anti-depressant meds

I take Lexapro, 10mg a day and haven't found it to affect my running negatively. The first several days you might feel weird, but after a week, it wears off and you feel fine on it. It doesn't enhance my performance either, but it subdues the depression to allow me to train hard and stay motivated. Lexapro is similar to Celexa, Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. You should be fine on any of these, just take the smallest dose that works for you and be patient with the first few weeks as your body adjusts.

i was on 20 mg of celexa for about a year and a half. it's hard to say how you'll react. it's different for different people. i found i was generally a bit more tired, but that could have just been the symptoms of the depression. in terms of the physiology of it, it's increasing the serotonin re-uptake... so that i wonder if there should be any real effect on the running from that fact alone. i.e. it shouldn't make a huge difference.

i'd give it a full 6 weeks before making an assessment (it takes about that long for the drug to take full effect).

Salazar is on Prozac. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

I have a question because I have a family member who is going through a divorce and he claims that he is depressed. Says he can't seem to make decisions with a straight head.

What justifies a need to be put on anti-depressants?

I know how I feel when I am depressed about something, but I know that I don't need a constant fix from a drug to help me through it.

So, what is the difference between people who can deal with depression verses the one who can't? I guess what I am trying to ask is, how do you know that he is just not using this for an excuse. If he can go and be in a golf tournament he can't be too depressed? I would think you would not want to be around anyone if you're so depressed?

My advice on the AD, as someone who has tired a few to treat ADD. Is the frist one that I would give a try is good old Prozack. It is the only one, that has not got very very nasty ''discontenuation effects'' ie withdrowal effects. Also it is the only one that is least likely to produce weaight gain. On the flip side, no matter what your doc says. DO NOT TAKE PAXIL!. It works, and will make you feel real chilled out. But if you miss more then one dose, your going to be having withdrowal effects that are as bad as any out there. Start low and slow, and realize that for the frist few weeks you might feel more wired then normal, but that will subside.

Now as to how you know if you need an AD. Well I for one think that for the most part they are handed out to often.

That said, if you are haveing problems with sleep, feeling overwillemed, or just low all the time you might have a good responce to one. But there have been a great deal of studys that show that CB theropy works as will for mild depression as AD. And produces the same chemical changes in the brain as the drugs do!

I'd just like to make it clear that withdrawal affects are extremely rare. What is not rare however, is decompensation. This is when the person lapses back into their depressive state. Unfortunately patients often come off their medication without the doctors advice, because they now feel better. Soon though they begin to feel depressed.

To be clinically depressed their are several criteria that one should meet, here are a few...a change in sleep (e.g. hard falling to sleep, sleep disturbance, or early awakening) a change in appetite, anhedonia (loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable to you), poor concentration/memory, fatigue,lethargy, possibly an increase in somatic complaints e.g headaches.

As far as taking anti-depressants and ones athletic performance, it is very unlikely that the meds should interfere with the running. You do need to be taking the newer ones though (less side effects) they have already been discussed though (SSIR's-selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) do not take TCA's-more side effects. Just ask your doc'.

The best treatment for moderate-severe depression is has been found to be a combination of drug based and "talk" therapy.

Aerobic exercise has been really beneficial for mild depression.

My wife used to take Prozac for depression, then she discovered some all natural anti-depressants. They are great, no side effect, and no more drugs. E-mail me if you are interested. We liked them so much we went into business with the company and are now distributors. chad@classiccabinets.com

I advice you to not take a depressant at all. Seriously, the benefits are only temporary. If starting with a med to monitor your moods is your decision, my question to you is, are you willing to feel "better," short term verses long term. I'm sure you've asked youself the question, Why am I depressed? Why do I wake-up feeling Blue. Where is the Happiness. Millions have/are battling this overwhelming phemonina.

Bear with me...Reasearch a few things first ,for yourself, before you pop the pills. Reasons why, I'll explain shortly.

First your diet. So many additives in our food are creating adverse affects we may not even be aware of, you may be intaking ...for instance...to much mold/spores/dairy.

Second,Consult a natural path. Get a toxin screen. blood drawn.

Our bodies are natural beings, using natural medicinals assimulate so much faster, without side effects.

thirdly, yes, review your spiritual lifestyle. Trama can create such pain, hidden deep. Our minds, souls and spirit release pain/experiences/build-up, in such extraordinary ways, it may be a possibility that your experiencing this.

Your been open, posting a very personal side of yourself on these threads can be brutal...I wish you well, take heart the sanctity of your body before giving it to the "get fixed quick," ways of the western world. If you find yourself struggling, remember, sometimes depression is a symptom of a deeper issue.

I do agree that we are becoming far to pharmacological dependent and we should always seek out alternatives before drug based therapy. However, anti-depressants have been shown to be highly effective, particularly if the disorder is due to chemcical changes as opposed to trauma related. Stay clear of refined sugar by the way, they can really worsen ones mood if already predisposed to depression (e.e. family history, trauma etc)

Try the herb called St. John's Wort.

try smoken a little bud, better than any anti depressant, and it will also help your running.