SAN DIEGO -- In the early 1980s, Prozac -- and the family of anti-depressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- brought relief from the blues to millions, but not everyone.

Now, University of California San Diego researchers are studying a new drug combination that could bring 21st century relief to even more depression sufferers.

Debbie Honeycutt knows what it's like to have a down day.

"I had an episode of depression back in 2000," she said.

Debbie took the anti-depressant drug called Wellbutrin.

"It worked very well. After nine months, I went off it and was fine until last year," Honeycutt said.

That's when Honeycutt lost her job of 25 years. The event triggered another, even worse episode of depression.

"I didn't want to do anything. I wanted to just sit in my house by myself and just sit for hours. And that's not me. I love to read, to garden, dance, sing and all those things," Honeycutt said.

To make matters work, her anti-depressant didn't work. Turns out, most popular anti-depressants only target the brain chemical seratonin and sometimes that's not enough.

"It seems like we are moving into a new era of treatments. Treatments that don't just address seratonin, but also address nor-adrenaline," UCSD psychiatrist Dr. David Feifel said.

Feifel is studying the effect of a new drug combination on depression. As part of the study, Honeycutt took the anti-depressant, Prozac, along with Straterra, a drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The Prozac worked on Honeycutt's seratonin levels and the Straterra worked on the brain chemical, nor-adrenaline.

"By developing treatments that combine these two mechanisms, we believe we're able to get great rates of response from patients and still keep side affects low," Feifel said.

One month after taking the drug combination, Honeycutt was back to her old self.

"As I started feeling better, I became more outgoing again and more motivated," Honeycutt said.

Motivated enough to start her own business.

"Everything's better. I have my energy back. I have a zest for life. I'm interested in things and now I want to do those things again," she exclaimed.

The UCSD study is part of a nationwide study and participants are still needed.

To participate, you need to have been treated medically for depression in the past. If you're interested, contact the UCSD Clinical Research Program at (619) 543-7570.