Is there a cheap depression medication?

[onetimething]

Hey guys. Without getting into the specifics of things, I've come to the conclusion that I have been in a somewhat serious depression for the past few years. I've been very reluctant to get any sort of help. Not only do I have an aversion to doctors, but there is the fact that one of the factors in my depression has been my shitty financial situation (which is thankfully getting better and things are looking up for me) so the thought of spending tons of money on a doctor's appointment, losing a day's worth of work pay, and then the cost of medication is just unfathomable to me and starts up another wave of anger and depression (at my financial state). I have very little knowledge of medication and it's cost but I keep hearing about Wal-Mart's offering of over the counter drugs for only $4 and feel like if there are any over the counter depression meds, they'd be best. Anyone have any recommendations? Of course, if I HAVE to see a doctor and require a prescription to obtain this medication, I suppose I'll suck it up and do it. This is my mental health we're talking about after all and if I can deal with forking over hundreds of dollars in car insurance, as I just did the other week, I can spend a few bucks to improve my own personal health. I just really want to feel back to normal.

 

[Christopher123]

Don't do the over-the-counter crap. It's cheap and pointless for a reason. Your health (both mental and physical) is more important than finding a way to self-medicate.

See a doccie

 

[LostVegas]

Yes, exercise!! It helps me a lot. and is FREE. Vegas

 

[Riverrick]

Nothing works like the prescription drugs. Its worth a trip to see your doctor. I'm not sure what is on the Walmart list but some of the older tricyclic antidepressants (ie Amitriptyline, Imipramine, etc) work quite well and are very inexpensive.

You can try the St John's Wort and SAM-e but they aren't cheap either. Good luck!

 

[Golliwog]

My internist is trying to wean me off one of the big gun anti depressants after my dependence on them for many years. This has to be done gradually, and under a physician's care. A pharmacist could also guide one through this weaning. This doctor has me on massive amounts of vitamin D....like 5000 units daily. Has it helped? Not sure, too new to me. But it for sure has not hurt me.

 

[jockboy01]

I agree with Riverrick... a trip to the doctor is worth it. There are some great meds these days that are very effective. As he mentioned, the older tricyclics are also good and they are cheaper. Also, be sure to tell you doctor about your financial situation. I've known docs that will give a patient several months of samples just to see if it is effective before having them get a prescription.

If you want over the counter, St. John's Wort would be my suggestion but it doesn't tend to be as effective. But you could give it a shot.

 

[Homoerectus]

Exercise and vitamin B-12. If that doesn't work, see the doctor.

 

[Ramindra]

Like many other respondents, I advise you to see a doctor. There are many drugs on the market which can be used to treat depression and/or anxiety. Some are good and others not so good. Some work for some people and do not work for others. Some actually exacerbate the symptoms, particularly during the first month. Some have a reputation for being very difficult to come off. (Beware of any drug that starts with"A"!)

Many claims are made for herbal cures but none have any scientific backing. But hey, if they work, then why not. Often these "cures" cost much the same as prescription drugs.

A couple of other things....exercise works wonders. Walk or run for an hour as late in the day as you can. Try to do things that physically tire you so that you sleep better. Stop any caffeine intake after 4pm and reduce liquid consumption after say 8pm. Ensure you have good ventialtion where you sleep. Try going to bed earlier. Getting a good night's sleep is almost a guarantee that you will lesson the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Best of luck. And again, please stay away from self diagnosis and self treatment. It just ain't worth it.

 

[fiestathomas]

Don't mess around with depression. Find a psychiatrist who can prescribe the proper meds. Explain the situation and bring the Wal-Mart list with you. I've seen some of the older meds on there as well as the generic of Prozac.

If finances are the concern with the Dr.'s visit, seek out other resources. You might want to try looking up the "National Alliance for the Mentally Ill" for resources in your area.

Mental illnesses are just like other illnesses (and often inherited). There is no shame in seeking professional help.

Best of luck to you!

 

[onetimething]

Thanks so much for all of the responses everyone. They're greatly appreciated. So I guess the general consensus is that a trip to the doctor's is in order. I was afraid so. While I can't stand the doctor's, and hate the thought of the cost, as I said before, I can suck it up and it's all about prioritizing. If I view things such as car insurance, repaying my student loans, and hell, my CELL phone bill as monthly necessities, but have shortchanged my personal health for financial reasons, well, then my priorities are out of order. If you don't have your health, nothing else really matters.

For the record, I am physically fit, exercise, and while my diet like everyone's could always use some tweaking, it's pretty good. I do drink too much soda and don't get nearly enough sleep, as witnessed by the fact that it's 2am and I'm online. This depression shows no outward signs to my knowledge and I think anyone who knows me would be shocked by my admission. However, this has been a condition that has followed me around for the past six or seven years, through all sorts of trials and tribulations and lifestyles and schedules and such. It's been with me when I was a gym freak and sleeping eight hours a day and eating healthy, just as it's been with me when I was a lazy unemployed slob staying up til 5am and eating pizza every night. While I'm generally averse to doctors and taking medication, not for any sort of moral Tom Cruise-like reason, but just because medicine in the past has seemed not to work with me, I feel like at this point, it's what I need to do. This has gone on for far too long. I've tried changes in diet and lifestyle and outlook. I've tried waiting it out. I've tried denial. I've tried healing myself through various means and it is not working. I've spent too much time trying to solve this on my own. Life is short, and I need to get "me" back as soon as possible.

 

[dunno260]

Yes, you need to see a doctor. The over the counter stuff isn't proven. St. Johns Wort has been shown in some cases to help mild depression, but to have little to no effect for more severe cases. SAMe I don't know much about, and tryptophan probably will raise serotonin levels, but I don't think its going to be much of a help.

I don't know whats on Wal-Marts generic plan off the top of my head. My PDA program shows that a month supply of prozac is $25 for the generic. Generic Paxil is about $35, and generic celexa is $40 a month. However, those all seem high to me. But anyways, thats not bad at all. And you know what, all those drugs are on Wal-Marts list of $4 generics if that program is in your state. Just tell your doctor that cost is an issue and that those are the three to chose from. There is generic elavil and generic desyrel on there as well, but those are pretty much only used as sleep aids now. Also there are a LOT of resources for people who can't afford health care, you just have to go out and find them. It differs from city to city and state to state. I know the stuff around Birmingham, AL well, but thats it.

 

[Riverrick]

Actually, the generic Elavil and other Tricyclics are still a great choice for depression and they are very inexpensive. Drugstore.com lists generic Elavil (amitriptyline) 50mg, #90 tabs for $7.99. Considering you may do well with 1/2 to 1 tab a day, that's definitely a bargain.

Here is Walmart's $4 prescription drug list: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=546834 They have Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine) on it.

 

[thermodynamics]

The tricyclics have been in generic for quite a while now, and the SSRIs are starting to go generic (Prozac/Paxil). Others will have their patents fall soon.

And get some sleep!

 

[e2ksj3]

ginseng and fish oils seem to work for me

 

[dunno260]

Actually, the generic Elavil and other Tricyclics are still a great choice for depression and they are very inexpensive. Drugstore.com lists generic Elavil (amitriptyline) 50mg, #90 tabs for $7.99. Considering you may do well with 1/2 to 1 tab a day, that's definitely a bargain.

Here is Walmart's $4 prescription drug list: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=546834 They have Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine) on it.

They do well for some people, however their effectiveness is about the same for depression as the SSRIs but they tend to have worse side effects than the SSRI. At the free medical clinic I volunteer at it is very rare to see a patient on a tricyclic for depression. We use a lot of elavil for sleep disorders and anxiety, but I don't think I have ever seen a doctor use it for depression. We also stock trazodone (Desyrel) and its only used as a sleep aid. Of course, we keep a stock of prozac, paxil, and celexa and that does have a large part in the choice, but if the choice is between a tricyclic and an SSRI, the SSRI wins hand down. And with prozac, paxil, and celexa all generic and all on Wal-Marts plan (and even without their plan, it should be relatively cheap anyways) I would give them the first crack.

But, they do have the same efficacy as SSRIs, so its certainly an option, and there are a bundle of options in the tricyclic class to try. But I think our clinic gets 1000 tablets of generic prozac for about $32 or so I believe. There is markup and all that, but its not an expensive drug. I believe paxil and celexa are both more expensive, but not by much. However, we can't afford zoloft, lexapro, wellbutrin, effexor, cymbalta, or any of the non generic SSRI/SNRI or like drugs.

 

[kallipolis]

Treating the symptoms of depression with drugs, does not cure the patient.

Taking the time to change the way we live our life, will heal the patient and does not entail extra expenditure. Nor are there the side effects, that drug medication so often creates. Addiction to healthy living, pays dividends.

A healthy diet. Increasing physical exercise including brisk walks on a daily basis, also contributes to improving good health. Drink a lot more water. Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption, drastically. Quit smoking. Learn to grow patience in those circumstances where our patience is painfully tested. Resilience in the face of adversity, will create endurance. Sufficient sleep, is the foundation of another day's creative and healthy living.

Avoid becoming another zombie relying on prescription drugs to avoid facing life's appeal for us to overcome our obstacles, as a means to grow us into a more independent and resourceful human being.

 

[jockboy01]

Treating the symptoms of depression with drugs, does not cure the patient.

While I agree with your recommendations for lifestyle changes, there are in fact people where that doesn't work. And there is strong evidence that medications actually do cure the problem in some people. So it is on a case by case basis and lifestyle changes as illustrated are generally beneficial. But I wouldn't say that the meds only mask the problem because that's not quite accurate.

 

[jaysizzles]

I'm in favor of trying a natural and free alternative in lieu of medication first...and if no success, then see a doctor for prescription medication. There are so many causes that it's worth spending some time and learning about what's causing yours...rather than just expecting a pill to fix it.

A few years ago I was taking Xanax for anxiety and I was suffering from some mild depression. I hated the idea of taking a pill and wanted to try natural alternatives, so I quit the pill (I did discuss this with my doctor) and decided to make some changes in my life. I started reading about natural alternatives (there is a lot on-line...you just have to weed through the ads for natural herb supplements) and decided to make changes in my diet; I exercise regularly;I've increased my vitamin d (I also take a multi-vitamin and vitamin c) and I make sure I do get outside and routinely get small doses of sunshine. I do not spend any money on these...except for some store brand vitamins.

It really makes sense to learn as much as possible about it and make an informed and healthy decision that is correct for you. I googled "depression natural cure" and found a lot of interesting articles. You may want to google that yourself. This is one I thought may interest you since it does not require spending any money to try and I can't see any medical risk involved if it doesn't work.
http://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougall/2004nl/040300pudepression.htm

It focuses on serotonin, which is linked with depression. Regulating this level naturally may be tricky...too much serotonin is not good either. Sam-e artificially raises the serotinin levels...I have no experience with it so you may want to research it yourself.

 

[PabloZed]

Diets, exercise, water, sex - Madonna - will do nothing in the long for someone with serious depression. Its not a lifestyle problem. Its a chemical imbalance that needs to be treated like the disease it is.

 

[BoSoxFanVa]

I agree that you need to see a doctor. I would probably make my first appointment with a psychiatrist rather than a GP, but that's just my opinion.

I have a lot of experience on this topic because I have Refractory Depression which is hard to treat. I'm currently on a cocktail of anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and stimulants.

Cost is also a big issue. The newer drugs are expensive but they have fewer side effects.

Many doctors carry samples on hand that can help you out. Make sure you tell your doctor about your financial situation. There's way around the system.

Medicine isn't the only answer. Some form of talk therapy, like Cognitive Behavior Therapy, works for depression. I think you need both to fight this disease.

I take one generic drug, Trazodone. It's an old anti-depressant that is very sedating and it's used primarily now as a sleep agent. It's on the Wal-Mart formulary for only $4.00 for 30 pills. It works for me.

I'm glad your taking the next step and seeking help. Don't waste anymore time because once its gone, you never get it back.

Good Luck.