I'm currently on Welbutrin - have been for a couple months now. When my mother died this past January I had a very hard time coping. My husband urged me to make use of my company's mental health benefits and so I called them. After talking with a "counsellor" for a few minutes she gave me referrals for a local therapist.
In talking with my therapist I found that I've probably had clinical depression for years. I thought everyone had days when they didn't want to get out of bed, just getting up was too much work. And I mean having those types of days several times a week! I thought that was normal!
In my second visit my therapist suggested talking to my doctor about anti-depressants. My husband and I did some research, heard about the potential NASTY side effects and withdrawal symptoms from Paxil and decided on the Welbutrin.
I started at 150 mg 2x daily. The changes were gradual at first and my husband noticed them way before I did. The only way I can describe it is this. Picture a line going straight across the screen. Now picture that line with HUGE dips and peaks in it - going all the way to the top of the screen and the bottom. That was my life prior to Welbutrin. HUGE highs (ask my hubby about my cleaning fits
) and HUGE lows (although I never thought suicidal). After being on W for about a month I felt my life was almost a straight line again. Did it cure my misery about my mothers death? Nope - didn't expect it to. But it helped me cope; stopped the sudden crying jags (for no reason) and the anger. After another month on it my BD went through the roof (one of the potential side effects). So I tried going to 150 mg 1x day. I began to feel the dips again. So now I'm at 100 mg 2x. I still see my therapist (it's nice to have a non-biased person to talk to about anything) and my Doc & I are monitoring my BD to see how it goes. If I have to go back to 150 per day - I will. It wasn't really bad - still better than with nothing.
Two of my sisters are on anti-depressants. My mom used alcohol as her AD for awhile (but it had nothing to do with her death). I think there's some validity behind the thoughts that depression can be genetic.
Butthead - what "tests" are there to prove chemical imbalance? My therapist said the blood tests weren't reliable and the only other way as to do brain imaging (MRI or CAT scan).
I KNOW the drugs have helped me and I'll take them as long as they continue to help me. Once in awhile I'll go off them to see if I still need them. I had no problems going off them cold turkey (ran out before I could get in the see the Doc for a refill) so I know it's not a problem.
If you even THINK you might have a problem - PLEASE go see someone. I spent several years of my life in a fog because I didn't know any better. Life improved greatly when I met my husband and we married - but if it's a chemical imbalance then nothing short of getting it balanced will work.