Over-the-counter meds for depression and/or anxiety disorders?
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Answers:
First of all, there could be a physiological (not psychological) reason why you're feeling this way. Before you do anything else, you should find a good medical doctor (but not a psychiatrist) to do a complete medical workup on you and a full panel of blood tests. The tests may reveal a root cause of your depression and anxiety -- perhaps you have a vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, lack of certain amino acids or a low-functioning thyroid. All of these things can be tested for and treated. You may, for example have a deficiency of Vitamin B12 which is necessary for the production of seretonin. If that's the case you can take Vitamin B12 and then you will feel much better. Perhaps, once you have all of that corrected you won't need to take anything else for your anxiety and depression because you will have found and dealt with the underlying cause. Safe Harbor runs a website with a directory of holistic medical practitioners who will help you find the root cause of your depression and anxiety: http://www.alternativementalhealth.com
If you do that, and your doctor finds all of your tests came back normal or if you start taking some supplements but still don't feel markedly better then you may want to consider taking some herbs. Here are some herbs that you may find helpful:
Kava (Piper methysticum) is a member of the pepper family that has been cultivated by Pacific Islanders for over 3000 years for use as a social and ceremonial drink. The first description of kava came to the west with Captain James Cook, who traveled through the South Seas in a number of celebrated voyages. To this day, when village elders or others in the Pacific Islands come together for a significant meeting, they begin with an elaborate kava ceremony. Currently, kava is used in Europe and increasingly in the United States to treat stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
Valerian: Nature's valium. Another favorite for the treatment of anxiety is valerian. Derived from the dried rhizomes and roots of this tall plant, which grows in wet soil in many countries, valerian has been used for thousands of years as a folk remedy. As a natural relaxant, it is useful for several disorders including restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, menstural problems, and "nervous" stomach. Valerian acts on the brain's GABA receptors to produce a tranquilizing action that is similar to Valium-type drugs, but without the same side effects.
St. John's Wort: Wonder Weed. Imagine an antidepressant that is as effective as prescription drugs but has mild side effects, if any, and even boosts libido. Sound like a fantasy? It's not. You've just met St. John's Wort, an herb taken by many thousands of people every day. In fact, in Europe, Hypericum perforatum is prescribed by doctors five times as often as Prozac.
You can take herbs on your own (they're available even at the corner drug store as well as on the internet and in health food store) or you can go to an herbalist, who can help you determine what combination of herbs and what dosage is best for you. I'll give you the website for the American Herbalists Guild: http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com Or if you really would like to see a psychiatrist, there aren't a lot of good ones but one who's awesome is located in Pacific Palisades California and I believe you can get medical advice from her by email (for a fee) Dr. Cass's website is listed below.
And if you're interested in reading about traditional psychiatry and why it's smart to pursue a homeopathic option instead check out the Citizens Commission on Human Rights website. They're the foremost human rights organization documenting psychiatric abuse and advocating for psychiatric reform.
Other Answers:
I would check with my doctor first
St. John's wort. But, it isn't as strong as many people need.
There are none. Some people claim to feel better with different herbal remadies like St. John's Wort, but it is not proven or supported by the FDA.
Definitely go to a psychiatrist or psychologist to figure out if you need to be on medication, and if so, which type will work best. To the best of my knowledge there are no surefire OTC drugs available for depression and anxiety.
A psychiatrist will be able to try to figure out what is causing your depression. For example, some people might be depressed because there are problems in their lives, such as a dead-end job or a bad marriage, while other people may have a chemical imbalance in their brain that is causing it in spite of a good life situation. It could also be both or a variety of causes - depression is not cut and dried. You may or may not need medication; you and your doctor can figure this out together.
Something else to keep in mind is that even prescription medicines can have different effects on different people. I took effexor for a year and a half with no problem, when suddenly it started making me jittery, irritable, and constantly upset. I had to switch medications and now I've been fine on my new one for four years. Make sure to tell your doctor if you get ANY weird symptoms with your medication, including changes in mood, weight, appetite, or thoughts of suicide. They need to know and there are ways to fix these things.
Don't bother. You can limit your caffeine and get regular exercise. Regular exercise really helps my depression and anxiety. I also recommend seeing a counselor and trying prescribed medications, they really make a difference for a lot of people.
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