What depression meds have people had success with?

@mglayton72- I'm very sorry to hear about your dad. My dad died in 2022 after many years with prostate cancer that had been under relatively good control but then started really affecting him. It was very hard, and I felt like I was in a fog for two months.

I take buproprion (Wellbutrin) for depression along with fluoxetine (Prozac) for anxiety. The buproprion was a bumpy ride for four months or so till my body got used to it, but then it worked well. Fortunately, a pharmacist had warned me about this challenging ramp up period and the need for patience.

I have requested my doctor tweak my anxiety medication dosage when I've gone through brief periods of high anxiety. This has really helped.

Are there any particular antidepressant medications you've heard about that you're interested in? Is your NP recommending a certain medication to try at this point?

@lisalucier

Thank you. I feel like I have been in a fog for the past year or so. I was hoping that after some time, my depression symptoms would go away, but it looks like I probably need a med change. I am also doing some counseling/therapy to try to get a handle on my symptoms.

I tried Wellbutrin many years ago. Unfortunately, I was allergic to it. Prozac is a med I have never been on, which is amazing because I have been on many different meds in the past.

I have not heard of anything in particular that I am interested in, there just seems to be so many new depression medications out there now. I wish I had kept up with learning about the meds, but since I was stable, I did not keep up with staying knowledgable about them.

My Psych NP is not recommending anything specific at this point. It sounds like I need to completely wean off the Abilify before adding anything new in. I guess Abilify does not play well with others. With the Zoloft, I am on 200 mg (which from what I understand is the max dosage), but I am afraid to come off of it or change the dosage...it was the first med that really worked for me. It was a dramatic difference. I remember thinking one day, after being on it for about 6 weeks, that the sky was really blue and the grass was really green. Not sure if anyone else knows what that realization feels like, but after colors started to seem so vibrant, I felt so different about life.

@mglayton72 - hoping perhaps your psych NP can update you on the meds appropriate for you that have come out since you last made a change in antidepressants with perhaps some pros and cons.

I'm also tagging a few Mayo Clinic Connect members who've posted in different support groups related to antidepressants to see if they have any input on what medications have been successful in managing their depression. Please meet, if you've not already, @mlpbob @naynayrichard @scottbeammeup @cynthiaefs @shmerdloff @frouke.

Have you found your counseling/talk therapy fruitful, mglayton72?

@lisalucier

I have only had one session of counseling so far. The counselor gave me some suggestions to put into practice...which were good suggestions, but I am having trouble with motivation. I think maybe I need to put on a calendar a schedule to do what she suggested.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad; those times can be tough. I'm glad you are being proactive and seeking sources of information. I've been on antidepressants most of my adult life (I'm 85). The last change was about five years ago when the psychiatrist I see put me on nortriptylene, which I believe is an older medicine. 50 mg was too much and left me very jittery, 25 mg was too little, so we settled for using 2 capsules, a 10-mg cap plus a 25-mg cap for a total of 35 mgs. Prior to that I tried two different then newly released antidepressants and had a bad physical reaction to each, but bodies are different and you may tolerate one of them well. Wishing you the best of luck.

@joanland

Thank you...the last year has truly sucked.

85 and been on antidepressants most of your life? I have often wondered how aging would possibly impact what meds and dosages I need. I was diagnosed at 28, but my first major episode was when I was 12 or 13. I was initially diagnosed with double depression (major episodes on top of dysthymia). I have been on antidepressants since I was 28. I have tried to wean off of the meds a few times, but the results were pretty bad...so I am comfortable with needing to be on meds for the rest of my life.

I have been on many different meds, but nothing really new in the last 10 years. I wish I could try Wellbutrin, as I know several people who are on it and it works for them, but I am allergic to it. I was on Remeron for a time, but gained a ton of weight while I was on it.

Tapering off my Abilify now, under my Psych NP's supervision. I have an appointment with him in June, so I am attempting to educate myself on what is out there in terms of meds.

There are some natural meds that may help. Particularly microdosing psilocybin mushrooms if that's legal in your state.

@johneckenrode11 and all - here's an article detailing a study of psilocybin mushrooms by some Mayo Clinic researchers that you may be interested in reading:

- Psilocybin history, action and reaction: A narrative clinical review https://mayoclinic.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/psilocybin-history-action-and-reaction-a-narrative-clinical-revie/

@mglayton72 Auvelity has worked for me but it does have Buproprion in it…. MAOs????

@lisalucier Thanks, I'm looking forward to hear what Mayo has to say about this topic!