SAD treatment???

[historyteach]

Does anyone know if there is a treatment *just* for SAD,(Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

Each year, I suffer in the wintertime. I live in the North East. And by the end of the winter, I've noticed for the last three years, that I'm really down. This year was particularly bad, cuz, I couldn't even exercise due to a medical condition. Exercise really helps keep me "even." And I ended up in a big depression again, and on meds again. That hasn't happened for many years.

So, I'm thinking, I'd like to be proactive. Why go through this every year? Is there anything to take seasonally - just for SAD?

Thanks for any thoughts!

Shalom!

[nandm]

I live in the northwest and my depression gets progressively worse over the winter and months.

This may not be a help to you because many people do not want to utilize tanning beds because of the cancer risks. But it really does help me when I tan in the winter time. I can tell the difference in winters where I have used tanning and this winter and others where I did not. Even 10 minutes a day for 3 to 4 days a week makes a difference for me. I even bought a bed just so I wouldn't have the excuse of not wanting to get out of the house. This year though for whatever reason I just have not used it. But since you just reminded me of it I think I will go downstairs today and do just that.

Other than that I don't know of anything.

[Done_With_It]

Yea I have heard of tanning beds also, and some kind of lightbulb lamp.?

[Done_With_It]

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - Treatment Overview

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) doesn't cure the seasonal depression, but it can help relieve your symptoms. Light therapy is the main treatment for SAD, and research is continuing to determine the most effective way to use it. Medications and counseling may also be used to treat SAD.
Light therapy

Research has shown that light therapy is an effective treatment for SAD.2

There are two types of light therapy: bright light treatment, in which you sit in front of a "light box" for a certain amount of time (usually in the morning); and dawn simulation, which is done while you sleep. For dawn simulation, a low-intensity light is timed to go on at a certain time in the morning before you wake up, and it gradually gets brighter.

Light boxes are available commercially and use fluorescent lights that are brighter than indoor lights but not as bright as sunlight. Ultraviolet light, full-spectrum light, tanning lamps, and heat lamps should not be used. You place the light box at a specified distance from you on a desk or in front of a chair and use it while you read, eat breakfast, or work at a computer. Light therapy is usually prescribed for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the intensity of the light used.3

Some people find dawn simulation light therapy more convenient because it works as they sleep. Light box therapy, which some studies have shown to be most effective if done in the morning, may be less convenient for people who have busy schedules.4 Yet some studies have found that dawn simulation therapy is not as effective as bright light (light box) therapy.3

It may take as little as 3 to 5 days or up to 2 weeks before you respond to light therapy. Stopping light therapy will likely cause you to relapse back into depression.3

Light therapy may work by resetting your "biological clock" (circadian rhythms), which controls sleeping and waking.

If you have eye problems or you take medications that make you light-sensitive, ask your health professional about whether light therapy is safe for you. Tell your health professional about any conditions you have and medications you are taking before you start treatment.

Light therapy will need to be continued for the entire time you are depressed. People who discontinue treatment usually lapse back into depression.5
Antidepressants

Antidepressants effectively treat episodes of depression in people with seasonal affective disorder. You may start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks of taking antidepressant medicine. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you do not notice any improvement by 3 weeks, talk to your doctor. Antidepressants can be used along with light therapy or alone.5 The most common antidepressants used to treat people with seasonal affective disorder include the following:

* Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Examples include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (such as Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft) .
* Other antidepressants. Examples include bupropion (Wellbutrin or Zyban), desipramine (Norpramin), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or venlafaxine (Effexor).


continued...

SSRIs are usually the first type of antidepressants given to treat SAD. SSRIs often have less serious side effects than other antidepressants. All antidepressant medications are started at low doses and increased gradually. When stopped, they should be decreased gradually to avoid side effects.

General side effects of antidepressant medications can include:

* Nausea, loss of appetite, or diarrhea.
* Anxiety or nervousness.
* Difficulty sleeping or drowsiness.
* Loss of sexual desire or ability.
* Headaches.

Bupropion can cause dry mouth. Bupropion should not be taken if you have seizures, severe problems with eating, or an eating disorder because it can cause seizures.

Managing the side effects of antidepressants
Taking antidepressants wisely

For more information, see the topic Depression or see Drug Reference. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
Counseling

Counseling, such as interpersonal therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, may help with your treatment for SAD. You may choose individual counseling, participate in group counseling, or seek family therapy. During counseling, you will learn about SAD, ways to handle the symptoms, and how to help prevent future depressive episodes. If you have had SAD for a long time, your family members may also benefit from counseling.

[Done_With_It]

Light on Winter Darkness

From Dr. Michael Terman and Jamie Rifkin
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Best Treatment for SAD

The strongest clinical data are for bright light therapy, a method that has been investigated for over two decades in well over a thousand patients. In 1998, Dr. Michael Terman and colleagues published a definitive study using the most efficient, timesaving treatment regimen for bright light, a level of 10,000 lux for 30 minutes daily upon awakening. The apparatus uses a bank of high-output fluorescent bulbs that are shielded behind a smooth diffusing filter that eliminates all UV radiation as a safety measure. The lights tilt toward the eyes from above, minimizing unpleasant glare. SAD patients who used the light box upon awakening did significantly better than those who used it in the evening, although a small minority found evening light to be superior.

Also in fall 1998, a group of 13 Canadian specialists issued a set of professional consensus guidelines for the treatment of SAD. Among their conclusions:

* The starting "dose" for light therapy using a fluorescent light box is 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day.
* Alternatively, light boxes emitting 2,500 lux require two hours of exposure per day.
* Light therapy should be started in the early morning, upon awakening, to maximize treatment response.
* Response to light therapy often occurs within one week, but some patients may require up to four weeks to show a response.
* Common side effects of light therapy include headache, eyestrain, nausea and agitation, but these effects are generally mild and transient, or disappear with reducing the dose of light.

Sources:

Lam, R.W., and A.J. Levitt. "Canadian consensus guidelines for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder: a summary of the report of the Canadian Consensus Group on SAD." Canadian Journal of Diagnosis 15 Suppl. (1998): S1-S15.

Terman M, Terman JS, Ross DC. "A controlled trial of bright light and negative air ionization for treatment of winter depression." Archives of General Psychiatry 55 (1998): 875-882.
Updated: November 2, 2006
Suggested Reading

Symptoms of SADAlternatives to Light Therapy for SADLight Therapy for Disorders Beyond SAD

[nandm]

Thanks Done, you are always great for finding good information. You true calling should have been a researcher....lol.

[historyteach]

THANK YOU, Miss Done!!!

That's great information.
I did look into a light once, but, it was pretty expensive.
30 minutes in the morning might be doable; 2 hours is impossible for anyone who works! Geez, Louise!

It doesn't say if you can take the anti depressant just during that time or not. You know, preventative. Like just during the winter season; the "dark" season.

I think that Judith is right! Your true calling is a researcher!

Shalom!

[marle]

Teach, I use an Apollo light for 15 minutes in the morning. I also take Vitamin D3. I think I paid around $150 for the light. It does seem to help me. I have more energy and less depression. Hugs, Marle

[Seeker957]

Try taking 5-HTP suppliments. 50mg capsules a day.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by Seeker957

Try taking 5-HTP suppliments. 50mg capsules a day.

My experience with 5-HTP was a negative one. It increased my anxiety. But I have found I am quite sensitive to herbal meds. I had trouble with St. Johns Wart. Valerian root to help me sleep and several other herbals for different things. I now just stick with an herbal tea every now and then and stay away from the individual substances. I know they work wonders for some people though.

Welcome to our Mental Health forum Seeker.

[barb dwyer]

This is the lighting they're calling 'full spectrum' up here, right?

A/K/A - "Twenty dollar bulbs"?

[historyteach]

Thanks everyone,
And sorry I didn't get back earlier. My puter was down, and I had to wait for them to come and do their magic.

Welcome seeker!
What are HTP suppliments?

$20 lightbulbs???
Are they covered by insurance???

Shalom!

[nandm]

Here is some basic info on 5-HTP. It is the immediate precursor to serotonin, is effectively absorbed into the bloodstream and readily passes the blood-brain barrier, to promote optimal serotonin balance in the brain. 5-HTP was found to be superior to L-Tryptophan in this respect due to its being a step closer chemically to serotonin.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is absolutely essential for your brain and body to function properly. A neurotransmitter is a chemical that carries vital signals between cells. A lack of serotonin will cause these signals to not transmit properly. Serotonin is an especially important neurotransmitter in that it governs the activities of many other important brain compounds. Low levels of serotonin can have dramatic adverse effects and has been implicated in maladies ranging from depression to fibromyalgia and insomnia.


You also might want to read through this sites info as it lists some of the risks and benefits.
5-Hydroxytryptophan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[historyteach]

Thanks, Judith!

But, if I didn't do well on an SSRI, I probably wouldn't do so hot on that 5 HTP either, then, huh?

Shalom!

[barb dwyer]

I'm pretty sure *I* wouldn't do well paying fourteen to twenty dollars per bulb for a light bulb that simulates what's pounding the earth from the sky for free every day.

wow.

wouldja look ... how long that sentence is.

I'd be so resentful; I'd never use the thing.

[shutterbug]

thanks guys....more reasons why i want to start tanning soon!