Has anyone on here had positive experiences with antidepressants?

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!😊

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 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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!

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 !

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.

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.

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.

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

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.