Anitdepressants

You have gotten some wonderful input by all these caring people. O-mega 3 oils (fish oil ) and vit. D (you can have your level tested by your doctor,some professionals say a normal level is about 50-60) help many people. Some people feel EFT (emotional freedom technique ) has helped them with PTSD. Some people report that St. John's Wort helps them and others say it makes them feel a little irritable.It sounds like you are wanting to try a natural remedy or herbal approach . Have you thought about also seeing a Naturopath in addition to your other health care practitioners? Acupuncture can help with balancing your body on many levels,but it may not be a quick fix. Some Naturopaths are also Acupuncturists. Studies have shown that exercise helps depression. People with depression may benefit from giving themselves the permission to take care of themselves and actually do the exercise , eat healthy nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables (staying away from junk foods,and nutrient depleted white products-pasta,white bread,sugar ,white rice,any thing with white flour), and sleep 7-9 hr. a night. I actually get panic attacks when I eat sugar (I should say when I used to eat sugar). Some people start with just small steps in this direction and just keep progressing as time goes on and look back years later to find they have made huge changes in their life.

There is an interesting article in the Feb. 8,2010 issue of Newsweek that you might want to read "The Depressing News about Antidepressants" .The caption says " Studies Suggest That The Popular Drugs Are No More Effective Than a Placebo". The next page's caption reads " Only in patients with very severe symptoms was there a clinically meaningful drug benefit,the JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) study found." If that issue is no longer on the news stand then you can usually find back issues at your local library. If someone has severe symptoms they might decide to take antidepressants and they might work for them and any side effects they may experience may be worth it. Many people have no libido for one ,while taking antidepressants,which thus can create new problems in intimate relationships. Some people have very mild side effects and some have severe side effects. Every body's chemistry is different. There are many herbs and drugs that should not take while on antidepressants and St. John's wort is one of them.It needs to be completely out of ones system before taking antidepressants. So anyone on antidepressants might want to talk to their doctor about all of that before they decide to take any new drug or herb if they go on antidepressants.
I was on an antidepressant for 1 week ,many years ago,and I had extremely severe side effects and had to quit them ,and it has taken me years to recover from the side effects.Mine was an unusual case. After that is when I tried herbs,diet changes ,acupuncture,guided imagery, yoga,etc. to recover from the side effects.

I wish you the best ,whatever you decide is right for you, on this journey.
May you be well,whole,and happy.

Hi C....I'm copying and pasting an aswer I gave to another mom a few weeks ago. Hope it helps!

I'm not opposed to medication, but prefer to try natural remedies first to see how they work. I've been reading lately how antidepressants are pretty hit and miss. A lot of research is being done on the efficacy of...get ready for this...cod liver oil on depresson and mental illness. I'd strongly encourage you to do some online research for yourself. Turns out that in many clinical trials, a daily dose of cod liver oil was found to be more effective than antidepressants in alleviating symptoms of depression. They're even finding that it's a better treatment for schizophrenia than the drugs that have traditionally been prescribed.

I was considering asking my doc to prescribe antidepressants, but did some research on cod liver oil and decided to try it. It might be a placebo effect, but I do tend to feel much more positive when I take it regularly, and can feel a dip in my mood/ability to cope when I've missed a few doses.

The best oil I've found is the Carlson lemon flavored oil. I bought my first bottle at New Seasons and it was really expensive, but you can get it online for much less. The lemon flavor really helps with the taste, and I find that if I chase it with a mouthful of juice I really can't even taste the oil. My son loves it and takes it willingly without a chaser. It's great stuff for developing brains (full of DHA and ARA), and I'm hoping it will help me lower my slightly high cholesterol as well.

Good luck to you however you decide to proceed.

You can also try extra vitamin D and some Omega-3 oil supplements. They can't hurt and they also help prevent breast cancer!

Hi Candace,
I just read your question and thought...Wow, your doctor is including weekly counseling? I wish my doctor would do that for me! I do like my doctor & we discussed several options. I have been taking Celexa for a couple months now. I feel better, But everyone else (my family & co-workers) say I am doing MUCH MUCH better. I did not relize how my depression was affecting everyone around me.
I tried St John's, but it was not enough, or consistent enough for me. With these Rx's , they have to be taken for a little while to build up in your blood stream before they really start to work well. I just don't think the St.Johns has the same ? The only problem I had was it made me very tired for the first couple weeks, and now every once in a while I feel a liitle nausea. Not often,but occasionally.
I have NEVER been a person who likes to take any RX's so I do understand. Unless, it is 100% required, like a anti-biotic, then I won't take it. I am really glad I did take this one, and so is everyone around me.....
Just be aware of how your depression may be affecting the people around you.....That's why I take the medicine!
Good Luck, I will say a prayer.

Hello C.,

My inlaws have a long history of depression and I studied psychology in college. England uses St. John's Wort a lot to treat depression, and I think it's a great tool. Antidepressants are important in some cases, but they also can have a lot of bad side effects. Make sure you understand the side effects of the antidepressants before you start.

When a family memeber was on them, he stopped caring about anything. This effected his work, and I believe it was one big reason he was laid off a few years ago. I think it's important to think about with kids in the home.

Also, stay with the counseling. Often people will think the Rx will take care of everything and stop the talk therapy, but study after study shows that the talk therapy helps most, the Rx just helps you get in a place where the therapy can work.

Good Luck!

R. Magby

I have been on Paxil for as long as I can remember -- I have some depression but more Anxiety now. The first 2 weeks take a toll as you will have some side effects of starting the meds and getting them in your system, but after that its like taking a sugar pill, only you feel like you can function somewhat normally:)

I give you props for going the natural route!!! I think while it works well for some, it doesnt for others. :) Good luck with it all! I hope my input helped a little:)

J.
www.mygc.com/jfiegl

I have to say that because of the nature of depression, it's very important to be closely monitored by a physician regarding the effectiveness of whatever you are doing to lessen symptoms. Don't try to self medicate using information you heard somewhere. See a specialist..whether that be a Naturopath or MD. Also, just because it's an herb doesn't make it safe to take if you do become pregnant. Herbal Supplements have not undergone the testing that medications are subject to before being placed on the pharmacy shelves so there is no telling what side effects herbal supplements will have on an embryo. St John's Wort in particular has serious drug interactions so be very careful. I, too have to agree with some of the other comments...have some blood work done to check for deficiencies in nutrients, and poor thyroid function. Hypothyroidism can cause a lot of similar symptoms that are commonly seen in depression including fatigue and weight-gain. I hope you will work with a specialist to determine the right course of treatment for you.

I totally agree with what monica said. Go to mangosteenproof.com and look up the testimonies on depression.. I am on a natural liquid supplement that contains minerals and vitamins and mangosteen. Visit my site bwynia.vemma.com or email me with any ?'s

I am frequently asked by patient's if herbal supplements are 'safer' or 'better' than prescription medications. A few things to consider. Herbal supplements are not FDA regulated or tested therefore you can have varying amounts of the 'active' substance, not only between different brands, but even within different pills within the same bottle. You do not know exactly what you are getting with supplements. Additionally, they can have the same, if not worse side effects for some people than prescription medications. Many herbal medications have more interactions with other medications or on organs of your body, than prescription medications. Many herbal supplements are more expensive than prescription drugs. Prozac is less than a penny a pill for instance and is very effective for some people. Many of the herbal medications which have been studied, St. John's Wort for one, has been shown to be somewhat effective ONLY for mild depression and I do not believe it has been studied for PTSD. I assume that since you sought help in the first place with a counselor that your depression is more than just mild at this point. I have had patients' that have done well on herbals and others who have spent a lot of money with no benefit. If you are concerned about Rx meds because of your experiences in the past, I would talk to your doctor about starting you on 1/2 of the lowest dose and then increasing from there very slowly. I would also recommend several workbooks including The mildfulness and Acceptance Workbook for depression by Strosahl, Don't let emotions run your life by Spradlin and Depressed and Anxious Workbook by Marra. Good luck to you. (Please note that this message does not constitute a doctor patient relationship)

Hi C., I'm so glad you're seeking help. I'm an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist and would just like to point out that while St. Johns Wart may be a good supplement, it may also not be the right one for you. If you want to give it or something else herbal a try, I would make sure to find a Western herbalist (a naturopath?) to make sure that it's the right herb for you and your symptoms.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can also be very helpful in easing the symptoms of depression and PTSD. What I always recommend is that you get stabilized on the plan that your doctor suggests, and then use Chinese medicine so that you don't have to be on meds forever. If my patient's symptoms aren't too severe and their doctor agrees to it, we can work from a purely natural angle to treat their symptoms.

If you ave any questions, feel free to send me a message :)
B. Seitz, MAcOM, LAc

I have been on many prescriptions but I am Bipolar not depressed. Its in the same realm though. I use B complex everyday with my Rx. Nothing I have ever found works as well as my Rx. but it took a long time to find the right one. Are you comfortable with your Dr? Do you trust her/him? If so I suggest you talk to them about it and maybe they can send you to a natrualist. We have one here and the stuff they had me on didn't work nearly as well as the Rx.
I realized that I have to think oof my Rx as a diabetic thinks of insulin. I have to take it every day without exceptions. Yes it sucks somedays I want to stop but I realize as an intelligent adult that living on my meds is the best possible life for me. Find your own best life, but don't rule out Rx. you never know. We went through 4 diferent types of meds before we got them right. Good luck!

I understand what you are going through. Fortunately, I found some some wonderful vitamins that are 85% soluble vs 10% solubility of other natural supplements on the market. I am now happy to say that my Doctor has taken me off my depression and blood pressure meds!! When your body is able to absorb all the necessary nutrients it needs you start to feel good, you have energy, your body stops craving all the unhealthy foods and you feel like going outside, or going to the store, you feel like putting the radio on and dancing! And its all because you are giving your body what it craves and needs....nutrients. If you put the vitamin you are currently taking into water and it doesn't desolve, it won't desolve in your body either, it will just crystalize and you won't get the nutrients.

Email me at ____@____.com and I can get you more information on the vitamins I am taking.

I have been on this subject for a while, and this is how I feel: There are a lot of herbs/vitamins and "approaches" that can help with your depression. For me, the point is to find out first if you have a vitamin deficiency, or underlying health condition that is causing your depression (for example: low thyroid). If you are not eating well, I mean "really" well, your body might not be getting all the vitamins and/or minerals you are supposed to. Maybe you are depleted due to your stress. I think that taking antidepressants and/or natural supplements and herbs right away, might be covering up the problem-not solving it.
So, could you ask to run some blood work-up to check for thyroid, Vitamin D3. Maybe your MD or a nutritionist can guide you on that respect. If everything is fine. I think is up to you to go first through Alternative Medicine, and then traditional medicine...I think most antidepressants are safe under medical supervision (Psychiatrist preferably) your MD, or a Psychologist.
It also depends how well are you functioning in your life. The "right" antidepressants for you will help you feel better, stronger, and focused, so you can start taking care of your self using exercise, vitamins, etc...So, the way to approach such situation, is all up to you...
Best of luck
Good Luck

I worry about so many people on anti-depressants these days. First of all, I wonder are we afraid to feel? Are we afraid of the fact that sometimes we are down, sometimes we feel happy, sometimes angry..etc Feelings, ups and downs are Okay and a part of life - I worry that people wonder why they don't feel happy ALL THE TIME. However, I know depression is something that people feel they cannot get themselves out of and it can be a scary place. I guess I would first try so many other things before going on a drug that affects the chemicals in my brain. #1 thing to do is exercise. It has been proven time and time again, that those happy, feel-good chemicals are released in mega-doses during and after exercise. I am personally quite a bit overweight, and certainly at this time in my life not the best person I feel I can be. I just took up "Zumba" and it has improved my life 100 percent. Soon I will add in walking and lifting weights. Also I just recently starting taking a small dose of vitamin D. I say SMALL because there again, you don't want to overdo something just because they say it is good for you. However, I have noticed a big jump in my overall feeling of well-being with the vitamin D. Maybe it is the placebo effect, maybe not, but I feel more energetic and have more of a continuous positive attitude. OH! and I also cut out about 95% of the sugar, and processed foods I used to eat. Best of luck to you and go easy on yourself... we all are too hard on ourselves these days - take care.

I know of an herbal supplement that may help lift your mood without psychotropic medications. Its called Luminex and made by Melaleuca. I have it used it myself, but it may be something for you to look into. It contains St Johns Wart, griffonia seed, folate, and vitamin B12. I know the feeling of not wanting to give into prescription medications just yet. Let me know if you are interested or have any questions.

Hi, I too was really resistent to taking antidepressants but after years struggling with mood issues I finally listened to my two therapists and agreed to taking Zoloft. I noticed a significant difference within a week. that was 8 months ago and now I'm slowly weening off of it because we want to get pregnant. so far so good! I recommend that you chat with your healthcare providors and get a good understanding of how these drugs work. and how supplements work. Vitamin D is also good. I wouldn't write off a little chemical help to get you over the hump of depression. Good luck!

I have had really good results taking a combination of st John's wort & 5 HTP which studies have found to be quite a bit more effective than st John's wort alone. You can buy combination pills or take it separately. I used to be on Zoloft but I slowly tapered off the medicine (over a period of 3 months giving myself plenty of time to allow my body to adapt) and then started my current regimen. I have found it to be extremely effective.

I would second the recommendation to also add in a supplement of vit D3 which most of us are low on. The RDI is 400 IU's but that is widely held as being much to low. For an adult, 5000 IU's daily is a good place to start and idealy, go get tested to see where your vit D levels are at after yoy;ve been taking that supplement for a few months. Here's some more info about vit D: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Good luck to you!

S.
www.hazelaid.com
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Exercising three times a week for 30 minutes is as effective as antidepressants --results of multiple studies.

Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night and do some exercise. That on top of working with a counselor should be enough.

It depends on how bad the depression is. Also, is there anxiety with it? In my experience (everyone is different and responds differently), St. Johns Wart helped when I needed a little "pick me up"... something that helped coax me into cleaning the house rather than sitting on the couch all day. However, it didn't work if the depression was so bad that I didn't even make it to the couch because I didn't care about getting out of bed! It also doesn't work on anxiety or being overwhelmed with things. For example... I was on antidepressants after my grandma suddenly died on my 18th birthday. My entire world stopped... I dropped out of highschool, etc. I tried St. Johns Wart... it was no help. I got on antidepressants, finished hs, was doing better, didn't feel I needed the pills anymore. A month later, I was back to not caring... I got up in the morning, took a shower, put on clothes... and sat in front of the tv until I realized it was dark outside and time to go back to bed. It wasn't near as bad as it had been before, but it wasn't "Me". That's when the St. Johns Wart helped.
However... I tried it again years later when my husband and I got together and I went from single, working, mom of one, to stay at home mom of 4 in 6 months time and I was litterally pulling my hair out... of course I got up, got things done, etc. but I was not a nice person to be around by the end of the day. It didn't work at this point, because along with the depression of not having anywehre to go and anything of "worth" to do all day, I also had anxiety.
Examine why it is you need it the most. And don't treat any pills as a fix all... counseling is the best cure... the pills just ease you into being able to handle the counseling.

I would stay away from any medications messing with my brain - unless something is so severe. Natural is the way to go - I have heard this product works and is all natural:
Thorne Deproloft
Here's one link (you can find it many places online, even amazon, just google it)

http://www.thorne.com/Products/Mood-Sleep-Support/prd~SF7...

Read the artical in Newsweek. These big pharma companies have been making big bucks on a placebo. Go to a homeopath and cure the root cause of depression. Find one who has practiced homeopathy and nothing else for 10 years. Otherwise you'll get a naturopath whose knowledge isn't better than the homoepathic computer program she bought.

PTSD sucks, mine took myl ife away as I knew it. I was attacked by a patient at a facility I was working at and I ended up non-functional for a while. I dropped out of college, lost my home, became nearly a recluse because I was afraid of having a panic attack in a public place. I developed all kinds of "odd" avoidance behaviors, like going around stop lights because I couldn't be trapped in traffic in case I had a panic attack, I couldn't sit anywhere but the back row at chuch, I could no longer sing in my ladies group...it SUCKED.

I took lots of different meds and found that Trazadone worked well for the depression and the I took Klonapin as needed for the panic attacks. I found that as long as I had my Klonopin in my reach that I could get back to life pretty mucha s normal. I hardly ever had to take it, I just had to have access to it in case I needed it. I haven't taken any medications in about 10 years, because I take care of myself mentally and recognize the signs that I need to de-stress and take a step back.

Your Psychiatrist may want to try you on several medications before you find the right combination. As you get through your journey with the therapies and medications you may be able to drop off some of the drugs and that is good too. If it is a biological issue that is causing the depression then you may need to take an antidepressant for the rest of your life but the PTSD will usually be manageable, if not over, with in a few years. You body takes time to heal mentally from what ever experieince caused it, so give your self the time you need to be better again.

Talk to your doctor about any issues you are having with the meds, they need to know if you have any side effects, there are many drugs out there but some are just not as effective as others but there are others to try.

Anytime I need advice on medications I talk to my pharmacist, they are specialists in every medication. Docotrs are not, they prescribe a drug because it has been recommended to them. Pharmasists will know of interaction issues with natural remedies and any suppliments you might want to take.

Hi C.,
If you go to www.bobsfiles.net, there is a call recorded there--"Dr. Margaret Christensen OB, GYN - Natural Solutions for Depression - A National Epidemic" from December 15. You can listen to it online.
If you decide you want to use the Shaklee products she talks about, I would appreciate your business. My website is http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife
Exercise is also great. You may have to make yourself do it at first.
About the PTSD, there is a therapy called eye movement desensitation. I used that after a armed robbery home invasion. It worked wonders for me.
Good luck and God bless.
Victoria