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Posted 11/29/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I am 24 years old and I've been struggling with depression for about 4 years on and off. My doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline 2 years ago but I stopped taking it because I felt better. I think that was a bad idea because my symptoms are back. I went to my doctor recently, and he prescribed me a more "modern" drug, Cipralex. I haven't started taking anything yet, but wanted to know if anyone has taken either or both of these to treat depression and if it has helped.

Thanks :)
Posted 11/29/2013 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't taken cipralex, but there are others on here who have, and I am sure that they will respond. Welcome to the depression forum. I too stopped taking a med because I felt better and ended up needing it to feel better. I took it (Effexor) for many years. I now take pristiq. I also take medication for anxiety and a mood stabilizer. They all work well together. Some of us have to continue to take the medications to feel well. You might be one of those people. I recommend counseling too. It does really help.

I hope that you feel better soon. Do take care and do keep posting, it often helps to talk here and get things off of your chest.

Have a good day...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/29/2013 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your replies. It helps to know there are other people who understand. I was considering counselling however, I'm currently not a student and don't have health coverage. I can't afford to go to a weekly therapy/counselling session. I'd really like to in the future when I can afford to though. At the moment I'm focusing on getting exercise and eating well. I hope that helps with my insomnia.
Posted 11/29/2013 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
that should help you all the way around. I try to walk daily. I always feel better afterwards. I have tried to cut sugar and carbs out of my diet too. That helps. Plus I try to eat a lot of apples.

So with diet and exercise you are on the right track. Check and see if any of the counselors (not school counselors though) have a sliding scale. If they do, you can get counseling cheap.

There is also a site called moodgym in the resource thread at the top of the page that a lot of people like.

Best wishes to you...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/30/2013 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
to dino ............

   If as Carl had stated, that Cipralex is the same as Lexapro .... I can say that the 20mg Lexapro has worked well for me in reducing the high emotional anxiety levels I was at without Lexapro. I have been taking it for about 2-months now - and it is a generic version of Lexapro.

   One other note to consider ....... seeing a therapist, a psychologist or a counselor is at least as important as the med itself. There may very well be help available on a declining fee basis that could be verry affordable.

   Years ago, I found qualified help when it was badly needed ... and because my business year was so bad the prior year, I was able to get in to see a psychologist with a doctorates degree for less than $25. per session. It was the best buy of my lifetime!!!!!!!

   think about it!

Rob and Giz

 

Posted 11/30/2013 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken amphitryptiline, a very low dosage. I could never build it up due to side effects. I did take it for several years at 12.5 mg., but every time I tried to take more I would get super-nauseous.

Never taken either cip or lex.

Two thoughts. 1.-I think medication is always worth a cost/loss analysis. Knowing side effects (of how it specifically affects you) versus the good it does is great info to have. This is why I eventually stopped taking amph., because it wasn't doing much in my system.

2.-Many people are on medications for life, for all kinds and varieties of illnesses and conditions. It's not a weakness or a bad thing--it just helps the person maintain a good quality of life, despite having a medical condition which would lesson it. For instance, I have crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. I take a medication for it, have taken it for over a decade, and will be on it likely for the rest of my life. Am I happy about this? No way, Jose. Am I going to stop taking it? Again, no.
Posted 12/1/2013 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
getting by - Thank you. Moodgym seems interesting. I'm going to sign up and see what it's like :)

Gizzy'n me - I am still considering counselling for sure :) I'm going to look around some more and see if there is a sliding fee scale anywhere. Thanks.

Myself 09 - My biggest issue is getting sleep and my mood is all over the place. I've tried everything for sleep, including going to a sleep lab. So this is why I'm trying medication even though I hate taking it but you're right. It doesn't mean it's a weakness. It's for my own well-being :) Thank you!
Posted 12/1/2013 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have fibro as well as depression, and a kind of arthritis that attacks IBD people. Sleep is often difficult for me.

If you have other conditions, there may be a medical reason outside of mood that is impacting your sleep.
Posted Yesterday 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
HI THERE, JUST WANTED TO SAY HI RECENTLY HAD EYE SURGERY. STILL A TAD BLIND, I CAN READ LITTLE POSTS, THUS I READ YOURS. JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

WITH HEALING COMPASSION,
THE HAPPY TURTLE.
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