Has anyone on here had positive experiences with antidepressants?

Over the past 24 years, I’ve been on pretty much every antidepressant known to man. Most recently, I was taking Duloxetene which is the generic Cymbalta. IMHO, this was the best one. It helped with the depression and also with my fibromyalgia symptoms. However, at $75 a month, even for the generic, it is a bit pricey. Now I’m taking the Effexor and it’s not helping much. I took it once before and had headaches and have noticed they’re coming back. I may have to “bite the bullet” and spend the buck for the Cymbalta.

I have to keep reminding myself they’re not magic pills. Truthfully, they work better if you also go for counseling in addition to taking the medication. They don’t make the stress or other causes of depression disappear. They do, if they work, help you handle things but don’t make them go away. And the “enhancers” like Abilify aren’t generic and are prohibitively expensive as well.

I have been taking for 50 years amitriptyline and perphenazine I sleep like a baby and no one else knew I ever had any mental issues please check with your doctor . This is GOLFGIRL

I've been taking Welbutrin for 16 years. It doesn't cause weight gain or suicidal thoughts. It can cause insomnia, but it has not for me.

Reading online reviews is a lot like visiting this forum - those with bad experience are most apt to be looking on the web and posting about it. If one size fit all there would only need to be one antidepressant, KWIM? I think you have to trust your doctor (yeah, if you're like me that's the hard part) and be willing to experiment a little, and accept that there might be side effects but weigh those against the benefits.

There is a swab test available now that can help determine the best antidepressant for you. Most insurances cover this test but not all. And I agree that counseling along with meds helps a great deal.

I hope this helps. Anxiety and depression can beat you down.

Absolutely, 100% yes! Depression can be crippling . Please try medication. It may take a few tries to find the right medication. There is no shame in this. I’m of EFFEXOR XR. It works. However, you must take it at the same tine every day and it does take awhile to taper off.
dint let that scare you . Please take care of yourself !

I took pharmaceutical antidepressants for some time, then finally stopped using them.

Just recently under physician’s recommendation, I’ve been taking St. John’s Wort and Deplin (actually a non prescriptive generic of Deplin readily available on Amazon). This combination has been very helpful for me.

I have developed sort of a technique for isolating my depressive thinking- (My depression is NOT me) and although this approach may seem simplistic, it actually helps me show my depressive thoughts who’s boss (ME!😊).

Hope you are able to find the approach that gives you maximum support. Caregiving is certainly hard enough to deal with without depressed perspective as part of your personal la escape!

I do not take anything, for some reason, I am never depressed anyway, I have 2 friends that take Effexor and they both talk and holler in their sleep, I can't sleep in the same room with them without ear plugs. Also alcohol and Effexor don't mix, if they drink they have blackouts, not good.

I take Effexor 300 mgs for major depressive disorder.
The side effects that are hard for me are weight gain (I used to be very thin, now I am just fat) and feeling tired all of the time (I have to take naps during the day in order to function)
But I have been on the meds since I was 24, I have had to do the try different meds things since I was 21. Effexor was the best for me, despite the PITA side effects. It's not a 100% cure all medication. All anti-depressants are like that.
My suggestion is to try different meds and see how you feel, if anything improves. Not everyone can take the same anti-depressants, everyone is different. Just because one person has success with one anti-depressant doesn't mean an another person will have the same success. I would ask about the herbal supplements (like St John's wort) with a doctor before taking them. Better safe than sorry.
If you need to ask questions about this matter, you can always private message me.

PS: There are some anti-depressant manufacturers that are coming out with no weight gain meds. I did hear of one, but can't remember the name. There may be more coming out, but I would give it time with that.

I have taken zoloft on and off over the years. My depressions appear to be hormonally mediated and I was able to go off all meds after menopause was completed.

My husband has had good experiences with Prozac and Wellbutrin; one of my dear friends had a major depressive episode two years ago and what worked was ECT and Seroquel.

Good luck; and I agree about the combination of meds with talk therapy, especially with someone who does Cognitive Behavior Therapy or Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Lexapro is a miracle for me but I feel a little like a zombie on it (too calm, even on 5 mg) and I put on weight, even on 5 mg. But emotionally it is a miracle. My doctor just started me on 5 mg of Prozac. That takes longer to kick in so we will see. I would love to NOT have to take anti-anxiety medication. But, life will not allow for that. If the medication helps me to deal well with everything then I need to be taking it, not only for my sake but for the sake of my family. I truly hope you find something that helps you.

I had a good experience with Wellbutrin. I too feared the SSRIs due to negative reviews and several friends that had not great experiences with them. Initially I tried Lexapro and it made me feel wired up and killed my appetite. Just going on an antidepressant was a big deal for me, I'd always been a suck it up buttercup- kind of girl. But the unreasonable expectation I laid out for myself to be a perfect caregiver for my mom and my husband as well as working fulltime and dealing with my own health issues sent me into a deep depression.
The Wellbutrin made me feel calm, organized and capable again. Didn't gain any weight , a little insomnia. Stayed on it from 2013 until 2017 then I felt it's benefits kind of plateued out for me. I went off it and have done ok until recently when I too am considering an antidepressant again. Still on the fence. Some days I do ok and others are utter darkness. Therapy, meditation, yoga, friends, my dogs all help. Good luck to you- I hope you find something that helps.

Thx for the answers so far.

I don't know what I'm going to do. Do I just stay how I am or risk taking something and risk possible weight gain etc.? I know some would say who cares if you gain a bit of weight if you feel better. In my case as a former anorexic the thought of gaining weight just makes me even more depressed. I don't want to be fat and happy. I want to be slim and happy. Is there such a thing with antidepressants? Doesn't sound like it.

As I said I tried Effexor. It didn't cause too much weight gain but caused post nasal drip which just became intolerable. I think I did try Wellbutrin and it caused insomnia so I discontinued that shortly after I started it. So..........don't know. We'll see I guess.

But thx again for the answers.

My mom has been taking Duloxetene for awhile now,, we have noticed a difference, and she is still skinny as a rail! She has lots of issues, but her overall mood seems better.

I've been taking Paxil for 17 years. It did wonders for my depression after my marriage ended. It is also a great drug for OCD anxiety, which I didn't even realize I had until the symptoms were alleviated using the Paxil.

On the down side, it has destroyed my libido, but I've been unpartnered since my divorce so it hasn't really mattered much. I probably do gain weight more easily, but that could be due to aging, menopause, a lot of things. I'm still able to lose weight if I limit my calories. I can't speak to insomnia since my sleep issues predated my SSRI use. It probably hasn't made them any worse.

Good luck! I would not suffer with depression or anxiety without at least trying to get relief through modern medicine.

I took Paxil for 5 years after being diagnosed with depression and PTSD after finding my birth family in 2000. I was in SUCH bad shape, I seriously would have considered taking arsenic if it promised to relieve me of some of the horrible symptoms I was suffering. Fortunately, the Paxil worked a CHARM. It was honestly like someone had switched on a light, it worked THAT well to turn off my symptoms and get me back to my old self in short order. I had zero side effects from the medication as well, thank God.

My daughter takes Prozac and has had no side effects from that medication either.

Good luck........I hope you find relief with a medication that works!!! But don't forget, ALL medications contain a list of warnings as long as a roll of toilet paper. Don't let that stop you.........keep trying until you find something that works for YOU!

There are 2 types of depression n that is major depressing n manic depression or have both.I have both n I take a med called TrileptaI.I take 450mg am n 300mg pm.I have took alot of different antidepressant n Trileptal seems to work better for me.However I still have bad days and that is because I have chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, degenerative disc n lumbar disc disease.Also I have osteoarthritis n the physical pain causes mental pain.Meds don't work by themselves u have to have other coping skills as well.Also Trileptal doesn't affect the liver like most of the other antidepressants that I have tooken.Ur the only one that's gonna know what works for you and what doesn't work for you.By having a good counselor that will help u with other coping skills will help u alot.No matter what u take or the coping skills u have there are always gonna be like rollercoaster rides.Alot of ppl doesn't even know what their diagnosis is n that's when u tell ur Dr to reasse you so u know what exactly what ur diagnosis is.I wish you well n talk to ur Dr.

I took Paxil in my early thirties and gained 20 Ibs.. I'm afraid that I probably am just ultra sensitive to medications and may have a problem with anything I take.

But I am still appreciating all your guys input. Thanks!😊

I was on Prozac for a few months. Can't say they helped much if any so, we discontinued them

I was on Lexapro once due to PTSD and anxiety from a car accident and I never noticed a weight gain but then I’ve always exercised. By the way, exercise in itself is recommended for depression. So I don’t know if you do any form of it, but you should...even walking is helpful.
a friend of mine takes Cymbalta and she said it really helped with her dark thoughts. My dad is on it now and I can tell a difference from when he was on Celexa and before that he was on Zoloft.

I have been on Citalopram for some years now (CELEXA). I have literally NO side effects and it has really helped me. I take it in the evenings. I don't recommend Zoloft; had to go off of it because I couldn't sleep.

Have used Prozac for many years. No side effects. Twice tried reducing dosage with doc's okay, but the black cloak of depression quickly came back. In my mind, Prosac keeps me "normal" and I view my situation as a chemical imbalance. It helped me immediately when I first started taking it. Did not have to wait weeks to feel better.

Then, just this year, I started having bouts of major sadness. Doc added a small dose of generic Welbutrin. The combination works wonderfully.

My husband takes sertraline which has helped with no side effects. I use St. John’s Wort but not for long length of time. If you try it make sure you ask your pharmacist our dr. gave my husband permission to try it. I asked the pharmacist and she said no it would mess up the prescription medicine he was taking. Good luck!
DL

My doctor prescribed a low dose (300 mg once a day) of Bupropion and it seemed like something just “clicked into place” in my brain. It keeps me out of the pit of negativity and if I forget it one morning, by noon I know what I’ve done and take it before I slide any further. I think it is for combined depression with anxiety. My depression is pretty mild compared to many, but it’s still strong enough to take over if I don’t counter it with the Bupropion. It’s my little ally in the fight to not drown in the helplessness and despair caregiving often generates.

I have family members on different antidepressants who have very limited side effects. The key is finding the one that is right for you. Don’t give up because untreated depression can cause many more bad symptoms than a medication that fits you will. Two have done well on Wellbutrin for a long time ( sp?) , I don’t recall what the other one takes but it’s like any other med, they all have side effects so you need to use the one best for you personally. Don’t go to a PCP, go to a psychiatrist.

Had a so-so experience with Lexapro. 10 mg did nothing. 20 mg re-set my negative thoughts, rumination and despair.

Lexapro also brought calmness. As others have noted - too much calm. Lackadaisical spells at work. Paying bills late for no reason. Housekeeping took a nosedive. Etc.

Lexapro immediately killed my libido. Zero desire. Zero orgasms.

My Lexapro weight gain was steady and unacceptable. With no change in lifestyle or eating habits, I gained 35-40 lbs. (I’m short. On my frame, this was dramatic.) No amount of diet modification or exercise made a dent.

So yeah, Lexapro mitigated my depression. A long time coming. 20+ years of “toughing out” my bleak, low-function spells. Then came a cluster of all-at-once life changes that made “toughing it out” ineffective and impossible. So I finally sought help.

Over time, my treatment became my problem.

Two years into the Lexapro, my asexual fat slob persona was a price I was no longer willing to pay.

After an in-depth consultation with my doctor, I switched from Lexapro to Wellbutrin. The change was amazing.

Altho - discontinuing Lexapro triggered the “brain zaps.” Yes, they are real. If I hadn’t educated myself about Lexapro withdrawal, the “zaps” would have scared the sh*t out of me. Instead, it was just a weirdness that I learned to live with for a month or so.

Initially, Wellbutrin made me a bit amped-up and agitated. It also increased my focus at work - which was welcome and immediately rewarding.

After a couple of weeks, I realized that Wellbutrin had increased my sensitivity to caffeine. My lifelong normal of 4 or 5 cups of coffee per day was now too much for my system. I tapered to 1 cup per day (1st thing in the a.m.) and the agitation subsided.

My extra weight did not magically come off. BUT with Wellbutrin, my body was able to respond appropriately to weight-loss efforts. Over time, I worked down to my original weight.

Wellbutrin made me so..... normal! Normal mood. Normal motivation. Normal metabolism. Normal libido. 😃

I had typical (manageable) ups and downs. Low points, for sure. That’s life. Wellbutrin kept me from sliding into the pit of despair too deeply. Or for too long.

I went off Wellbutrin for a few years. Because I felt so good, bla bla bla. I was able to self-manage my emotions — until caregiving kicked my azz.

Back on the Wellbutrin for 5+ years now. I have no intention of discontinuing.

Well, that’s my story!

I have been taking Cymbalta for many years and have not have any side effects. Cymbalta has the benefit of relieving chronic pain also. If you notice depressive symptoms are exacerbated in the winter months, seasonal affective disorder may be a factor. An artificial light mimicking sunlight is quite beneficial. Non pharmacological interventions such as exercise help too. Good luck.

Yes, I have been very happy with my anti-depressant and my mother has done much better with hers. There are so many different medications. It was hard to accept the fact that the medications err needed, but then I thought about it as something my body needed - like insulin. If we give the body what it needs the person living in the body is usually happier and healthier.

When I started Menopause, I learned that Cashews will help with depression - as few as 6 whole cashews will bring me back to happiness.

I refused to go onto anything prescribed without at least trying something natural and was advised to use Ashwagandha and I have been using it for over a year and almost never feel any depression and very little stress. Gaia was the brand recommended to me, but there are a lot of brands of Ashwagandha available. I was being awakened hourly by my DH to assist him in voiding, and the Ashwagandha allowed me to return to sleep and to awaken feeling rested.

Prescription drugs might be cheaper, but I worry about the side-effects and I suffer none with the Ashwagandha and the only side-effect with Cashews is I have trouble stopping at only 6. 😀😂

I had “baby blues” after my 3rd child was born and went on a low dose of an older antidepressant. It really helped me to get out of the pit! After I began feeling better (probably nearly 2 years on it), I asked my family physician to help me wean off the medication, which I did. So far, I haven’t needed to go back on any medication, but if I ever did, I would be willing to do so.

My mom was on a low-dose, older generation antidepressant in the last years of her life. She had struggled with depression for much of her adult life, but I think she was too ashamed to let her doctor know. Once she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I had a discussion with her medical doctor and we determined it would benefit her to be on a low-dose, daily medication. I don’t recall the name of the medication since that was more than 8 years ago.

After my mom passed away, my dad was feeling overwhelmed and depressed. He had lost everything—his wife, his home, and his independence. He had been diagnosed with Prostate cancer that had spread to his kidney and bones. Because he could no longer drive, his doctor encouraged him to move into Assisted Living and then shortly thereafter, he ended up in full-fledged nursing care. The antidepressant was used probably less than a year, but it did help him when he was at his lowest time. Dad remained sweet and kind to all of his nurses and the staff of the nursing home, and when he passed, they genuinely missed him.

Antidepressants aren’t for everyone, and may be over prescribed; however, they are for some folks and sometimes for short duration and other times for a longer duration. You and your doctor may have to work on finding the right medication at the right dosage. Once you start feeling better, I always encourage people to reach out to others and help them with their needs. Getting out of ourselves is important and gives us something better to live for.