I have been treated for depression for over 20yrs and now have severe major depression for last 6 months. I take 150 mg Effexor XR and it doesn't seem to be working. I also have anxiety and panic attacks.
What is a good medication for severe major depression?
Question posted by PNHHM2 on 30 May 2012
Last updated on 28 October 2024 by jenrat79
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97 Answers Page 4
jenrat79
17 Nov 2012
The difficult thing about antidepressants is that they affect everyone differently, so it is pretty much trial and error until you find one that helps you. I have tried many over the past few years. Some help a little, some not at all, and some have worked wonders for a while then stop working as well. I have adhd, which causes anxiety and depression in adults. Right now I'm taking my adhd med along with Wellbutrin XL which has been working great for about 3 months now. I am taking the least amount of klonopin with this one so far, about 3mg per day. And with most of the other antidepressants I've been on I've still had to take about 6-8 mg per day. You just have to be patient and you will find something that works for you.
blueeyedtigress37
16 Nov 2012
My fiance passed sept the dr put me on lexapro it helped and clonopin. You will feel a lot better and I cried constantly before that.
brian2005
10 Nov 2012
Wellbutrin and lexapro work wonder for me i have to be commited for evaluation i was so depressed and the to worked so well.my dr added the lexapro about a month later be cause my seratonin levels would stoll drop but after thr lexapto im good the same thing for a fellow crazy of mind . Just in good humor you cant have enougj of that so i like to tell people i meet with the same sympton that they are one of the crazies make me lafe and not hide from what we are
brian2005
10 Nov 2012
Hope it helps
ErikLakies
7 Nov 2012
Fluoxetine is a good medication for depression.
spikey31
4 Nov 2012
Hi... sorry to hear about your problems... my doc. put me on xanax and seroquel and it has helped me out great... everyones different though... Godbless
sara12345
12 Oct 2012
I am taking Pristiq 50mg which is the new improved Effexor. It gave me more sex drive back. But otherwise I've been taking Effexor for the past 7 years and it has done miracles with my mood in the face of some severe pain and limitations in my life. I had to increase it when I got terribly depressed with the terrible life that I had, but then the depression lifted.
I get so tired of all the complaints that Effexor should be taken off the market because people are trying to get off of it way too quickly. I've been off of it twice as well as 3 of my friends who didn't have any difficulty getting off of it.
navygirl1
11 Oct 2012
i also have severe major depression. i take 225mg of effexor and 400mg of amantadine it is working for me so far
Pansy404
10 Oct 2012
I am like you, I have had severe depression for 20 years, and yet Effexor XR suits me really well. I take 150mg daily and it has got rid of my anxiety and panics as well. If the Effexor XR is not working for you, perhaps you need to consider a change of anti depressant. Have a chat with your doctor.
tigvid
10 Oct 2012
Help,
Usually can navigate the problems of meds. I am on smallest dose of lexapro and smallest of wellbutrin. But my husband of 20 years is leaving me (for someone else) so everything has changed... I have some clonesapam that i take very occasionally for anxiety which i now take alot... three a day? also drink vodka 5-8 oz... right now i am hanging on by my finger tips... living in europe with my french husband who is still in my
apartment neither with money (sorry about the sidetrack) But I can't concentrate. the balcony looks high enough... I want to know if any of you have been able to be pulled out from something like this? I can't take effexor ... blood pressure ... any suggestions? Have a great doctor that woudl follow...
liz
sara12345
10 Oct 2012
You sound like you are in real trouble. Go to your doctor and get more help with your medications which may need to be increased or changed. Also can you get some counseling to help you through this very difficult time in your life? If not, seek out a friend to talk to. Or "talk" on here. Wish you the best.
Sara
bumblebee90
22 Sep 2012
Dear PNHHM2,
Hey there. I answered when you first asked this question, but would like to know how you are now? Did you find anything that has worked for you better? I've come to realize just how bad I have Major Depression. I go to a new psych. next week, but the one I just parted with had me on 6 different things. Way too much. I thought I was really doing good for a while, but then I found I was still stuck in that deep dark hopeless place still. I cry way too much, and my moods are out of control sometimes. I'm hoping this new Psychiatrist will help me get off some of these medications, and really know how to treat me properly. He's not really new. I am a former patient from three yrs. ago, and stopped seeing him due to the drive to downtown Atlanta. But My hubby doesn't care about that now. He sust want's to see me get better. This is a very real and scary condition to say the least.
We who suffer sometimes can't help but think we're just not normal. I have suffered from it for over 20 yrs. What that does to you emotionally and physically is beyond belief. But I am no quitter. And don't you be. I have hope, faith , and belief that I, the doctor, and the good Lord isn't finished with me yet. We all go through our own trials and tribulations.And some are horrible. But throw a little hope and faith into the picture and it's amazing how you're attitude will change. If you haven't allready, I pray that you too will find a cure for this. Keep you're chin up. Please let us know how you're doing. Your Friend, Ruthie
slamina
21 Sep 2012
I want to first say, I'm sorry for all of you who are suffering with chronic major depression. I have been treated for this and generalized anxiety since 1991. I have been tried on all antidepressants aside from the older MAOI's which my psych. doesn't recommend. I have also undergone ECT's but to no avail.
Today and for the last year I have been taking Zoloft, wellbutrin and clonazepam and I feel alittle stable but still that dark cloud is there. It's a tough go for anyone and since we all have different chemistry, please try not to read into others comments too deeply.
I do want to say that Effexor XR worked very good for me until I began sweating so terrible. Wellbutrin at a 400mg. daily dose made me gain weight so I'm down to 50mg. which doesn't help with the fatique or lack of focus. I have taken clonazepam (Klonopin) at a .05 mg 3 times daily for the last 15 years and have not built up a tolerance to it. I remain on the same dose I started with. It's been the best for my anxiety and at a safe dose. Xanax made me so tired.
I'm only commenting in hopes someone finds it of some help. Personally, I do not believe there are any antidepressants helpful for chronic major depression that is genetic. I regret saying this but I think alot more research is needed and funding provided to do this. For those that know the sadness, hopeless and dark feelings, I think our best bet is to be honest with ourselves and others and not be ashamed nor hide our feelings and find a friend or two who understand. And take some quiet time for yourselves and try to think beyond the depression as well as you can and know there are others who understand and you're not alone!!! :-)
bumblebee90
22 Sep 2012
Excellent answer slamina. Truly well said. Ruthie
sara12345
22 Sep 2012
To Slamina, Too bad that your psych doesn't recommend the MAOs which are decidedly different. The only thing is that you have to avoid certain foods while taking it. The MAO was only anti-depressant that worked for me years ago before all the newer meds came onto the market. To avoid MAO while going for ECT is odd. You may want to get a second opinion to get out from under the dark cloud.
Good luck.
slamina
23 Sep 2012
I would like to try a MAOI if they are helpful for people who don't respond to the newer ones. But what about the fatique? Don't most of them have bad side effects? Maybe I need to learn more about them. I'm 53 yrs. old and I want the rest of my years to be alittle happier and all of yours too :-)
Hugs, Janet
sara12345
23 Sep 2012
Everyone's reaction to medications is different. I had no fatigue from taking the MAOs. In fact I had more energy and more confidence. If you do have fatigue, you can always stop taking the medication--right?
Rodger OConnor
21 Sep 2012
For years, I have battled with depression and severe anxiety. I was put on a combo of Zyprexa and Prozac and it seems to be helping. It comes in one pill form now. It is marketed for treatment resistant depression. I know everyone reacts different to certain meds. I hope things improve for you. As for effexor, it was hell coming off of that... just my reaction.
navygirl1
20 Sep 2012
i have severe major depression too, i take 225mg of effexor and 400mg of amantadine. i am starting to feel a little better. but before this i took bupropion and sertraline. then effexor with abilify but i experience weight gain.i hope this helps.
technophant
18 Sep 2012
If conventional antidepressants aren't working for you, and you are having anxiety and panic attacks I recommend you avoid taking a medications that artificially increase serotonin, such as SSRIs and SNRIs (including Effexor).
You may have a form of treatment-resistant depression that is associated with a genetic condition called MTHFR. You could try taking methyl-folate in the form of presciption Deplin, or OTC as Quatrefolic.
Do NOT take regular folic acid (vit B-9). If you have this condition your body can't convert into the active form, methyl-folate, and unconverted drug has been shown to be carcinogenic.
The Deplin.com website states: "It has been shown that as many as 70% of people with depression have a genetic error called the MTHFR polymorphism that limits their body’s ability to reduce dietary folate or folic acid into L-methylfolate."
If you are still having depression try adding SAM-e (200 or 400 mg twice daily). SAM-e has been shown to be "just as effective as antidepressant medications without the side effects (headaches, sleeplessness, and sexual dysfunction)".
slamina
23 Sep 2012
That's some interesting reading. I myself have treatment resistant depression and I did mention to my psych. Vit-B. He told me to take the sublingual several times a day and it would take a couple weeks to feel it. I've just started so don't know the outcome. This methyl-folate and your message, I'm sharing with him. Thanks for writing this.. I'm going to check out the Deplin.com right now...
technophant
23 Sep 2012
I went to my doctor recently who specializes in this problem. He said that I would have to take at least ten pills of the Quatrefolic 400mcg (0.4 mg) twice a day to get the effect I need!
My doctor recommended I start taking twice-daily supplement from NeuroBiologix called "Methyl Folate Plus" which contains 5mg of calcium-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 2mg of folinic acid (Leucovorin), and 125mg of activating co-factor niacinamide (no-flush niacin).
The prescription only Deplin comes in 7.5mg or 15mg tablets of l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium.
He explained that the current forms of methyl-folate aren't all utilized well when taken orally. They only last about 10 hours, so it is best to take them twice a day. If you can only take methyl-folate once a day, it's better to take at night because that's when most of your neurotransmitters form.
I hope this helps!
slamina
24 Sep 2012
Thanks again... I'm going to make notes for when I see the Dr. again. I think he will try anything on me. He says I'm his most complex patient but I respect him for answering me truthfully when I asked him.
thanks thanks!!! Janet
sara12345
5 Sep 2012
Why don't you try to increase the dose of your Effexor? 225mg is the maximum recommended dose.
I got severe depression, near suicidal, while taking Effexor and found that increasing it by 37.5 mg did the trick. The doctor said to give it 4 weeks to take effect. After 5 weeks, my depression was completely gone. Yes, completely gone!!!
So rather than playing the game of finding another anti-depressant that might work for you, try increasing the medication that has worked for you in the past.
Related topics
effexor, effexor xr, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, medication
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