[vta420]

particular forum on wt....i have been recently diagnosed w clinical depression - still waiting to hear if i may be bi-polar. my first anti-depression med ever - - citalopram at only 10mg to try for a few weeks to see how i react. my question to the group is two-fold:
>> what's the low down on this med and
>> what" a strain to accompany - i pretty much stick to indicas and indica doms....the only sativa i use is jack herer which i find does not make me an impatient bitch, which many sativas do.

im down for all comments here....Thank you in advance for any insights! :001_smile:

vta420

[codeman420]

YA know I used to stay completely far from sativas, Most of them made me nuts lol. But to heavy of a indica would put me feeling depressed. OG kush's (there actually sativa but feel indica) are good, Bubba Kush is my fav. wont put you to sleep like Grand Daddy Purps, but you get the benefit of a nice body/mind relaxation. L.A. Confidential is another good one. Green Crack (although a total sativa) is good in the morning to get things goin. Not at night. Hope you get better :)

Head Band is slowly becoming my favorite strain of all time (which is currently Mango), because it seems to provide a well-rounded yet substantial AND POSITIVE effect on both the body and mind... it's physically relaxing, yet mood-lifting at the same time... all while tasting great and filling the air with the most pungent of sweet, skunky aromas. Damn I love a good batch of Head Band. Try some if you haven't had it. It's usually easy to get any most dispensaries as it's very popular in So-Cal right now.

And don't ever take Zoloft if they prescribe it. Ask for something else. I've seen it destroy the zest for living of everyone I've ever seen take it. Life isn't worth living if you're an emotionless zombie. I think I'd rather have panic attacks! At least you're feeling somewhat lively when you're trippin' out!

[Smokus Cannabis]

I would be the type of lifeless zombie that takes Zoloft every day, and have for 9 years. It's either that, or the hospital. Believe me, I've tested it many times. It's bad, but I can work, have friends, see my family, and not remain in a fetal position on the floor in agony for weeks at a time. My body is filled with enough adrenaline to keep me up for days at a time when I've gone off Zoloft (very, very slowly over a period of a few months). It's fucking awful.
SSRIs are all alike in some ways. They all have nasty side effects, but some will be worse than others. Some anti-depressants won't work for some folks. I was originally put on Celexa (Citalopram) 9 years ago. It did nothing for me, but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. Some folks swear by it, and my doctor told me he wanted me on it because it has the least bad side effects, but it didn't work. Zoloft did the trick, but I gained a lot of weight. Now I'm doing fine with my weight, but for several years I ballooned up about 40 lbs.
I remember what it was like being new at this. Here's a book to read if your shrink hasn't given it to you already: Feeling Good by Aaron Beck (I think that's the name). In it is a depression test that is the most accurate estimate of your depression level you'll find, so long as you're honest about the questions.
As far as strains go, I guess we're all different. I will smoke any strain so long as it is potent. Whether it is sativa or indica doesn't matter at all to me. It's the THC I need, and since both types have it, I'm good either way. To be honest, I like to smoke pure hash best. It works the fastest, that's for sure. Good luck, and PM if you ever need help with anything. Depression is extremely complex, confusing, painful, and very dangerous, but you'll make it through so long as you have a lot of support. PM me if you need any. Not everybody understands how serious it can be. All the best.
:001_smile:

[silvercloud]

If diagnosis is 'bi_polar' positive ,thirdeye flower:thumbup:wax will 'straighten' you out ,guaranteed ~ that is all

Originally Posted by Smokus Cannabis

I would be the type of lifeless zombie that takes Zoloft every day, and have for 9 years. It's either that, or the hospital. Believe me, I've tested it many times. It's bad, but I can work, have friends, see my family, and not remain in a fetal position on the floor in agony for weeks at a time. My body is filled with enough adrenaline to keep me up for days at a time when I've gone off Zoloft (very, very slowly over a period of a few months). It's fucking awful.
SSRIs are all alike in some ways. They all have nasty side effects, but some will be worse than others. Some anti-depressants won't work for some folks. I was originally put on Celexa (Citalopram) 9 years ago. It did nothing for me, but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. Some folks swear by it, and my doctor told me he wanted me on it because it has the least bad side effects, but it didn't work. Zoloft did the trick, but I gained a lot of weight. Now I'm doing fine with my weight, but for several years I ballooned up about 40 lbs.
I remember what it was like being new at this. Here's a book to read if your shrink hasn't given it to you already: Feeling Good by Aaron Beck (I think that's the name). In it is a depression test that is the most accurate estimate of your depression level you'll find, so long as you're honest about the questions.
As far as strains go, I guess we're all different. I will smoke any strain so long as it is potent. Whether it is sativa or indica doesn't matter at all to me. It's the THC I need, and since both types have it, I'm good either way. To be honest, I like to smoke pure hash best. It works the fastest, that's for sure. Good luck, and PM if you ever need help with anything. Depression is extremely complex, confusing, painful, and very dangerous, but you'll make it through so long as you have a lot of support. PM me if you need any. Not everybody understands how serious it can be. All the best.
:001_smile:

I feel for you then, my friend. It must be difficult to suffer through something that even Zoloft can cause an improvement for.

I haven't used it myself. I was referring to 2 friends of mine, plus my younger sister, as well as other patient testimonies I've read, who all have had the same depressing, "downward spiral feeling" reaction to it. For sure I know it affected my sister in that way, because not only did she say so herself, but I witnessed it with my own eyes. For a while she fell into a deep depression and it actually seemed like there was no way out for her at one point.

She attempted suicide once, and it wasn't one of those phony attempts where people pretend to do it just to get attention, she actually went through with downing an entire bottle of pills to cause an overdose, but luckily a friend of hers was nearby, figured out what she had done, and rushed her to the hospital where they pumped her stomach and gave her the charcoal drink. :crying:

She's been improving since then, but I still worry about her to this day, because I know how depression can creep up on you and delude you into thinking there's no point in going on anymore... especially since we don't live near each other anymore. Sometimes I seriously think I'm going to get a call one day that my sister has been found dead from suicide.

[Smokus Cannabis]

CB, I am glad your sister was saved, and I'm sorry she's a depressive as well. It's a curse, but if you keep yourself out of the hole, and get a real support system going, you can deal with it. You seem like a really caring sibling. Don't be afraid of her problem, it's just the way it is and hopefully she'll realize that a depression is always a temporary state, though it never seems that way. As for me and Zoloft, I gotta do what I gotta do. No choice. I'd also like to mention that tranquilizers (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, etc...) make Zoloft look like Coca Cola. Doctors always love to pass these out with their anti depressants because they work well to calm you down and get you to sleep. They are also statistically as addictive as heroin. I was on and off them for 10 years, and it wasn't always a good thing. What I'm trying to say is, don't ever fall in love with your medication, no matter how good it makes you feel at first. There's always a price with those pills, so be careful. Thought I'd just set out a warning for anybody who's thinking of getting on them, or just got on them. They are dangerous and very hard to quit once you've been on them a while. Be careful.

Oh yeah, two GREAT strains for depression IMO are Purple Urkel and Snowcap, among others. Snowcap is especially helpful for me for some reason that I can't explain. I've noticed this every time I've had it, so there's one to think about.

[Jeffster]

If you like the Jack Herer strain, then I'd say give Super Silver Haze a try as well. Remember though, same strains can be somewhat different from grower to grower, and even batch to batch from the same grower. Mother nature plays a factor

[Eazy]

Try Bluedream in low doses. I use about a 1/2-gram per day and get full-on relief from anxiety and deep physical depressions from sleep disorders.

Also, I read articles about how many people who are diagnosed either bi-polar, schitzophrenic, or depressed are actually misdiagnosed -- the have sleep disorders and the sleep disorder symptoms manifest into...anxiety, depression, bi-polar like symptoms, and in worse cases schizophrenia.

How is your sleep? Have you had a sleep study done?

[silvercloud]

Depression can be deadly ,but coupled w/mania (bi_polar) ,we're talking 'insanity':thumbdown:IMO if not "handled properly"(pharma) ~ all it takes is the moon (full/new) to hav one climbing the walls ,or staying awake for daze at a time ~ the episodes ,up/down ,can be confusing to self_medicate in order to balance ~ that is all

[SmokerToker420]

Originally Posted by vta420

particular forum on wt....i have been recently diagnosed w clinical depression - still waiting to hear if i may be bi-polar. my first anti-depression med ever - - citalopram at only 10mg to try for a few weeks to see how i react. my question to the group is two-fold:
>> what's the low down on this med and
>> what" a strain to accompany - i pretty much stick to indicas and indica doms....the only sativa i use is jack herer which i find does not make me an impatient bitch, which many sativas do.

im down for all comments here....Thank you in advance for any insights! :001_smile:

vta420

I have been on Citalopram (Celexa) for over 11 years, now up to 40mg a day.
It does work well, keeps me balanced during the day. If I miss a dose however life can be hell during the day with the missed dose. The only side-affect I had at first was drowsiness but that has since gone away.

One imporant thing you can do for yourself is to also see someone. Find a therapist who doesn't think MMJ is the route of all evil. (They do exist).

MMJ does a great job making you feel better short-term, but it can also cover up the problems and the only way to take care of them is to deal with them.

MMJ has made day to day easier for me, but I do know that when I am medicated I am not actually facing my problems.

[vta420]

Originally Posted by Eazy

Try Bluedream in low doses. I use about a 1/2-gram per day and get full-on relief from anxiety and deep physical depressions from sleep disorders.

Also, I read articles about how many people who are diagnosed either bi-polar, schitzophrenic, or depressed are actually misdiagnosed -- the have sleep disorders and the sleep disorder symptoms manifest into...anxiety, depression, bi-polar like symptoms, and in worse cases schizophrenia.

How is your sleep? Have you had a sleep study done?

sleep is not so bad - i use heavy indicas at night nd havent really had a problem sleeping thank goodness

[vta420]

Originally Posted by SmokerToker420

I have been on Citalopram (Celexa) for over 11 years, now up to 40mg a day.
It does work well, keeps me balanced during the day. If I miss a dose however life can be hell during the day with the missed dose. The only side-affect I had at first was drowsiness but that has since gone away.

One imporant thing you can do for yourself is to also see someone. Find a therapist who doesn't think MMJ is the route of all evil. (They do exist).

MMJ does a great job making you feel better short-term, but it can also cover up the problems and the only way to take care of them is to deal with them.

MMJ has made day to day easier for me, but I do know that when I am medicated I am not actually facing my problems.

my dr thankfully is great about mmj - he in fact sent me to a "actual" dr for my rec, which was great. so far i cant really see a diff, but i am only at 10g for another week or so....the upside is i have not had any side affects, other then what you described - the drowsiness but that has faded

[SmokerToker420]

Originally Posted by vta420

my dr thankfully is great about mmj - he in fact sent me to a "actual" dr for my rec, which was great. so far i cant really see a diff, but i am only at 10g for another week or so....the upside is i have not had any side affects, other then what you described - the drowsiness but that has faded

The Celexa takes sometime to kick in, and once it does you will just notice that the days are a little bit easier for some reason. My doctor who originally prescribed the Celexa to me and my new current doctor are okay with the MMJ knowing what it does for the physical pain I am in. I am no longer taking Soma, Vicodin, Norco, Baclofen, or anything else for my back, the MMJ does miracles for that. But when it comes to my mental problems I have to be careful with the MMJ. It masks the issues, but when I am not medicated it can be a nightmare. The Celexa makes a big difference for that.

[ps-med]

vta420:

I have been diagnosed with Dythemic Disorder which is basically a long-term general depression. I do not like pharmaceuticals and have been working through my issues with a therapist for about 8 months now. I have found small amounts of MMJ to be helpful in breaking the depressive cycle in my thinking.

I have also recently read a book about choice theory and I am trying to apply what I have read and hope that this can help me lessen the amount of depression in my life. Whatever you do it sounds like you are on the right track, you have a therapist and are working on getting better.

[Scullycat]

My 28 year old daughter has been taking Zoloft for at least six years, and she is always tired. And it doesn't seem to be having any positive effect on her that i can see. However, she is a high school teacher and doesn't want to medicate with cannabis (and yes, I know several h.s. teachers as well as elementary and college teachers who medicate with cannabis).

I've been on Citalopram for about 8 months after being on Serzone for almost a decade. The prescribing doctor never told me about the side effects of Serzone (though of course I could have been more proactive). Only after changing medical groups and going to a psychiatrist for advice did I learn that the Serzone had many side effects, including on the liver - and I've had hepatitis.

The Citalopram (60 mg daily at bedtime) is accompanied by Klonapin (5 mg at bedtime). I had gone off the Klonapin under the care of my psychiatrist, but my primary care doctor said going off the Klonapin was responsible for the muscle spasms I had gone to him about. He put me back on the drug about two weeks ago but I don't feel any differently. No change in these full-body-straight-to-the-roots of my hair-muscle spams. And although I fall asleep well, I wake up several times a night.

I have had several days in a row of depression now - there are numerous family issues happening, as well as financial ones. And the financial ones keep me from medicating as fully as I need to with mmj for my depression/anxiety, fibromyalgia, and muscle spasms.

What to do? I would really like to be prescription-medicine-free, because they aren't really working on my psyche and don't do anything for my pain. But to medicate with enough (or the right kind) of cannabis just isn't possible. Which increases my anxiety and depression, of course. Sigh.

[pasteisme]

personally indica's made me more anxious. I think the anxiety is somehow linked with depression. Just racy thoughts thinkin something is wrong is helped by sativa, me thinks...

[vta420]

Update:

I am now on 20mg of Celexa and hybrids during the day, indica heavy at night and I am a completely different person. the shrink is very evolved and says many of his depression patients benefit with a celexa/weed mix....


thanks to all who were kind enough to reply and give their thoughts!!!!

peace and love -

erin

[ps-med]

Originally Posted by vta420

Update:

I am now on 20mg of Celexa and hybrids during the day, indica heavy at night and I am a completely different person. the shrink is very evolved and says many of his depression patients benefit with a celexa/weed mix....


thanks to all who were kind enough to reply and give their thoughts!!!!

peace and love -

erin

Glad that you found a therapist that is helping you and is not opposed to MMJ. Wish that I had a therapist like that.

[xxjscottxx]

i recently went off zoloft, i couldnt even make it 2 months it was driving me crazy. herb is really the only medicine that actually helps my depression and my panic attacks. its just amazing having a license; i feel so sorry for people still having to deal with iffy situations.