Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Ontario, Canada
Medications For Depression Posted: 12-29-03 10:15am
Hi,
i'm new to this forum / board. I would
like to know if anyone can tell me the
differences between effexor, celexa and
wellbutrin.
I was on celexa and the doc changed me
over to effexor thinking that this
medication would increase my motivation
(which is next to nil). There hasn't
been any change in that department (not to
mention others).
I have recently heard about wellbutrin and
I was wondering if it is worth a try.
I would really appreciation any help.
Thank you and I hope you all had a very,
merry christmas.
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Nansmom
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 11 Location: USA
Posted: 12-29-03 19:03pm
Hi caesarsmama,
i have heard of all three of these
medicines, and they are all
antidepressants (i'm pretty sure the
celexa is, other two are for sure). I
don't know what the differences are, but I
take effexor xr, and it helps a lot for
the depression, I know that. How long
have you been taking the medicines? And
are you seeing a psychiatrist, or a family
Dr.? What doseages have you taken? It
does take 4 to 6 weeks often for the
medicines to reach their full effect, and
you do need an ample dose of the medicine
in order for it to be effective. Often
our family Dr.'s will just give us one
pill and tell us "come back if it doesn't
work". This is what happened with me,
and I wasn't getting the full benefit of
the medicine, because it was too low of a
dose. Also, I might add, that what works
for one person, doesn't always work for
another, so it might take some time for
you to find what exactly will work for
you, and you may need to combine medicines
to get the effect you need. So, don't
give up, and keep bugging the Dr. Until
you find what works best for you. But,
also be sure to give each medicine a fair
trial before changing to another one. A
psychiatrist is best equipped to know the
best medicines, but if you aren't able to
get one, do use your family Dr. Until you
can see a psychiatrist. Good luck, and
keep us posted on how things go.
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caesarsmama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: 12-29-03 22:55pm
Hi,
thank for getting back to me. I know
that they are all anti-depressants. I
was on 40 mg of celexa when I was switched
to effexor xr. I was on the celexa in
july until september when I was slowly
switched to the max dose of effexor xr.
Yes, it does help with the moodiness (you
can double-check with my family); however,
it hasn't given me any more energy or
motivation to do things. And these are
things I used to enjoy like going out for
supper and the most important, going to
the gym. There are also other little
things as well. Then, at the beginning
of nov, I had what I guess you could call
somewhat of a breakdown and I was on the
full dosage of effexor xr. I'm slowly
turning around, an almost 'turtle-like'
stride.
I see a gp who referred me to a
psychiatrist. I don't see her again
until 15 jan 04. The last time she saw
me she said that she wants to give me
something extra to boost my motivation,
etc. She didn't want to over the
holidays as she wouldn't be seeing me for
a few weeks. She did not say what that
"something" was.
All I know is that I want me back.
Thanks again.
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caesarsmama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: 12-30-03 00:06am
What the hell is your problem? Get off
this board and crawl back into the hole
you came out of.
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caesarsmama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: 12-30-03 00:13am
The two of you came out of the same hole
and you are correct, it smells!
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Nansmom
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 11 Location: USA
Posted: 12-30-03 01:28am
Caesarsmom,
it could be your Dr. Wants to add a mood
stabilizer, such as, what I take is
trileptal, it is an anti-epileptic, but
many of this class of meds are used as
mood stabilizers, as well. Also, lithium
and depakote are two other well known
ones. It's my guess the Dr. Wants one
that blood draws are needed until you
reach a therapeutic level (like you do for
lithium and depakote). Or, perhaps it is
something entirely different, but was
wanting to wait just because it was the
holidays, and there are often problems of
it's own during any holiday.
As for these irritating interruptions in
our lives...These immature imposters on
this board, it usually is best just to
ignore them. When they get a response,
they feed on this. Being ignored is the
cruelest insult to them. I don't know if
there is anyplace to report them, but i'm
looking, as I just joined the forum three
nights ago myself.
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caesarsmama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: 12-30-03 09:14am
Hi nansmom,
thank you. I think you are right about
the mood stabilizer. I thought the
anti-depressant was supposed to stabilize
my mood? I think there is something that
I am not grasping with this
depression/medication thing. About a
month ago, she had given me seroquel at a
very low dosage to help me sleep. That
had a really bad effect on me and I didn't
sleep. Then she gave me something else
(i forget the name), again, for sleeping,
and I had almost the same reaction as with
the seroquel. For sleeping, I take
immovane (little blue pills). They're
great but I am at double the recommended
dosage.
