If you are on antidepressants and they worked, is it common for depression to come back while still on them?
608333
It is not usual case while you are on antidepressants to experience depression( at least the severe episodes).First,the antidepressants to give the desired effect you must take them usually at least for 3 to 4 weeks.If you still feel depressed after that period,it's possible that the specialist might change the medicine for you for obtaining the results.Please,take into account that one of the most frequent mistakes made of patient is to seize taking the drugs without even alert the specialist.In brief,if you are on the proper antidepressants it's not likely the depression to "haunt" you..
310289
I don't know about Celexa specifically, but many drugs do become less effective over time as you build up tolerance to them.  However, if the drug has been working consistently for seven years it is unlikely that it would spontaneously stop.  More likely, something else has changed that is making you feel somewhat depressed.  Maybe you're stressed out about something, or there's some other reason you might be feeling kind of bad.  However, you should talk to your doctor rather than posting here on Answers cause even if we sound like we know what we're talking about most of us actually don't.
764233
When I came off my antidepressants I did it over 6 months, gradually reducing the dose every couple of weeks.  I think your doctor was wrong to tell you to be treatment less for a week, but that is just my opinion.  Go back and see him and tell him how you feel!...;
194477
I am sure that they will "be funny" again.  Your personality sticks...the depression might alter it a little but they will spring back to normal.  Support them, be there for them.  If this person you are talking about is you, confide in a friend.  It's okay to cry and be depressed for a while.  It might be almost embarrassing to let that vulnerable side show since you/they were always the "funny and happy" one.  Trust me, you will seem even more real and likable when people see your human and have bad days...even if these days last for awhile.  Also, no one is too good to seek professional advice.  I'm not saying run out there and get put on medication, but you might need an extra boost to get back and going..whether it's just medical advice or whatever.  Good Luck.
107147
I take Effexor and I love it! I feel much better. Even colors looked brighter after taking it for a few days. I did have some sexual side effects, but they went away. I also had the traditional loss of appetite, but it also went away. I didn't have any other side effects at all. Everyone experiences some differences when taking anti-depressants, but the side effects GO AWAY after about 3 months. I am happy that I chose to take them. I feel better and am actually healthier now.
543632
This is a common side effect from several anti-depressants. Talk with you psychiatrist. There may be other meds that may offer the benefits you need, and not have such problematic side effects.  Keep taking the anti-depressants.  Depression can cause all sorts of other health problems is not treated.  Yes, one can go off the zoloft and after varying periods of time the libido is likely to return, but the depression is also likely to return.  When zoloft quit working for me ( after years of use at high doses) I had some success with an amino acid called 5-Htp.  I bought this book by a well respected Naturopathic Doctor:\n\nhttp://product.half.ebay.com/5-tp_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ774495St. Johns Wort can help if the depression is quite mild, but I ended up in the hospital due to the irregularity in dose strength, and the fact that I quickly needed something stronger.
881388
dont worry so much.  everyone reacts differently to different medications.  and a lot of depression/anxiety medications tend to make us have suicidal thoughts?  go figure.  it may take a while to figure out which one is right for you.  sometimes it takes weeks to even get the full effect of a drug in your system.\n\na while ago my dr. prescribed effexor xr.  it really helped me alot.  i started feeling better, and didnt really have any side effects.  in the beginning its normal to suffer from some side effects.  its just your body getting used to the medication.  but they really shouldnt last.  talk to your dr. about effexor xr.  it may work for you too.
931767
I have taken antidepressants off and on for 22 years.  I have taken tricyclics, SSRIs and what they refer to as atypicals (like Effexor).  I know hundreds of people who take them through my work and they are fine.  The antidepressants allow them to function more comfortably while hopefully they work on other ways of dealing with life and the causes of the depression or other disorder.\n\nBut...as to what we know long term...I asked my doctor the same thing and he said, and I agree, we do not know.  The trycyclics have been around a while, but they are not given much anymore.  The SSRI's have not been around a "life span" so in essense we are still finding out about them.  \n\nWe do know that for some people, they reach a point where they stop working and they much either up the dose, change to a different medicine or add a medicine to what they are taking now.\n\nSome people are NOT able to take them, that we do know. And, we do know that the reaction to them is very individualized...one person may do great, the next person may not get any relief at all. Going off them should be done with your doctor and any of them should be tapered off very, very slowly to prevent relapse.\n\nIn time I think there will be better medicines for us and we will also know more about those we take now.  Medicine is advancing almost as fast as technology.  But, really, I am glad you are doing okay now.
1083038
I heard that Cymbalta affects your sex life less than others, but I tried it and it did not work that well for my depression, but it did wonders for my pain in my back and legs and also helped me sleep.  I didn't notice any change in sex drive.  Which wasn't that great to start with.  Now I am taking Wellbutrin XL and I absolutely love it.  It is doing great for my depression.  Depression will make you not want to do anything to start with.  So when you find a antidepressant that will help with your depression, you will feel better in all aspects of your life.  I started working out and that helped too.  When I say help, I mean in everything, my attitude, my will to live, my sex drive, and etc...
894481
a few years ago i tried to commit suicide. i have a very serious clinical depression. the doctors gave me 5 different drugs to use and they made me feel horrible. i started taking st johns wort and several multivitamins instead and after about 4 months i was feeling much better. i used them for several months and am now no longer on them at all. i still take my vitamins and a st johns wort every so often when im feeling blue. DO NOT STOP taking any medicine you may be on without telling your doctor first if you are taking any. i had no side effects from the st johns wort like i did while on the depression meds.
664845
Classic symptom of depression.  Talk with a doctor, get a consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist.  Might be treatable short-term and get you back on track.
404961
I was on 20mg anti deppressants for 9 months, which was called Paxil.  I was running out and I had moved 10 hours away from the doctor that prescribed it to me, so I decided to get off of them.  I cut them in half and I didn't feel any different and then I threw out the last few pills I had.  That's when I had withdrawals, which was horrible!!  I've never been through withdrawals with anything and it was so bad that while I was walking to work one day, I had to turn around and go back home because I just couldn't make it.  It lasted for a good week and finally I was off of the pills for good.  I can't say that I'm cured, but truly and honestly I don't want to go back on the pills.  I was told that I did the wrong thing and I should of consulted a doctor before getting off of them, which I think you should consult your doctor before you get off of the pills for good.
1170001
It is not uncommon for people coming out of depression to commit suicide before they are all the way better. What happens is they have the depression, but they have more motivation to do *something*. The something is often suicide. This was a problem long before the SSRIs.
423819
I heard it can make you feel a bit emotionally numb, Most of the anti depressants I have taken have have had a similar effect on me, but only as I have begun taking them. If it is still the same after a month or two I normally demand a change of medication.
964599
Yes, more often than I should...but that's depression talking.  It does seem like it sometimes, but don't quit.  You're not alone & things will take a swing for the better.
108133
There really isn't a good answer for this.  I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with clinical depression and was given some medication to take.  It really helped me get back on track so that I could focus on what makes me happy.  If you are not already on meds then you need to start taking them.  The first step is to get back to where you can think clearly and then find a psychologist to talk to about your problems.  \nThe most important thing is to get help with the physical symptoms.  Until you do that, you can't work on the cause effectively.   Best of luck to you!
743423
It would help to understand how the medication works on your brain, which will give you some resolve in why it's not good to miss doses. \n\nLexapro is part of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) group of antidepressants, the most selective for cases of major depression.  The drug works by keeping the neurotransmitter Serotonin, in your brain longer, instead of naturally returning to it's storage bins in your brain for later use, thus lessoning your depression.\n\nSerotonin is believed to play an important role in the regulation of body temperature, mood, sleep, emesis (vomiting), sexuality and appetite. Low levels of Serotonin have been associated with several disorders, notably depression, migraine, bipolar disorder and anxiety.\n\nRegulating your Serotonin is a complex process that occurs in your brain via SSRI's.  Naturally, you'll start to feel better over time, as the Serotonin stays in your brain longer and your brain will become acustomed to this, building a dependancy.  When stoping an antidepressant, your Dr. will create a discontinuation schedule and may counter the withdrawal effects with other drugs.\n\nSince your brain has become acustomed to the medication, stoping abruptly will cause problems.  Some of these problems are \n\nSSRI discontinutation Syndrome.\nhttp://bipolar.about.com/cs/antidep/a/0207_ssridisc1.htm\n\nBrain Shivers;\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_shiver\n\nand essentially, feeling even more depressed then you were prior to taking the medication.\n\nMost antidepressants develop some sort of dependancy.\n\nThere is currently no generic for Lexapro and there won't be one until the patent expires.\n\nMed compliance is a huge issue for patients suffering with psychiatric disorders.  You should always follow your Dr's advice and inform them of any changes in medication you have made voluntarily so that they can keep you out of harms way.\n\ngood luck