Cures for Depression

Archive for the ‘Menopause Depression’ Category

Some people claim black cohosh is what you need during menopause. It’s worth a try.

FWIW, a loss of interest in most things is one of the hallmarks of clinical depression, even if you don’t feel especially depressed, so it may be unrelated to menopause.

There are many factors that lead to depression, one of which is hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Not all depressed persons have this, and not all hypothyroid persons are depressed. not all women who are in menopause have an under-active thyroid.

But, in some cases, depression is cured by taking supplemental thyroid hormone. While this treatment is often given empirically, it really should be used after investigation of other causes of depression.

I must have been one of the blessed ones. I was so busy at the time, working part time (at least it was supposed to be), kids home, husband who likes to eat, I didn’t have time to think about it. For me, menopause came and went. No hot flashes. No anxiety. No depression that I would attribute to menopause. Any depression or anxiety I had was because of my teens being @#$%^ teens. Get yourself constructively busy and see if it helps. If you can get out, volunteer work is good. I used to visit the elderly in a nursing home and got them playing cards. They looked so forward to my weekly visits you would think I was the queen. Sadly, they are gone now and I decided to volunteer at our local hospital.

Ok, I need to get this under control.
I have basically been in the house since Dec. 2006.
I switched from Paxil (20 years) to Lexapro 15 mg in Dec. 2006 because I felt the Paxil was not working.

I have crying spells, depressed mood…..like no hope.
My body aches so badly. I even went to a chiropractor…
I don’t know if it is depression or hormones. My hormone levels came back as being in the correct range??

I feel like I am crazy….I can’t make decisions, I can hardly stand up i am so weak…..could it be physical?

Anyone have any luck with a certain medication.

Did I mention that I had a full check up and all is ok??? Everything

My mind is slow…..never use to be this way.
I avoid people.
I have many regrets about things that I wanted to accomplish in my life…..

I don’t know what else to say any suggestions??????

I am seriously considering checking into a hospital, but I don’t know if I would go to a mental or physical one.

:please help

Dianne

Hi Dianne:
You don’t say how old you are, so it’s hard to tell if you are menopausal or not – but you certainly do need help. You say you switched medications – was that on the advice of your doctor or on your own initiative? You could be reacting to the medication.
One thing for sure – if you haven’t been out of the house in eight months, you aren’t getting enough exercise, and lack of exercise can exacerbate whatever symptoms you are having, whether they originate in depression or in menopause. There are support groups that can help you get back in society – to experience the stimulation and pleasure that comes from interacting with other people.
Check with your public health nurse to find out how to locate a support group, and get yourself out of the house. That’s the first step! Then find something to occupy your time and your energy. There are hundreds of organizations crying out for volunteers and believe me, when you help someone else, you help yourself more.
It’s good that you recognize that you have a problem and are willing to work towards a solution. So – talk to your doctor about the medicine, call the public health nurse, join a library discussion group (they’re free, and very stimulating) and volunteer your services for some upcoming charity event.
Good luck to you.

anyone know if this is normal and what do you suggest?

It’s absolutely normal to have depression, mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, muscle weakness, and confusion. I had all of these things when I started, and hormone therapy helped me greatly. I take bioidentical hormones, which are supposedly safer than the prescriptions. If you start them at the beginning of menopause, there’s less risk of breast cancer than there is if you wait too long before you take them. I decided not to take herbs because they really aren’t strong enough.

I feel a hundred times better now.

Was on lexapro for two years but it stopped working after a while. Started prozac now 10mg but it seems to be making me more depressed. Only have been on it for 3 weeks though.

You may need a little more time for the Prozac to reach optimum effectiveness…or you may need a higher dosage. Another week or two should give a good indication of whether the current dose will work for you.

On the other hand, menopausal depression can respond well to a combination of replacement hormones. Most doctors now will consider prescribing a custom combination of supplemental progesterone and even testosterone (energizing), along with estrogen. There have been recent scare-studies about estrogen replacement causing cancer, but combined progesterone-estrogen therapy seems to have a somewhat lower risk. Also, shorter term therapy may work just as well for you and is also less risky.

You may also want to ask your dr about a more stimulating antidepressant, such as Effexor or Wellbutrin. Effexor affects both serotonin and norepinephrine and works better for some people; however, I have heard that it has really unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you go off it. Wellbutrin is a totally different class of antidepressant from the SSRIs or SNRIs, and is more of a stimulant. It takes longer than the others to reach maximum effectiveness – up to 8 weeks, so if you try it don’t give up too early.

Personally, I take a combination of Celexa (same as Lexapro) and Wellbutrin, and feel the best I ever have. Wellbutrin is often prescribed in combination with SSRIs when people say they are feeling less depressed but still having low energy, poor sex drive, etc.

If the Prozac doesn’t work for you, ask whether a combination of hormones and/or other antidepressants, alone or in combination with Prozac, could be prescribed. There is no reason anyone should put up with poor results or a dr who is not willing to keep trying new things! Everyone has different brain chemistry and one size (or drug) does NOT fit all.

Also – if you haven’t had one recently, request a thyroid test. Many menopausal women have hypothyroidism, and often the only major symptom is depression and low energy.

Best of luck to you!

I am caregiver to my adult disabled daughter who lives with me still.

You have to make that decision for yourself. These are my expiriences with prozac for PMS. There are other alternatives, depending on what you’re open to.

Initially, no side effects. When they tried to increase the dose, I could hardly get out of bed. Over the years, I started to notice that it suppressed most all feelings and that events that happened that I should have significant feelings about… I had none (like someone dying).

I stopped it cold turkey (bad idea) and felt fine for a month, then had a week of dizziness, lightheadedness, shaking, lethargy. After that I was fine.

I see a homeopath for general overal health as well as my physician. Homeopathy has helped me more than anyone else ever has. Counseling has been huge for me also.

If you are prescribed an anti depressant, please make sure you get the counseling to go along with it.

I am a nurse and strongly believe Anti depressants are handed out too freely as a bandaid without the counseling that can actually make a difference in the long run.

The medication will definately take the edge off your symptoms, but is not dealing with the underlying causative issue.

i have heard that some people have been treated for depression i.e. given anti-depressants whi;le they ahve been going through a hormonal change in their body i.e. post-natal depression, menopause, pmt/pms – what have your experiences been?

I went through a similar thing after catching a virus and I must admit I was horrified to be prescribed Prozac by my GP! Both myself and a couple of my work colleagues picked up something or other where we were all really tired, totally lacking in energy and had no appitite. I went to my doctor, explained what was happening and he said he could give me something to help the situation. It wasn’t until I got out of the surgery that I looked at the prescription and realised he had prescribed Prozac. I knew I wasn’t depressed – in fact, I was well aware that it was my body that was exhausted and NOT my head. I was so shocked at being prescribed Prozac, needless to say I didn’t take any of the tablets. After 5 weeks, the virus seemed to disappear and I have been fine for the last 15 years or so.

It’s really worrying that GP’s are happy to prescribe strong addictive anti-depressants without looking into the problem thoroughly.

My only concern now is that I have a section on my medical records which states that I have been on anti-depressants, even though I didn’t take any and wasn’t even depressed!

i have heard that some people have been treated for depression i.e. given anti-depressants whi;le they ahve been going through a hormonal change in their body i.e. post-natal depression, menopause, pmt/pms – what have your experiences been?

I went through a similar thing after catching a virus and I must admit I was horrified to be prescribed Prozac by my GP! Both myself and a couple of my work colleagues picked up something or other where we were all really tired, totally lacking in energy and had no appitite. I went to my doctor, explained what was happening and he said he could give me something to help the situation. It wasn’t until I got out of the surgery that I looked at the prescription and realised he had prescribed Prozac. I knew I wasn’t depressed – in fact, I was well aware that it was my body that was exhausted and NOT my head. I was so shocked at being prescribed Prozac, needless to say I didn’t take any of the tablets. After 5 weeks, the virus seemed to disappear and I have been fine for the last 15 years or so.

It’s really worrying that GP’s are happy to prescribe strong addictive anti-depressants without looking into the problem thoroughly.

My only concern now is that I have a section on my medical records which states that I have been on anti-depressants, even though I didn’t take any and wasn’t even depressed!

Ok here’s the thing i’ve been experiencing terrible moods and a lack of desire and want to know whats causing it.
I had a baby eighteen months ago and he wakes alot in the night so am tired alot some days. I also work full time as well as try to run my home and go to college – no spare time as such. Any suggestions?

No wonder you feel moody and tired, you are doing so much.
Won’t your partner take a share in seeing to your son at night when he wakes?
All I can suggest is to work part time for a while if you can. Alternatively postpone college until your son is a bit older.
You will wear yourself out.
I do admire your ambition but it’s too much while your son is so small. Take a bit of time to enjoy him, believe me you turn round one day and they are grown up and gone. It is good to have such drive but not at the expense of your health.