I have a friend who just told me that she is suffering from depression. She's actually been battling it for a few years with different types of antidepressants. I can't imagine what she has been going through.Depression is a common condition in the U.S. According to Mental Health America, more than 19 million Americans have clinical depression. More interestingly, one in eight teens and one in 33 children have clinical depression. Approximately 15 percent of people hospitalized for depression eventually take their own lives -- a tragic statistic.
The good news is, depression is treatable -- 80 percent of people who seek treatment show improvement. I decided to find out what the most searched antidepressants are on AOL Search and discovered that Lexapro, Cymbalta and Zoloft are in the top three spots on the list. (Please remember: Before taking any medication, especially for a serious condition, you should always consult your doctor.)
Do you know of any depression treatments that did not show up on our list? If so, please tell us about them. You can read more about depression on AOL Body and search for depression treatments on AOL Search.
Top Searched Antidepressants on AOL Search:
1. Lexapro
2. Cymbalta
3. Zoloft
4. Wellbutrin
5. Prozac
6. Celexa
7. Paxil
8. Effexor
9. Trazodone
10. Remeron
See sponsored links for: depression symptoms, antidepressants, depression medication
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 8)
41. One of the antidepreesants not mentioned was Anatritaline. I take this along with Lexapro & Wellbrutin XL. They seem to help a lot.
Posted at 5:34PM on May 13th 2008 by Mary
42. i went to shrinks for a long time and they practiced their trade on me, i was like a test animal at one of these outpatient mental hygience clinics and since it was a so called teaching institution i was given a new doctor every three months which was awful for me because just as a doctor got to know me, poof i had to get re introduced to someone knew and some of them were from other countries and they had different cultural opinions about women in general and here i was in queens new york trying to get my message of extreme depression across to some person from another land who was only looking to complete their required residency so they could move on up the employment chain to the next level. all these different newly graduated doctors from other countries had the ability to write prescriptions and they all frequently changed my meds, they also misdiagnosed me and i eventually got away from that place, from all psychiatrists and all the different antidepressant drugs they had placed me on that almost killed me and now i only take a tiny bit of xanax in the morning for anxiety. I think zoloft and prozac and paxil are horrible drugs to place any person on, i weaned myself off of imiprimine and other similar type drugs, i also weaned myself off of xanax but was placed back on it by a surgeon when i was diagnosed with breast cancer. if you are not hearing voices that are really not around you and if you are not seeing people that are really not in front of you, lay off all of these drugs and try to do some self therapy and study up on the power of your own positive thinking, if you live with people that are downers, get away from them, do what ever you can to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind
Posted at 5:36PM on May 13th 2008 by jan
43. The debate on drugs for depression is quite clear - it's not complicated. There is no scientific test for depression - so it could not be "treated" by drugs. If there was such a thing as a chemical imbalance - then ask your psych or MD was is the "balance" supposed to be. I promise you they will not know the answer. It is foolish to think because the American Psychiatric Association is so huge that depression must be real. The IRS is enormous - does that equate to the necessity to pay more taxes when you work more hours? Because it's a big organization? That's backwards think.
Stop drugging yourself and/or your children and confront your life and handle it.
Posted at 5:39PM on May 13th 2008 by Trinity
44. Actually....there are a TON of meds...going back to what's called...tricyclics..real old and hardly used ..(same thing with MAO's)....and then Prozac et. al. In truth, the meds don't really work all that well...as patients and finally their doctors are finding out....and ALL come with various and uncomfortable side effects (the most interesting though is a reported rise in libido with wellbutrin and buspar) A similar outcome has been noted with anti-psychotics as well....they are marginally effective...
I have taken all of the above...and a few "unprescribed" remedies too!...One sort of learns to "live" with it...kind of like an underground river that occasionally surfaces....For the unaffected..and since we all feel crummy from time to time..it appears as an absence of will...On the contrary really...we proceed and often accomplish much because of Will...and despite the fact that suicidal thoughts are constant company...and you ain't worth shit anyway...so why don't you do it and spare the rest of us, you know?....Nah.....
Posted at 5:41PM on May 13th 2008 by drtljonesged
45. Depression is anger turned inward. When someone is depressed they need to look at their feelings and see who they are angry with, or about and confront that/them if they can and resolve the issue/s. If it is a person or situation that is impossible to confront, then they need to talk to someone about it rather than turn their anger in on themselves, which results in the depression. Sexually assaulted children are many times unable to talk to anyone about their assailant, which results in their depression and sometimes suicide. Parents of children who are depressed need to bring the child to a therapist who can find out who assaulted the child and then they can bring charges against that person, even if it is the child's father, or stepfather or uncle...aunt or whomever. Pedophilia is very common in this country, which can account for so many children and teens being depressed.
Posted at 5:41PM on May 13th 2008 by patoverberg
46. Bi-Polar is over diagnosed, I know of one person who was simply happy to be able to get out of the house after a long winter with over 100" of snow shut up in an apartment. He was put on lithium, after a month he tossed them away and the doctors could not tell he had quit the meds ROFL Some patients ARE smarter than doctors!
Posted at 5:43PM on May 13th 2008 by Lynne
47. all of you guys dont know half the stuff your talking about. you criticize other people for saying that there's "no such thing as depression" when really we should be criticizing you!!! who the heck are you, to come on here and whine and complain, "oh my wife just left me, so ima take some pills"!!! people go through that crap (and much MUCH worse) every single day, and they don't have to take anti-depressants. yea, its a medical condition, but GET OVER IT!!! yall are just giving yourself excuses to get out of everyday life. Some of these "medications" have been proven to increase suicidal tendencies in many people. hmmmm.....isnt that what they're supposed to prevent??? i thought so. so people who say depression doesnt exist, you're wrong cuz it does. But the people who are depressed...get over yourselves and move on with your life. stop popping pills just to make yourself feel better.
Posted at 5:43PM on May 13th 2008 by tampabaylitening
48. How about getting your hormones checked? I was down and out and found out I had low DHEA and testosterone. I started taking DHEA and my mood lifted. Doctors are so quick to give out anti-depressents. It's sad. I am so glad I found a doctor that helped me with the real cause of the problem instead of one that said TAKE anti-depressents.
Posted at 5:47PM on May 13th 2008 by Mary
49. I agree with Mary. Get your hormones tested. Low hormones can lead to depression and lack of energy. Same for thyroid. Natural health is the way to go!
Posted at 5:47PM on May 13th 2008 by Jack
50. My girlfriend started taking Paxil because of anxiety and depression over her three teens; all in high school. She completely lost her sex drive and her want of a relationship with me. She ended our relationship with weird, cold and cruel head and heart games, worse than I've ever seen in my 55 years.
I'm convinced that Paxil has made her much worse off than she was before it was prescribed to her. Her face has broken out with adult acne and she has put on about 25 pounds. She looks like she is on illegal drugs rather than a legally prescribed drug.
Paxil is not safe for everyone that takes it. In addition the prescribing doctor should be held legally responsible for not following up on the drug's effect on relationships that end as a result of taking this drug. We had the greatest relationship either one of us had all of our lives. The sex was the best I ever had and I would really love to sue her doctor for a loss of affection liability suit, not to mention the loss of the greatest sex I've ever had. Any lawyers out there interested?
Posted at 5:49PM on May 13th 2008 by Steve
51. This response is to Peg Bonzo. I truly appreciate the fact that your daughter was treated successfully for post partum depression after she was taken off of meds. I would say that that is more of a failure on the part of her physician then that of the meds she tried. Please be aware that some people, such as myself, need to be on anti-depressants in order to survive just as some folks need Blood Pressure meds or diabetes meds. A funny movie or a walk in the woods will not, unfortunately, take care of true clinical depression. I count my blessings everyday that God has given us the technology to create the different meds that are available. I think you would do yourself and others a favor if you would educate yourself a lot more before you judge the treatment that others must have. Thank you.
Posted at 5:50PM on May 13th 2008 by ggoutdoors
52. I have a female friend that every time she breaks up with a boyfriend she pops antidepressents. That is pretty sick and abusing the drugs. How about going for a run? How about finding a new boyfriend? How about investingating why you would be SO depressed from breaking up with a guy you didnt even date but for a few months? No, instead she pops pills. To me that is a drug problem.
Posted at 5:50PM on May 13th 2008 by Ashley
53. No one knows what it is like to live with depression I was a horriable person to live with my husband couldnt talk to me my children couldnt look at me I would brake down in tears or want to rip someones head off. My husband would say there is no such thing as depression but sence my Dr. put me on Celexa I feel better and we all live much happier.
Posted at 5:52PM on May 13th 2008 by Ranae
54. I have a female friend that every time she breaks up with a boyfriend she pops antidepressents. That is pretty sick and abusing the drugs. How about going for a run? How about finding a new boyfriend? How about investingating why you would be SO depressed from breaking up with a guy you didnt even date but for a few months? No, instead she pops pills. To me that is a drug problem.
Posted at 5:52PM on May 13th 2008 by Ashley
55. Some people can be helped with depression that does not involve chemical imbalance, but those who suffer from an imbalance need medications. The object is to make sure you are as informed as you can be, take proactive steps on your own behalf and seek therapy. It won't go away overnight, that we know. I'm not talking about just a case of the 'blues'. I'm talking about depression that keeps you from sleeping, causes crying episodes, makes your quality of life a shell of your former self. No one has all the answers, but from my stand on this, I am going to do all the research I can or have someone I trust help me with it before I try ANY medications for ANYTHING ! Someone wanted to know what our 'ancestors' did? I can tell you. Many of them killed themselves and many of them died fairly young because you can actually lose your interest in life and this can shorten your life. No one is saying they have 'miracle drugs' for everything. We are only saying that sometimes, medications help. It is up to the individual taking them to let their doctors know what is happening to them and to what extent. Those who come up with these short 'snappy' snap out of it solutions obviously haven't a clue as to what depression or any other mental illness can do to a person. Those people should not be on this board. I remember well, Tom Cruise telling Matt Lauer that medications are 'stupid' and not needed. Well, I guess if we all had Tom Cruises' money and life style, we my not be as depressed as we are. Speaking of those who are not affected by imbalances. But, even those, if you had the money for a therapist, the money to afford all the things in life that make you comfortable...gee, even those may not be depressed to the extent they are. BUT the majority of us aren't Tom Cruise or even Brook Shields. Many of us got through a lot of things early on because we 'dealt' with them. THE PROBLEM is LIFE IS BECOMING rapidly overwhelming to some people. My father is being overwhelmed by Medicare and having to learn to use a computer at 80 years old so that he can get my mother's meds through the mail. Life has suddenly taken a 'giant leap' forward and many people find this disturbing. Not because they are ignorant, but because it is overwhelming. Many of us got through the early years of depression because we had children who needed our constant attention. This helped, but it didn't solve the problem, it just made us tired, overweight, unhappy, crying, sad, confused people because many of us didn't KNOW we were depressed. All we knew was that 'SOMETHING' wasn't right with us. Many people don't/can't/won't seek help. These people end up on illegal drugs, alcohol or even the victims of suicide. Don't be so flippant with your answers to someone else's problems. Remember the old saying...DON'T JUDGE ANOTHER UNTIL YOU HAVE WALKED A MILE IN THEIR MOCCASINS. Well, imagine yourself walking your life time in their shoes. Until you can do this (and you can't) you don't have the answers for them and your remarks are insensitive and disrespectful. I don't automatically take any medication my doctors recommend for anything until I have asked why, the side affects, the down side, and why exactly am I supposed to take it and what do I expect from it. Some doctors may be on the 'take' from pharmaceutical companies, but I know that mine isn't. He doesn't hand out samples like candy. He is cautious about what he prescribes and he asks to see me regularly. He also leaves it to MY DECISION as to whether I wish to try a medication after informing me of the side effects. All doctors are not just simply 'writing prescriptions'. There are some who care. It is also important to find a therapist (psychologist) you are comfortable enough with and trust that you can talk to them about anything. Medication and therapy go hand in hand. So, please stop trying to tell us to 'snap out of it' and get a life. Many of us have lives and we'd love to have our 'normal' lives back free of any and all medications. Unfortunately, that isn't always an answer for some of us.
Posted at 5:52PM on May 13th 2008 by Terry
56. To ggoutdoors:
Have you ever had your hormone levels checked? If so, did you ask your doctor to see the numbers and if you were at the HIGH or LOW range of normal? Might be worth looking at....
Posted at 5:53PM on May 13th 2008 by Mary
57. Yes I have taken Zoloft for Ten years and longer,But it keeped me from takeing my life , I still take it and my need it for the rest of my life.And if you need it and the Dr. is telling you,you need it take it.I thank God for it.
Posted at 5:54PM on May 13th 2008 by cocpatti
58. This response is to Peg Bonzo. I truly appreciate the fact that your
daughter was treated successfully for post partum depression after she
was taken off of meds. I would say that that is more of a failure on
the part of her physician then that of the meds she tried. Please be
aware that some people, such as myself, need to be on anti-depressants
in order to survive just as some folks need Blood Pressure meds or
diabetes meds. A funny movie or a walk in the woods will not,
unfortunately, take care of true clinical depression. I count my
blessings everyday that God has given us the technology to create the
different meds that are available. I think you would do yourself and
others a favor if you would educate yourself a lot more before you
judge the treatment that others must have. Thank you.
Posted at 5:54PM on May 13th 2008 by ggoutdoors
59. I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, after having spent a few years being treated for Major Depression. And yes, it's BIPOLAR NOT BI-POLAR -- look it up in any good psych book or medical dictionary. Just becayse the fan magazines write bi-polar does not make it right!
I've tried 8-9 different meds and combinations of meds trying to find the right mix. The meds help to balance the chemicals in my brain, but they are not enough. I need to go to therapy, sometimes to support groups, exercise, sleep enough, and all the other things that worth together to keep myself well.
Never start with meds, start with a good psychologist/therapist. THEY will refer you to a Psychiatrist for meds if they think you need them --a good psychologist/therapist can diagnose very, very, well.
If you really turn out to need meds, the meds alone WILL NOT MAKE YOU BETTER. They are not like Tylenol -- you don't pop a few Paxil and feel better in a week.
Do not go to your doctor and ASK for anti-depressants. You can't diagnose yourself. Don't believe the TV commercials -- it's not that easy. believe, you won't take some cymbalta and be out playing soccer with your kid the next day, or even the next week.
All meds have side effects, the wrong med can make you worse. They are all a little different, and work in different ways with your brain chemistry. If a doc gives you meds and doesn't want to see you in a week or two, find a new doctor.
You need to be monitored, you need to have therapy, you need to work hard. And you can get better, and stay better.
WE MUST PARTICIPATE IN OUR OWN RECOVERY, AND IT'S HARD WORK.
from someone who's still in the battle.
p.s. -- for the guy who says his wife became a real B- when she was on meds -- certainly not the right meds. Anyway, with a jerk like you she's probably better off. Obviously you never cared about her too much! What a great guy!
Posted at 5:54PM on May 13th 2008 by fairems
60. I just had to write again -- seeing all the stuff about natural meds, letting "nature" heal you. I do not doublt that those things help some people. Studies show these thing work on a lot of people who are mildly depressed. It's a different story for the severley depressed.
About natural meds -- you can overdose on St John's Wort. Antidepressants work on the chemistry of your brain, to try and level out what's not working right. Don't be fooled-- St John's wort works on those same brain chemicals. That makes it a drug / medication as far as i'm concerned.
About side efects-- I take a "cocktail" of low doses of 4 different meds. together they keep my balanced. I had more severe side effects in the beginning, but now have just little things -- dry-mouth (easy to solve) needing a bit more sleep, and weight issues --if i work real hard i can keep from gaining, but losing is nearly impossible.
Can i live with that, sure -- it's better than not living at all -- and i have been suicidal both on and off meds.
That's why you have a doctor -- to monitor side effects and change meds if necessary. Sometimes 2 meds n small doses will be way better. we are all different. All meds are like that -- what works for one person may hurt another.
I can't take Tylenol or Advil -- i get dizzy and my throat feels like it's closing up. But I can take aspirin with absolutely no side effects. I can't take Sudafed -- i'll sleep all day, but I can take Benedryl. Go figure!
When i was fighting the depression and anxiety i was unable to work, unable to concentrate, unable to sleep. unable to do much of anything. I tried self healing for about 8 years.
I lost 2 jobs before i was started medical and therapy treatment. Now i can enjoy life, even feel happy and excited about going back to work.
I still play the piano, i still do creative writing, i can not start and finish projects.
Will I have to be on meds forever, maybe, maybe not. But epileptics need to be on meds forever, so do a lot of people with Asthma, so do people with diabetes, heart trouble, and so on.
It's no different, really!
I am now officially out of here!
Posted at 5:55PM on May 13th 2008 by fairems