Are antidepressants really useful for something? Took them?

After having taken 2 years lamotrigine which made me a good effect, I stopped taking it for another 2 years partly because I left it on my own, partly because my psychologist saw me well and gave me the discharge. But a year and a half ago I fell into a depression again, they gave me lamotrigine again and I did not really finish going out but due to financial difficulties I was forced to stop treatment, a few months ago with a business related to the World Cup I recovered my finances and I returned to the treatment but I changed the lamotrigine for the lithium which is really making me horrible effects I gained all the weight I had lost due to depression (15 kilos) in only 2 months, sexual dysfunctions and I feel very bad with anguish pains in the morning as I did not feel long ago and a state of permanent nervousness, I want to return to lamotrigine but this is making me honestly rethink the whole pharmacological system that I do not know if it is a simple business that only sells substances that have the same effectiveness that a placebo and sometimes bring terrible side effects, but when they're telling me that I should medicate for life because that would prevent relapses, but on what is this based? What does an industry or a psychiatrist say that hundreds of patients have seen themselves (not financed by a laboratory) for years to reach this conclusion? I am very suspicious.

Lithium and Lamictal are classified as mood stabilizers, not anti-depressants just to be clear although I think they do have anti-depressant effects I think. If you have Bipolar 1 or 2 or severe depression, medication is almost required for most people. It sounds like Lamictal worked pretty well for you. Lithium is a good drug as well for many people. These drugs are powerful and seem to change your personality to some degree but most people think the side effects and downsides are worth it not to be suicidal or psychotic. I would discuss it more with your pdoc.

Yes antidepressants work. I don't know if I would still be here right now without them. I've been on many different ones and how well they work and the side effects of each can vary greatly. But as z7z pointed out the medications you are asking about aren't classified as antidepressants (although lithium can be used as one).

JoseMaria wrote:they're telling me that I should medicate for life because that would prevent relapses, but on what is this based?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that goes in cycles. The length of the cycles is different for each person, but if this is your diagnosis you can pretty much count on the illness repeating itself even when you are feeling okay. This is why your Dr. wants you to stay on your medications.

So I went back through some of your older posts and couldn't tell if you are diagnosed with BP 1 or BP 2, but regardless it seems like lithium is not working for you. I would go back to your Dr. and let them know that and also tell them that you had been on lamotrigine in the past and that it worked for you. Different patients with the same illness respond differently to the same medication so unfortunately there is some trial and error finding what works best for each person.

Take care,
-S