Prozac and Paxil and Zoloft, oh my. Cymbalta, Celexa, Effexor, that’s right.
A whopping 11 percent of American adults are taking antidepressants. That’s more than 1 in 10. This is according to a 2011 study by the Center for Disease Control. In 2012, there were 228.4 million prescriptions written for antidepressants, according to IMS Health.
In 2007 I suffered a horrifying episode of major depression that lasted nearly a year. I was crying every day. My psychiatrist in New York tried an alphabet soup of pills on me in order to lift me out of a major depressive episode.
We tried Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lexapro and Zoloft. I collected so many pills I actually stored them in a huge Ziploc bag for a rainy day. A rainy day for a suicide attempt.
My ex-boyfriend was with me when I started wolfing down pills one night in the bathroom. He called 911 and I ended up at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 3 days. They had pumped my stomach, and luckily there was no damage to my body. The suicidal ideation faded and I went back to life as normal upon discharge. I detoxed, but immediately resumed drinking that night.
The business of antidepressants is a multi-billion dollar industry. But I’m not complaining. Prozac and Lithium saved my life.
How are you feeling right now? How long did it take you to find the right cocktail? What works for you? Leave a comment below.
I thank God that I am not bipolar but have a chemical imbalance that manifests in depression. When prescribed properly, it really works for the afflicted. My psychiatrist who I no longer need to see has told me I cannot stop taking this med for the rest of my life. I have followed that advice and am grateful it helps keep me on an even keel.
Ive tried alteast a dozed different anti depressions. I was first given these in the 8th grade. But by 2007 at the age of 19 I became more depressed than I had ever been and even started having horrific anxiety attacks. My pa prescribed my Lexapro. It saved my life. But tgrew out time Id stop taking them for what ever reason and within a matter of days Id be so depressed I wouldnt want to live life bc I couldnt handle how low I felt and I couldnt stand taking meds but I luckily never wanted to end my life I just didnt want to feel so bad any more. But for the most part Im ok n Id be so lost without my antidepression