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Depression Vs. Aspergers - Is there hope ?

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If you take anti depressives, on a scale from 0- 4 how good does it work?
5 - my life is perfect, I'm able to tackle AS /autism 9%  9%  [ 3 ]
4 25%  25%  [ 8 ]
3 19%  19%  [ 6 ]
2 22%  22%  [ 7 ]
1 25%  25%  [ 8 ]
Total votes : 32

katzefrau
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28 May 2010, 11:57 pm

i have been on antidepressants a few different times, and it didn't really help.

i think my depression is coming from my problems coping with things, not the other way around.


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29 May 2010, 11:42 am

Ferdinand wrote:
decoder wrote:
I found that physical exercise is a good way to treat and prevent depression. As being animals we are supposed to run, jump and sweat!


A chemical is released in our brain when we do, right? The same one given off when we orgasm?


Not sure if its the same one. But both sex and physical exercise are good for the brain.



Locustman
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29 May 2010, 1:33 pm

Jaydog1212 wrote:
I have been on MANY types of medications. Some work, some don't...some stop working (then you have to switch to another one). The one I'm currently on is working (Lexapro--lowest dose). I think I have been on it for a couple of years. I'm not "gleeful" but more normal (not depressed curled up in a ball in my bed and sleeping all day). I'm extremely thankful that I'm not majorly depressed anymore. I still struggle with anxiety. It continues to be a big obstacle for me. I really haven't found a way to combat it. Benzos are only for short-term and never really effective for me. Sleep as always been an issue.... I'm on Intuniv (approved for ADHD in Children) to help attention/concentration and promote sleep. It helps with the attention/concentration (I tried cutting back on it and I could hardly do any work). As far as the sleep goes, it really hasn't done much.

I suggest trying medications. It sucks because you may have to try MANY different ones but once you reach the correct one it is totally worth it. Also, when you do get ones that work.... you have to push yourself to do things that you previously didn't do.


My experience has been much the same as yours. I've been on six different anti-depressants, which have had varying degrees of effectiveness - but the one I'm on now (Amitriptyline, an old school tricyclic anti-depressant rather than an SSRI) seems to work pretty well. it's not a miracle cure, but I no longer have depressive episodes that zone me out to the point where I can't function.

I'd say that if your doctor suggests it, it's worth giving it a try at least - but if you haven't felt any benefit after a couple of months or so, it might be time to consider either an alternative medication, or an alternative mode of treatment, or both.


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bee33
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29 May 2010, 10:00 pm

I've tried lots of different ones over the years. SSRI antidepressants don't work for me, and they make me feel much worse, more depressed. Right now I'm taking Lamictal and Abilify (very low dose on both) and they are working pretty well. It's a matter of trial and error, since everyone is different.



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31 May 2010, 4:48 am

As I kid I was on tricyclics for two years from '90 to '92 - 150mg daily. This was when the doctors thought I had ADHD (aspergers wasn't on the books yet) and ritalin had yet to become popular. The doctors also thought I had depression too. I reality I wasn't depressed, just very hypersensitive to my surroundings. When I got finally got my DX 5 years ago my mom had mentioned at the time that she thought it was odd the combination of things I was DX'ed with because it seemed contradictory.

As it was, the pills didn't help me out, they only seemed to amplify what ever mood I was in. I couldn't listen to a certain Celine Dion song it would make me cry. I couldn't play into level 8 on Mario 3, the game map and music for that level freaked me out. Inversely, anything I found even remotely funny would have me ROTFL for long periods of time.

Looking back on that era of my life, it has a completely different "feel" to it than the times before and since. I haven't taken any since and I don't want to ever again. I managed to get through a three month major depressive episode back in 2002 with out them.


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09 Jun 2010, 10:35 am

Update: just took my first dose of cipralex (5 mg). No side effects so far except from a head ache and feeling of disorientation. In 12 days, I will increase to 10 mg if I don't experience any severe side-effects. This better work.