Anti-depresssant aren’t working: What medications have helped you?

Curious as to why you are not interested? I am doing EMDR now for PTSD. Physical abuse by my dad since childhood. My therapist suggested I try TMS treatment and inquire about ketamine. I have never done street drugs!

I tried several anti-depressants over the years. I am not a good candidate for TMS. Any suggestions for moving forward?

Has anyone had any experience with taking duloxetine or vilazodone?

These were recommended by my doctor after having no success from several medications?

Is there permanent damage to my cognitive skills with these
multiple prescriptions for depression?

I am currently not on any medication since the side effects have been many and there has been no change in my condition.

Has anyone experienced this drug-resistant depression?

TMS doesn’t seem like a good choice since it only works for a year.

Thoughts or comments are welcome.

I know that everyone has different reactions to theses medications.

I just started Lamictal today. I have a friend that is doing well with it and hear me really good things on my research. I have depression which is mainly for, but can help with anxiety. I had some bad side effects with Xanax and Ativan. Buspar did nothing. Also, I take Hydroxyzine which works very well at night as needed . These both are not addictive.

I have been o no less than 50 meds in 40 years. Ketamine, shock treatments and have found the only thing that makes me feel right Is alcohol.. bad path!!!! I just stopped wellbutrin that was added with desvenlafaxine. I almost lost my mind. I have debilitating depression and anxiety, so now I don't work. So I have all day to feel sorry for myself. The only one that got me through life was effexor with 1mg klonopin at night. I would have some beers after work. Depression and anxiety were gone. Then my father passed. Couldn't take it. The effexor quit working after I quit drinking. So I can't really help you. I'm back on the pill merry go round. But can say that effexor really helped me until it pooped out after 15 years

Duloxetine is one of the 2 meds I've been taking for depression for almost 10 years now. I haven't really noticed any side effects unless I don't take them when I'm supposed to. Basically every 12 hours.

@myacct123, it can be a long journey to find a medication that works for you. And there may come a time that a medication that was working, doesn't any longer. I merged your discussions about searching for a medication into one discussion here so that you can review the comments people have shared with you:
- Anti-depresssant aren’t working: What medications have helped you? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anti-depresssant-arent-working/

@myacct123, what medications have you and your doctor tried in the past? Has something worked and is no longer working?

@myacct123
We don't have your medical history so really can't prescibed medications. What will work for one will not work for another.

Are you working with a phsyciatrist or psychologist? I work with a medication psychiatrist specialist at Mayo who works with my medical doctors on prescibing what is best for mentally but getting concurrence from medical doctors if right for me physically.

I was put on Escitiopram (spell) decade ago to deal with PTSD anxiety/panid disorder. I was also put on sleep medication and Xanac. I was able to wean off both the Trazodone (sleep) and Xanac from taking daily to a as needed medication. The Escitiolopram I was told was most likely going to be for life. I recently had additional stress put on me from spouse serious health issues, I met with medication specialist and gave me option to raise the Escitopram if needed. I decided to not to raise it but my medication specialist asked me to keep her informed of my decision. I am a Mayo patient and we have a portal system you can send and receive messages to your physical health and mental heatlh providers.

My medications are not meant to say the will work for you. An example I was getting a lot of stress as was not sleeping with mind racing. Medication specialist put me on Ambien. It did abosolutely nothing for me. So tried trazadone which did. Most patients find ambien works but not me. So you can see everyone is different and what will work for one will not anohter. I would try to see a psychiatrist medication specialist if you can.

I have been on many ssri over 40 years. Effexor has worked the best. But was still depressed. Nothing wrong in my life! If I added a couple beers after work I felt great relief. But stopped drinking and now I have no relief with the Effexor or anything so far. Weaning off wellbutrin now.. it made me crazy. Taking desvenlafaxine for 2 months. No help. I don't think there is anything to help me.

For me and everyone is different the main focus is the here and now. Meds help no question and therapy too. But it’s not one size fits all. Looking ahead nothing is certain. We tend to dwell on the negative and that controls us. Brings us down with anxiety and depression. Worrying about what could happen in the months and years to come. Difficulties in overcoming this can be overwhelming. Influencing and challenging us from the very moment we hear our diagnosis. Wow. So I take everyday like today in which yes I have SMM but nothing is holding me back physically. And from that I gain confidence and reassurance in my abilities