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

Effexor backfired on me in a really scary way. I was switched to Lamictal and have been depression-free for a full year now. I went from lifelong cyclic depression that Effexor never really worked for, into severe depression that both I and my doctor concluded was being driven by the Effexor itself (a rare but documented reaction). Since Lamictal requires a stepping up period and my severe depression quickly ebbed after stopping the Effexor, I can't really determine how much of my recovery was due to removing the drug driving it and how much is owed to Lamictal. But because cyclical depression had been my norm and that's cleared up as well, I plan on remaining on Lamictal for the foreseeable future because I've been in such a good place for so long now.

wellbutrin has worked for me for many years now

I too suffered from depression and anxiety. My depression did not prevent me from functioning (working etc ) but the anxiety was major panic attacks. I tried almost every antidepressant and cocktails of same if it worked on depression it made my anxiety thru the roof. The problem I think is that some antidepressants are energizing. Well long story short I have been on mirtazapine for several yrs.i take 30 mg at bedtime. However I have also been on lyrica and I find that keeps anxiety eY down. Also I did do two separate 36 treatments ofTMS. I fought that a lot. Mostly because of the time commitment and they were done 2 yrs. Apart. I know you said that you were t interested. Just wondering why

I have treatment resistant depression as they have called it. I have had every colour of the rainbow when it comes to anti-depressants. I found medicinal cannabis beneficial; I take both CBD 220mg/ml with terpenes during the day to drive safely. I take THC/CBD 25/25mg/ml after I no longer need to drive usually between 3-5pm. I have found it gives my brain a rest from overthinking, caring, etc... and allows you time to rationalise and work through your reasons for depression.
I am in Melbourne, Australia where there is a stigma attached to medicinal cannabis from the medical establishment. Which is why they refuse to acknowledge any benefits to my face anyway. I started off on a lower dosage which was not as beneficial and have settled on the doses of 0.5ml of both types daily. I have had no desire to increase the amount and have even not taken it some days. If I travel overseas and cannot take it, I have no side effects. When taking it the only side effect is a bit of fogginess in the brain which goes away when you take the CBD. It has even helped with improving my sleep. It is no magic bullet, but it stopped my suicidal ideation, and it doesn't take two weeks to work and 8-10 weeks to wean off. I hope you find peace whatever path you take.

Sounds like you have treatment resistant depression. I did too. No medications worked but many made me worse. Up until about 3 years ago I was on Trintellex. Remained severely depressed for 5 years. Did TMS twice but am convinced the Trintellex interfered with it. I decided to taper down and off of Trintellex and only remained on my mood stabilizer Lamictal which is not an antidepressant, it’s an anti seizure medication.

Having suffered debilitating depression for over 40 years, medication can and often does make depression worse as it did in my case.

Wishing you all the best.

Yes effexor worked along with klonopin for 11 years. Pooped out. Stopped helping. I'm now stopping the effexor while adding zyprexa. Stopping the effexor in 3 week weaning off then Prozac to start along with zyprexa. 3 days of weaning the effexor I am dizzy as hell. Giving all this a shot. Nothing else has worked. Honestly I'd take the dizziness over the way I've felt the last 4 months.

Medications do help. No question about it. But meds by themselves are only a part of the whole. In my view therapy whether in group or solo can help as well. Talking about it or sharing it doesn’t make it go away but gives it a voice to be heard. What you’re going thru. Therapy is a hit or miss in my book. Had good ones. And not so good. Way of living also helps moods and feelings. Doing things you enjoy can help lift your spirits. Get some enjoyment. But meds is also on my daily list. Effexor and Hydroxyzine. Everyday.

@myacct123
Suggestion medications that worked for us just means it worked for us. We are all different and what works in ones body will not work in another.

Do you have access to a psychiatric medication specialist? I see one a Mayo Jacksonville. She not only does consultations but prescribes medication in coordination with all my other medical doctors. Each time I see her I go through a thoroughly questionare that we discuss in detail when we meet.

To give you an example of medications working in one person and not another: When I was really having an issue with PTSD she prescribed a sleep medication ambien. I have a portal at Mayo Jacksonville. I messaged her to say ambien did not work. She messaged me they had good results for most but as I could see not all. I was then given trazodone which did work. I was able to move from taking nightly to as needed (I have not taken in well over a year).

I take a medication that seems to really work for me called, escitilopram (spell). It is an anti anxiety/depression medication. I don't take a high dose. Recently when came under real stress from wife's medical issues she suggested we raise it if I continued to feel to much anxiety/depression. But we then discussed my present time I was spending with my exercise and hobbies routine. I had not felt like doing them so we discussed the need to.

I did not have to increase my dosage as I made time for my exercise and hobbies. If you have access or can get access to a major facility psychiatric treatment and see a medication specialist it is something to consider. I strongly suggest talking to your doctors about starting an execise progam you like and or hobbies, and that you seem to be having trouble finding a medication that works for you.

I hear horror stories about discontinuing effexor. Counting beads and such. I am weaning for 3 weeks. Lord knows how it will turn out. But I'm not counting beads. My dr.put me on another type of med to cut down on withdrawals while weaning. And prescribed a very manageable ssri for when I completely stop the 3 weeks of weaning. I will say the 33% drop has been a little uncomfortable, well see. But I can't bear to hear anymore stories about bead counting or a 3 year weaning. The Dr. Can help you. If he's worth his weight in salt. But the stories are sad to hear when there are ways to get off this med without 3 year weaning and bead counting.

I was on Wellbutrin (the brand) for a long time but the generics were different than the brand & they didn't work. I tried so many generics as the brand wellbutrin was 3000.00/month.
After awhile I stopped the generics. I explained to a pharmacist & my psyche nurse prac I was going thru w/drawal w/ one of the generics. Later on the pharmaceutical cmpy was sued for fraudulent copies.
Currently I'm trying latuda. Will let u know. Any other suggestions?