What treatments for depression that aren't ADs?

[Arana]

Or herbal/non clinical remedies?

I'm thinking stuff like mood stabilisers, EST etc.

Any more?

there are talking treatments of course

Or St Johns Wort or 5htt type things but not sure how you weigh these against prescription anti-depressants

by EST do you mean electro-convulsive therapy? wouldn't think of that as herbal or non clinical, or the mood stabilisers which would be lithium or some of the antipsychotics or anticonvulsants - none of these are exactly over the counter remedies

It depends how severe the depression is. Sometimes exercise can help for mild depression. Also just trying to get out every day in the sunllight (if there is any lol) can boost mood. Try and make time to do something you enjoy.

I know there are a few people on here that take STW but you need to be careful as some of the herbal remedies conflict with other conventional meds.

Sorry, reading back I realise it came across wrong - I meant treatments that weren't ADs OR herbal/non-clinical.

I'm talking pretty severe depression (regular suicidality, self harm etc). Stuff like getting out every day, exercise, sunlight I'm already doing, and have been all along.

Had anyone had any success with non ssri/snri ADs? I'm thinking wellbutrin etc, or maybe odd combos?

Had depression all my life, but this particular episode had been nearly a year now, and I'm totally fed up. I'm also worried that it's starting to have a bigger impact on my job that I'm just holding on to, but is the linchpin of my mental health.

I guess I'm trying to think outside the box a little.

oh I SEE, sorry!

well sometimes lithium is prescribed to boost an antidepressant, have you had no luck with any at all so far? your psychiatrist should have an idea of what next, I don't know if there is some sort of ladder or if it depends upon what your depression is like, what else is going on in life or whether you have tried any psychotherapy things?

Eating more greens can help.Cabbage and brocolli in particular.2 or more portions a week.Not sure how successful it would be for more severe cases.
And not sure if this is the type of thing you mean.

Well it seems to depend on why SSRIs are not an option? I take lamotrigine, which is a mood stabiliser/ anti convulsant. It's hard work titrating up but it's worked very well for 'me. I alsO take quetiapine (An antipsychotic) which helps with low mood/sleep / anxiety. It's good, but the side effects can be a pain. Currently deciding whether to try swapping this with lithium. Sorry for the crap typing-on my phone.

Taken cymbalta, sertraline, citalopram and pristiq with no positive effects. Currently on no ADs as I was hoping maybe my mental health problems weren't as bad as I was making them out to be.

I just don't know if I can face the AD rollercoaster again is all. I sure as hell can't go on like this though.

Sorry to hear this has been going on for such a long time, what is pristiq?

When did you last see a psychiatrist/other dr?

oh I found it, is it a new sort of Effexor?

Have you tried mindfulness meditation? DH had quite good results with it initially and is always better if he is doing it, though sometimes he is too ill to do it at all. he was intially referred for a course by his psychiatrist, they are doing quite a lot of it round here. Ask around for a good provider or ring your local Mind if your psychiatrist is not into it.

Fluanxol is a weak antipsychotic neuroleptic drug that can be prescribed for depression. I beleive that works in a completely different way to other anti depressants. In low doses the side affects are not as bad as the SSRI type anti depressants.

I think that you really need a conversation with a pychiatrist as finding the best medication depends a lot on your symptoms.