Depression and antidepressants?

Question

I've had clinical depression for about 2-3 years now and I've been on a lot of antidepressants. My doctor assured me that no one can build up a tolerance to an antidepressant, but it always seems like after a year of being on a certain antidepressant it loses its effectiveness and I have to switch to another. Or maybe I haven't found the right one yet? He said that if I continued having trouble he would recommend electroconvulsive therapy, whatever that is. I'm so confused. Help!

Answer 1

I dont know about changing medication - I think I would start considering changing Doctors!

I would say that you just havnt found the right medication for you - it can take a lot of trial and error.

Have you also had therepy or counselling?

This is a terrific aid in the battle - but I really do not like the idea of a medic talking about ECT whilst you are still in the early stages - yes - 2-3 is still early!

I really would start thinking about the options that you have and to get a clearer idea of what they are - get in touch with whatever national charity is viable in your part of the world.

Good luck

Answer 2

Okay - first, you're not alone. I have received MANY reports of the same thing - the meds work great, then after a while it just stops working. No one knows why.

Next, Electroconvulsive Therapy (or ECT); the name is misleading. That is SUPPOSED to be used only in the most dire circumstances, where ALL other therapies have failed AND the person will definitely kill themselves because they feel so bad. The person is anesthetized, restrained, and then electricity is applied briefly to the brain, essentially burning out the circuitry causing the depression. It was originally very dangerous and caused obvious brain damage. Now the technique has been refined where almost no brain damage is detectable.

But before you do that, try these:
BOOK: "Feeling Good: the new mood therapy"
I have recommended this to many and have good results with most.

Also, go to www.dianetics.org and find a center near you, and get ONE session of processing - just to try it out, and if you're not amazed at how much better you feel, don't go back. I've seen them do some things that seemed strange but got results that modern psychiatry would consider to be a miracle. I don't believe in Scientology (which is a religion), but I do believe in Dianetics (which is a therapy).

Write me privately if you need more.

Answer 3

I've only been taking antidepressants for 2 months. My doctor started me on Lexapro 10mg and increased it to 20 after the first month.
I was only on the 20mg dose for 6 days when I saw the most inept psychiatrist in the USA. He doubled it again to 40mg,put me in the hospital for 3 days, and put me on Trazodone 100mg.
I was on those for 4 weeks and ended up in the emergency room because of real bad side effects. It almost was like having seizures all day except I never lost consciousness.
My doctor cut the Lexapro to 30mg but I still have moments of shaking and twitching. It's only been 2 days, but it's a lot less than it was.
Don't let your doctor push you into the therapy, it sounds like you just have to find the right medicine and the right dosage. I heard that it can take a lot of time.

Answer 4

Hi there,
I believe the body can get use to taking the same amount of medication. I think it is the Dr.'s responsibility to closely monitor their patients and make sure the medication is still effective. sometimes adjustments are necessary. There are many antidepressants out there and they do not work the same for people. It can be quite a juggling act. Just do not give up, and keep trying to see what medication will work the best for you and your body.
ECT is electric shock therapy. Dr's use that sometimes for difficult cases of depression to treat that do not respond well to medication. I have not had it before but do know others who have.
I hope it will be your decision to make, and I would not take it lightly.
Good luck to you

Answer 5

I'm no doctor, but electroconvulsive therapy is just a fancy name for shocking you repeatedly with ever increasing voltage, so watch out for that.
Also depression has do do with seratonin levels in the brain, however 90% of the seratonin your brain uses is made in your stomach, gut, intestine, and all those organs in your digestive tract. So sometimes you just need to fix your diet and flush your system and basically fix your gut. So it makes seratonin better and then your brain works better. YOu might want to give that a try before you let some crack make you pay him to shock you.

Answer 6

Well I have suffered with depression for 25 years. I think you can lose your tolerance to ones you have been on for a long time. I have had to change mine allot. As far as the ETC your doctor is wanting you try. There are allot of side effects from this. Me if i was you i would get a second opinion or change doctors. If you don't feel comfortable with the one you have now, wanting you to have the ETC.

Answer 7

Depression can be caused by a number of physical problems such as hypothyroid, hypoglycemia, anemia, hormone imbalances- to name a few. Often times drugs don't "work" because antidepressants don't correct the cause, only mask the symptoms for short periods of time-- as you have experienced. The symptoms "return" because the cause or illness has been left untreated and it continues to worsen.
I think if you haven't had any tests or blood work done to eliminate physical problems, it might be time to consider it.

Answer 8

This happens. The best part of your question is ~ they WERE effective for a certain amount of time.

Plus, you are seeking the help and advise of a 'responsible'
doctor who is willing and trying to find 'the one' that will be
totally effective for you.

Honestly, it is trial and error. Please just stay with it, it is worth it. I congratulate you and yours for what you are going thru, but I honestly know you will get what you need, if it is EST
that will do it for you.

If you feel you need another doctors opinion, get it. But it really sounds like you have a good one, yet at the same time
it never hurts to get a 'set of fresh eyes' on your situation.

good luck to you

Answer 9

See http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 2, and give them several months before ECT. Avoid Dianetics & Scientology, unless you like throwing away money uselessly.