What do you take for Depression?

I was posting my experiences with antidepression medication with fellow MS blogger and I thought I post and ask other MS bloggers about what depression medication they are taking. Antidepressant medications that affects chemical messengers within the brain. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the cause of depression. Fluoxetine is believed to work by inhibiting the release or affects the action of serotonin. The medications for antidepression are usually classified under "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)" which are a class of antidepressants used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders. There are at least 7 SSRIs products out there and its good to get familiar with all of them. Also, for people with Multiple Sclerosis, there have been reports stating that Tricyclic antidepressants works for management of depression; thought to increase synaptic concentration of serotonin and/or norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibition of their uptake by the presynaptic neuronal membrane; useful in the management of neuropathic pain.

I hear success stories about antidepression medications from fellow MSers. In fact, I might post a question asking people with MS what kind of antidepression medication they are taking and which ones have been working for them. I noticed that there are different kinds of depressions and I think people with MS are in common when experiencing depression. I am doing a poll right and I already voted which one works for me.

I use Fluoxetine for my depression and this week, my doctor increased Fluoxetine (i.e. prozac) from 60mg to 80mg and I hope this will help my mood and bring back my sexual desire that my wife misses. Flueoxetine have been working for me since I started taking it in 2001, just before I was diagnosed with MS. I have never really experiences any nausea, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, and loss of appetite that they have labeled. I do wished it help me with my appetite because I do need to eat less. However, Fluoxetine helps me last longer sexually for there have been studies that they are effective and used in treating premature ejaculation problems for men.

You might be interested in reading this article that was published in October 16, 2007 called Fluoxetine Shows Promise in Multiple Sclerosis. According to the quote from the article: Studies have shown

"a trend toward a reduction in new enhancing lesions with fluoxetine treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting or relapsing secondary progressive MS."