45 replies to this topic

[supercornballs]

Have you ever taken them? What was your experience like? Do you feel their is still a stigma attatched to taking them even though it's a $12 billion a year business?

I tried them this year after my doctor prescribed it for my fatigue but it hasn't helped (actually I feel more tired) and I'll be going off it next month hopefully.

[ghamina]

I've been on so many I lose track....  they helped me with my chemical imbalance as they were supposed to, but the side effects were unbearable... prozac made me violently ill every day, paxil made me pass out at odd times, zoloft gave me vertigo and cold sweats  etc etc etc....

They also made life very uninteresting... sure I wasn't having violent mood swings anymore, but I found I wasn't experiencing <b>any</b> emotion fully any more- they put me at one level, and one level only.  I don't want to live my life like that- beige and nothing but.  

Anti-depressants helped me get through some of the most painful times of my life- but as soon as I kicked the suicide attempts and periods of intense depression I stopped using them.  If I ever get that bad again I wouldn't hesitate to use them, <i>want</i> my family and friends to <b>make</b> me use them (as by that time I wouldn't do so voluntarily)  but I don't want to live my life on them

[Why Not Smile?]

I have tried Zoloft, and I had no affect from it what-so-ever. Not bad affects, not good affects. I might as well be taking air because it did NOTHING for me.

Now this new pill I'm temporarily having a prescription for is called Remeron it's quite a new one I learned from my friend about. She's almost done with medical school so I got pretty good dirt on what to get and what not to try. She told me I should go ahead and try the Prozac. But we decided (meaning my doctor and I) that we should put me on Remeron instead. It's only going to last me about 2 weeks though. She expects me to find a place of a treatment center by then and then perhaps I will have those pills represcribed. These apparently make you feel sedated and so you take them like about 45 minutes before you go to sleep and then make you feel better all day. I heard you also have to eat something with this before you go to bed. I heard this from my friend in medical school so I take her word. She's really smart anyway even if she wasn't in med school. I don't know if it's already here or not. But I got this prescription just today. We'll see what this does to me.

These pills are to help me fight off my insomnia as well as my Major Depressive Disorder-severe. Yes as if that wasn't enough to say I have a "Major Depressive Disorder" they have to go and add that the level is severe. THANKS...Yeah this REALLY cheered me up ya know to read what was all wrong with me. But hopefully this Remeron stuff will work and I won't be so social afraid anymore, fighting insomnia and feeling better about myself. But like the Zoloft, I'm skeptic...

[Coriander]

I've been on prozac and paxil; prozac didn't do anything for me, and my dad took me off it because he heard of something that it does to you that isn't good (shows how much I pay attention).  Paxil did help, but eventually I didn't need it anymore, and I don't still, and it's been about a year.  

I don't have any chemical imbalances, so it was clear to me that I didn't need to be relying on a pill to make me feel better.  Besides, unless you do have chemical imbalances, anti-depressants should be used as a boost, or a stepping stone if anything - not a crutch, and unfortunately, a lot of people use them like that.

[supercornballs]

Did anyone experience any weight gain on the meds? I've been having a hard time with that.

[Coriander]

Quote

Originally posted by supercornballs
Did anyone experience any weight gain on the meds? I've been having a hard time with that.

I was told it would have the opposite affect....but I didn't lose or gain any weight from them.

[yensen]

Personally, I wouldn't take any of the seratonin anti-depressants, even if it seemed to be a matter of life and death.  I read an article in the NY Times and apparently there's a decent amount of annecdotal evidence (and evidence that their studies that would reveal the same thing have been quickly canceled and covered up by Eli Lilly) that one of the possible side effects is complete pyschosis.  They had several stories about people who had been feeling a little down, took prozac or paxil or something, and a few days later killed their entire familys.  Freaky stuff.  But I guess if you haven't yet you're ok =)

[supercornballs]

Quote

Originally posted by yensen
Personally, I wouldn't take any of the seratonin anti-depressants unless it was a matter of life and death.  I read an article in the NY Times and apparently there's a decent amount of annecdotal evidence (and evidence that their studies that would reveal the same thing have been quickly canceled and covered up by Eli Lilly) that one of the possible side effects is complete pyschosis.  They had several stories about people who had been feeling a little down, took prozac or paxil or something, and a few days later killed their entire familys.  Freaky stuff.  But I guess if you haven't yet you're ok =)

Lol...thanks...:P

I read a huge amount about it when I told to take it ( I am taking Celexa) including personal accounts from people. I thought if I could find some relief then maybe the side effects would be worth it (though maybe not the killing your family part..).

[Why Not Smile?]

Surprisingly with this Remeron stuff I go to bed early (midnight or so) and wake up early (9 a.m. or so) it's shocking to me since I was use to my insomnia life with staying up till like 5 a.m. and waking up at 1 p.m. This has changed me a bit and it feels really weird to be waking up earlier and going to be earlier. But it is doing it's job with my insomnia. Now what about my depression, I'm not sure it's working with that.

[mrmacphisto]

Im on Cipramil, anyone else heard of this stuff?

I guess one of the 'side-effects', if thats what you can call it, is that im not finding myself depressed/upset all the time but angry at the people who've pissed me off or contributed to me feeling that way.

[Why Not Smile?]

Great now I say goodbye to Remeron cause I went to a phycatrist today. And she prescribed a new nighttime anti-deppressent for me as well as giving me a day anti-deppressent. So now I'm on Effexor and Zyprexa. The Effexor is for the day and the Zyprexa for night. I definatly don't know if this will work but I feel like a drug store with all my medications.

[KingBeatnik]

I was on Effexor for the bulk of last year, but because I recognize a rather significant hereditary potential for addiction within my family, I could never be fully trusting of it.  From what I remember, it tended to generally help focus my energies, but also drained me of them too early in the day.  Another complication- and I'll admit that my own ignorance is to blame in this, yet it still bears reason to state- nothing sits well with antidepressants.  A simple dose or two of Theraflu during the onset of a seemingly mild cold led to a three-day bout with absolute insomnia, imposed anorexia, black-outs and a rather unappealing collicky color.   I also remember a dreadful sensation of dried tear ducts, and an inability to express true sorrow at even the most understandable of moments.

[Ryan]

I've been on Zoloft for...uhh...4 years (with a break in between).  I have to say that it works...for me.  This has already been said, but it doesn't work for everybody...but I was lucky.

Doesn't feel like it's working right now, but things could be worse I guess...bleh.
I'm seeing a counsellor on Wednesday...thank goodness :)

Ryan

[ghamina]

Quote

Originally posted by yensen
Personally, I wouldn't take any of the seratonin anti-depressants, even if it seemed to be a matter of life and death.  I read an article in the NY Times and apparently there's a decent amount of annecdotal evidence (and evidence that their studies that would reveal the same thing have been quickly canceled and covered up by Eli Lilly) that one of the possible side effects is complete pyschosis.  They had several stories about people who had been feeling a little down, took prozac or paxil or something, and a few days later killed their entire familys.  Freaky stuff.  But I guess if you haven't yet you're ok =)

I really don't believe this.  My problem is definitely hereditary and chemically based.... when my father doesn't take his medication he often gets  violent, irrationally angry and just scary to be around.  This is a problem because he is a pilot  and so isn't allowed to be taking zoloft, as it causes vertigo, or any of the other drugs on the market.  It often comes down to flying or taking his meds, he chooses flying every time.  Lately its getting to the point where I'm about to start lacing his food with his meds, at least for the next month or so.  I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it seems that if you take them for a short while (a month or so) they help regulate you even after you stop taking them.

[Why Not Smile?]

Great now I'm scared of my own medicine. I just don't know what they are doing to me. I was on Remeron that seemed to work really well on my insomnia problem but they switched me to another sedating pill for nighttime. Frankly I don't think it works as well but this is the second day only so far. As for the Effexor now these stories are making me scared. So far I don't see any change what so ever. Or I should refrase that, I don't feel any change happening. But it takes months for some to work I here. Oh well, we'll see.

[supercornballs]

Quote

Originally posted by Why Not Smile?
Great now I'm scared of my own medicine. I just don't know what they are doing to me. I was on Remeron that seemed to work really well on my insomnia problem but they switched me to another sedating pill for nighttime. Frankly I don't think it works as well but this is the second day only so far. As for the Effexor now these stories are making me scared. So far I don't see any change what so ever. Or I should refrase that, I don't feel any change happening. But it takes months for some to work I here. Oh well, we'll see.

You should talk to your doctor about your fears as it is their job to help you. Then I would look up your drugs on google and find out everything you can. As for the stories making you scared, well everyones bodies react differently so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Remember you are in charge. You don't have to take these and if they aren't helping in the long run ask the doctor to help ween you off of them.

[Why Not Smile?]

Quote

Originally posted by supercornballs


You should talk to your doctor about your fears as it is their job to help you. Then I would look up your drugs on google and find out everything you can. As for the stories making you scared, well everyones bodies react differently so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Remember you are in charge. You don't have to take these and if they aren't helping in the long run ask the doctor to help ween you off of them.

Ok I already talked to the docotors about it but now I'll do research. Thanks for the tip.

[REMFan]

I've just been prescribed Zoloft.  I've only been taking it for 5 days, so I shouldn't feel anything for at least a few more days.  The only thing I think its doing now is helping me sleep, which is good cuz I havent been sleeping too good lately.  But I take it in the morning, so I dunno how it could be making me drowsy in the evening?  Maybe my mind is just playing tricks on me.  I've read different things on Zoloft, and it seems to work for some people, and not for others.  I'm hoping it will work for me.  I was on Prozac about 12 years ago, and it was causing me to hear voices, so I quit taking it.  So, I guess theres good reason for me to be skeptical about being on another antidepressant.  I dunno, I'll see what happens.

[Rachelk]

I am bipolar and I have been on everything

right now I am on Topamax and Welbutriin.

I have been on Paxil (I hated it) as well as a few others...

I like Topamax and Welbrutrin combo except for the following side effects...I kinda get dopey sometimes like drunky. But you have to be really around me a lot to even notice. Carbonation also taste funny and so does some water I am now very picky with my water because a lot of it taste like metal.


I had severe weight loss on my meds. But Paxil made me gain weight. Topamax made made me melt away.


sometimes i feel like i am unaffected by everything..and it makes me feel slightly evil that I dont care anymore. But with the welbutrin I found a good balance. I dont have mania and depression to the extreme anymore but I am still emotional which is good because that is me and I would not want to loose that part of who I am

[Avalon]

Let's see, I'll run down the list of what I've been on....

1. Imapramine: made me less depressed enough to get out of bed and function, which was a fantastic improvement. BUT, about three months later I started having night terrors of psychotic serial killers killing off my relatives one by one. it was like having Freddy in my head. The kicker came when I had to be hospitalized for going in and out of consciousness. I was at work when my head and arms suddenly just went freezing cold. I couldn't warm up and I kept falling asleep. The hospital staff thought I had purposely ODed and made me drink that nasty liquid coal and I had IV's run through me all day. The idiots wouldn't believe me that I wasn't trying to kill myself. Of course when I told them if I wanted to kill myself, I wouldn't take an ANTI- depressant. Morons. I ended my day at the mental hospital down the street for an evaluation. The bastards left me in a hospital gown, naked underneath, with my IV needle, no IV attached, and shipped me in an ambulance strapped down like a true mental patient. Then I just sat in a bed for two hours before a doctor came to ask me those, can you tell me how you feel from one to ten questions. By the end of that day, I really was ready to go mental on those doctors. Turned out to be a random no reason side effect. End of Imapramine.

2. Desipramine: supposedly a less side-effecty version of imapramine. After I had this 'script filled, I had the worst day ever. The idiot pharmacist printed the wrong dose on the label, omitting a zero in the mg's and I ended up going through severe withdrawal during my switch over. Essentially, I ended up going off the full imapramine dose to a barely there desipramine dose. I laughed, cried, and barfed all in the same five minutes that day. Several times. And talk about the shakes! After I got this figured out, this med worked for me for a few years, got me through my worst self, ie. suicidal tendencies, need to feel pain, etc. Then, one day, I noticed that I was getting "low" again. It just wasn't working for me anymore.

3. Enter Effexor XR. BEST anti-depressant EVER!!! This was like being blind all my life, and all of a sudden seeing for the first time. Fantastic! Then, six months later, the weight piled on. First week I noticed it I had gained five pounds. Next week, five more. I went from a size 2 to a size 7/8 in two months. It was a scary thing to go into my closet one night and not fit into any of my pants anymore. I had to go to the store in workout pants to buy something that actually fit me. After the weight gain came extreme fatigue. I would sleep 18hours a day, 24 if I could've. I would be instantly asleep the moment I closed my eyes. I ended up popping caffeine pills to get to work. End of Effexor.

4. Paxil. Paxil was great, for the two weeks I took it. Great for losing some weight that is. It made me so sick to my stomach every day that I actually took three pregnancy tests. End of paxil.

5. Zoloft....see Paxil.

6. Celexa: nice. o.k. results. not nearly as great as effexor though. Unfortunately, back came the extreme sleepiness after three months.

7. Lexapro: my doctor told me this is like the new and improved version of Celexa. Fewer side effects. I've been taking Lexapro for about a year now. O.K. results moodwise, not sleepy all the time anymore. But, I do still get over-fatigued for no reason a week at a time every so often. This bothers me immensely, but I don't know what else to take since all the meds I've tried so far haven't worked. I'm running out of options. Between the extreme sleepiness, weight gain, and nausea, I have a hard time not getting the side effects.