Depression meds and diet restrictions

[dizzle]

I read frequently on depression information sites as I have struggles with the issue as I have been very open about. I was just reading that those on MAOI meds for depression cannot eat salami. That would be enough to send me into a major depression.

I am now enjoying a salami sandwich and feeling really bad for those who cannot.

[technomage]

Yeppers. One of the medicines I'm on works on a neuro-chemical that's very similar to a chemical in pineapple, so I can't have pineapple. :bawl:

Justin

[Abigail]

Salami is :b_rotten:

[dizzle]

I love salami and pineapple.

[Abigail]

Pineapple is ok...if it is sweet. I dont like it when it is woody though.

[Piebald]

I am on Paxil, and it says specifically in the instructions that you must adjust your diet by limiting cannibalism. It has been a MAJOR adjustment for my lifestyle but I'm finally starting to feel okay with it.

[dizzle]

man that is a tough adjustment hammy

[Twilly Spree]

I've just gained weight on Lexapro. So I watch what I eat to control my weight.

[theseed]

It's my understanding that MAOI's are prescribed much anymore, because they interact with so many other drugs.

I find that jogging helps my mood alot, and a little with wieght gain.

[Rubia Warren]

I am taking Xanax, but not on an everyday basis. There have been products (herbal) I have wanted to take for other things, but I am scared to because there is a yellow warning on my Xanax bottle that some herbs may do weird stuff to me if I take them both.
I called the pharmacist who put it on there to ask which herbs I needed to stay away from, and (I'm not kidding or exaggerating), he said, "I really don't know. I am a pharmacist, not an herbalist. I only know about real drugs"
I said, "Oh. Well, since you were the guy who put that warning label on my bottle, I figured I'd ask you what that meant." He said, "Nope. I really don't have a clue. I had to put that sticker on there, and I do know that certain herbs will cause weird reactions if you are taking certain drugs, I just don't know exactly what those herbs are. Sorry!"

[Aletheia]

Any herb that is a "downer" or an "upper" shouldn't be combined with xanax. Examples: Kava, valerian, scullcap, St. John's Wort, passionflower. The amino acid Gaba should probably be avoided, as well as Sam-e. And there are many, many herbs that would need the same enzymes to be broken down and gotten rid of that xanax does. That's why grapefruit juice cannot be consumed with many drugs - it causes too much of the drug to build up in the body.

(I used to manage a vitamin shop. :wink: )

[Jimmy Higgins]

It scares the heck out of me, the number of people that post online that take medication for some sort of mental health issue.

[technomage]

It scares the heck out of me, the number of people that post online that take medication for some sort of mental health issue.
Just think what we'd be like without the meds. :silly:

[anthrogirl]

I've been in a pretty deep depression for a couple of weeks--but earlier this week, I started working out for an hour a day. It's only been a few days, but I feel almost normal again--and I began to feel the benefits immediately on the first day. It was pretty dramatic.

The hardest thing about it initially is dragging one's depressed butt to the gym in the first place. :smile: But exercise works better for me than drugs. I suspect this is true for many folks.

in good health,
ag

[technomage]

But exercise works better for me than drugs. I suspect this is true for many folks.

For a lot of people it does--especially for stress-induced or situational depression, or for seasonal affective disorder.

[Straylight]

I've been in a pretty deep depression for a couple of weeks--but earlier this week, I started working out for an hour a day. It's only been a few days, but I feel almost normal again--and I began to feel the benefits immediately on the first day. It was pretty dramatic.

The hardest thing about it initially is dragging one's depressed butt to the gym in the first place. :smile: But exercise works better for me than drugs. I suspect this is true for many folks.

in good health,
ag

I feel for all of you. Whether you're dealing with a switch in diet or in a truly serious slump, stay strong. This may be a bit too Neitzchian for a Christian to say, but you can overcome anything with your Will. Or in Christian terms, you can conquer all things through Christ who strengthens you.

I don't know what to say except a few anecdotal things.....About 11 years ago I was put on anti-depressants (Zoloft), and ended up weening myself off of it within 3 or 4 years. I think that some of these medicines are ill-prescribed *in some cases*. They can even worsen one's mood, not improve it.

I've been off for at least 7 years or so now, and while I'm not jumping for joy all the time (who is?), I'm a lot better than I was before.

I was originally diagnosed as bi-polar at 17, but since then, I've had other doctors drop that diagnosis. Chalk up my previous issues to just "Teen Angst" or something, I dunno. What I do know is that I'm not considered bi-polar by every doctor. So be sure to get multiple opinions if you can. You never know.

On a slightly humorous note: At 17, I was a skinny 175-180 lbs (I'm 6'4", so 180 is fairly thin). Within 2 years of taking Zoloft, I bloated to 235-240 lbs!

That was the first lightbulb that indicated something wasn't right.

Even IF there was a chance it was correcting a chemical imbalance (though it wasn't correcting anything -- it pretty much destroyed any hint of strong emotions, good or bad -- I was like Spock), even if it was supposed to do something good for my mood, then all of that was for nothing since it still was destroying my body. Anything that contributes to me gaining 60 lbs that quickly is probably not a good solution.

So I stopped taking it. I'm back to 180, and deal with things as they come. Life is great for the most part. If there's one thing that I do have a small problem with though it's social anxiety -- But I've learned tackle that in other ways (which I won't get into for now, I suppose).

[edit] Hrm....Actually, forget that part about Neitzche. Somehow I forgot that he had his own share of problems.

[anthrogirl]

I feel for all of you. Whether you're dealing with a switch in diet or in a truly serious slump, stay strong. This may be a bit too Neitzchian for a Christian to say, but you can overcome anything with your Will. Or in Christian terms, you can conquer all things through Christ who strengthens you.

I don't know what to say except a few anecdotal things.....About 11 years ago I was put on anti-depressants (Zoloft), and ended up weening myself off of it within 3 or 4 years. I think that some of these medicines are ill-prescribed *in some cases*. They can even worsen one's mood, not improve it.

I've been off for at least 7 years or so now, and while I'm not jumping for joy all the time (who is?), I'm a lot better than I was before.

I was originally diagnosed as bi-polar at 17, but since then, I've had other doctors drop that diagnosis. Chalk up my previous issues to just "Teen Angst" or something, I dunno. What I do know is that I'm not considered bi-polar by every doctor. So be sure to get multiple opinions if you can. You never know.

On a slightly humorous note: At 17, I was a skinny 175-180 lbs (I'm 6'4", so 180 is fairly thin). Within 2 years of taking Zoloft, I bloated to 235-240 lbs!

That was the first lightbulb that indicated something wasn't right.

Even IF there was a chance it was correcting a chemical imbalance (though it wasn't correcting anything -- it pretty much destroyed any hint of strong emotions, good or bad -- I was like Spock), even if it was supposed to do something good for my moods, then all of that was for nothing since it still was destroying my body as well. I gained 60 lbs like nothing (and have the stretch marks to prove it!).

So I stopped taking it. I'm back to 180, and deal with things as they come. Life is great for the most part. If there's one thing that I do have a small problem with though it's social anxiety -- But I've to learned tackle that in other ways (which I won't get into for now, I suppose).

Thank you for your post! I was also diagnosed with Bipolar disorder when I was 17. A couple of years ago, I tried Depakote. IT did some wierd electrical things to my brain. Depakote was originally developed as an anti-convulsant. But the stuff was so addictive, that I would get really wigged out if I missed a dose, or was late in taking a dose. So they switched me to Lithium. I gained a ton of weight, and had a hard time managing my body's salt balance. SO I quit taking drugs altogether. Instead, I used acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Turns out I was never bipolar (just more of that teen angst!).

Now I am working on behavioral strategies to better manage my stress. I still feel awful at times--even suicidal. But I am learning, at the ripe age of 29, that I can (and must!) control myself. ANd part of being a responsible adult is managing one's mental health. So I'll keep doing 45 min of cardio every day!

:smile:
ag

P.S. I always enjoyed Neitzche. On second thought, perhaps that's why I was always so danged depressed!

[Twilly Spree]

Thanks for sharing guys!

I only gained about 10 pound on the Lexapro. I gained about 15 when I started but I lost weight before because I wasn't eating, period. But this summer I started working out more and I saw some friends again who all said I've lost weight and I look so much healthier. Always good to hear.

[spiritmech]

ag: "I always enjoyed Neitzche. On second thought, perhaps that's why I was always so danged depressed!"

Yeah, it's an abyss, isn't it? I've become much happier overall since I've stopped reading him. His stuff is great, but there's a certain negativity (even in the affirmation aspects) that can't be denied.

At least Confucianists enjoy their life?
sm

[Jimmy Higgins]

P.S. I always enjoyed Neitzche. On second thought, perhaps that's why I was always so danged depressed!Makes me ponder about my idea that I had about Pink Floyd Christmas Carols. :lol:

I think the key to life, that everyone tries to escape, is that we aren't perfect. That we never truly are as heroic as we dreamed we could. That we could always be a better person than our patience allows us to be. That we could always be more gracious, more thankful, more humble... simply being a better person.

But we all have these silly human flaws. Some blame sin, others the devil, some demons, others Bill Clinton. The reality is, we aren't perfect, we'll never be perfect, we aren't made for perfection, we are made to survive. This depresses alot of people, typically in their mid-life stages... hence the crises.

The other flaw that most people are incapable of handling is that every moment is unique. People always want each moment to be as the best moments in the past. That the hamburger (veggie burger) tastes as great as it did that one day. The kiss was as sweet in the beginning. The traffic as calm as earlier in the week. People are stuck in the rut of wanting moments in the present to be the moments that have already passed. This desire only leads to disappointment. Disappointment leads to anger. Anger leads to rage. Rage leads to the darkside... ummm... wait. Forget that last part.

And other people just listen to too much Pink Floyd.

If people could just accept these points, then we'd all be happy. But then again, if people could, they wouldn't be human. We are born irrational beasts and we'll remain that way for a long while.