Depression

[kloan]

Anyone here suffer from depression? I'm not talking about the occasional blues... but the chemical imbalance induced full blown depression.

I've been dealing with it since I was 17. It may or may not have been caused by the drugs I used to do. I did a lot of stuff that could have messed with my brains ability to produce serotonin, dopamine, etc.. (lsd, mda, mdma, pcp, mesc) or maybe it's hereditary? My mom has it, my grandma had it..

Recently, I've been considering getting a prescription for something. I just can't seem to snap out of it this time.. my moods are really severe and are affecting my ability to enjoy life to the point where something's gotta give.

I've always been against pharmaceuticals, but man I'm really starting to consider taking something.. at least just to give me a break for a little while so I can get back on track. I saw one doc, an alternative doc, and he thinks I'm bi-polar. Dunno if that's the case or not, but it's pretty damn debilitating.

Anyone have experience with clinical depression and drugs to treat it? If so, what have you used/do you use? Side effects? Did it help?

I'm open to alternative medicines as well. I have tried some stuff already, such as St. John's Wart and Holy Basil.. it seemed to help a bit I think, but not much.. certainly not enough to make a difference.

..

[tex]

this is a major decision. starting drug therapy can be a rewarding experience or it can be horrible!! anti-depressants are powerful drugs but if used correctly can definately help alleviate the symptoms of depression. main side effects to watch for are worsening depression, weight loss or gain and of course libido will be hurt......if this is something you are seriously considering then you should start trying to find a good doctor that will treat all of your symptoms and listen to you......most times doctors are all too willing to whip out the script pad and write for anything to get you out of the office.....dont let this happen....go there with a list of questions and concerns!!!!!!!!

[St]

Ya the shit runs in my family as well.I have Anxiety bad and that there gets me down fast and leads to Depression for me,and as of right now this EI isn't enough coin to live off,just taking forever to go to College.Once the Goverment pays for my school then a major amount of stress will be gone.I have taking SSRI's and they mess with my Penis Perfection,but since i have been off Cipralex,i have my MoJo working again,but the blues are bad.I have been taking St.John Wart 300mg, 3 times a day,but not strong enough for me,but once i'm done my second Bottle of st.john wart, i will be going back on 5-HTP at 100mg every day.

[kloan]

this is a major decision. starting drug therapy can be a rewarding experience or it can be horrible!! anti-depressants are powerful drugs but if used correctly can definately help alleviate the symptoms of depression. main side effects to watch for are worsening depression, weight loss or gain and of course libido will be hurt......if this is something you are seriously considering then you should start trying to find a good doctor that will treat all of your symptoms and listen to you......most times doctors are all too willing to whip out the script pad and write for anything to get you out of the office.....dont let this happen....go there with a list of questions and concerns!!!!!!!!

that would be a problem down here then. doctors here run their offices like fast food joints... in n out. :)

mmm...... in n out.... man they have good burgers....... i really should go to sleep.. approaching 5am......

it is a big decision, its why ive never touched the stuff before. i really wanted to deal with it on my own, and up til recently ive managed ok. its affected my work/personal life a bit in the past, mostly because of sleep problems, but now i just need a break from it already.


Ya the shit runs in my family as well.I have Anxiety bad and that there gets me down fast and leads to Depression for me,and as of right now this EI isn't enough coin to live off,just taking forever to go to College.Once the Goverment pays for my school then a major amount of stress will be gone.I have taking SSRI's and they mess with my Penis Perfection,but since i have been off Cipralex,i have my MoJo working again,but the blues are bad.I have been taking St.John Wart 300mg, 3 times a day,but not strong enough for me,but once i'm done my second Bottle of st.john wart, i will be going back on 5-HTP at 100mg every day.

5-HTP? hmm, i haven't tried that yet.. maybe i should just take a whole whackload of different herbs/supplements... see if i can get an edge on it without the script stuff. if that doesn't work, i dunno what to do.. my mom has a bunch of zoloft. its probably not too smart to start taking stuff without a doctor monitoring me, making sure everything's cool. dunno how i can work that out though, considering the medical system here is nothing like canada.

[tex]

i understand....i used to have horrible anxiety.....never sleeping at night.....sucked ass....then it just kinda faded away.....i get a bit of anxiety every now and then but i just have to remember that i am in control and it passes quickly....depression is a whole other animal tho....tough shit...my lil bro has had a rough go of it as of late...sad to see someone feel soo bad.....i wish you the best bro....

[St]

i understand....i used to have horrible anxiety.....never sleeping at night.....sucked ass....then it just kinda faded away.....i get a bit of anxiety every now and then but i just have to remember that i am in control and it passes quickly....depression is a whole other animal tho....tough shit...my lil bro has had a rough go of it as of late...sad to see someone feel soo bad.....i wish you the best bro....



Yep that is the biggest part to say i'm in control,but with your heart racing it makes you feel like shit.
But Kloan don't mix St.John Wart with 5-htp,the bottle has a Warning.

[kloan]

Yep that is the biggest part to say i'm in control,but with your heart racing it makes you feel like shit.
But Kloan don't mix St.John Wart with 5-htp,the bottle has a Warning.

i had bad anxiety for a number of years.. it finally passed a few years back, thankfully. now its just really low lows, and short highs. frickin rollercoaster from hell.

thanks for the heads up, i wont mix them. better to do some research before i start cramming a bunch of pills down my throat, huh.

do you notice an improvement with taking 5-htp?

[St]

i had bad anxiety for a number of years.. it finally passed a few years back, thankfully. now its just really low lows, and short highs. frickin rollercoaster from hell.

thanks for the heads up, i wont mix them. better to do some research before i start cramming a bunch of pills down my throat, huh.

do you notice an improvement with taking 5-htp?

5-HTP helps a bit like St.John Wart.I just took in at bed time in the past,but this time i will take it 3x a day,lunch,dinner and before bed,i will let you know how i feel.

[RagingRandy]

Do you use AAS? Does that make things better\worse? I suffered pretty bad anxiety and now that I am on HRT that has all but disappeared.

My ex had severe depression which came and went with her montly cycle. I tracked it on the calender for several months. Even with that she continued to deny she had a problem.

Hormones can play a huge part in your sense of well-being. Try tracking it on a calender to see if you can find a common cause.

Good Luck

[macka]

If you are still in Kalifornia, there is a good clinic in Diego that treats a lot of ex serviceman (its private so you don't need to be a serviceman). I think the doc my friend saw was weiskoff or something like that. He runs a cognitive behavioral therapy course, as well as medicinal treatments. I took a CBT course and it has helped me get off the meds and deal with my issues. Look into it.

[GYMBRAT]

it runs in my fam as well, I used to use street fighting etc as a release but to no avail lol. I finally went and got a script for an anti depressant drug at age 19 and have never looked back. I also found that when I'm running any sort of Test it helps my well being as well!

[PdH]

Sorry to hear of your current struggles Kloan. I've suffered from bouts of depression, so I know how despairing it is. I've used Zoloft and Wellbutrin, and both helped to a degree. They allow you to function anyway. I found what allowed me to remain depression free for years at a time was finding a good professional to help me deal with my issues. The thing is, you're good for a few years, but the issues come back to revisit you, so you have to seek assistance again. I hope you find your way out of the despair soon Bro.

[waderow]

Anyone here suffer from depression? I'm not talking about the occasional blues... but the chemical imbalance induced full blown depression.

I've been dealing with it since I was 17. It may or may not have been caused by the drugs I used to do. I did a lot of stuff that could have messed with my brains ability to produce serotonin, dopamine, etc.. (lsd, mda, mdma, pcp, mesc) or maybe it's hereditary? My mom has it, my grandma had it..

Recently, I've been considering getting a prescription for something. I just can't seem to snap out of it this time.. my moods are really severe and are affecting my ability to enjoy life to the point where something's gotta give.

I've always been against pharmaceuticals, but man I'm really starting to consider taking something.. at least just to give me a break for a little while so I can get back on track. I saw one doc, an alternative doc, and he thinks I'm bi-polar. Dunno if that's the case or not, but it's pretty damn debilitating.

Anyone have experience with clinical depression and drugs to treat it? If so, what have you used/do you use? Side effects? Did it help?

I'm open to alternative medicines as well. I have tried some stuff already, such as St. John's Wart and Holy Basil.. it seemed to help a bit I think, but not much.. certainly not enough to make a difference.

..

Glad youre looking out for yourself bro, and not just trying to tough it out at everyone elses expense.

Pharmaceuticals will work, but will not cure you. Expect to be on them for life.

My ex GF had chronic depression, and got on meds, then we met. She was so happy, and fun to be around. Enjoyed life. She came off them, and became her old miserable self, ultimately ending up in our demise...

If I was in your shoes, I would first consult a naturopathic doctor, and give their natural remedies a shot. A lot of your life is ran by your diet and nutrients. Sounds faggy, but what do you have to lose.

I would use phamaceuticals as a last resort, but they will work.

Good luck bro, and remember you have a few hundred friends rooting for you here in CBB

[bigtavi8]

i suffer from depression, anxiety, adhd, and insomnia. I see a psych. regularly. I have had a lot of problems in the past months and spent a month in the hospital. since then been feeling a lot better tho.

[bigtavi8]

Medication does work. See a psciatrist and get on the right medication before its too late. You dont want to end up in the hospital or hurting yourself. Depression generally gets worse and worse until something gives or you do something about it. I can personally say if you give medication a chance to kick in and then seek councilling or group to talk about it you can live a fully functional enjoyable life.

[GYMBRAT]

nothing wrong with the right meds to help out, if it's needed it's needed no way out of it. I've tried everything under the sun to prevent from using a med for the rest of my life. Def nothing to be ashamed of, there's more on some sort of med than off, believe me!

.....it's whatever works best for that particular individual

[natenator]

nothing wrong with the right meds to help out, if it's needed it's needed no way out of it. I've tried everything under the sun to prevent from using a med for the rest of my life. Def nothing to be ashamed of, there's more on some sort of med than off, believe me!

.....it's whatever works best for that particular individual
agreed!

better living through chemistry :D

[kloan]

Glad youre looking out for yourself bro, and not just trying to tough it out at everyone elses expense.

Pharmaceuticals will work, but will not cure you. Expect to be on them for life.

My ex GF had chronic depression, and got on meds, then we met. She was so happy, and fun to be around. Enjoyed life. She came off them, and became her old miserable self, ultimately ending up in our demise...

If I was in your shoes, I would first consult a naturopathic doctor, and give their natural remedies a shot. A lot of your life is ran by your diet and nutrients. Sounds faggy, but what do you have to lose.

I would use phamaceuticals as a last resort, but they will work.

Good luck bro, and remember you have a few hundred friends rooting for you here in CBB
Not 'faggy' at all man. I've had a naturopath since I was 3... he's very knowledgeable and has helped me sort out a number of health issues over the years. This is something I've never talked with him about though. I should check with him to see what he recommends before I go the meds route.

I know talking with a professional would probably be very beneficial for me as well.. I've got a messed up past that's got me tied up in knots. It's hard for me to find someone that I can open up to like that though.

For now, I'm gonna see what herbal supplements I can take.. hopefully it'll help. If not, I might try some Zoloft... lol.

--
bigtavi8, thanks for the input and sharing man.. it's appreciated. I've got adhd and sleep problems as well... makes you wonder, just wtf causes this shit huh? I mean.. it can't all be in our head, it's gotta be chemical. I know our thoughts can be powerful and affect our health, but geeze.... the way I see it, if we can take stuff to help lighten the load (our thoughts, emotions/feelings, etc) then maybe with therapy or something, we can turn it around and start feeling good again.

--
RagingRandy, i've done one cycle.. it ended in march/april (pct). before i did it, i was convinced i had low testosterone/hormone imbalance, and that's why i felt so shitty (irritable, trouble sleeping, lethargic, depressed, etc).. i got test done just before i started my cycle and everything came back excellent (all normal ranges, free test was high normal)... so it made me think that maybe it's something else causing it. Then again, I didn't get another test after PCT to see where I'm at. In any case, it's been almost 13 years with this off and on.

--
GYMBRAT, if you don't mind me asking.. what have you found helps?

------------

Agh, I tell ya.. not being able to work out is really making feel a lot worse. Stupid ****ing neck bullshit.... so much for this chiro I've been seeing... aside from causing me discomfort while she digs into my spine in multiple areas, it's done nothing to alleviate the pinching pain in my neck.

I've stopped eating properly as well... and haven't been drinking my shakes. Man, that's enough to make me depressed right there!! Sure doesn't help... that's for sure.

[Praetorian]

I would suggest complete blood work first...make sure your test levels are normal. Have you tried 5-HTP? This seems to work for many people you may want to give it a try. I would suggest trying all alternative therapies first...once you starts AD its a very long and hard road to come off..if you ever do.
P

[Ritch]

Your post very much describes my situation. Messed with the party drugs big time during my 20`s, but was always feeling down before that. Like you, I just don`t want to see a doctor about it. I "suffer" from extreme lack of motivation and tend to spend more and more time by myself. 5htp does help alot, I tend to take 50-100mg off and on before bed. I tend to think I`m doing better, then stop, then after 5 days or so of feeling like shit, I go back on. St john`s wort is a staple for me. Every night before bed I take 300mg.

This is why I like nootropics. Stuff like l-tyrosine. It`s rare I go a day without taking it. When working it`s a must for me to have 2 3gram doses by me side. DMAE helps as well. Today I`m adding piracetam to this, will be taking 6-7 grams a day over 3 doses of this. I`ve been on a cycle for about 18 weeks or so now and haven`t gotten that feel good feeling of being on. I really wonder what`s wrong with me, but being the procrastinator I am it`s very doubtfull I`ll go see a doc for this...

[canadianmuscle0803]

ive been on script meds for about 10 yrs.. but i dont suffer from depression, i used to get really bad anxiety, but the only meds that work for this are anti depressants.. also.. if you ever go on these meds.. watch your weight.. they tend to put on the pounds.. the only one that doesnt affect you weight wise is wellburtin..

[kloan]

^^something to consider, for sure. i have a hard enough time losing weight as it is, i certainly dont want to take something that'll make me gain weight (fat).

i started taking an herbal tincture that has st johns wort and other herbs, as well as holy basil and rhodiola.

im thinking about replacing the tincture with (or adding) 5-HTP, and adding SAMe (not sure about SAMe though, warnings say people with bipolar, manic depression, etc should not take it.. i dont think im either, but still not sure) and siberian ginseng to the daily regimen.. and possibly DMAE as well. lol, that's a lotta stuff...


also, i've read on a few different websites now that it's ok to take st john's wort and 5-htp together.. smaller doses.




Wondering if it's ok to take ST. John's Wort and 5 HTP?

Though the net effect of taking St. John's wort and 5-HTP may be the same, if taken together SJW and 5-HTP are even more effective. St. John's wort is a SSRI, a Serotonin reuptake inhibitor, (Actually SJW inhibits the reuptake of all three feel-good neurotransmitters: serotonin, nor-epinephrine, and dopamine) but 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin. What this means is that your body breaks 5-HTP down (in the neurons) into serotonin, the very chemical that St. John's wort manipulates to help you feel happier, calmer . . . The metaphor being; if you were an automobile you would be filling up your gas tank with 5-HTP, at which time the St. John's wort takes over, acting like a carburetor; instructing the serotonin where to (or in this case where not to) go. So, in essence, taking SJW and 5-HTP creates a synergy (1+1=3). Most studies were conducted using a dose of 50-100 mg. three times per day. Obesity patients 20 minutes before meals. The onset of action is fairly rapid, (3 to 5 days).

[Scaffer]

All I can say is,get the help if you can,1 week or 2 at the hospital is better than a month under heavy medication.
I work in psychiatry,im not a doctor but I see alot of depression case,some come by their own will and some,are pushed by loved ones and they take longer to recover.

Hey man,you got all CBB with you! hang in there!

[canadianmuscle0803]

bro.. look up swedish bitter... stuff works wonders for all kinds of shit..

[musclehead123]

my bro used to be on effexor (i think thats how you spell it). When he used to be finished his bottle and he would forget to grab a refill from the pharmacy, everything used to get amplified. For example if he couldn't find his wallet or something he used to turn the house upside down in a rage fit and you did not want to be there. I used to end up putting aside a couple so that if he'd forget again, so at least he had a couple days worth. He slowly ended up weaning himself off. He hasn't taken any in years now, other than the occasional adavan (again not sure if i spelt that correctly) to help with sleep. He ended up getting gyno from it too.


Personally, id go see a natural path. Dont just take any old herbs. Then again don't be ashamed of taking a script either, if you need it you need it. But if u need to chill out then try some adavan first.

Iv also heard that 5 htp is good for serotonin. Dont drink either not sure if u do or don't.

Somebody said to write a list of things if you go to the doc, I highly recommend you do this just so you get all your questions answered.

Also have you looked into the audio program "attacking anxiety and depression" pm me I'll hook you up with it. I hate to see people sad and blue for whatever reason whether its a break up or a chemical imbalance.

Hope everything works out.

[St]

ive been on script meds for about 10 yrs.. but i dont suffer from depression, i used to get really bad anxiety, but the only meds that work for this are anti depressants.. also.. if you ever go on these meds.. watch your weight.. they tend to put on the pounds.. the only one that doesnt affect you weight wise is wellburtin..

Ya so true about the weight gain,i put on major weight,and the next thing i will take is wellburtin if need.But i'm doing (okay) on St.John's wort,its better than nothing.

[canadianmuscle0803]

Ya so true about the weight gain,i put on major weight,and the next thing i will take is wellburtin if need.But i'm doing (okay) on St.John's wort,its better than nothing.

be careful, i tried wellburtin and i became very suicidal and i war a raging maniac.. these meds work so differently on everyone.. its weird.. only thing that worked for me after experimenting with almost all the drugs was effexor..

[St]

be careful, i tried wellburtin and i became very suicidal and i war a raging maniac.. these meds work so differently on everyone.. its weird.. only thing that worked for me after experimenting with almost all the drugs was effexor..

I will thanks..

[kloan]

Just a small update..

I recently started using some additional supplements:
- DMAE
- SAMe
- 5-HTP

The SAMe was causing some weird side effects. Odd intensity/feeling in my head that something was imminent, that I was forgetting something, that I needed to be somewhere or do something, that something happened or was going to happen, anxiety. Kept having negative thoughts, couldn't relax.

I stopped taking the SAMe.

So, I'm gonna keep taking the DMAE, 5-HTP, Holy Basil, Rhodiola and the herbal tonic I have as well (St. Johns Wort, Kava Kava, etc). Anyone considering trying SAMe, be aware of any changes in mood.. it seems to have negative effects on a lot of people from what I've read.

[cheesesteak]

ive been on script meds for about 10 yrs.. but i dont suffer from depression, i used to get really bad anxiety, but the only meds that work for this are anti depressants.. also.. if you ever go on these meds.. watch your weight.. they tend to put on the pounds.. the only one that doesnt affect you weight wise is wellburtin..

When I got my medical diagnosis for what I have and got my script I went up 80lbs in a year. Stuff is crazy. I take a dopamine blocker.

[GYMBRAT]

yup the weight gains are a piss off to say the least...

[purelife]

Just a small update..

I recently started using some additional supplements:
- DMAE
- SAMe
- 5-HTP

The SAMe was causing some weird side effects. Odd intensity/feeling in my head that something was imminent, that I was forgetting something, that I needed to be somewhere or do something, that something happened or was going to happen, anxiety. Kept having negative thoughts, couldn't relax.

I stopped taking the SAMe.

So, I'm gonna keep taking the DMAE, 5-HTP, Holy Basil, Rhodiola and the herbal tonic I have as well (St. Johns Wort, Kava Kava, etc). Anyone considering trying SAMe, be aware of any changes in mood.. it seems to have negative effects on a lot of people from what I've read.


hey bro keep us updated and wish you all the best
Peter

[deletedandgone]

I had to go on an effexor at some stage, because of something horrible in my life that happened. The first time I took it I was in heaven, even workouts amplified and I just kept wanting to do chin-ups all the time (I wasn't into bodybuilding back then, just went to gym for fun). Then things started getting worse: pain during orgasm, bright light hurt my eyes, the effect of the drug wore off, dilated pupils, etc. Eventually I stopped after one bottle, coming off was easy because the way my doc explained it to me, I had low serotonin levels, so the effexor restored those to normal and then at that stage the drug started having more side-effects, so I just stopped taking it and have been off 3 years since. Feeling fine as wine too.

[Papa Het]

I had to go on an effexor at some stage, because of something horrible in my life that happened. The first time I took it I was in heaven, even workouts amplified and I just kept wanting to do chin-ups all the time (I wasn't into bodybuilding back then, just went to gym for fun). Then things started getting worse: pain during orgasm, bright light hurt my eyes, the effect of the drug wore off, dilated pupils, etc. Eventually I stopped after one bottle, coming off was easy because the way my doc explained it to me, I had low serotonin levels, so the effexor restored those to normal and then at that stage the drug started having more side-effects, so I just stopped taking it and have been off 3 years since. Feeling fine as wine too.

I've know a handful of people that have been on effexor and they all reported life becoming a living hell trying to come off of it. Glad to hear you were able to come off with not alot of trouble.

[Makarov]

I often have a day of the month where I feel like complete shit and become angry at anyone or upset about anything. Then i have troubles sleeping that night. I think it comes from hormones in my body dropping or raising on the certain date, or my test levels changing all of a sudden. Either way, depression sucks, even if it's for a day you don't think right at all.