What is a good medication for severe major depression?

I've been taking Prozac 40 mgs a day for about four years for anxiety, panic attacks, and major depressive disorder. It has worked tremendously for me. I'm not such a drag to be around anymore. The only downside is sometimes there is a loss of libido. That seems to be a side effect of most of these medications. I tried Effexor XR a long time ago, and it gave me the jitters and palpitations. Hope my answer helps.

There are three things that you can do 1) give some time for the effexor to work
atleast 2-6weeks
2) you can augment effexor safely with mirtazapine starting with a low dose
3)lastly try increasing your effexor to 187.5mg. Anything more than 200mg will increase your blood pressure
if nothing works try Electroconvusive therepy with above medicatiion if you have suicidal ideas or plans.
hope it helps
Dr Cari
Medical officer of Psychiatry

Dear PNHHMQ - I have been on Remeron ( or generic version) for over 5 yrs. It is prescribed for major depressive depression and has made a big difference in my symptoms. It is a long lasting med that requires only one per day. I take it a night as it makes me very sleepy. Problem # 2 helped. I do, however remain very anxious and am given Xanax 1mg up to 5 per day, but get by usually on 4. While i am Not "Happy", the depression and anxiety are lessened. Feel that no pill is going to make me a well, happy, well adjusted person, I take what docs suggest, AFTER doing intense research, and am looking for other, non med ways to feel better. I have read that meditation is a very good tool, one that I am looking in to, to help me deal with the debilitating, chronic pain that is part of my daily life. What works for one, may or may not work for the next. Keep trying till you find the one or combo that best suits you. You are worth it!!! Be well as can be...

I have found that exercising daily is a more natural way to help with depression. Its also good to have someone you trust to talk to. My problem is finding the time, therefore cymbala is my drug for now. I hope to ween off it this year.

I am on Zoloft and risperdone and Ativan and they work really well for me. I know finding the right combination of meds can be frustrating it has been for me. I pray all goes well for you hope this was helpful

well, it all depends on the person, and what works for one may not work for the other.I've been on cymbata (similar to Effexor) along with Webutrin for years, my mon passed away in April and within 2 months, they didn't work so well, so doc added Abilify-much better. talk to doc they are usually pretty effective at fixing you up. please keep me posted and God bless

I also suffer from very serious depression and I have been prescribed many many different depression medications and the only 2 medicine's that has ever worked for me are Prozac that also caused me to have chronic migraines but helped the depression. The other medication that has fixed every sign and symptom of depression is not exactly prescribed for depression but worked the best is percocet which is prescribed for pain.

I too have major depression and panic attacks. I have tried everything on the market. Effexor XR is what I take now. Hasn't helped with the depression but all suicidal thoughts went away. I have had depression for so long (15 years) I now can't leave my home. Housebound. Sigh. Good Luck!

hi i am a pharmasict.depression is a psycological disease that cannot be treated rather it can be masked for time being.as far as permanent cure i have found that people converting to islam and believing on who created them are completely out of this playground of depression.try to know somthing true about ISLAM.may u seek the truth

Been taking wellbutrin. Been working for my depression

i wish i could help you. by now, i have tried almost everything and i am still searching. i hope someone here can help you with their own experiences with the different AD out there. wishing you a deserved recovery.

Just came across this site. I have been looking for help for my husband for over 2 years. He is in a treatment center appr. once a month now for over 2 years. Been to numerous shrinks with no results. Tried every medication for depression ya'll are talking about but nothing works. We have no insurance or jobs so it's hard to keep trying different doctors. Any suggestions would be helpful. He lost his job due to his depression, paranoia, and anxiety. Finally got SSDI last month. Thanks and good luck to everyone.

Hi. I have had major depression as well as anxiety and panic attacks . I have been on Effexor but it didn't work well for me either. So I was switched to Cymbalta. That worked well, but after being on it for a long period of time , I think it stopped working as well . (very bad withdrawals from that -google it.) I then went on Celexa which I really like. It works really well . I take 40mg per day and no side effects at all. I would highly recommend it as one of the best. For anxiety , I've always been on Klonopin 1 mg several times per day. I was on Buspar for a period of time as well 15mg 2x day.

I have been battleing with depression all my life. Just until recently I was told i have a severe cause of magor depressions, including mental hospitalizations.jMy weight got lower sand lower but you just can force yourself to eat when not hungry. So I Talked to my dr and he changed my antideppression meds ( a few times) till finelly desuvered one that not only made eat start eating again but did gain weight at all. It really boils down to keeping a open relation ship with your dr. Even if you have to be very demandind sometimes. But in the end it is your life and you do pay for his services. And believe it or not you will feel great that you fought for yourself. Keep it up anf please never quit there it help and drs who do care very much!!! Try a new anitdepression Effexor never worked for myself either and ther are minllions out there one will work.

Hello, Xanax is a really good medication for depression and anxiety. I understand that anxiety is very difficult.