I have been feeling bad for a while now, my symptoms are: calfs burning, light headed and also really stressed out. Feel depressed, scared to get back on a anti-depressent as it made me gain weight and I had the worst time getting off of them. I really cant afford to go to the doctors at this time, just lost my job. Any advice on what could be going on would be great.
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
I do not recommend that you discontinue or start any medication without seeing a doctor. Please contact your local social services to find out for a way to see the doctor.
There are some antidepressants that do not cause weight gain. Venlafaxine (Effexor) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) do not usually cause weight gain, and may sometimes even cause weight loss. If antidepressant medication was helpful to you, consider trying bupropion or venlafaxine. Citalopram is also an option for some, and may be cheaper. Check with the doctor whether they are suitable for you.
It is generally recommended that antidepressant medication be continued at least 6 months after recovery from depression, preferably for 12 months if no adverse effects are experienced. This way it is less likely that you will become depressed again after stopping the antidepressant medication.
Apart from that, I have very little information about you and your symptoms. Based on what I have, I recommend that you discuss with a doctor the possibility of starting one of the above mentioned medications, and pay attention to taking care of yourself: Get out and exercise daily, eat healthy food, do not drink alcohol, and give yourself some time to just rest.
Good luck!
Reference for bupropion:
J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 May;66(5):603-10.
Why isn’t bupropion the most frequently prescribed antidepressant?
Zimmerman M, Posternak MA, Attiullah N, Friedman M, Boland RJ, Baymiller S, Berlowitz SL, Rahman S, Uy KK, Singer S, Chelminski I.
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
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