Antidepressants with least side effects?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2008
Antidepressants with least side effects?
17
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 7:56am
I am considering taking

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2008
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 8:41am

Hi Buddy,

I went on zoloft last year when XAP was deployed cause I just couldnt handle it anymore. I dont like pills...I dont like taking them, I dont like how Dr's think a pill is a quick fix, I dont like the chance of getting addicted to meds.
So convincing me that I needed antidepressants was diffcult, but I did agree because I couldnt handle my emotions any longer.

The Dr told me that I wouldnt feel a difference until the 6 week mark- not true. I felt the phsy. effects within the 1st week. I was kinda dizzy/floaty feeling at 1st, week 2 wasnt as bad except for you may get the sh*ts...dont trust a fart!! Stay close to a bathroom.

Once I was on my dose, I felt stronger and more in control of my emotions. I was eating and sleeping better. I had no urge to drink or smoke, I felt content with things. But I was also doing CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) as well.

Brilliant me felt I didnt need it anymore and started to ween myself off of it. 2nd week of a lowered dose XAP leaves, I still wanted to come off of it because after all he was the reason why I needed them in the 1st place. It took a total of 3 weeks to come completey off the meds-it was emotional. Yes it could have been because of XAP leaving but it was the kind of emotion that I would be OK one min then the next Im laughing my ass off then I would start crying for no reason. I felt like when I was depressed that I would go way off the deep end and couldnt control my thoughts.

All this lasted for about 3 weeks after my last dose. I never experienced weight gain or hair loss. I was on the meds for about 6 months. The biggest side effect for me was coming off of the med.(the roller coaster of emotions returned) It is to be expected since zoloft is to increase serotonin.

HTH
DM

ps....I forgot to mention that once the meds got into me that I had a hard time achieving an orgasm.




Edited 3/23/2010 8:57 am ET by dm2006
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2008
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 9:10am

Thank you dm2006.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2007
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 9:33am

hi, i was on zoloft for a couple years for anxiety. i had little side effects on it.. but it stopped working for me after a couple years of being on it..and i did

~ life....

http://nomoreblues.wordpress.com/

Oh just leave me just get out of my head
'Cause I can't ta

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2008
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 9:56am
thank you, lifeisgood.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2009
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:03am

Just chiming in with my two cents...


I am on a low dose of Effexor (75mg per day). I tend to be anxious and the Effexor is for anxiety and depression. I have had no ill side effects that I can identify. No weight gain, no hair loss, no loss of libido. It has helped me with anxiety and the ridiculous way I would worry about things....which were almost always "what if" scenarios that had no basis in reality. Several years ago I was on Paxil and I HATED it!! I gained about 15 pounds and basically just went numb. The day I realized I needed to get off that crap was when a friend's 12-year-old son committed suicide and I couldn't even cry. Paxil left me with absolutely no emotions. I wasn't happy and I wasn't sad. I was a zombie. You may have to try a few different meds until you find what works best for you. Personally, I have no problem with better living through pharmacuticals. :-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2008
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:08am

"It has helped me with anxiety and the ridiculous way I would worry about things....which were almost always "what if" scenarios that had no basis in reality. "


This is me!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2009
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:10am

Buddy,
I have been on on paxil since December and I think it is working. It is an anti-depressant and also has an anti-anxiety component, which I needed. It took a few weeks for me to really feel a difference and I was a little queasy. After about a month on it I developed night sweats (totally NOT fun) and I thought I was going through 'the change' - but it turns out that I'm not and the night sweats are a side effect. Sucks. I lowered my dose and the sweats decreased, so I think I stick with paxil.

Good luck and I'm glad you're doing a lot of research. We all need to be proactive about our health care and not blindly accept any recommendations, even from Drs.

Best,
Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2008
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:13am
Thank you, Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2007
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:14am

i was put on it for anxiety, but it is also an antidepressant (which i am VERY thankful for being on this past month will all this) and also for firbromyalgia (sp?) my dr. thought it might help with my back pain. it doesn't. but i have had no side effects from it except occasionally dry mouth, and thankfully can miss a dose without getting sick or dizzy like on the zoloft.


and i think it started working within a week...

~ life....

http://nomoreblues.wordpress.com/

Oh just leave me just get out of my head
'Cause I can't ta

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2009
Tue, 03-23-2010 - 10:29am

Oh, my Alwayst!
I am so sorry about your friend's son. heartbreaking.

You post reminded me that paxil also killed my libido, not that it matters right now since I'm not having sex! ugh. with anyone, ha. not even myself! pht!!

and Paxil also leveled me out, maybe too much. I also don't cry, but I can't really tell if that is because I don't want to or I can't. My mood swings, always downward swings, were severe and I was raging - so, paxil was good for me.

xo
Dee

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