If you are genetically SSRI-resistant

OP... Huge .(( hugs))!!! I hope/ pray you’ll find something to help! There are many
other things besides SSRIs, such as MOAI inhibitors. There’s also another
class of anti-depressants whose name escapes me now (also NOT SSRI) that maybe
could help you?




As mentioned above, birukitty
did say that, and that Vitamin B12 was what worked for her
after MANY years of treatment-resistant depression 😰

For my dear friend’s seveeeeeetely depresed Aunt, Prozac
USED to help her, but not anymore. I recently
encouraged her to have whatever test birukitty had done
to see if MAYBE that will help her! This poor lady is
suffering HORRIBLY! Her doc recently started her on injections of ? (ugh, the drug’s name escapes me now, but it’s used to anesthetize animals, I think? ) So far,
it hasn’t helped; however, the doc says it needs more time.



I will post again later to tell you the name of the drug.
((hugs))

There’s another pea here who’s mentioned a specific test either she or her daughter had that also helped determine which med would work best. I hope she sees this thread.


Her user name might have the word “love” in it? She has a pretty smile, and I’ve told her a few times that she could be Matt Damon’s
sister; for realzzz, their facial features are so similar! 😀 (oops, sorry to ramble! Tooo much coffeee
today!)

I have read some literature about that Neurostar treatment, too... I don't know anything specific about it, though.

thanks for putting birukitty's info in here, dewryce-- I knew it was something very specific, but couldn't remember what. I believe she tried many treatments for yeeeaaars, including electroshock therapy, and has had some negative long-lasting effects from that.

I am no help with experience but I just wanted to send you a big hug and tell you I will be thinking about you! It must be so scary to not know what to do and which medicine to use that will help you. Sending you love! 

I'm so sorry everyone. I didn't see this until now because I've been down all day with a migraine. 

Anyway what I have indeed is a defective MTHFR gene. I have two markers for that gene. It is diagnosed through a simple blood test. For me it meant that my body can't process B12 through regular supplements-vitamins and even injections. Because this went on so long I ended up getting treatment resistant depression that lasted for 10 years. I was finally diagnosed by my Integrative Medicine doctor. He prescribed a form of B12 supplement that my body can process. It's not covered by insurance because it's a supplement. I buy it at his office but I can order it online too. It's made by Designs for Health and is called Homocysteine Supreme. I wouldn't take this without getting tested though. 

So flute4peace, I'm not SSRI-resistant like you, but what I have tied in to treatment resistant depression. I tell everyone I can that has had depression for a long time without getting results to get the blood test for MTHFR. My annual B12 results weren't that low and yet I had it. Since it's just a blood test it can't hurt. Was it included in your genetic testing? If it wasn't I'd ask for it. 

I wish you the best of luck in fighting this and in finding a doctor who cares-someone who listens to you and respects you. That's half the battle right there, isn't it? 

flute4peace.....I hope your appointment was helpful! I know you already know there are MANY
more things besides SSRIs that can help you, and I hope it's ASAP!!! ....(( hugs ))

I finally googled, and it was KETAMINE injections that my friend's Aunt has started recently for her
severe depression. Prozac hepled her for years, but not any longer.
www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20170706/ketamine-and-depression-faq


For me, Lexapro worked for years, then I guess it just STOPPED. Thank God that my doctor decided to
try Zoloft back in May, and....OMG.....my old personality and energy came back! No more sleeping up to 16 hours a day and having absolutely NO HOPE that things would get better.


H ironic that RosieKat just posted an hour ago....It has been bugging me since I posted 8 hours ago to remember her user name! ( She was who I was referring to in my earlier post). I had FINALLY remembered that her name had the word "cat" in it, but couldn't remember the rest. Oh, and rosiekat....I've told you
on previous depression threads that I'm SO happy you and your dd are better.

birukitty....(( hugs))! Ugh, I'm sorry you suffer from such horrible migraines, too. And I hope my friend's Aunt and everyone else out there who suffers will
get further testing and find something that works! Depression is such a cruel, cruel bitch !!!!

LOL, I thought so, but I'm always surprised whenever people remember me so I always am doubtful! And thank you!

is this because they KNOW, or is your DH just resistant to the *idea* of taking medication for depression?  or maybe him not wanting to admit that it's something he can't just 'fix' on his own?  

I know someone like that... 'medication won't help' and that's all based on trying ONE medication for two weeks, 10+ years ago.  Since that one didn't work, therefore 'medication won't help' at all.  

And I'm very surprised (and disappointed, honestly) that his therapist would agree or go along with that assessment-- without any evidence or basis for that conclusion-- at least that's how it sounds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've taken Lexapro for years and it still works (knock on wood), but I'm now also taking Contrave, which is an appetite suppressant / anti-addiction RX-  one of its ingredients is buproprion (the ingredient in Wellbutrin, I think), and I can tell that I do better when I'm on both of them together.  

flute4peace....How did your appointment go? I hope you’re
feeling hopeful that something besides SSRIs will
help you! I ALSO know that the WAITING to see if something
works can be difficult! ((( hugs!!))

Ugh, when I first started on Zoloft back
in May, I was sooo excited to see if it was going to help, but
knew it could take 4-6 weeks. I started losing hope, BUT then
about 6 weeks into it, I realized I was my old self again! DH
heard me singing, and was amazed, saying he hadn’t
heard me sing in a long time. 😀 I didn’t even realize how
significant the singing was until he pointed it out.

RosieKat.....I totallllly remembered you because I had posted /
read sooo many posts here about depression when I was feeling
totally helpless last year. I think one of the reasons I
remember yours & jeremysgirl’s and other posts from
Moms who deal with their children’s and/or their OWN
mental health issues is because I cannot imagine the
extra pain, stress, etc. of seeing your precious child(ren)
suffer! 😰

dewryce....I’m so sorry that you also battle other issues along
with bi-polar! I’m curious if you take anything for the fibro? Also, you mentioned sleep apnea —-I hope you have a good c-pap mahine! We all
know that pain AND sleep issues can affect our mental
health significantly! I am usually in a LOT of physical
pain due to lots of arthritis; HOWEVERRRR, as I’ve been telling
everyone lately....I can handle my PHYSICAL
pain wayyyy better now that I’m not depressed! 😀 But I
also get SOME help (SOMEtimes)from prescription-strentgth Aleve.
I’m afraid to take it twice daily (as prescribed) because of the stomach
risks. I also take Kratom which helps sometimes, too.

OP....I feel like I just highjacked your thread and was about
to delete alllll the stuff I mentioned about chronic arthritis pain;
however, you may want to research KRATOM and talk
to your doc about it for your depression. There are MANY Kratom
fans who say they were able to stop RX meds for
their depression soley by switching to Kratom. That did NOT work
for me when my Lexapro (SSRI) stopped working; BUT I think
supplementing with the Kratom compliments / potentiates the Zoloft.

Another idea if you are having severe difficulty finding medication that works for chronic depression or other chronic conditions is medical marijuana. If you state is one of the states that has passed a law that allows it's use medically you might want to consider checking out the law to see if you can get your medical marijuana card. Each state has different conditions (chronic) that it lists that qualifies for it's use. 

Here in Maryland there was a long list and I applied for it for my chronic migraines. The paperwork involved applying online to a government site and then I had to see a doctor who evaluated my medical records and decided if I was a chronic migraine patient. I was so I got my card. Then I was free to go to the medical marijuana pharmacies here in Maryland and buy what I wanted. It's really confusing when you start but luckily there are wonderful websites to help you. There are all kinds of strains of medical cannabis and they all have different effects. Some are great for pain and some are great for migraines, some are great for depression. There's an amazing website called leafly.com that lists an amazing amount of strains and charts what they are good for medically so you can search for what you need. Finding them locally is another matter. If you live on the west coast it's much easier to find strains than living on the east coast. There are a lot that are good for depression. There's also a website called weedmaps.com that is somewhat helpful but I like the first one much better. 

I thought I'd mention this as a source of finding relief for depression because it has helped me enormously for my migraines. The other day my insurance company (who I pay $1500.00 a month to) decided to not cover my Zomig prescription any more. It's what I take when I get a migraine to stop the pain. Then they decided they wouldn't cover it for 6 weeks. My doctor got on the phone and argued with them and now I get 2 doses every 30 days. I get 2 to 4 migraines a week so that only covers 1/2 a week. If I didn't have the medical cannabis I'd be in excruciating pain for all of those other days waiting for 28 more days to pass until I could get more Zomig. The medical cannabis kills the pain of the migraine very quickly. Most of the time I have to re-dose but at least it gets rid of the pain so I can continue to live my life pain free. It's been a huge blessing for me. 

I'm not a pot head. The last time I smoked marijuana was when I was in college in 1979 before this year when I got my card. I don't consider this pot. I consider it medicine. It works like medicine. And I'm grateful to have it. 

There's a specific name for that isn't there? For chronic, low-level, functional depression? I'm sorry you haven't found any medication that has worked even a bit, but glad you have coping strategies that help. Have you considered therapy to gain even more coping mechanisms, build a big arsenal? Hopefully soon a new category of medication will be discovered that does work with your chemistry.

Yes, I have been in both individual and group therapy. I believe it has helped me. My faith helps, as well. I always try to remember that others are a lot worse off.

thanks for caring!