Depression: What treatment can I try after so many years?

@colleenyoung Thank you Coleen. The awful feelings I have are nauseousness, depression, dizziness, body temp out of wack. I will get sweating and then cold. I have only taken 1 1.5 tablet of Vraylar yesterday and thes feelings are why we changed medications. I general I feel all over awful. Pain from neuropathy. Acid reflux. Stomach pain. Of course depression. What is going on. Can't remain like this.

@summertime4 I am so sorry you are having all those problems. I'm not familiar with Vraylar so can't help you much. I just feel sad for you. I know I have been on medicines that drove me crazy. Luckily, I'm on one that works for me. I hope you get answers so you can feel better. Have you let your doctor know of all the bad symtoms you are having?

@summertime4 I am on Lexapro and Lamictal and do very well. I was on Rexalta and it made me feel wonderful and alive, but I got the bad side effect of shaky lips. Lamicatal is used for seizures, but is also a mood elevator. Lexapro is the only anti-depressant that has worked for me and I have been on almost all of them. I know bipolar drugs do not help me, since I'm not bipolar, except for Rexalta it was wonderful drug and I wish I didn't have to go off of it. I have gained 11 pounds from being on Tymlos to strengthen my bones. I have other side effects, but my surgeon told me that if I went off of it they would have to reschedule my surgery on June 9th. I'm going to continue it, because I have been waiting for this surgery for a long time. I hope you get feeling better.

Vraylar didn't work for me due to the side effects of severe muscle pain. I am now trying lamictal in addition to effexor

I know I've replied to some before but it bears repeating that after 45 years of depression, 2 nervous breakdowns, numerous, many meds, many meds, always keep notes of side effects, advise your doctor, and quit a med before talking to him and NEVER give up. 33 years ago I changed doctors to a Neuropsychiatrist who finally correctly diagnosed Bipolor/OCD primarily based in genetics, prescribed Lithium and mild seisure med which I have been on for 33 years. Prayer, Faith, Hope.. Every body is different and everybody may require a different solution before reaching optimum success!

@wsh66

Usually CBD has a tiny bit of THC in it, but not enough to cause regulation of it as a drug. It is part of Cannabis, but doesn't cause the feeling of being "high," which is why most people can use it. To learn more about marijuana and its use and components, I recommend Dr. Sulak's information at Healer.com. You can also contact NORML.org, which is an organization supporting legalizing marijuana at the federal level. They are both informative sites. Just enter their names on Google and you'll see them. I hope this will be helpful.

@summertime4

Hi Summertime. I'm a Volunteer Mentor and as such I'm not a medical professional. I do have experience to share with you that I hope will be helpful.
I'm sorry you're having difficulty with finding the right medication for your depression.

I remember when I first started Citalopram 40 mg., I took the whole pill and later in the day I nearly passed out. My blood pressure was up and down and I felt nauseous and like I was out of it all day. I felt icy cold and hot alternatively. It was on the weekend so I couldn't contact my doctor. I was frightened by my reaction, and I knew I couldn't keep taking it if that's how I would feel. So, without my doctor's approval I cut the scored pill in 1/2 the next day and took it with much trepidation. I still felt dizzy and weird, but it wasn't so bad that I felt like stopping it.

When my doctor was in the office I told him and he was fine with it. I couldn't drive for about 2 weeks because I thought I would be dangerous. Underneath the weird feelings, I had a slightly good feeling that let me know I would feel much better once I had adjusted to the medication. After 4 weeks I felt SO much better and was no longer having negative reactions. I stayed at the 20 mg level for 6 months until a new physician told me I needed to take the full dose. I changed up even though I really didn't think I needed to. At 40 mg. I didn't notice any change in how I was feeling and still had no side effects.

I've been taking Citalopram for 8 years now and it has changed my life! Before taking the antidepressant, I'd had panic attacks and anxiety since I was in my early twenties. I couldn't fly in airplanes and once was fired from my job because my anxiety kept me from getting on a plane to Vancouver BC. I finally got a prescription for Ativan which I took whenever I had to fly (2 mg.) and if I was having a panic attack. It really helped me for years, but it also made me groggy and the next day I always had a drug hangover.

After several weeks on Citalopram I noticed I hadn't had any panic attacks, and when I had the next opportunity to fly (in 2016 to Costa Rica w/my family of 12) I had no problem in the airplane. In fact, for the first time in my life I enjoyed flying. While we were in Costa Rica, the family decided to go Zip-Lining, and even though I was scared I would chicken out, I went with them. Some in the family were afraid and didn't like it. I LOVED it! I opened my eyes and was amazed by the beauty and exhilaration of ziplining down 7 sections. I knew then that I was free of the terrible fear I'd lived with most of my life. Now I have flown to Tahiti and Hawaii, and am so happy I was able to do so. I embrace all of life now.

Before trying the antidepressant I'd had 20 years of ongoing therapy and group therapy, using Cognitive Behavioral techniques and talk/Gestalt. It was great and helped me a lot. However, it never helped my fear or my panic attacks. I have concluded that I've had a chemical imbalance in my brain that the Citalopram helped. I highly recommend getting a Gene Test to determine which medications will work with your metabolism best. I was lucky that the first medication I had actually worked for me.

@buyearly You have been through the pits. I have only had 1 nervous breakdown, well maybe two. The 2nd one after my first hustand of only 11 days was killed in a car accident in 1969. Can't believe it's been 50 years. A young friend was also killed with him. Duane, my husband was 20 and Eugene was 18. I didn't do very well on Lithium, but I'm glad it works for you. I was diagnosed in San Diego Bipolar 2, but here in Iowa just depression and anxiety. Is that mild seizure Med Lamictal? I'm on 200 Mg and it's also use as a mood stablizer. I have been through so many anti-depressants, but Lexapro and Lamictal seem to work the best for me. I'm glad you got the right help! Prayer, Faith, and Hope. Yes, that's for me too. Keep it up,

@sandij Yes, I am on Lamictal too 200 mg and Lexapo. I'm been pretty even out even though my surgery is coming up. I am happy and sometimes depressed, but everyone is depressed sometimes. I keep positive thinking.

How is lamictal working for you? I have just increased to 50 mg. How long did it take to start working? Did you gain weight?