[Meta] Antidepressant warning

[AnnonyBox]

If its not too much trouble, I'd like to ask if we can get one of those informational threads to consolodate infotmation about various antidepressants. For me, one of my biggest barriers to seeking help is the fear of the sexual and emotional numbing caused by ssri's and I feel like if we had the pro's and cons listed in an informational way, it might help some people. I imagine that I can't be the only person with such concerns, so having that information readily available could certainly make others like me feel less hopeless, and maybe help provide a means to recovery to some.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

I really think that's a good idea!

 

[Orpheus*]

If its not too much trouble, I'd like to ask if we can get one of those informational threads to consolodate infotmation about various antidepressants. For me, one of my biggest barriers to seeking help is the fear of the sexual and emotional numbing caused by ssri's and I feel like if we had the pro's and cons listed in an informational way, it might help some people. I imagine that I can't be the only person with such concerns, so having that information readily available could certainly make others like me feel less hopeless, and maybe help provide a means to recovery to some.

Look into Wellbutrin! It's an atypical antidepressant, works on dopamine not serotonin. It does not have the potential for sexual and emotional numbing or weight gain (a big deal for an anorexic like me). No antidepressants work for me (cause my problems aren't chemical, duh), but Wellbutrin is literally a mild stimulant so it gives me more physical energy.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

I can only speak to my personal experience so that's what I'll do...

Prozac
Pro: worked wonders for me for almost a year. Lost all OCD anxiety and depression.
Con: stopped working after that time.
Con: tried a higher doseage and it disassociated me to a dangerous degree.
Con: caused agasmyia.

Mittazapine
Pro: some reduction in anxiety.
Pro: really helped with sleep, didn't want to get out of bed in the morning. I wasnt sleeping before this.
Con: caused constipation.
Con: tends to mess with your hormone levels and glucose metabolism.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

I've tried nearly every antidepressant there is and none of them worked for me. SSRI'S can be very dangerous drugs for many and shouldn't be taken lightly. I always found it a bit ironic that one of the main side effects is suicidal and homicidal ideation.

 

[BPD Barbie]

Following on from above, I take Sertraline 200mg and have experienced some side effects such as loss of sex drive and feeling numb to the world. I csnt weigh up if its good or bad. I've pretty much taken everything out there before, but I'm very sensitive to medication so I usually get side effects for everything.

 

[Broken Chimera]

That's a good idea.

Zoloft: Made me sleep most of the day and made me stay pissed whenever I wasn't sleep. Killed my sex drive.

Latuda: I really didn't notice a change, but I heard about horrible side effects that it could cause.

Prozac: I felt better but when I got angry it was over the top like with the Zoloft.

And that's why I quit trying anything. I'm still getting over the side effects these drugs caused me. It really would be nice to be told what damage these could cause someone.

 

[Epsilon0]

I had two types of side-effects with ssri.

1. Side effects that disappeared after the first few weeks

Citalopram: bad headaches, light nausea, really bad anxiety, feeling unreal, feeling detached in a strange way, restlesness

Zoloft: anxiety, restlesness, headaches

2. Side effects that I had during the entire course of treatment, i.e. many years

Citalopram: vivid nightmares, low blood glucose levels, yawning, diffuse anxiety, flashes/zap going through my body, inability to cry or feel very happy

Zoloft: hot flashes

 

[MaybeSoon]

Recently tried Prozac, slept about 6 hours in 3 days and felt absolutely calm about killing myself, so stopped them.

Had good success with Sertaline for a while when I wasn't suicidal but then I started waking up ridiculously early with no tiredness. I don't cope well at all with lack of sleep so stopped them.

Had a brief spell on Mirtazapine which felt great for about a week, then I started getting restless legs on a night and entered into a massive depression, crying almost constantly so stopped them, probably the closest I've came to ending it.

Also tried Citalopram, phoned a hospital trying to get sectioned because I felt like I was losing my mind. This was shortly after my first breakdown and wasn't suicidal.

Unfortunately I don't think antidepressents are for me since I would say my depression is secondary to anxiety. If I could get access to a drug that just works purely on anxiety I would be a lot more hopeful but the GP's here say they can't give out anxiety specific medication. (except propanolol which I've got about 10 grams of since I don't find it that useful)

Anyway that's pretty much why I self medicate with alchohol, just a shame it's so expensive long term.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

1. Side effects that disappeared efter the first few weeks

Side effects that are your body adjusting to an exogenous substance.

2. Side effects that I had during the entire course of treatment, i.e. many years

NOT side effects. I wish people/doctors wouldn't use this term. Long term profound biochemical changes.

 

[Epsilon0]

Side effects that are your body adjusting to an exogenous substance.

NOT side effects. I wish people/doctors wouldn't use this term. Long term profound biochemical changes.

You are so right. I never thought of it this way, but this is a much better description of what these pills do to your body.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

You are so right. I never thought of it this way, but this is a much better description of what these pills do to your body.

Not a criticism of you btw there, a criticism of the medical profession's insistence in using dismissive terminology to promote their own agenda.

 

[Epsilon0]

Not a criticism of you btw there, a criticism of the medical profession's insistence in using dismissive terminology to promote their own agenda.

Oh, I understood you perfectly, please don't worry. And I agree. Just the other day I wrote in another thread about the metabolic changes caused by Citalopram.

If there's one thing I wish, is that my doctors had talked to me about how much of an impact these seemingly harmless pills would actually have on my entire body.

I am struggling to find an explanation for doctors' reticence to advise patients on the long-term changes ssri cause.

And mind you, I asked about "side effects" many times and was very vocal about my concerns, but each time I received the same answer: ssri are safe, tested, harmless.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

I am struggling to find an explanation for doctors' reticence to advise patients on the long-term changes ssri cause.

It's because it's seen as quick fix in the short term. All they have is a short consultation. They want a positive outcome NOW. They don't care that the patient may have further effects that another doctor will have to deal with in the future. It's very hard to think long term when you are over-worked and have ten minutes with a patient to talk about ONE symptom. I understand it, but it doesn't make it right.

Short-term-ism. The illness that will destroy humanity. Ironically, in the long-run.

 

[Blackpoolbootz]

Look into Wellbutrin! It's an atypical antidepressant, works on dopamine not serotonin. It does not have the potential for sexual and emotional numbing or weight gain (a big deal for an anorexic like me). No antidepressants work for me (cause my problems aren't chemical, duh), but Wellbutrin is literally a mild stimulant so it gives me more physical energy.

Wellbutrin not available in UK :-( or I would ask for it, sounds like it would work better for me acting on dopamine. The more energy stimulate sounds good usually other AD work the other way.
Only one that works for me to any degree is effexor/venlalfaxine.
Prozac,citalopram, sertraline did nothing much.
Venlalfaxine had to raise dose to 300mg, leave me foggy emotionally and effect my memory and weird sexual side effects. And if I miss dose the negatives come back acts like a tranqaliser for me short term. Miss dose for 2 days and get electric feelings in hand's and brain fog.
Used to get these intense euphoric feelings when going on or comming off AD but haven't had them for years :-( not sure if anyone else has had them?

 

[Mm80]

Recently tried Prozac, slept about 6 hours in 3 days and felt absolutely calm about killing myself, so stopped them.

Had good success with Sertaline for a while when I wasn't suicidal but then I started waking up ridiculously early with no tiredness. I don't cope well at all with lack of sleep so stopped them.

Had a brief spell on Mirtazapine which felt great for about a week, then I started getting restless legs on a night and entered into a massive depression, crying almost constantly so stopped them, probably the closest I've came to ending it.

Also tried Citalopram, phoned a hospital trying to get sectioned because I felt like I was losing my mind. This was shortly after my first breakdown and wasn't suicidal.

Unfortunately I don't think antidepressents are for me since I would say my depression is secondary to anxiety. If I could get access to a drug that just works purely on anxiety I would be a lot more hopeful but the GP's here say they can't give out anxiety specific medication. (except propanolol which I've got about 10 grams of since I don't find it that useful)

Anyway that's pretty much why I self medicate with alchohol, just a shame it's so expensive long term.

Such a good point in tbere about suffering anxiety more than depression. I have always wondered why anxiety and depression have been coined as the same condition, and treated together with one solution, usually an ssri. Im convinced that people can suffer either one without the other, or one much stronger than the other. Why cant anxiety and depression be looked at as separate conditions?
Plus the alcohol thing. Ive had so many disagreements with psychiatrists because alcohol is essentially an anti anxiety drug. Id ask, Why couldnt you prescribe diazepam at a proper dosage long term and id use that instead of alcohol which is more damaging ? Because they are addictive and build tolerance, is the answer. Is alcohol not addictive and tolerance built to it? Duh.

Wellbutrin not available in UK :-( or I would ask for it, sounds like it would work better for me acting on dopamine. The more energy stimulate sounds good usually other AD work the other way.
Only one that works for me to any degree is effexor/venlalfaxine.
Prozac,citalopram, sertraline did nothing much.
Venlalfaxine had to raise dose to 300mg, leave me foggy emotionally and effect my memory and weird sexual side effects. And if I miss dose the negatives come back acts like a tranqaliser for me short term. Miss dose for 2 days and get electric feelings in hand's and brain fog.
Used to get these intense euphoric feelings when going on or comming off AD but haven't had them for years :-( not sure if anyone else has had them?

I believe its called zyban in the uk and prescribed as an anti smoking drug. I believe that a psychiatrist can prescribe it off label so might be worth a try? Ive often thought that dopamine has been overlooked in depression with the focus being too much on serotonin

 

[a.n.kirillov]

It's because it's seen as quick fix in the short term. All they have is a short consultation. They want a positive outcome NOW. They don't care that the patient may have further effects that another doctor will have to deal with in the future. It's very hard to think long term when you are over-worked and have ten minutes with a patient to talk about ONE symptom. I understand it, but it doesn't make it right.

Short-term-ism. The illness that will destroy humanity. Ironically, in the long-run.

One big factor for this is also their inability to admit their powerlessness. If they simply were honest and said: "Look, we have no idea how these drugs really work; they just mess with the chemicals in your brain and we throw them at the wall until something sticks and hope that the side effects won't damage (or kill) you and we have no long term strategy to get you off of these drugs again. They can never fix the underlying problem." Then, and only then, would I begin to trust a psychiatrist.

 

[Mm80]

Brilliant points. Have you ever tried to put these points to a doctor? They become defensive sometimes aggressive and the patient is deemed to have a bad attitude. I think in time the permanent damage of these drugs will be proven, but it's a bit late for the generation who trusted the doctors and had their lives ruined. I'm not saying that doctors should have all the answers, but if they didn't pretend to know and were honest, they would get a little more respect and compliance from anyone with a brain.

 

[a.n.kirillov]

They become defensive sometimes aggressive and the patient is deemed to have a bad attitude

Thats exactly the problem. There's an asymmetry of power quite exclusive to psychiatry (which they inherited from the clergy) to make judgements about the very core of your being (your psyche=soul). If you disagree with them, they can simply label that as pathological; they can twist anything you say into some form of derangement (if they wish to do so).

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Brilliant points. Have you ever tried to put these points to a doctor? They become defensive sometimes aggressive and the patient is deemed to have a bad attitude. I think in time the permanent damage of these drugs will be proven, but it's a bit late for the generation who trusted the doctors and had their lives ruined. I'm not saying that doctors should have all the answers, but if they didn't pretend to know and were honest, they would get a little more respect and compliance from anyone with a brain.

I'm persona non grata for pointing these things out to the psych. Bad move. They don't want to know facts, just convenient preconceptions. In another 20 years (if me make it that far!) these drugs will most likely be banned.

 

[Blackpoolbootz]

Such a good point in tbere about suffering anxiety more than depression. I have always wondered why anxiety and depression have been coined as the same condition, and treated together with one solution, usually an ssri. Im convinced that people can suffer either one without the other, or one much stronger than the other. Why cant anxiety and depression be looked at as separate conditions?
Plus the alcohol thing. Ive had so many disagreements with psychiatrists because alcohol is essentially an anti anxiety drug. Id ask, Why couldnt you prescribe diazepam at a proper dosage long term and id use that instead of alcohol which is more damaging ? Because they are addictive and build tolerance, is the answer. Is alcohol not addictive and tolerance built to it? Duh.

I believe its called zyban in the uk and prescribed as an anti smoking drug. I believe that a psychiatrist can prescribe it off label so might be worth a try? Ive often thought that dopamine has been overlooked in depression with the focus being too much on serotonin

Yes I don't think serotonin works for some people. Only a guess that their are low levels of serotonin don't think it's every been proved, dopamine never really gets a mention I think.

 

[DJ2000]

Look into Wellbutrin! It's an atypical antidepressant, works on dopamine not serotonin. It does not have the potential for sexual and emotional numbing or weight gain (a big deal for an anorexic like me). No antidepressants work for me (cause my problems aren't chemical, duh), but Wellbutrin is literally a mild stimulant so it gives me more physical energy.

Like cocaine, it's mostly a dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor.

 

[Mm80]

Yes I don't think serotonin works for some people. Only a guess that their are low levels of serotonin don't think it's every been proved, dopamine never really gets a mention I think.

I bought some off a UK online pharmacy as a smoking cessation therapy and definitely felt a difference but I took it along side setraline so can't be sure how good it was. Worth a try. Shame it isn't approved as an anti depressant in the UK really as it gives a different option as it's a dri

 

[Orpheus*]

Like cocaine, it's mostly a dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor.

Lmao that's exactly why it's the only antidepressant that does anything at all for me, because I fucking love cocaine. Wellbutrin is cocaine without the high, almost all the physical effects are the exact same.

Wellbutrin not available in UK :-( or I would ask for it, sounds like it would work better for me acting on dopamine. The more energy stimulate sounds good usually other AD work the other way.
Only one that works for me to any degree is effexor/venlalfaxine.
Prozac,citalopram, sertraline did nothing much.
Venlalfaxine had to raise dose to 300mg, leave me foggy emotionally and effect my memory and weird sexual side effects. And if I miss dose the negatives come back acts like a tranqaliser for me short term. Miss dose for 2 days and get electric feelings in hand's and brain fog.
Used to get these intense euphoric feelings when going on or comming off AD but haven't had them for years :-( not sure if anyone else has had them?

Wellbutrin is just the brand name, the name of the drug itself is bupropion, is that available in the UK?

 

[Mm80]

Lmao that's exactly why it's the only antidepressant that does anything at all for me, because I fucking love cocaine. Wellbutrin is cocaine without the high, almost all the physical effects are the exact same.

Wellbutrin is just the brand name, the name of the drug itself is bupropion, is that available in the UK?

Yeah it's called zyban and used as an anti smoking drug

 

[Orpheus*]

Yeah it's called zyban and used as an anti smoking drug

Oh sorry didn't see your post saying that before. What dose were you on?

 

[Mm80]

Oh sorry didn't see your post saying that before. What dose were you on?

Its ok no probs at all. I took 150mg but the issue for me was that i tooknit alongside sertraline so cant be sure if it worked. Next time i will isolate it to see.

 

[SpareWheel]

I've been on Mirtazapine for 6/7 months now, starting at 15mg a day and I'm now on 45mg a day.

I'll be honest, I don't think they're doing bugger all, they don't help with sleep which is a major reason I was prescribed them in the first place and I don't feel any less suicidal - in fact by me being here I think I've become worse.

I speak to my GP every two weeks, due a call tomorrow, everytime we speak I mention being suicidal, hugely depressed, massively anxious, unable to get any sleep until I'm physically exhausted and even then I only get 3 hours max. He never does anything other than - upped my dose of Mirtazapine from 15 to 30 to 45, recommending Amitryptiline which I've had before and didn't work, and giving me Propanalol which just made me wheeze badly.

I've no idea how he'll react tomorrow, he can't up my Mirtazapine any further as I'm already on the max dose, and he strongly advises against stopping taking it even when I say I don't think it's doing anything positive.

I know Mirtazipine has a positive effect for some, but for me at least I think it's been purely negative, I feel more depressed and suicidal since taking it and I was already suicidal enough before. After 17 years of plotting my own demise and having reasons to stick around, I'm now at the stage I've had enough and I plan on ctb in June, I have a hotel booked, I just need to sort out my method - it's between SN or Nitrogen. Whichever is easiest for me to get supplies in time.

 

[helpmehelpme]

Anyone had luck with Cymbalta? I had some magic days with Effexor but was done in by urinary tract infection and urinary retention. Wondering if Cymbalta might be same (both SNRIs) but different.

Best to all on their paths.

 

[SpareWheel]

I have to keep googling some of these drugs as I know they have different brand names wherever you're from, even paracetamol has other names and that stuff is like 17p here and people give it to their pets.

I'm answer to the Cymbalta, nope. Never even heard of it until reading the post. It sounds like an artificial sweetener when reading it. Does it have a good reputation? I know both ADs I've been prescribed have been 50/50, some swear by them and some flat out warn people off.