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• January 15, 2009 12:28 p.m.

  I too have had dsythemia since I was in my early twenties. I am now 56 years old. Serzone has been working for the past 8-9 nine years and recently Abilify was added. I am going through a major depressive episode again. I will be on meds for the rest of my life for sure. I hate this. The part I hate the most is the anger and irritability. Yes I am in therapy as well and it is most helpful in keeping me close to normal, what ever that is.

  - sue

• January 14, 2009 3:51 p.m.

  There have been a few times in my life, since my earlier 20's, during which I enjoyed life fully and felt "normal." The rest of the time, I have been dys- thymic. I have suffered 3-4 Major Depressions. I sought psychiatric help, and received psychotherapy as well as psychiatric medications. I have been on antidepressants almost constantly since Prozac was first approved. One bout of Major Depression was 2 years long and took many adequate trials of just about every antidpressant available, alone and in combination. Finally I responded to Cymbalta 90 mg. with a small dose of an antipsychotic to boost the its effects. (I was not psychotic.) After my depression abated a great deal, I stopped the antipsychotic. I have been unable to taper the Cymbalta below 60 mg/day due a constant low-level depression and to neuropathic pain, which it also helps. In addition to dysthymia, I think I must also suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) becaused every winter my mood plummets. Consequently I now take 120 mg of Cymbalta. It has relieved my current depression somewhat, but I think I would also benefit from some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Over the course of about 30 years, I have realized that I need to stay on meds; sometimes they stop working and then I need to begin the process of trial and error until I find one that works; and that when I can change some of my erroneous beliefs and automatic ways of thinking, I am much healthier. There is hope!

  - Enid

• January 14, 2009 2:50 p.m.

  I too was diagnosed with this at age 12. I find Wellbutrin effective, but honestly i never realyl find that it ever goes away completely.,..

  - miss

• January 14, 2009 1:50 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with dsythemia about four years ago and have been taking Cymbalta ever since. The minimum dose of Cymbalta has been effective for me and I have no plans to go off of it. I have also been seeing a counselor. I am now 42 and looking back, I am pretty sure I have depressed since at least my early 20s. Depression definitely runs in my family, but so does denial. I finally talked to a doctor about it after having lunch with my sister one day and she expressed some concern about how I was doing and I ended up crying in the middle of a restaurant and could not stop. There is a real stigma about depression in our country, but I would encourage people to talk to your doctor and seek help. There are lots of treatment options and living with feeling sad all the time is not necessary. I wish I had sought treatment about 15 years before I did.

  - kac

• January 14, 2009 12:17 p.m.

  There are different types of depression and taking prescriptions may relieve the symptoms but not cure the problems. If there were a place to get answers and assistance dealing with problems depression would be less common.

  - garyk

• January 14, 2009 11:58 a.m.

  The brain "zings" that two of you described can sometimes occur when coming off medications such as Celexa, Effexor and Paxil (This can occur with other medications, too). It's uncomfortable but is not life threatening and is not dangerous. It doesn't happen with everyone who is tapering off these medications and you can't predict who it will happen to. Your options are to slow down the taper or sometimes a medication with a longer half-life (meaning it stays in body longer) such as Prozac (Fluoxetine generic name) can be used instead. Thank you for your interest in the Mayo Clinic Depression Blog. All the best to you all!

  - Mayo Clinic.Com Staff

• January 14, 2009 5:20 a.m.

  I have been suffering from dysthymia now for 15 years since my husband died. I have been on an old drug, Serzone all this time and on the whole, I am doing OK. I still have my days of deep despair and sadness.I don't feel that I will ever be off my drugs. I have tried to wean myself off of it and within two days,the feelings come back. I tried Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor and none of them help like Serzone. I wish I could be "normal" and enjoy life all the time. Find a good therapist who will help you learn to deal with life's ups and downs. I have had to learn to let go of past experiences and to be more assertive with what I want and what I will no longer have in my life to upset me. It is a long, hard struggle that I am still learning. Good luck to all!

  - Leslie

• January 13, 2009 11:47 p.m.

  Looking back through the years, I had been depressed as a child and continued to be until today at my age of 53. My doctor has put me on Effexor and I continue to gain weight and feal just lethargic with no ambition to do anything. Does anyone know if adding Welbutrin gives you more energy and helps you lose weight? I also use Xanax for my anxiety. On my next Dr. visit, I am going to ask about this.

  - Elvira

• January 13, 2009 10:06 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with dysthymia about 10 years ago, went on Zoloft for 3 or so years and it made a world of difference. I went off of them VERY slowly (still got those "brain zings" others talk of, like a whisk broom sweeping inside my head whenever I moved my eyes, but they eventually went away). Am going back to my doctor tomorrow to discuss going back on antidepressants. About a year ago I started feeling emotionally flat. The last few months I've felt those old symptoms returning--hopelessness, sadness, irritability, loss of self-esteem, etc., and since there's no obvious/outside forces that would make me feel this way, I'm convinced it's my brain chemistry in need of a boost again.

  - Susan

• January 13, 2009 9:56 p.m.

  I am 61 and cannot remember a time when I wasn't depressed. I have been on Paxil for 13 years and still have bouts with some very dark times. I have been diagosed with dysthymia and chronic depression, and have had several years of cognitive therapy, and have been gifted with some coping skills. Every day is a battle, and some days are frightening. Get with a good doctor, therapist and whomever else. It takes time and effort.

  - bcw

• January 13, 2009 7:50 p.m.

  Could I have dysthymia?? I am 59 years old, but my childhood was anything but happy. I had no friends, I still don't. My mother was abusive to me. I trust no one. I know I have depression, although it is not medically diagnosed. I will talk to my doctor about dysthymia and see what he says. I will also see about getting into counseling. It is hard to do that where I live unless you are on drugs, alcohol, are suicidal, or "hear voices"--this is what I was told by the Mental Health people. I will stay tuned to this blog to let you all know what happens.

  - Estell

• January 13, 2009 6:09 p.m.

  I was finally diagnosed with dysthymia after years of living with depression. I, too, was anxious and sad as a child and remember wondering why I wasn't happy like the other kids I knew. I have taken Paxil and then Celexa (minimal dose) for over 10 years. Medication has helped a lot. Have tried to wean myself off a couple of times, (with dr.'s knowledge) but had strange side effects (I call them "brain zings") and I began feeling sad and "weepy" again, so I restarted meds. I do wonder about the long-term effects but want be be depression free, so I'll continue the Celexa. If you think you might suffer from dysthymia, do some research on the symptoms and talk with a good psychologist. Therapy along with medication has been a good combination for me. I may be for you also. Advocate for yourself. You're worth it!

  - pat

• January 13, 2009 5:02 p.m.

  I also was diagnosed with Dysthymia. CBT and Zoloft worked for a long time and I'm now off the medication and managing fine. I know that it can come back though, so I keep an eye on myself. Take care.

  - rb

• January 13, 2009 2:42 p.m.

  Unknown to me until about 10 yrs ago, i suffered frpm dysthymia. I can never remember feeling happy, even as a child. I got of the point of struggling to get up and go to work, then retreating to bed as soon as I got home from work. I felt emppty and had such fatigue and lack of interest in life. I sought help from my primary care Dr and after 2-3 years needed to see a phsyciatrist for the knowledge she would have on chemicals and the brain. I took effexor for a couple years and then added welbutrin, which made a huge difference in my lethargy and feelings. I have been on this combination for 10 years and am to the point where I have been able to reduce the dosage, still feel good and have no problem functioning. I do have some issue with my irritation/anger level at times but am working on that conciously to keep my self in perspective.

  - Lynn E