Hi Dave,

I think you're right. Prozac does seem to get the most attention, or at least it did when SSRIs first surfaced. And I wouldn't be surprise to hear Zoloft is the most-prescribed SSRI.

Prozac may have made the cover of Time because it was the only SSRI available at the time. It was a breakthrough, although I have never taken it. Now there are many, many Rx drugs for depression, so selection is key. All SSRIs have similar results but different mechanisms of action.

Personally, I don't think Drs ask enough questions and patients are afraid to share much info with a Dr out of a misplaced sense of shame. When I finally reported my chronic depression to my Dr, he asked me a series of questions, not all of which I can remember.

But one question seemed to trigger the Paxil Rx. He asked me if I was bothered by what were really small matters and out of my control. I answered in the affirmative and he prescribed Paxil and I've been on it since 2002. I still don't know what that has to do with depression!

I tried Buspar for anxiety but it didn't work for me. I was prescribed the antihistamine Hydroxyzine by my dermatologist to deal with itchy forearms. Hydroxyzine is also used off-label to treat anxiety and it works for me. The only downside is that the body builds tolerance to Hydroxyzine.

It sounds like you suffered from depression for many years before SSRIs came along and the physiological reasons behind depression became known (serotonin transmission in the brain). I understand what that feels like, to be suffering from something you can't even really name and those close to you cannot understand. I hope you also started talk therapy. I found that very useful.

I have heard that Drs are adding Wellbutrin to boost anti-depressants that are losing potency over the years. I'm just glad you have an answer.

It's next to impossible to describe how crippling depression is to someone who hasn't experienced it. In closing, I found vigorous exercise to help my mood. Any eXercise program should also be discussed with one's PCP for their approval.

All the best Dave!

Joe