[Ready2Transform]

I saw this in my H, so I can't argue.  He wasn't on them for a long period of time, but the plan was for him to be on them at least a year, then the psych wanted to do talk therapy once he was, I guess, enough of a zombie to not to freak out about whatever they discussed.  The dosage was increased to that end during the time he was on them, then he took himself off cold turkey and that's all she wrote.

One of his more pronounced cycles forward came after I'd coaxed him into taking l-tyrosine, which increases dopamine.  I had read early on (but I can't find the link - it was before I knew I'd have a library of this stuff built) a study by some psychiatrist who had seen cases of a complete return to love for their partner with dopamine restoration after SSRI treatment - her conclusion was as we've seen, that it's not that the feelings are gone, they're just suppressed chemically.  I'll absolutely post the article if I can ever find it again!  It may actually have been Helen Fisher. 

[Anjae]

Hmmmm.  Seems midlife depression that is treated leads to MLC?

Maybe but untreated midlife depression does not prevent MLC, in fact, it seems to increase the level of the crisis. So, not sure what is best...

There are antidepressants that do not suppress sex drive, like Bupropiom, an atypical antidepressant.

Also, I think the meds that work better with a MLCer are things like Lamotrigine, a medicine for bipolar, that come from neurology. Lamotrigine was the only med, along with alprazolam for the anxiety, that worked with my cousin who had MLC.

[SSG]

Hmmmm.  Seems midlife depression that is treated leads to MLC?

Maybe but untreated midlife depression does not prevent MLC, in fact, it seems to increase the level of the crisis. So, not sure what is best...

There are antidepressants that do not suppress sex drive, like Bupropiom, an atypical antidepressant.

Also, I think the meds that work better with a MLCer are things like Lamotrigine, a medicine for bipolar, that come from neurology. Lamotrigine was the only med, along with alprazolam for the anxiety, that worked with my cousin who had MLC.

H has been on Prozac a few years...after he got ED...probably aided his crisis in strengthening.  If he was not living with OW, I would get him to switch medication.  But it is out of my hands now...a shame.

SSG

[Anjae]

Prozac can have some strange side effects. Not everyone tolerates it well. Mr J have had normal depression before MLC, caused my physical exhaustion (this was years before MLC) and was prescribed Prozac. Prozac left him crazy so it had to be removed.

Yes, maybe your husband ED issues contributed to his MLC.

Switch medication has, of course, to be done by a doctor. Since your husband is living with OW, well, let him and OW handle his MLC. 

[forthetrees]

My ex went through three Ads and then went cold turkey, went back on, went back off...

[kikki]

I think it's great that people are talking about this stuff.
My H was another one who had the dopamine levels/lower sex drive/decreased attachment to me circuits up the kazoo.  Just not AD induced in his case either.

[LearningIamOk]

Interesting info. Unfortunately, Condo Carl never took AD's. He was an exercise junkie and that is supposed to lift depression. Who knows. But it does raise the serotonin and maybe acute sessions of exercise to suppress the dopamine. I shall have to research if there is a connection with too much exercise and depression.

The mind is such a terrible thing to waste.

[LisaLives]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/curious/201403/what-causes-depression-myths-about-chemical-imbalances

Also check out the research of Irving Kirsch... 

I am anti-meds, in general, and very anti big pharma...  So I am biased, but I think we spend way too much time trying to "fix" ourselves with substances when we really need to fix the environment we live in, both ecologically, and sociologically... 

[kikki]

Dr Gabriel Cousens is another person who is doing some really interesting work with depression.

http://www.amazon.com/Depression-free-Life-Physicians-All-Natural-5-Step/dp/0060959657/ref=la_B000APJBV4_1_6/181-8458559-2191140?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394821882&sr=1-6

He says that we are finally accepting that our thoughts/minds affect our bodies (including our brains) - but that it is harder for people to accept that our physiology affects our brain and therefore our thoughts/minds/behaviours.

He looks at factors such as blood sugar, toxic metals, your endocrine system etc affect the body and then the brain, leading to depression.
He says that depression has many different causes.  And each individual needs to get to the bottom of what is causing it for them.  It's not a one size fits all approach.

[kikki]

http://www.upworthy.com/a-comedian-talks-about-her-experience-in-a-mental-institution-its-funny-mostly?c=ufb1