Dispression Meds?

Question

My mother is currently taking Effexor XR 150 mg and Buspirone 15 mg. I feel as they are not helping her but hurting her. She always seems spaced out and she is never feeling good. She just wants to sleep and never go to work. It didn't to seem to help in the beginning but the doctor said to give it time. Its been a year and they would up the rx but there would not be a change just she would get more tired. As her daughter I feel like I need to help her I hate to see her like this. If anyone has any advise open ears!

Thanks for the responses I recieved. I felt like this was not normal I just needed someone else to say it I guess. We will be looking for a second opinion. My mom is always been an active person so this tiredness is something I am not use to. Thanks again!!!

Answer 1

It sounds like she might need to get a new doctor. I am not sure where I stand exactly on anti-depressants because I never had one work for me (I had them when I was an older teen) But if it is not working then she needs to take control of herself and find other alternatives like therapy or a second opinion.
You on the other hand are not responsible for your mother's choices. Only she is. You love her and you can show and express it in many ways and I feel like that is the best thing you can do to help. Just be supportive and loving. Have a talk with her and tell her your concerns but ultimately it is up to her to maker decisions.

Answer 2

I think you have hit the nail on the head. Anti-depressants are vastly over-subscribed. And they always seem to want to make you do nothing and feel nothing. How is this supposed to help ? It's dehumanising. Nothing but getting up and doing, and working through the feelings and/or situations that are the cause of the depression will help.

Please note, I am not any kind of medical professional.

Now, I have had some success in the past with hot pepper sauce. Yes, you read it right.

Quite by accident I found that eating a fried cheese sandwich with hot pepper sauce as early as possible in the day would cause a BIG endorphine rush which would set me up for the whole day.

If a fried cheese sandwich isn't suitable, try tomato juice with Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce, or whatever takes her fancy.

Answer 3

As long as she is not suicidal when she doesn't take meds..(which I hope to God she isn't) tell her to ween herself off the meds and try St. John's Wort, which is a natural herbal supplement that has worked wonders for me. I have had absolutely NO side effects and have found it completely effective in treating my depression when nothing else has worked. The trick is to take it as recommended on the bottle (one capsule 3 times daily) and she should be sure not to take it if she is still on her meds . Some people need to take it for at least a month for it to really take effect, but this is true even with many medications. Also, it only costs me like $10 for a 3 week supply and can be purchased at almost any supermarket or drug store. However, not all brands of this are created equal, so she may have to experiment with different brands to find the one that's most effective for her. Like i said, though, it has worked wonders for me and I strongly recommend it. I wish the best for your mother.

Answer 4

If your mother is severely depressed, I doubt that she cares that she is sleeping all of the time. As her daughter it might be helpful if you had a talk with her about how you hate to see her like that and how it is affecting you. I know as a mother myself, if my daughter had a talk with me it would have an impact, because as a mother myself, I know how much mothers love thier children. If she knows how much it hurts you it will at least get her to thinking. There are so many prescriptions that are addicting also. I took a medication for depression once. I was to take it at night before I went to bed. I remember how it made me extremely drousy and I could hardly walk to the bedroom. But in the morning those effects had worn off. Maybe your mother is taking the medication more than she is supposed to. As her daughter, I think it would be supportive to her if you don't ignore the problem and you talk with her. This certainly isn't doing her or you any good. If she is having a life crisis that is making her depressed, maybe she needs to seek a therapist to talk to. If her depression is due to an imbalance, there are lots of alternative medicines out there. My husband deals with periodic depression and it gets pretty bad. In our search for something natural for him to take at his times of depression, he has found that an herb called Gotu Kola helps him. I have heard of some people that take St. Johns Wort but that didn't work for him. He only takes the Gotu Kola during the times when he is depressed, he doesn't take it all of the time. Don't mix herbs with meds though, because its no different then mixing meds together without knowing what your mixing together.
Everyone is different and what will work for them. If she is someone that would be open to a Natural alternative, maybe she could seek out a Naturalpathic Dr. that can help.
I know when I had my depression, It was after I had some surgery. I got extremly depressed and couldn't pin point anything that was causeing the depression. After a couple of months of taking the pills I decided that it was just against what I want for my body. I obviously had some kind of imbalance in my body that was caused from my surgery. I quite taking the pills and got a really good Vitamin shake drink just to make sure that my body was getting all of the vitamins/ minerals etc. that it needed. Then I set out on a walk everyday. I remember after about a Week or so I noticed that I had just snapped out of it, thank God. Depression is a horrible horrible thing. It steals your life away . Sorry this is so long, my heart goes out to you and your mother and I wish you much luck in your journey to recovery.

P.S. A good Vitamin drink I highly recommend is a product made by NOW it is called Alive ultra shake. It is very expensive at the health food store, I found an online site that has an excellent price for it www.vitacost.com

Answer 5

Are these meds being prescribed by a psychiatrist or a regular Dr. She needs to see a psychiatrist and get on meds that will help. It doesn't sound like this is the right combo. Initally being tired is normal but if the meds work she should be feeling better not worse. Sounds like she's still depressed. Sleeping alot is a sign of depression, these meds don't cause sleepiness. Get her better help. Also she may not be being honest with the doc about her feelings so she isn't being treated right.

Answer 6

Hi - I would definitely get a second opinion. Those drugs should not be making her feel that way. The purpose is to feel less depressed and tired - not more. It might also be the combination of drugs. I know people who have had to try several before finding the right one. You might also suggest that she see a therapist as well. Good luck and don't give up! :)

Answer 7

I'm a war veteran with PTSD on 100% mental disability and The Bible works 100% of the time every time and the side effects are ALL positive. And if GOD is invited to join, you actually get high and there's no negative side effects then either All positive. Even you should try. Confess to GOD that your are a sinner, ask GOD to forgive you, ask JESUS to come into your life and take over. And DONE! No year wait. Comes with a 100% lifetime satisfaction guarantee or your soul back. I tried it and I love it(HIM). Didn't take all my problems away but now my problems don't control me and I don't have to go thru them alone. 'Cause GOD said,"I will never leave you or forsake you.

Answer 8

My opinion is that you need to be attending a support group meeting once a week for patients and families of people suffering from depression. You will learn a lot more about your mother's medications at the meetings and hear what other patients are experiencing with their medications and doctors. In addition, you will get more experience in dealing with related problems. One place to contact for the location of your local support group meetings is: http://www.nami.org/

Answer 9

I would go to the Dr with her the next time that she goes and talk to the Dr yourself. This happened with my grandma and I found out that she tells the Dr that she is fine and the medicine is helping her. I spoke with her Dr and told her that the medicine doesn't do anything for her except make her lay around in bed all day... they switched her medicine and now she is like a new person :D

Answer 10

It's possible that these drugs aren't working because hers was not a "mental" problem, but instead a problem with her endocrine system. I don't know what made her want to take those drugs, so I'm sorry I can't offer much more than that suggestion.