RE Antidepressants

[Guest guest]

Well something I do know a great deal about is antidepressants.

For many years I thought I was truly a crazy person. I visited

Md's, psychologists, psychiatrist etc. I was given practically every

drug in existence ie Paxil, all the noritryptilenes(spell?) even MAO

inhibitors which I hated.

In 1993 I was finally diagnosed with clinical chemically induced

depression (which I came to learn my mother suffered from) my sister

was also diagnosed in 1997 and my daughter in 1999.

Prozac is often given for obsessive compulsive disorders which I did

not have. Nor was that a reason for my overeating. Intially it may

cause weight loss as one of the side effects but it can allow weight

gain also. Neither is prolonged.

When I was finally put on Effexor SR in 1997 it saved my life. It

has minimal side efffects and helps me a great deal in telling the

difference between true depression on the chemically induced kind.

It also does not promote weight gain.

Wellbutrin is also a very good drug with minimal side efeects, does

not generally cause weight gain and in some cases helps control

impulsive eating. While it has been around for many many years it

recently resufarced as Zyban (which is the anti smoking pill) In

fact if an insurance company won't pay for Zyban the MD can

prescribe Wellbutrin.

There are a myriad of antidepressant drugs around in many different

categories. Some may take up to six weeks before effects are

noticed OR for side effects to dissappear such as weight gain or

loss, sleepiness, hyperactivity, headache, nausea and other physical

symptoms.

Carefully exploring the cause of the depression is a very important

step before starting an antidepressant, especially if it is only

intermittant, or if the underlying cause resolves it self.

All of this of course is only my opinion and anecdotal from my

perspective but I hope it helps.

Don't worry...be happy

Annie