in fact, I stopped taking medication when I was on celexa and felt no difference.

I get depressed a lot now, but I channel it. I write a lot of poems/songs and play on my Bass a whole heck of a lot.

Medication DOES help a LOT of people, but some people it does nothing but bad for. I would NEVER say that medication is bad citing a few examples of high profile cases. Look at the millions of people taking anti-depressants who you would never be able to tell apart from somone not taking them. Each person has different needs, some people need the medication to remain stable, some take it because they feel they need it, some are put on it because their psychiatrist wants to make them feel like they are getting their moneys worth. Dont brand all cases by a select few.