What is a good medication for severe major depression?

Great answer , Imar. Trial AND error! Love you guys!

Yes, that much Klonopin is a lot, I didn't eve know it came in that dose!

Yes, I always forget about Kolonopin. I took that for awhile and it DID help, but it made me more tired than Xanax and the sleepiness from Xanax went away.

I am also Bipolar. I've got Fibromyalgia & pretty sure Lupus also. Anyways, Effexor helped me tremendously & so did Klonopin. I'm on Neurontin now. 800mgs. 3 times a day. My Dr. Said that'll wk for my Fibro & mood swings. At 1st, it worked great, but my pain is getting worse & the meds. Are not working like they used to. Any advice, PLEASE?

I am on 200 mg of Lamictal twice a day and it has been a God sent to me. Whatever med changes are in my life, the Lamictal will not be cut.

I feel the same way about Lamictal and Klonopin. I cannot believe what a difference it's made in my life. I've been taking both for 5 yrs. plus. I take 400 mg. Lamictal per day, but I'm tapering down to 300mg, and 4 mg of Klonopin. I also take Gabapentin for depression and pain relief.
I'm going to get raked over the coals for this, but I have to tell you that Cymbalta worked great for me.
God bless you and I pray you find the med that will alleviate depression,
Anna

I too have had help with Lamictal. I still go through depression, but the agitated states are not as bad

would you please tell me which of these 3 lamictal has helped you? ODT XR or regular? thank you.

Isn't klonopin a benzo ? 200mg, u must have developed tolerence, I'm starting on desipramine. From reviews that I have read its rated high for severed depression hoping the best for you.

I was put on 5 mg VALIUM a day over ten years ago with all my other meds.
It works great to relax mind and body without drowsy or spaced out effect.

Mary, that is just too funny! I loved your answer!

You should see what I do in psych hospitals ... break lights out rules, sleep in TV room, try to stay away from the paranoid schizophrenic dude wanting to play Scrabble carrying an empty box, keep from punching the doc in the mouth... goes on endlessly. I personally don't know how we, or anyone, survives psych hospitals or looney bins, as I lovingly call them. Thank goodness I've decided, after 1/12, to never go back. Just is...
Peace and lotsa mental health,
Hippie

I so your comment and I was wondering how cymbalta has helped you? I have been dealing with major depression for 2 week my doctor has put me on 2 different medicines and nothing helping I feel like I'm dieing inside all I do is cry all the time I want my life back and no meds are helping.

Hello Mary. No. less than a few weeks after having a series (12) done (bi-lateral) I was back to square one and of course back into the hospital for another series. I also have a terrible memory. Refractory to medications and ect. You have to laugh although its not funny.

I do laugh. What I find funny, however, sometimes others don't. I have been known to break into laughter for no apparent reason... oh the joys of a mixed up brain. Oh There's Something About Mary...

It's comforting to know that others have been through the "shock" treatment with less than desirable results. I was assured this was a necessity (two different doctors' opinion) to keep me on this here planet!! I was sure I had left it a few times before it though. hahahahahaha gotta laugh...

Mary

:-0) The sad part in my case is I would do it again. Just to get that relief, which all be it short, it was like nothing I can remember ever feeling. But I am getting up in my years and my memory loss is there and I do not want to loose anymore memories.

Hi Pledge
With regard to your memory loss, one would never know it from all that you are able to share on this website. Of course most of us have memory loss as we get older. I keep blaming my stroke for difficulty finding the simplest word during conversation which happens only occasionally. But then my friends tell me that they have the same problem. Who knows.
Sara

True isn't it Sara? I wonder how much is age. One issue is say fellow members when I get a comment such as yours here. You I remember, but there are members that I really have no memory of. I believe its also how an event or whatever it may be, how important a issue/role it plays. Another problem is keeping my drug famillies in my mind. I can answer a question and 6 hours later need to look up the info/data if the same or siimilar answer or question is asked/needed. And I need to use my notes. :-0)

Hey, pledge, with that answer you sound more and more like me. That is the problem with short-term memory loss.

I like to write, for instance, I am a published author. When I go back and read any of my material, I cannot relate to it. I cannot seem to get into again once it is out. I usually write from the heart and about personal experiences on various things. But once it is on paper... it seems to disappear from memory. I write poetry and I cannot relate to that either. It is very frustrating so, I write what I write and forget about it... literally.

Mary

Hi there Mary. Good for you. Accomplished and published author. Ha! Amazeing how little any of us know, unless say as you just did, let it be known that you are a writer, people just would not know. Another problem, more of an irritation but frustration none the less, is in my case spelling is becoming more and more a challenge. As a writer you know how important that might be. I don't use spell check because then my brain would not be forced is a good word, forced to think it through. Gone on a bit a bit here. Take care Mary, enjoy the rest of the afternoon and have a good evening now, pledge

To Pledge,
You still sound very adept with your thinking to me. And you have "systems" to guide you. One can't do any better. Thanks for all that you do provide on this site.
Sara

I think so, too, Sara!

Mary

Thanks Ladies. Take care.

Oh geez Mary and pledge,
Now I remember why I can't remember anything except medicine. Since I had the childhood from hell, I don't want to remember, might be good.. ECT was one the most awful treatments I can remember, I hated them, add in closed head injuries, and a few more rounds of ECT, its a wonder I remember anything at all. But I remember everything about my advanced degree. Hmmmmm, don't ask me when anything happened. Couldn't tell you if I had to. The things I remember PK, that's pre kids, are like pictures, the rest a blur.
As of 1/12, when my last round of ECT was done, I have now decided I don't care what the reason, I just say NO, very loudly and run from whoever suggested such thing.. I am stable right now. It is what it is.
Wishing you both the best with your mental health,
Laura

Thanks and appreciated Laura, have a great week.

Fallintin, Smileyhappy just gave you an awesome answer. Please don't get even more depressed. Heck I've had my go arounds with it numerous times and ended up in the hospital. The looney bin part of the hospital. Didn't like that too much very well. They fed you good, but I was ready to go home. I hear what you are saying about it making you sick that you see other's just doing great while you're still stuck. I simply advise you to get some pretty hard willpower and ride the tide. You're day is comong. I didn't believe it would happen for me. But I never gave up, and finally we found the right combo. Please try and not get so frustrated. We're here for you. Ruthie

Thanks so much for the information. I currently take 20mg of Celexa and then
Xanax as needed. I seem to suffer an intense sense of anxiety during the afternoon period. IDK why... It happens almost everyday and it's becoming
debilitating... I see my DR next week so hopefully I can get to the bottom
of this and maybe ask about Zoloft. Thanks again and take care!!

Hi Again Jebnow, sorry to hear about your anxiety..I hope you can try Zoloft or something else too,if they think its a good mix for you. It helps me a LOT with the anxiety/irritablitily/ edgyness I have always had.
Its hard to deal with both depression and anxiety too.. Keep posting..Good luck..:)