My Experience

I had been depressed and had cycled through several different kinds of antidepressants at relatively low doses. Each one helped a little, but they also came with baggage: side effects that were very unpleasant, from strange dreams and weight gain to just not feeling myself.

I had been seeing an internist. I then went to a neurologist to discuss migraines, and in the course of our discussion I mentioned the weight gain. The doctor reviewed the antidepressant I was taking and told me that it was responsible for the weight gain. Ironically, part of the depression was from not having enough time to exercise, which I used to do consistently and it made a big difference in my life. The neurologist said that I should treat exercise like a prescription: do it once a day, for at least 30 minutes. We decided I would taper off the antidepressant medication and focus on exercise.

Having the neurologist tell me I was to treat exercise as “doctor’s orders” made a big difference. I chose to bike indoors on my bike hooked up to a trainer. This made it convenient, doable in all weather, and with the addition of a TV, something I looked forward to doing. I did my best to exercise every day, even if it was just for 25 minutes or so. And in about two weeks it made a huge difference. I was off the meds and feeling better.