Depression.

[copacetic]

So my doc is insisting I go see a shrink and talk about my "issues" before I can get meds.

I hate talking, I refuse. There is nothing to talk about. I know what is wrong and talking about that shyte is not going to solve it.

So I want Prozac, Wellbutrin didn't work for me. Prozac ( yes yes old school ) did wonders for me, people hate me but I love it :twisted:
Now where can I find a doctor that is not going to insist on me going to a shrink for a prescription.

I have been meds free for 5 years. Things have been slowly circling the drain for a few months now and I want to stop before the bottom drops out and the people around me gets the bad side of me self destructing.

And no, no amount of talking is going to fix a chemical inbalance. I think I need to find a doctor that has mental health issues as well. At least they understand it.

In my experience, doctors are far too quick to hand out SSRIs - I suspect you have one of the better ones, based on their reaction (I fully support mental health issues being dealt with by professional brain people, rather than a GP). That being said - If you've been on it before, they are probably being unnecessarily difficult.

 

[copacetic]

Cipralex 20mg here, and as for creativity, yeah, it unfortunately ****s it right up the butt... But then again, so did the extremes of my depression, so...

 

[maumau]

As Ockie always says "kick it ina panty"

Shame Mila crying is exhausting, you must feel washed out.

My doc also prescribed without a shrink, also in Sandton so they're definitely around, just change your doctor.

"Social filter" is a good way of describing it I'm sure quite a few of us feel deficient in that department.

Is your SO any help?

 

[Ockie]

Just a question. Do any of you know if a generic is available for Wellbutrin? Online it says a generic called bupropion is available, but when I asked Dischem when I filled my first prescription they said there is no generic for Wellbutrin. Now that my dosage have been doubled, this is going to double the cost also and my medical aid does not cover anti depressants.

 

[copacetic]

Just a question. Do any of you know if a generic is available for Wellbutrin? Online it says a generic called bupropion is available, but when I asked Dischem when I filled my first prescription they said there is no generic for Wellbutrin. Now that my dosage have been doubled, this is going to double the cost also and my medical aid does not cover anti depressants.

Bupropion is the name of the chemical itself - As far as I can see, there is no generic available in SA, unfortunately. How much will you be paying PM with the increased dose?

 

[Ockie]

Bupropion is the name of the chemical itself - As far as I can see, there is no generic available in SA, unfortunately. How much will you be paying PM with the increased dose?

For the old dose it was about R220.00 per month I think, but now it will be R440.00. Not a disaster, but eish .... that is a R400.00 that is going to hit hard at the moment. Time to quit smoking again me thinks.

 

[copacetic]

For the old dose it was about R220.00 per month I think, but now it will be R440.00. Not a disaster, but eish .... that is a R400.00 that is going to hit hard at the moment. Time to quit smoking again me thinks.

Yeah, that's quite a bump. I went from R110 to R220 myself recently, also doubled my dose (and changed to a more expensive stereo-isomer...).

 

[Velenoso]

Guys I'm really not trying to be funny here, but do drugs like cocaine and ecstasy/x work for anti-depression? I'm sure I'm gonna get killed for asking this but I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Swa]

Guys I'm really not trying to be funny here, but do drugs like cocaine and ecstasy/x work for anti-depression? I'm sure I'm gonna get killed for asking this but I'm genuinely curious.

Don't know cocaine's mechanism but ecstasy increases serotonin so short term they may. After the effect wears down however you'll suffer from withdrawal that will make the depression worse. If you can though you can try Ketamine. It's a horse tranquiliser mainly that seems to have a neuro-protective effect curing depression for weeks reportedly or perhaps even permanently with repeated use. It's been used recently in all the successful cases of curing rabies. You'll lose a day of your life however.

 

[requiem]

Guys I'm really not trying to be funny here, but do drugs like cocaine and ecstasy/x work for anti-depression? I'm sure I'm gonna get killed for asking this but I'm genuinely curious.

In the very short term yes, but then immediately afterwards it will make it worse.


It is a very very very very bad idea to take drugs like that to help depression.

 

[whatwhat]

Guys I'm really not trying to be funny here, but do drugs like cocaine and ecstasy/x work for anti-depression? I'm sure I'm gonna get killed for asking this but I'm genuinely curious.

Not really. Since x already messes with your serotonin and dopamine, you can really be hit hard with depression on the come down. They don't call it steak knife Tuesday for no reason. While you are rolling, yes, you are great.

 

[Velenoso]

I see. So it will work but only for the short term. I mean a "normal" person (without depression) will also suffer from a come down from these drugs. Is there a come down from anti-depressants?

 

[copacetic]

Guys I'm really not trying to be funny here, but do drugs like cocaine and ecstasy/x work for anti-depression? I'm sure I'm gonna get killed for asking this but I'm genuinely curious.

Drugs that lead to a (temporary) lack of the very neurotransmitters that are causing the problems in the first place, would be a terrible idea (coke/x); Hallucinogenic and other families of drugs have been shown to show promise as possible treatments (LSD/Ketamine/Psilocybin).

 

[Swa]

I see. So it will work but only for the short term. I mean a "normal" person (without depression) will also suffer from a come down from these drugs. Is there a come down from anti-depressants?

Yes but it's different. Anti-depressants decrease the destruction of serotonin so there's a come down effect after the brain gets used to more serotonin. Illicit drugs increase the amount of serotonin made but there's a resistance to that so the brain starts decreasing serotonin production. After a while you need the drugs just to make normal amounts of serotonin. That's why they have mostly no legal use.

 

[copacetic]

I see. So it will work but only for the short term. I mean a "normal" person (without depression) will also suffer from a come down from these drugs. Is there a come down from anti-depressants?

**** yes. It's terrible. They are very intense drugs. All I can say is don't cold turkey the things...

 

[Velenoso]

Is it worse than smoking? I did smoking cold turkey more than a year clean. I did relapse once in the beginning (carried on smoking cigars). I've also quit other drugs (did a lot of Coke, etc for a long while)

 

[copacetic]

Is it worse than smoking? I did smoking cold turkey more than a year clean. I did relapse once in the beginning (carried on smoking cigars). I've also quit other drugs (did a lot of Coke, etc for a long while)

It's dependent on the particular chemical, and of course, the physiology of the person in question. In my opinion, yes, much worse, but also much easier, since you don't crave the AD, you just feel really, really **** for a couple of weeks.

Signs and symptoms

People with discontinuation syndrome have been on an antidepressant for at least four weeks and have recently stopped taking the medication, whether abruptly, after a fast taper, or each time the medication is reduced on a slow taper.[1] Commonly reported symptoms include flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, sweating), sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmares, constant sleepiness). Sensory and movement disturbances have also been reported, including imbalance, tremors, vertigo, dizziness, and electric-shock-like experiences in the brain, often described by sufferers as "brain zaps". Mood disturbances such as dysphoria, anxiety, or agitation are also reported, as are cognitive disturbances such as confusion and hyperarousal.

In cases associated with sudden discontinuation of MAO inhibitors, acute psychosis has been observed.[1][2][3] Over fifty symptoms have been reported.[4]

Most cases of discontinuation syndrome last between one and four weeks, are relatively mild, and resolve on their own; in rare cases symptoms can be severe or extended.[1] Paroxetine (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor) seem to be particularly difficult to discontinue and prolonged withdrawal syndrome lasting over 18 months have been reported with paroxetine.[5][6][7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant_discontinuation_syndrome

Brain zaps are ****ing weird, that's all I have to say...

 

[Velenoso]

Wow, ok. I'm asking that question for this reason: I'm still not fully convinced that depression is a "real" illness. Not real as in it doesn't exist, but real as in it can be cured without drugs. I think it's more of a mood problem influenced by other aspects in your life. For example, when I was younger and very poor I often felt despondent or maybe depressed. Days or weeks would go by where I couldn't feel happy. I used drugs and drank a lot and that made me feel better. Eventually I got out of the mentality and grew as a person and in business, I moved to the US, I made something of myself. I then stopped using drugs completely a few years ago and I don't drink nearly as much. Like I said, smoking quit cold turkey as well. So maybe, it may be worth considering trying to get better without taking the prescription drugs and getting addicted to them. Again, I might be way out of my depth here.

 

[maumau]

Is X something new? What is it? Difficult to Google

Good on you Velenoso.

 

[Velenoso]

Ecstasy or X. I don't know what it could be called now. That's what it was called when I used to do it.