What to take for depression
 

Hi All - Looking for an antidepressant that doesn't make one more tired than my daughter already is! I feel she needs to take something as she has frequent crying spells and irritability. Any ideas are appreciated. My best to you all
Joyce

Re: What to take for depression
 

Hi Joyce,

I am so sorry your daughter is having such a hard time. I pray it won't last to long.

In the beginning I cried all of the time also as many of us here. I was offered an anti depressant many many times. It took a year for me to finally give in and I am so sorry I didn't take their advice sooner! I take venlafaxine and it has made a world of difference for me. I actually got my happy back! Your daughter will too. If there is any thing I could say or do to help her or you out please don't hesitate to ask. my email is in my member page.

Gods blessings to you and your daughter. God is good all of the time!

Your Friend,

Nancy

Re: What to take for depression
 

Joyce,

My oncologist gave me Lexapro for some time and it made great effects on me. I took this drug for about a year. As I had had depression, anxiety and panic attacks before, these horrible symptoms came back terribly on me during the last year. I saw my psychiatrist and she gave me Tafil and paroxetine and the effects on my symptoms have been great. Almost all symptoms went away, I still think I need a boost for my depression, but I will not know what my doctor thinks until next appointment.

Hope you will find help soon for your daughter. There is always hope.

Re: What to take for depression
 

Hello,
I became very moody after going on Femara (maybe the estrogen suppression?) and a friend suggested anti-depressants - I laughed saying I'm never depressed but the mood swings were my form of depression. The chemo doc put me on Paroxotine and it worked. I started on 1/2 a tablet up to 1 and then after about a year back to 1/2 then 1/4 then nothing. It worked for me. I was particularly worried about addiction to them or having to be on them for life having read about a popular drug (Prosac) that for a while a lot of people were taking and apparently you could never get off because of some danger??? but the chemo doc assured me this one had no such problem. However I think anti-depressants effect people differently so you have to be watched carefully when on them. I took it in the morning and had no drugged feeling.
Have her watch lots of funny movies, smiling helps also.
health and happiness
Sarah

Re: What to take for depression
 

Hema's Onc advised a change of place without any known faces.We went away to a new place and it worked.Final alternative he said he will prescribe an anti depressant.But the change of envoirement worked great

Re: What to take for depression
 

My doctor has prescribed Cymbalta for my depression. It works very well for me. I also saw a psychiatrist who specializes in people with cancer. I no longer see the psychiatrist but have found I cannot stop the Cymbalta. The only side effect I've had from the Cymbalta is dry mouth.

Re: What to take for depression
 

I think it's understable to be depressed after all we have gone or going thru.
I was placed on Lexapro and then Celexa. Oh yeah, I has the happiest busy bunny you've ever seen! I could work till 11pm cleaning while whistling away. This is just not me even before cancer when everyone said I had a Type A+ personality.
So the gp (not the onc-the onc did not want to get involved in this), placed me on Wellbutrin SR. The SR works according to the depression blogs out there better than regular wellbutrin and the generic form-so be aware of that. I take two tablets a day, you will not notice a high, but you will handle things, even the bad ones with more acceptance and you will not be up at 11pm ironing or cleaning the kitchen. Others have had weight gain issues with it, I've had a little bit so you do have to watch your diet.
The most important take away is that these things work differently on diferent people and the doctor just cannot switch up in and out of another because they take a few weeks to take effect.
Also, don't be ashamed that you need this. Many of us regulargly take some form or another, you don't even have to have cancer or experienced cancer in a spouse or child or death.
Depression is not a stigma, ok!!!
I also take Klonopin for anxiety in the morning and Ativan at night as needed. My family has a history of imsomnia, so even before I was diagnosed I was taking ambien. NO, I am not walking zombie and I am not a drug addict. I am calm

xoxo

Maria

Re: What to take for depression
 

One needs to be extra careful about the choice of antidepressants if one is also on tamoxifen. Paxil and some of the other antidepressants in that class (SSRI) have been shown to decrease tamoxifen's efficacy.

Re: What to take for depression
 

cymbalta is very good

Re: What to take for depression
 

Hi Joyce-

Get this...I went on EffexorCR for hot flashes. Chemo put me into menopause, like so many of us. The side effect of Effexor was that I went from being edgy and irritable to very balanced. Turns out it is for anxiety and the side effect is no more hot flashes. I am using it the other way around.

I love it. I am more patient with my kids. No change in my personality other than I feel more "even". Does that make sense? No side effects. I am very happy with it.

Thinking of you and your daughter

Maureen

Re: What to take for depression
 

I didn't tolerate Effexor at all, so we tried Remeron. I am not currently on it, but the two different times that I did take it for a year each time, it was fantastic. My significant other called it my happy pill. It definitely increased my appetite and subsequently my weight... I believe it is supposed to have a bit more of an anti-anxiety aspect to it. But it is also anti-depressant. I found it mild and easy for me to tolerate.

Re: What to take for depression
 

Joyce,
There's a lot of good advice in this thread already...especially...
~there's no reason to be embarrassed or resist trying an antidepressant
~different drugs work for different people
~your doctor should monitor you to be sure you are getting the effect you're looking for
~you can't get "hooked" on antidepressants anymore...medicine has come a long way!

I take Zoloft and I thank God for it everyday. My problem is anxiety, not depression, and Zoloft has been wonderful. My friend took Zoloft and had almost no symptom relief. Everyone is different. And if you don't like how the meds make you feel...you can always stop taking them(under your doctor's supervision), or try a different one.

Someone mention "not being a zombie". I actually feel like the medicine lifts a fog that's been hanging over me. It never makes me hyper, it just let's me think straight, and react appropriately to stress.

Seriously, I know I could never deal with all of this without my medicine.
I'd be a cranky, snappish, weepy mess.

I hope you can convince your daughter to talk to her doctor.
All the best,
Denise

Re: What to take for depression
 

I take Paxil...no side effects for me. Been taking it for years for major chronic depression.