Any antidepressants that won't kill my lifestyle?

**PistolPete33** · 02-09-2015, 08:30 AM

As many of you know I've had a shit-storm of bad luck and difficult times and I'm totally miserable. This has been a long time coming and I've felt this way for a long long time. I moved out for a week from my wife and son because all we've been doing is fighting. My business is down over 40% year over year and the numbers are still dropping. I'm stressed beyond belief and it's time to make a change. I'm confident that I have adult ADHD so that may be a contributor as well.

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow and not sure what he will recommend. That said, I'm nervous about taking any antidepressants because I don't want to get fat or lose my sex drive, have lack of energy, and not be able to take stimulants.

Does anyone know of any of these drugs that won't affect these aspects of my life but will help clear my mind so I'm not so angry and depressed and I can go back to rebuilding my life.

Thanks in advance,
Pistol

**marcus300** · 02-09-2015, 08:48 AM

I would really try and stay clear of them but I don't fully know your situation by any means but they may just wrap you in cotton wool and from the sounds of it the issues need addressing with a straight mental focus. You may find helpful self help books, counselling or other behaviour therapy treatments but one thing is for sure time will surely help your situation. If things get that bad and your thoughts are running wild with you then I would say defiantly seek medication to slow things down a bit but if your still of sound mind and its just the situation what's causing you to feel this way then try other avenues. I've been there and all the anti- dep do is cloud your judgement, I came off them within 4-6 weeks and got other therapy what really helped. Keep strong and try to focus on one thing at a time and find a solution, all the best

**PistolPete33** · 02-09-2015, 09:12 AM

This has been something that's been going on for years but it's just much worse now. I hate medication believe me and esp. one that can have so many harsh side effects.

**marcus300** · 02-09-2015, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by PistolPete33

This has been something that's been going on for years but it's just much worse now. I hate medication believe me and esp. one that can have so many harsh side effects.

Do you feel you need to medicate and nothing else will work or resolve this issues within your head?

**PistolPete33** · 02-09-2015, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by marcus300

Do you feel you need to medicate and nothing else will work or resolve this issues within your head?

I honestly don't know. I want to start with just talking with someone for a while but my wife doesn't think that's going to work and she wants me to medicate. When I told her I wouldn't she started saying that I don't want to even try to fix things. I may just tell her the doctor recommended to speak to someone first before medicating.

**marcus300** · 02-09-2015, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by PistolPete33

I honestly don't know. I want to start with just talking with someone for a while but my wife doesn't think that's going to work and she wants me to medicate. When I told her I wouldn't she started saying that I don't want to even try to fix things. I may just tell her the doctor recommended to speak to someone first before medicating.

Tell her you will do a deal first lets talk to someone and see if we can solve the matter if not you will go to the doctor, that seems like fair compromise.

**Hoggage_54** · 02-09-2015, 09:38 AM

I take a low dose of Paxil (20mg/day) and have even been on a lower dose (10mg/day) in the past. My doctor suggests I do cognitive behavioral therapy but I have not done it yet.

Paxil does cause drowsiness so I take it at night and it helps me to sleep.

**PistolPete33** · 02-09-2015, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Hoggage_54

I take a low dose of Paxil (20mg/day) and have even been on a lower dose (10mg/day) in the past. My doctor suggests I do cognitive behavioral therapy but I have not done it yet.

Paxil does cause drowsiness so I take it at night and it helps me to sleep.

How have the sides been and do you notice a difference in your mental health since being on it?

**Hoggage_54** · 02-09-2015, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by PistolPete33

How have the sides been and do you notice a difference in your mental health since being on it?

Yes it has been positive. I started on it when I was 17 (I'm 30 now) because I would get panic attacks and even sometimes vomit. I've been taking it on and off ever since. It calms me down and lets me see what stressors cause me to be anxious in the first place. I also had extreme sleep apnea at the time which contributed to it.

If you decide to take this, remember that it's for long-term use. Your doctor can advise better but coming off is tough.

**bsh** · 02-09-2015, 10:21 AM

I'm on meds and don't think there is anything wrong with it... stigmatizing of ppl on antidepressants is just not true! U need them if ur chemicals are out of balance... I take venlafaxine and mirtazapine good cocktail for me and is has in no way killed my libido... I suggest seeing a shrink cause GP's don't know shit about these types of issues and they just throw things at u hopping something will work... Good luck

**thisAngelBites** · 02-09-2015, 12:52 PM

You can try some 5 htp (it's a precursor of serotonin and melatonin, so contributes to you making enough of these neurotransmitters, where serotonin is the neurotransmitter often targeted by prescription antidepressants) - it helps lots of people with depression, but it is not a patentable drug, so no one is going to spring for a big study. I have friends who swear by it, and say there are no side effects. You could consider trying a small amount (like 25mg and see how it affects you, and if you feel okay, you could take more, like 50 mg or so) Google it and do some reading about it, and don't take it if you are taking prescription antidepressants.

**bartman314** · 02-09-2015, 03:43 PM

i've taken lorazepam for anxiety and it works wonders with no noticeable sides in my case.

i agree with marcus about the time point - i went through a really rough spot about 5 years ago (all of my own doing) and although coming back was hard hard hard (lots of bad habits to break), i did it. been sober and good now 4.5 years, saved my marriage, family and career. good luck to you!!!

send me a pm if you ever want to talk.

**NACH3** · 02-09-2015, 05:07 PM

Sorry to hear this Pistol! I've been currently taking Lexapro and no sides for me... It definitely has balanced my mood and constantly running thoughts(esp at night)... And I'm ADHD(but dropped that Aderall - had a seizure from being over prescribed)! So I definitely agree w/Marcus as if you don't need to DONT but if you do then def see a Dr(and I feel his suggestion for compromise is a good one)

I didn't want to take it for the longest time... But started last yr and now dialed in its working! I wish you all the best!

**skaz915** · 02-09-2015, 05:18 PM

I can't really because there is no "recreational drug" talk...put that in your pipe and smoke it...

**DOSA** · 02-10-2015, 09:00 AM

what state do you live in?

if you are in a state that has medical, look into it.
use as a medicine, but its all herbal. it is doing wonders

**< <Samson> >** · 02-10-2015, 11:36 AM

Damn brother

There's dif ways to approach shit like this. My usual method was to self medicate myself with whatever I got my hands on.

I just been lucky to get to where I am at now

I agree with the above - clearheaded usually is the best approach. Pretty much all drugs/meds put you into a unnatural mental state. When shit's going south, that's the last thing you need.

My current situation is completely dif, but I am under stress like mother. Combined with a fairly mild tren cycle - oh, it awesome

But, I am staying clear of all meds aside from now a quarter mg of Xanax at night. It's just to put me to sleep.

Shit's fvcking tough right now

**PistolPete33** · 02-10-2015, 07:19 PM

Thanks everyone. I met with my Primary today and went over how I was feeling and what my thoughts were with how my life was going etc. He said that he was afraid to prescribe me anything for ADHD because the issue may be just Anxiety and if he gives me an ADHD med and the issue I'm having is just anxiety it will make things way worse. He decided it was best for me to get a referral to a specialist that only deals with this. Luckily, I have friends that go to a great place so I'm going to be starting there. Just waiting for my appointment. My primary said it would prob. be best to start with councelling first and go from there. I agree this is prob. the best approach long term.

**Jekyll vs Hyde** · 02-10-2015, 07:52 PM

I just typed a huge message out to help and it got denied..

PM also denied.. Let me get my 25 post and I'll hit you with my exp and opinion on the topic..
It will help Brotha..

**Honkey_Kong** · 02-10-2015, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Hoggage_54

I take a low dose of Paxil (20mg/day) and have even been on a lower dose (10mg/day) in the past. My doctor suggests I do cognitive behavioral therapy but I have not done it yet.

Paxil does cause drowsiness so I take it at night and it helps me to sleep.

Yeah, but doesn't Paxil cause you..... Problems downstairs?

**Honkey_Kong** · 02-10-2015, 10:56 PM

Pistol, money stress really can take it's toll on you. You need a little release from it. Have you considered getting another hobby to look forward to doing and take some of the stress out of your life?

**NACH3** · 02-11-2015, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Honkey_Kong

Yeah, but doesn't Paxil cause you..... Problems downstairs?

Any anti-depressants can... But like all meds/drugs everyone reacts differently. But I know others are worse(Prozac I heard is bad downstairs)... I just told my Dr straight up I won't take nothing that will affect my libido... He suggested Lexapro... It's working balancing me out and no adverse sides... Just my experience though.

**EasyDoesIt** · 02-11-2015, 09:43 PM

They all have a different effect on everyone. Don't know how old you are pistol pete, but from personal experience, age tends to work on me from that effect. I always felt indestructable till around 50, then you tend to worry about "Not enough time" but I truly beleive it's a mantal state that can be overcome. Depression creeps up on you, but at least you are aware of it. Zoloft seems to be one of the least on side effects. I took it, but i really wasn't sure if it did much. Felt like i battled weight issues with it. I thought it was one that did not effect weight, but according to my reading up, they all can add weight and zoloft can add 10lbs. I just quit them cold turkey, which your not suppose to do, I did feel anxious a lot after quitting, but I was not on them for more than about 7 months. If you are having trouble training, force yourself to go, it will definitely help. Even Doc's will tell you cardio is one of the best meds for depression. But to give anything other than personal advice here on a forum IMO is as far as I would go. You have to know where your at in life and what you have to try. I think overall the meds are tough on you and hard to get off. I saw a friend of mine I hadn't seen in years and I said man you gained a lot of weight. He had been on one of the popular ant-depressents for 10 years and said he gained weight from them. He tried getting off and could not do it. I know it sounds redundant, but get to the gym and do what you do because you will feel more like yor old self and stay busy, do not dwell on the bad thoughts. It is a state of mind and works on you, then one day you say "what happened". Today's society has so many distractions and the world is full of negative people and problems. This year in 2015 I started dumping people around me that say the same useless BS and do nothing about their lives. Get up everyday and fight the fight with power in your body and mind. It's just the way life is buddy! Life is no bed of roses and it is what it is. Those fortunate that were handed a silver spoon, end up in a bad situation eventually because they never had the fight. I listen to young guys crying the blues and tell them, be happy, you couldn't walk a week in my shoes without going beserk! LOL Keep pressing on!