Has anyone on here had positive experiences with antidepressants?

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 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 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.

gershun - I am surprised that you hear nothing but bad reviews about antidepressant. Depending on what we are looking for we can find many different answers on the internet. One person's experience with a particular antidepressant does not guarantee the same experience for someone else. Have you googled "good results from antidepressant use"? My dd has tried several and is delighted with the combo she has now. She does not gain weight and feels much happier and less anxious than she has in years. It took a lot of time for her to arrive at the combo she has now. She gets her prescriptions from a psychiatrist who is better equipped to manage these meds than a GP. Re insomnia at one point he added a little elavil which counteracted the insomnia well. Dd reports her reactions to the meds and then she and the doc work out what is best for her.

I gather from your post you don't have much confidence in your doctor. Perhaps trying a different one would help. I don't think any dr is just going to throw a pill at you, For any patient, finding the right anti-d is a trial and error process. Every anti-d, indeed every medication, has negative side effects. That's life.

I am delighted with the anti-d I am on which deals with fibromyalgia pain and also has a very slight anti-d effect. At this low dose I don't have problems with side effects.

Wishing you the best results for your current search.
I have much sympathy for you and your ongoing depression and anxiety. Prayers for a good solution. ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

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.

Well, I got my prescription for Prozac today. Lowest dose.

I'm not going to start till after Christmas though cause I know the side effects might be bothersome for the first week or two.

Thx everyone for the advice and your experiences. I'll let you know how it goes.

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.

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.

As others have said, individual reactions to antidepressants vary so much that it’s like asking someone to recommend a perfume or underwear for you! The DNA testing can point a psychiatrist in the right direction, but even that is not perfect.

Unfortunately, they are not fast acting so trial and error can take months and be very frustrating. Don’t give up, though. Once you find one that works, it can be a life changer.

Make sure you are working with a psychiatrist or a neurologist who knows pharmacology. Don’t be like my sister who got her prescription from her OB/GYN!

Good luck!

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))))))