Has anyone on here had positive experiences with antidepressants?

Serotonin Toxicity.
Serotonin Syndrome.

The treatment is Ativan.
And discontinue the drug.

Gershun,

I hate to hear of your horrible experience.

My daughter just had a Prozac Rx filled last Monday. She has not mentioned any side effects. But, I haven’t asked. I think if she would have had an experience like yours I would have gotten a call.

She left on an out of state business trip today. She may have waited to start the med until she gets back.

I will ask if she has started the med and if she’s had side effects when she gets back this weekend.

I hope what happened to you was a one time thing if you continue to take the med.

CWillie, I get what you are saying but I've tried a few antidepressants over the years. First Paxil when I was in my early thirties. Then Wellbutrin but the insomnia was horrible with that. Then Effexor for 4.5 years. It was the best of the above but the post nasal drip left my throat raw and I finally had to give it up.

The side effect I had last night with the Prozac was awfully scary. No matter what I've taken I've always felt in control of myself and my mind. This was an experience like none other. Not sure I'm willing to put myself through that again. I realize four days is nothing but what if I go through that experience again tonight and the next night and who knows how long. I've only got four Ativan cause my Doc won't give me more than that so then what? The E R?

Has anyone else on here experienced anything like this with Prozac? And if so, did it go away eventually? Keeping in mind I'm on the lowest dose at 10mg.

I'm joining this thread a little late, and I don't have any experience with the elderly on antidepressants, but my experience with my son is enough to tell me that my answer would be NO!!! There are no antidepressants out there that come without side effects. Short-term they can work, but eventually it catches up to you. Finding the right therapist is a much better (albeit more challenging) option.

Exhausted, please be careful with the Wellbutrin! I spent new-years day and the next 3 days in the ER and CCU with my son who had seizures due to his Wellbutrin. I don't mean to alarm you, because the chance is low for seizures, but at the same time please be alarmed!

(((((Hugs))))))) Gershun. I hope you can get a DNA-matched med soon.

Gershun you've done this dance long enough that I'm sure you know the worst side effects are almost always at the beginning and it can take weeks before they subside. It's your choice of course but you must know 4 pills - over how long? - is hardly a fair trial.
((hugs))

Well I have taken 4 prozac and most likely that will be it. I had an alarming feeling last night. I was laying in bed and suddenly felt like I couldn't connect to my own thoughts and mind. It's hard to describe.........I just couldn't think, about anything. Whenever I tried to get my mind to focus on anything I couldn't. It's like my mind had a mind of it's own if that makes any sense.

It was very scary and I don't want to experience it again. Fortunately I had a few ativan on hand and taking one calmed me down and I slowly started to feel like myself again. Whew!!

Sorry prozac isn't for me.

There is also a new test that’s supposed to help doctors more quickly identify a med that is right for you. It is DNA-related. You send a spit sample, they analyze it, then send back a thorough list of medications that are most likely to sync with your body and least likely to cause side-effects. The downside of this is that it takes so long to determine whether a particular med is working for you. We went through almost 2 years of changing meds for my sister and eventually she did give up and take her own life. The DNA test seemed to have some promise, but by the time it happened, her depression had pretty well dug in.

My son has had great results with Lamictal, which is actually a seizure medication. However, his psychiatrist said that often the brain pattern for depression and/or bipolar is similar to seizures. He had to be titrated up to his current dose, but has maintained well now for several years. Weight has always been a challenge, but certainly has not gotten worse - no other side effects. His doctor warns him not to stop it suddenly without titrating the dosage down again, but he’s not interested in getting off of it.

I'm glad to see the positive reports on this thread concerning Wellbutrin since my doctor just prescribed it for me today. I just can't take these intense low moods anymore. I plan to start it on Thursday morning. Hoping so much it helps.

And bravo to you Golden for being smart and strong enough to accept that is the lot you were dealt in life and you've moved on and become a better person for having gone through it and accepted it. I just can't seem to let go of the hope and until I do I know I'll continue to suffer for it. I guess since my mom died I've been clinging on to any family that is left. But it is so not worth it if my own self-esteem and peace of mind suffers in the process.

I have always heard people say "oh people tease you cause they like you" Oh, what utter BS! And the other thing that has always got me is if I give it back to them their reaction is as if I threw scalding water on them. I guess that is another quality that I dislike so much. They dish it out but can't take it.

Gershun, it is sad when we have to protect ourselves from our families due to any kind of abuse. The societal norm is that families care for one another. When the predominant behaviour is uncaring, it is very hurtful.

I've had to grieve the lack of a normal caring family. I tried my best to do my part, but I had to face that it wasn't enough and never would be. It takes more than one. In the best of all possible worlds would I have liked a loving family. Of course. But that was and is not my reality. Having worked that through, I am content as things are. Life is good. That is what I wish for you.

You are right Golden. Gaslighting is a term I've had brought up to me a few times.

It's sad that I have to protect myself from my own family but so be it.

No you were not unscathed and your feelings about the put downs are valid. They did belittle you. I gather this is not rare. IMO that went far beyond good-natured teasing. My sis did those kind of things then when I got upset she would say "Oh J is upset again" in a belittling way putting the blame on me for any wrongdoing in the situation.

You are not overly sensitive - about this anyway. I think you are quite angry and rightfully so for being treated like this for years. Them excusing themselves calling it teasing is a form of gas lighting - making you doubt yourself. Don't doubt yourself. They are picking on you. (((((((hugs))))))

I'm happy for you Golden that no contact with sis worked for you. I managed to get through Christmas mildly unscathed but looking back on it (which is never a good idea in my case) I am feeling resentful of being made fun of all evening once again.

An embarrassing incident from my teenage years was brought up and talking about it became the theme of the evening even when I asked very politely to drop it. There is a line that gets crossed where good natured teasing becomes belittling in my opinion. Especially since there were two people there who I had never met before.

I go from thinking maybe I'm being overly sensitive to angry. I hate doubting myself and my reactions to things and resent being put into a position where I even have to.

I am hopeful Golden but cautiously. I really didn't want to go this route again and it's still early days. I may give up. We'll see.

Good. She started about a month ago (was on something else a year or so ago but decided to drop it -not sure why just didn't want to be on anything I think) . My dd was watching her closely to see how the prozac affected her. Fairly quickly she became more mellow from having been very angry before she started it. It's early yet but dd feels it is helping .

I sure hope it works for you, Gershun. Life is hard enough anyway. I am feeling so much safer and can relax more since I cut contact with my sister

Thx Golden, that's reassuring.

gershun - my gdg experienced irritability at the beginning of taking prozac for a while - days not weeks - maybe one week.

So I started taking prozac 10mg. once a day. Just two days. So far I've experienced tiredness and irritability. I was told to take it mornings but with this tiredness I'm switching to bedtime.

I'm wondering if the irritability is normal and will go away. I know its early to be concerned but I've read that irritability is not normal. Has anyone on here had this experience?

The reason I am waiting is I've got things going on that require not being distracted by side effects that you get initially with most antidepressants. I'm not a newbie. I have taken them before. But thx for the advice.😊

Not that I have used it personally, but I swear by Zoloft as a very good defence mechanism against depression.
1. About 20 years ago my husband was diagnosed with depression and prescribed Zoloft. It worked very well, although his behaviour was still a bit strange at times. After about 3 years he could not see his usual GP to get a new script, the GPs partner said my husband did not need the drug, refused a script, said he would be fine. Within a couple of weeks my husband was spiralling out of control. In fact, he was suicidal. His regular GP was angry this had happened, and put him straight back onto Zoloft, and referred him to a psychiatrist. Cutting a very long story short, it transpired that my husband is bi polar, which means very deep depressions but with manic spikes not as marked. Apart from medication there is still a need for behaviour modification. Regular exercise, little to no alcohol, regular and plenty of sleep, routine, routine, routine. That little white pill has been magic but should be stopped only gradually.
2. My sister suffered very much from anxiety and depression. Her GP prescribed Zoloft, she was great, but periodically she could not afford to fill her script, did not tell anyone, just went off the drug. She went into this endless spiral of taking the drug and being fine, then not taking the drug and deteriorating. Each time she went off it, she went downhill quicker than the previous occasion; each time she went back on the drug it took longer to take effect. Zoloft works for her and when she cannot afford a script she knows we will pay without judging her.
3. A cousin's wife suffered from post-partum depression for 12 months, was put onto Zoloft, it did its magic. When she fell pregnant she went off the drug against medical advice, went downhill, was deeply depressed before she even gave birth. Following the birth she begged to be given the drug again and hey presto, magic. It did help to have a calmer second child but that does not account for the immediate about face.
4. A friend had school aged children, for no reason fell into depression to the extent she could not raise herself off the lounge or bed to even feed her children, shop, do housework. Zoloft kicked in very quickly, tickety boo! Has not looked back and that has to be 20 years ago.
None of the above gained weight on Zoloft. Whether it is the nature of the drug or the positive effects of regular exercise and proper meals is debatable. I asked my husband how he would feel if he put on weight using the drug. He said give him the drug any day. After all these years he still recalls the depths of despair he experienced, and he said he would put up with weight rather than go there again.
In brief, anti depressive medication needs to be accompanied by a modification of behaviour and lifestyle. Eat well, exercise regularly, have a very good daily routine. Steer clear of anything that might upset your psyche. Toxic friends, social media, dark movies, alcohol etc. Spend time in the fresh air and sunshine, but above all, find an empathetic person to talk to, preferably someone who has already travelled the path of depression. It is a bit like an alcoholic needing to speak to a dry alcoholic. They do not judge.

Thx katgrab, very well said.

I have my Prozac here but haven't taken it yet. Waiting for some things to resolve in my life first. Sick cat, etc.

Now that I look back on my life, I believe that I had been suffering with depression, unecessarily, for years. What a waste! Married and divorced 2 times. Bad decisions and choices. Substance abuse. Feelings of worthlessness. Wanting to die. Almost divorced for a third time.

In conjunction with therapy, Wellbutrin completely changed my life!
The relief was immense. I discovered sides of myself that had been hidden by the depression.
I started painting, quilting, jewelry making!
I felt happy. Interested in life and people. I actually felt like a kid again!
It wasn't a feeling of being high. It just felt "normal". Stable. No more lowest of low feelings. No more guilt from feeling unmotivated all the time. No more wanting to die.

I am 56, and have been on Wellbutrin for 15 years. There is no way I could have coped with assisting my elderly parents, and dealing with my Mom's dementia, had I been depressed. No way.

You will probably have to find an anti-depressant that works for you. Initially, I tried Zoloft, and felt like I was having an out of body experience.

The Wellbutrin took awhile to start working...like a month. I'm thankful I hung in there. And my husband did too.

Don't let people who do not understand what depression feels like to dictate your choices.

I wish you all the best. Life is tough, but it can be so sweet, as well.

I have had success with a number of antidepressants, but eventually my brain outwits the meds and we have to try something else. Pristiq and Latuda worked for long periods of time and didn't lead to weight gain in my case. But remember there are more antidepressants than just SSRIs and SNRIs. Tricyclics work for some people -- the poet Jane Kenyon was treated with tricyclics -- she mentions Nardil in one of her poems. And there are MAOIs, if you can tolerate the dietary restrictions. Something will click, but finding it can be an exasperating process.

I wish you well --

H, I've been on a various dosages of Paxil for about 20 yrs and have had no side effects.

I have been taking Imipramine for 30 yrs. Take enough and it keeps away thought of suicide. Side effect, doggone weight gain.

I posted here earlier about being on Effexor. After reading responses and getting a message I contemplated trying Elavil because it helps with sleep. However the interactions with other medications and the side effect of being more likely to gain weight has made me give that choice up. I do have pain in parts of my body and it sounds as though Cymbalta could help with that. I was wondering if anyone who has been on it could tell me their experience with it. It is really helpful to hear from others. Effexor has been fine for me in certain ways but I still have sleep issues as well as pain and I would like to avoid surgery as I still have jaw issues and my husband is having prostrate surgery in a month that takes precedence. Thanks to anyone who might be able to share their experiences.

I took Celexa...gained 30 lbs. and had weird dreams. Stopped taking them...lost 30 lbs. A year later, took them again...gained 30 lbs....stopped taking them....lost 30 lbs. Gaining weight didn't help with the depression at all. Nor did I notice the meds help. I have also taken Lexapro prior to the Celexa....also didn't notice any improvement with the depression/stress issues. The Celexa was prescribed to help with stress after my husband's strokes. I have found that doing something physical helps more than anything.

I'm taking Wellbutrin, one of the good antidepressants that doesn't cause weight gain for me. It became less effective so my Dr. added Pristiq and I'm doing great on the combination of these 2. I talked to my Dr. about adding SAM-E which has helped even more over the past few months. Good luck, it takes awhile to find the right meds for each individual.