I have been suffering with severe clinical depression for about 6 years. I have been on several types of anti-depressants and nothing really seems to work. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, how are you overcoming it? Has anyone else with treatment resistant depression had success with another type of treatment – or a new type of medicine? I'm anxious for any new suggestions. Thank you.
Therapy would be the next step if you haven't done so already in addition to meds. However, assuming that you have been doing both and are not finding yourself able to use the therapy without further symptom relief, I would be certain to explore all the classes of meds with your psychiatrist first-SSRI's, tricyclics and MAOI's and certainly consult a psychiatrist if you have been trying meds only through your medical doctor as they often tend to prescribe meds in doses too low to achieve therapeutic efficacy.
If your symptoms are severe and still unresponsive to medication and therapy, I would suggest that you discuss ECT with your psychiatrist. It isn't a first line treatment, but is used in cases of intractable depression as well as other types of symptom constellations. Sometimes one course is all a person needs and I have seen some pretty remarkable results with ECT when nothing else has helped. Read about it through Wikipedia-it is very safe, the current is low and it is administered with muscle relaxants in order to diminish any discomfort. It's also available now on an out-patient basis. Don't be frightened by some people with agendas here who post erroneous and ridiculous information about ECT-it may be something you want to consider.
Comments
You only mention medications. What about therapy/counseling? Medication will NOT get rid of the severe depression. It's always there. Medications are only meant to take the edge off. You need to get therapy if you really want your depression to get better or go away for good.
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Try therapy (counseling, psychotherapy). Many psychologists will agree that this ALONG WITH antidepressants will work. Although it's expensive, some places work strictly from your income amount.
References :
Therapy would be the next step if you haven't done so already in addition to meds. However, assuming that you have been doing both and are not finding yourself able to use the therapy without further symptom relief, I would be certain to explore all the classes of meds with your psychiatrist first-SSRI's, tricyclics and MAOI's and certainly consult a psychiatrist if you have been trying meds only through your medical doctor as they often tend to prescribe meds in doses too low to achieve therapeutic efficacy.
If your symptoms are severe and still unresponsive to medication and therapy, I would suggest that you discuss ECT with your psychiatrist. It isn't a first line treatment, but is used in cases of intractable depression as well as other types of symptom constellations. Sometimes one course is all a person needs and I have seen some pretty remarkable results with ECT when nothing else has helped. Read about it through Wikipedia-it is very safe, the current is low and it is administered with muscle relaxants in order to diminish any discomfort. It's also available now on an out-patient basis. Don't be frightened by some people with agendas here who post erroneous and ridiculous information about ECT-it may be something you want to consider.
References :
20 years as a psychotherapist