A low dosage of the generic antidepressant fluoxetine. But even though it's low, when I'm not taking it, I really feel it.
No other prescription meds. A few months back, I finally persuaded my doctor that there was no reason for me to be on a statin when my blood work didn't justify it at all -- partly because of the encouragement from others on this board. He'd been dosing Fat Saef, not the woman I've made myself over into.
None, I'm pretty anti-medicine except for bacterial and viral infections. Now supplements, on the other hand, I use liberally to treat imbalances that can contribute to mood and metabolic disorders. One of my best guards against depression is adequate chromium and choline, for example
Life without some antidepressant in my bloodstream isn't good, though. No amount of character-building stoicism and efforts to cheer up & keep busy & think of others & think happy thoughts compensates for what chemicals seem to accomplish.
Still on BC pills. I've discussed going off of them with my doctor but he doesn't agree. He did listen to my gripes and has changed my prescription and it has made a world of difference this year, so I don't need to complain.
DH is on statins, but they're pretty low dose. He exercises and eats well, but still a bit high on his cholesterol readings.
alinnell, if your DH's cholesterol is only "a bit" high, he shouldn't be taking statins in my humble, non-medical, disclaimer here, opinion. Read up on the side effects.
alinnell, if your DH's cholesterol is only "a bit" high, he shouldn't be taking statins in my humble, non-medical, disclaimer here, opinion. Read up on the side effects.
We are well versed on the subject. DH did go off of them for a year and his cholesterol went up that year so he wants to follow his doctor's directions and stay on them.
No amount of character-building stoicism and efforts to cheer up & keep busy & think of others & think happy thoughts compensates for what chemicals seem to accomplish.
I'm with you. I've been taking a low dose of the antidepressant clomipramine on and off for the past 15 years or so, for obsessively anxious thoughts rather than depression. (Clomipramine is the antidepressant that works best for OCD.) I'm not an anxious person in general -- my anxieties revolve entirely around my kids. Sometimes I stay off the drugs for several months in a row, but sooner or later something causes the anxiety to escalate and I know I'll need the meds to "turn down the volume."
F.
Last edited by freelancemomma; 11-19-2012 at 10:06 PM.