Originally posted by trekchic

But, I'm happy to report that I am free of all chemicals associated with the depression! I'm not cured, I'm not over it, I'm not happy, but I AM me! Take it or leave it!

One word of advice for those of you considering Effexor: I'm not sure I would recommend it. It's supposed to be non-addictive, but apparently that's not the case. Tread lightly! It is scary coming back down from it!
Kim in TN

Hi Kim,

First of all Good Luck with your situation - we are behind you!

With that said, I just wanted to clarify a few things about depression and medication. Regarding "addiction" to antidepressants, just in case your statement scared anybody, this is not actually an addiction. Taking Valium can make you addicted, taking Oxycontin can make you addicted, BUT taking one of the SSRI's or related meds like Effexor is NOT an addiction in that sense. It is not the same thing - that's like saying you can become addicted to food.

Effexor and some other depression meds work by increasing the availability of serotonin in your body. Where we want it to work is in your brain synapses, but serotonin is also an important signaller in places like your Stomach, Intestines and blood vessels. If you suddenly remove the supply of that signaller, the body reacts. It's sort of the same way as when you go on a drastic diet - you feel crappy, you are hungry all the time, you feel weak. If you stay on it for awhile you stop being so hungry and stop feeling so crappy, because your body has adapted to the new " lower" level of operation. It's that same thing with serotonin. Your body needs it and uses it all the time all over your body, but if it is suddenly not there, your body has to adjust to conserving and using what you have, and that takes time.

Also, "situational" depression, " clinical depression", " Unipolar depression", " Major Depression".... are ALL clinical diagnoses, and they are ALL chemical. Depression can be brought on by all kinds of things, from genetics, to chronic stress hormones like cortisol, to environmental factors like ambient light levels, to other hormone levels like hypothyroidism or estrogen fluctuations. There are all kinds of "causes", but it is ALL depression.