Anyone taking meds?

I was diagnosed as clinically depressed back in 1991. It is genetic on my mom's side. After trying a number of antidepressants, Prozac was the miracle drug for me, 20mg to 40mg depending on level of depression. After dad moved in with us in 2012, my depression returned, even on meds. So I switched to Celexa 20mg which has been great, but the dose has been adjusted to 30mg recently as I went into a really bad funk. When my dad has one of his grand pity parties, I spiral. You know the saying, misery loves company? He actually seems quite happy when he brings me to his level. And so, the doc will adjust the dosage for me. Mover2, thanks for saying don't be ashamed! We are not weak, most of us are stressed to the max. Caregiving is not easy! And you will succumb to pressure by getting sick. I believe the depression comes first, then when you get so bad, you can and will get physically ill. I could write a book on my own experiences, I don't want to go back to that place.

You need to think of these medications as an aide to wellness. Pain meds are good for pain, insulin helps diabetes and a caste helps a fracture heal. If your legs crumble there is no shame in using a cane or walker so it should be with mental illness.
maybe we should wear T shirts that say. I take (Proxac) want to have a fight about it"

Yes, these are drugs. But "drugging out" suggests something more than drugs/medicines. It sounds like a person is avoiding life and being irresponsible. I believe taking anti-depressants is the responsible thing to do.

SSRI are none additive but you must not quit erupt you could end up very sick when we are feeling overwhelmed and very stressed and depressed with anxiety it is best to go one some type of antidepressant and a anxiety med why suffer more without it the way the world is today with such evil and go go daily life stresses I wouldn't be surprised if 90% isn't on antidepressants they usually take about 4 weeks maybe longer depends on the drug and the person the side effects are very minute depends on the way your body chemistry reacts to the antidepressant.

I just clicked the "Helpful Answer" on every comment in this thread… I'm sure there were one or two that were not helpful, but… in the spirit of supporting caregivers taking meds to relieve anxiety, I clicked away, lol.

I take the anti-anxiety drug Klonopin or (generic name) Clonzepam 0.5mg tablet each night before bed. On nights where I don't feel I need "as much," I'll break tab in half and just take a half. My Rx is slated for 2 tabs per day, I don't take that much, ever, the smaller amount does what I need it to do. Everyone is unique with which med and what dose works for them, I think. And I don't feel any different than I ever did before, except that I don't melt down into crying spells and want to hurt myself or my dad. I never took this type of medication before I was well into caregiving life and I was struggling before I finally gave in and sought medical help. I'm glad I gave it a try. Good luck.

Since my mother moved in 18 months ago I now see a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I hadn't lived with my mother from 1978 until 2012 when she had to move in with me.We never had a close relationship. She is a passive aggressive narcissist and it has not gotten better over time. Also I am an only child and she is an only child so there is no other family. The best thing I did was go to the therapist.The psychiatrist manages my meds,Lexapro 20mg a day and Valium 15 mg a day. Also have been diagnosed by both for PTSD.Living with my mother as a child was like walking on eggshells and if you deviated from the path bombs would explode. My father hid from her in his bedroom and smoked himself to death.I look forward to me weekly visits to my therapist,keeps me sane and helps me realize that my childhood although not as bad as some was not normal.I would utilize any counseling services a caregiver can get. There is an article somewhere on this site from one of the therapists that calculates that 63% of caregivers, not just those taking care of Altzheimer's parents, but just caregivers die before the person they are taking care of. Since Jan.1st of this year I have taken my mother to 14 MD visits for various reasons and one foot surgery. I however, cancelled my mammogram, the colonoscopy my Primary md wanted me to have, also blew of going to the dentist because my mother also had to go so my husband took her just so I could sit in the house in complete silence.If my teeth fall out it would be worth it just to have that temporary peace in the house.

Ashlynne, my grandmother suffered from major depressive disorder and was given shock treatments in the 1950s; they were barbaric. My other grandmother had a blood clotting disorder and died from a pulmonary embolism. I have both disorders and thankfully there are pharmaceutical drugs I can take to prevent these disorders from taking over my life. Whenever someone uses the old "in the old days" argument about illness and cures I have to laugh: there was rampant diptheria, measles, polio, whooping cough that were fatal. The "old days" were not all idyllic, natural, beautiful times. How about rickets? Scurvy? TB?

Depression can be genetic; mental illness can be genetic.I find it offensive that your suggestion is to pull oneself up by their holistic bootstraps. Of course we can do many holistic things to help ease the emotional pain and I do these things myself: meditation, daily walks, gardening are a few. But I still need 200 mg of Zoloft to keep me from sinking into a well of helplessness and the feeling that I simply want to die. Being a caregiver for the past 3 years for parents that both suffer from dementia exacerbated my anxiety and depression. I'm not looking for pity and I don't believe anyone who suffers from mental illness looks for pity: they want to feel better, function in a healthy manner and a little empathy from others would be nice. I've learned not to expect much empathy, however: my older sibling is an RN and "doesn't believe" in antidepressants. Funny thing: dad has been on 50 mg of Zoloft for 2 years now, RN sister doesn't know but my oh my, she marvels at how he is no longer combative, belligerent, is able to get out of bed, enjoys reading books again...you cannot begin to know everyone's situation. Please don't judge. Your opinions are valid, but no one is "DRUGGING" themselves so they cannot function: they take pharmaceuticals so they CAN function.

UsaPositive, I suggest you try antidepressants. If you want to start with a lower dose than what your MD suggests then do so: no MD is infallible. I have been taking Zoloft for 20 years; I have had to be off it for the last 4 years because of no health insurance (I was deemed ineligible for Medicaid because my husband and I "had salaries that were too large") and had a full blown breakdown due to the stress of both parents simultaneously developing dementia and other physical illnesses; husband losing his job of 30 yrs and an RN sister who refused to believe I couldn't just "pull myself together". No one should have to let their health get as bad as mine did; I simply wanted to die and thought of nothing else. Depression and anxiety are REAL. No one who suffers from these disorders revels in them: on the contrary I feel the stigma of being "psycho" from members of my own family. But I know myself and I know I need to take care of myself.

These things work. So do support groups. I do both. I think they will help you too.

Just remember, all of us, there is no Normal. There is average, median, typical, usual and legal. Normal only exists in textbooks. Do what works for you and ignore the heckling relatives.

Also please remember that all drugs that work on brain chemistry do so because they are substances that the body produces. We have receptors in the brain for them.

UsaPositive, if you have high blood pressure curious why your doctor hasn't placed you on blood pressure pills.... said blood pressure pills also have a calming effect. I would try those first if your doctor thinks its a good idea. Said pills tend to make you feel groggy until your body gets use to them.

Any time I start a new pill, if the pill is a solid I would break it into 4 parts and just take 1/4 of the pill to make sure I can tolerate the fillers [I have issues with fillers in pills... those fillers make the pill large enough to handle and bind together]. After a week, I would try 1/2 of a pill, etc. Of course, my doctor knows I do this.

If I need something to take the edge off once in awhile, I can tolerate a pill called Librium 5mg.

I agree with ba8alou. I just attended a lecture yesterday at a Cleveland Clinic location about stress, eating well and the point was made that the brain does have receptors for the drugs , and for hormones that are stimulated by diet.

Hey, let's not get carried away: Anti-Depressants really do help people. Bashing mental health drugs has become a popular trend of late they are used to prevent needless suffering. Some people who go on a rampage of medicinal plants herbs do the trick are not suffering to the degree of those who really need help I have tried so many herbs and plants you could think of not strong enough period don't work!!

Hey, let's not get carried away: Anti-Depressants really do help people. Bashing mental health drugs has become a popular trend of late they are used to prevent needless suffering. Some people who go on a rampage of medicinal plants herbs do the trick are not suffering to the degree of those who really need help I have tried so many herbs and plants you could think of not strong enough period don't work!!

Oops sorry posted twice how do we delete what we posted??

kthin I hate to hear that you had to stop your Zoloft due to cost. The generic is sertraline and i believe it is one of Walmarts low cost meds. of course you will still need a prescription but that is only once a year.
i remember the old days well. I had measles, chickenpox,whooping cough and TB.Started nursing in 1956 and cared for polio patients. Got my first (live) vaccine in 1960. One of my cousins died from diptheria. Apparently I also had rheumatic fever as I now have rheumatic heart disease. No the old days were not so "good"

I just started taking zoloft and clonazepam, I hope I won't be on them for long.