Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with antidepressants

Should I be wary of antidepressants?

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:26:12 -0800

Should I be wary of antidepressants? I've been feeling really low recently and have started seeing a therapist. She has hinted that she might soon suggest that I see a psychiatrist. I've always avoided antidepressants because I like the way my brain works and I don't want to mess with it, occasional mild depression excepted. I've been under a lot of stress and until recently things have been worse than ever before in the form of persistent negative thoughts and crying fits. The stress has let up and so have these symptoms, so I'm really inclined not to take any drugs for it. I'm worried that if I do I will lose my identity and free will, and I really don't like the idea of the side effects. Are these common concerns? Are they justified? Part of me really wants to avoid taking antidepressants (and for all I know antianxiety drugs might be suggested instead) if at all possible, and I'm wondering why that is.

I'm a man in my mid-30s. E-mail comments to scaredofantidepressants@gmail.com.

Tell me about your experience on Citalopram (Celexa / Cipramil).

SebastianKnight — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:58:53 -0800

I'm about to start a course of Citalopram (Celexa / Cipramil). What should I know in advance? Despite some serious misgivings I've decided to try antidepressant medication for some ongoing depression/anxiety issues. I've been prescribed 20mg of Citalopram to be taken every morning and will be seeing my GP (in the UK) for supervision at regular intervals. I'm hoping that after a few weeks my sleep pattern will be back under control and my judgement less impaired by low mood, anxiety, and exhaustion. If that works out then I'll be in a better position to tackle any underlying issues and generally stop making so many dumb decisions. Here's hoping, anyway.

If you have any experience on Citalopram (Celexa) or similar SSRIs, is there anything you wish you'd known before starting? I'm aware of the potential side-effects and withdrawal symptoms and at this point I'm prepared to take my chances. I'm most interested in your thoughts on the first 8 weeks or so of being medicated. If you'd like to add a comment anonymously, send me a mefimail and I'll paste it in below.

I'll take the first dose this Saturday after asking a GP friend for a second opinion. Can you think of anything I should ask that hasn't been covered above?

(I'm not seeing a therapist, but I am going to start working through Feeling Good as soon as I can. Previously I've used online CBT but found it overwhelming. If you want to talk about therapy, could we do that by mefimail instead? My diet and exercise regime are okay and pretty crappy, respectively. My family/social support network is good.)

Can my libido recover from two months of Zoloft?

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:54:12 -0800

Choosing my penis over the pills. How long will it take my libido to recover after a few months of Zoloft? First a bit of background: 26-year-old guy here, nonsmoker, fit as a fiddle, with no health issues whatsoever outside of an occasionally crippling mix of anxiety and depression. I was diagnosed seven years ago, but had always refused to go on anti-depressants. Instead, I've kept the mood monsters at bay with vigorous exercise, a decent diet, and regular talk therapy.

Which worked pretty well until this past winter.

I lost my job, then spent nine months unemployed, financially panicked, and generally terrified about the nosedive my life seemed to be taking. So after months of freaking out to my therapist, I finally took her advice, bit the bullet, and filled a prescription for Zoloft. Started out on 25mg for a week, then ramped up to 50mg. I had done enough research to know that the antidepressant was pretty much guaranteed to torpedo my sex drive. But I was desperate.

And the medication worked. I chilled out, managed to get my feet back under me, and even found some part-time work. Best of all, I met a beautiful girl, with whom I’m totally compatible, and we started dating—and making out, and getting naked together.

And that’s the problem. The Zoloft has snuffed out my libido, and my erection—once my most reliable companion—has grown a bit fickle. It isn’t a physical problem. I can still get it up. And I can even stroke myself to orgasm when alone (if I really concentrate and keep physical stimulation constant). But in the throes of some pretty heated foreplay, my mind seems to simply lose interest, and I can’t stay hard.

The thing is, even in my darkest periods before the Zoloft, my sex drive stayed constant. And voracious. Masturbating 4 to 6 times per week, morning wood, healthy erections. A few months ago, I would have jumped at the chance to jump the girl I’m with. Now I can’t make it to the condom phase.

And I can tell that my lack of sexual advances is starting to give my new girl pause.

So I’m getting off the Zoloft. I’m down to 12mg per day (cutting the 25mg pills in half). And I plan to be completely done with it another five days or so. I’d rather be a tad moody and getting laid than emotionally numb and celibate.

How long will it take for my libido to return? Has anyone out there quit an antidepressant to win their sex life back? How long until you felt confident again?

Also, what can I do in the meantime to facilitate stronger urges? I’ve started taking Korean red ginseng. I’m doing mad Keegles. And I’ve committed to not looking at porn for a week straight. Any other supplements I should be looking into? Ginko Biloba? Emergen-C?

And how can I bring this up with my gal?

Help me get my Prozac without breaking the bank!

larkspur — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:47:29 -0800

I don't currently have health insurance. I need back on the antidepressant I was on in college. What are my best options? Generic Prozac is $4/mo or $10/3mo at Walmart. But what's the cheapest way for me to get the prescription? I live in a small town in NE Ohio, if it's relevant.

I know places I could get it online for like $30/mo, but do I have some hope of being able to find someone who, for like $100-$200, could give me a prescription with say a year's worth of refills? Is that a reasonable thing? I have no idea how this works out in the real world now, the health center in college wanted me to come back in every three months but there was also no charge to see the nurse practitioner so that posed no problem. Now, I don't know how much seeing a regular doctor costs, or how long they'll be willing to prescribe me for each visit.

So I don't walk into this with unreasonable expectations, what should I be doing to make this as painless as possible, and how much can I reasonably expect this to cost me?

When did you decide to give meds a shot? Did they change everything? How?

Rocket26 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:11:00 -0800

Anti depressants for mild depression? Does it really help just "get you out of a funk"? I know SSRIs are the only thing that help a lot of people get out of depression, but what about someone who can pretty much manage, but feels like it would be nice to not have to just manage? At what point did you decide to go on anti depressants? I am very weary of SSRIs for mild depression, but a lot of my twenty-something friends are on them. Several of them are women. A lot of them are on wellbutrin (actually, is that even an SSRI?). Either way, I'm curious, because the people I know who are on meds, I would never have pegged for really depressed people, but I know depression comes in many different forms. I know meds can help immensely, and it seems to have helped people I know, at least with the combination of therapy. I am in therapy, which I believe is really important, and things like exercise, diet, a cup of coffee to get rolling, friendships, projects, all really help me get going and get out of it. But, I also struggle with self doubt, self esteem, and it's annoying, because I feel like if I didn't have to question myself so much I could just be happier, and maybe actually get more done. Do meds actually help anybody get more done? Is that a bad reason to take them? If I felt more confident, less questioning of myself, could I get more done? And is getting more done even the answer? I'd like to really go after some things in my life, but I'm constantly running up against my blocks (I'm not good enough/smart enough/don't make enough money/not attractive enough...whatever... doubts). I don't think this is serious depression, but it's gone on long enough that I wonder if some type of medication would be helpful.

Anti-depressants: do they eventually stop working?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:11:48 -0800

Anti-depressants: do they eventually stop working? I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I started receiving treatment ~2 years ago. The first drug I tried was Lexapro and it worked great, for a while. After 2-3 months of use, I started to becoming increasingly drowsy and unmotivated.

Next, I tried Prozac for it's reported 'activating' effects. I was on this drug the longest, but eventually started to experience side effects similar to those of Lexapro.

Now, I am on Cymbalta and am starting to think these exact same side effects are setting in.

Is this a common phenomenon? Is there something else I could try? Should I bring this up (again) to my doctor ASAP?

I have considered getting off SSRI's / SNRI's but they do, in fact, work very well at controlling my anxiety. I did realize but I had spent most of my (relatively short) life with pretty severe anxiety. I managed to find different mechanisms to control it and would outwardly appear very collected. There was a specific (and common) incident in college where I had to give a group presentation about a topic that I was very knowledgeable about--and I thought I was going to vomit moments before it was my group's turn to present. However, before starting medication I wouldn't have considered myself to have social anxiety. But certain things trigger an anxious response that I couldn't stop.

For what its worth, my anxiety and depression have diminished after starting these medications. The reason I bring this up is because today I felt "high" and "floaty" even though I didn't miss a dose of my Cymbalta and it got me thinking...

BRAINNSSSSSS

ahrara_ — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:21:44 -0800

I feel like a zombie on Lexapro. I have little motivation and the things I used to enjoy doing don't feel as rewarding. On the other hand, it has done wonders for my anxiety. Will this pass? One thing I should add is that I've been on the pill only three days. I know it's supposed to take at least two weeks to kick in, but before I went on Lexapro I was on St. John's Wort, which I read functions like a SSRI -- maybe the lexapro is picking up where the St. John's Wort left off? Or is this just a placebo effect, and is my apathy a symptom of mild depression? I'm sure it plays a role, but the pills have really helped a lot. My anxiety is gone, my thoughts are perfectly clear again, and I'm back to my old charming self. I'm pretty content to be honest. Maybe TOO content. I don't really want to DO anything. I don't want to read, or hang out, or watch movies, or play games. I feel content just lying in bed or pacing around. This bothers me that life feels so boring now.

So in summary, what I hope askmefi can answer for me is:

If I stay on the same dosage -- 10 mg a day -- will this pass?
Will going down to 5 mg or 7.5 mg keep my anxiety in check but help me feel passionate again?
Is this a placebo effect, since I've only been on the drug three days?

Also, I'm aware there's mannyyy other questions on lexapro and other antidepressants, but I couldn't find any that specifically addressed this issue. If I'm mistaken, please let me know. Otherwise, thanks in advance for the answers!

boyfriend is hiding medication- should I worry?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:52:18 -0800

My boyfriend is taking an antidepressant and didn't tell me, and now I'm worried for him and for us. Is there anything I can do? My boyfriend of three years is taking Zoloft again. He told me about taking meds before, but I thought it was all in the past. Then I found a printout from the pharmacy showing a refill dated two weeks ago. We live together and this sort of thing is usually mentioned, but he's probably hiding the pills and he hasn't told me. He tells me he's stressed about his work but leaves it at that. I asked him before I knew about the meds if I could help him feel less stressed because he seems a little withdrawn from our relationship, and he said it's not about me and the lack of affection was all to do with job/life stress.

I probably won't bring up the meds, because it's something he's allowed to keep to himself, but I'm worried about why he doesn't trust me with how he's feeling and what it means for the relationship. I work with people who take such medication, and I have an open mind about it- I haven't said anything that would make him feel stigmatized.

If he won't talk about it when he's depressed, sometimes I take it personally. I think he doesn't tell me because he thinks it will stress me out or just make it worse for him, but that's going to strain the relationship eventually. I know the treatment is between him and his doctor, but I want to do everything I can as a partner to help. How do I bring this up with him in a way that lets him keep boundaries he's comfortable with while opening up the communication? I'm also really worried that he is checked out of the relationship already if he won't talk to me, and that it's only a matter of time until he decides to break up with me.

Our relationship is generally easy going and healthy and we have no problems talking about sex or life goals or money, or any of the usual communication blocks. Now I feel like it's all fragile and there's nothing I can do that won't make the situation worse. If I probe, he'll suspect I know about the meds and still might refuse to talk more about how he's been feeling. If I don't probe, I'll have no way of distinguishing his stress from a problem with the relationship, or something I could be doing differently.
Is there anything I can or should do here?

Help me find some new drugs

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:23:14 -0800

I use to self-medicate with marijuana for my social-anxiety and low-level depression...can that fact be used to direct me towards a specific antidepressant? Several years ago I was smoking pot very regularly - it was essentially a miracle drug for my semi-severe social anxiety. It would totally relax me around other people, even strangers, and allow me to speak, smile, and have an otherwise "normal" social life.

After a couple bad experiences, and several months of being alone and smoking by myself regularly, it completely turned on me and now I can't even smoke with my good friends without having a complete freakout of social paranoia...

I've been wondering...I have tried a number of SSRI's, with only very subtle improvements in my social anxiety and overall mood. I'm still searching for a better solution to supplement therapy. Is there any research on how cannabis acts on the brain, specifically with regards to anxiety and depression, which might point me towards a specific antidepressant to try?

Research or anecdotal information - any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Changing SSRIs - how long will this last?

different — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:27:26 -0800

You are not a doctor. How long did it take you to adjust to a new SSRI? YANAD, YANMD. I am under the supervision of a good psychiatrist. I am currently changing over from taking Cymbalta to fluvoxamine (Luvox) and am experiencing the usual side effects (drowsiness, confusion, feeling out of it, a little nausea). I'm seeking anecdotal evidence on how long this is going to last. I know that everyone reacts differently to different drugs, but it sure would help to hear some other experiences.

If you changed from one SSRI to another, I would really like to hear your experience - did you have any side effects? If so, how long did they last?

I have been taking Cymbalta for several years now and any side effects had long since worn off. I'm not sure how long I can deal with these new problems (the drowsiness is really knocking me out, and it's only been three days). Hearing your experience will help me to pace myself.

Another lovely part of coming off an SNRI...

gursky — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:03:42 -0800

How long do I need to wait after weaning off of my antidepressants before I can start taking vitamins/supplements for depression? I've been Googling and reading old threads on antidepressants for over an hour (a very exciting Friday night, I know) but can't find a specific answer.

You are not a/my doctor, but my psychiatrist just moved and I won't meet my new psychiatrist for two more weeks. I don't have a family doctor right now. I'm hoping someone with experience can enlighten me about the necessary length of time between meds.

Under my doctor's supervision, I weaned myself off Wellbutrin over 3 weeks - I have been off it entirely now for 1 week. I weaned myself off Effexor over 5 weeks, and have not taken it for 2 days. I know that 2 days of being off Effexor is not a very long time. I am still experiencing those pesky withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps, depersonalization, dizziness) even though I went off of it slowly. (To clarify: I went off both because neither worked, and my health plan runs out very soon - no need to keep taking them if they don't work.)

After reading a lot about vitamins and supplements, and after becoming frustrated with the trial-and-error routine of trying several different antidepressants, I have decided to try some natural remedies. I will discuss these with my new psychiatrist.

My question is: how long should I wait before I start taking 5-HTP and a B-Complex supplement?

Everything I can find on the internet says not to take 5-HTP while taking antidepressants, but I can't find any information on how long I need to wait before starting it. The woman at the health food store didn't know much about 5-HTP and antidepressant interactions.

So - yes, I will be discussing this with my doctor - has anyone gone from antidepressants to natural supplements? How long did you wait in between? What is a safe amount of time?

how do i address possible memory/cognitive issues with my doctor?

Anonymous — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:49:56 -0800

as a twenty-something, how do i address possible memory/cognitive issues with a doctor without both of us thinking i'm crazy? or am i crazy? I'll try to explain my situation as best I can; pardon me if I make any glaring omissions. Also, please direct any inquiries to thrwawayacct@gmail.com.

Back in January, I was happily chugging along in my coursework, when I suddenly started having the worst headaches of my life, along with trouble sleeping and remembering and concentrating on things. I didn't think much of it at the time, but I asked my GP anyway and he thought I was probably suffering from depression and anxiety and gave me an Rx for Lexapro. I was a bit reluctant to start taking this, however, since I don't have any history of depression, nor did I feel in any way down or depressed or what have you. At any rate, as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, it seemed that my headaches were getting worse, I felt constantly groggy, and that I had much greater difficulty remembering and concentrating, so I asked to be referred to a neurologist. Before my appointment with the neurologist, I had an MRI of my brain done which was "negative." At my appointment, the neurologist conducted his examination in which he asked me to tell him the current date and remember a few objects to recite back to him a few minutes later. I could not recall the exact date (it even takes me a while sometimes to realize what month it is), and I could only recall one out of the three objects he told me. After he finished his examination, I asked him what he thought and he proceeded to tell me that I was probably just suffering from depression-related concentration issues, so he sent me home with a referral to a psychiatrist. I have yet to see the psychiatrist, since apparently he's booked solid for about two months. Given that this isn't resolving itself, I don't really want to wait that long.

Am I wrong to be skeptical of taking an anti-depressant in this circumstance? I honestly have no idea what depression feels like, but I know I don't feel in any way sad. Should I try to find another neurologist and/or psychiatrist who can see me sooner? This whole situation got markedly more weird when I recently visited a close friend I've seen often in the past, and although I knew how to get to the friend's house, my surroundings on the way there seemed oddly very foreign and I felt like I was lost. I wasn't anxious up until that point, but I certainly am now.

For what it's worth, I've never done drugs, I rarely drink, all blood work was within normal limits, I currently live in Minneapolis, MN, and I have no health insurance. If anyone knows any good options for health insurance and/or good neurologists and psychiatrists in the area, please let me know. I don't really have the time or the money or the energy to guess and test doctors much anymore. I'm about at my wit's end with this and want to be able to return to my classes in the fall as someone who can actually think straight again, if that's even possible.

Also for what it's worth, what I'm going through seems somewhat similar to what this person went through, except for the fact that I haven't had a PET scan.

I hate to ask AskMeFi to be my doctor or to help me find one, but I don't really know what to do anymore. Any help would be so very appreciated. Thank you.

Is it okay to take Effexor without its capsule?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:22:02 -0800

Is there any particular reason that Effexor comes in gelatin capsules? Inside the capsule there are a number of small pellets.

I'm a vegan so I've just been pulling the capsules apart over my mouth, with my head tilted back, and tossing the capsules in the garbage.

I haven't noticed any difference in mood after doing this for a month or so. The only difference I have noticed is that the pellets are extremely bitter (so discovered after having one of them catch in my teeth).

But why aren't the pellets just one solid pill, like bupropion? Is it the bitterness, or does the capsule actually do something (and if so, what)?

Can Wellbutrin SR be a short term (one day) substitute for Wellbutrin XL (in a bind here)?

Soulbee — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:16:50 -0800

I have left a msg for my pdoc, but haven't heard back from him yet, and see below, it wouldn't really matter. Anyway I've found myself out of Wellbutrin XL this morning (i take 1 300mg tablet every morning) and I'm out of refills AND there is no opportunity to get to the pharmacy till this evening. Just not possible, tho the pdoc will call in my prescription today. I do have a bottle of Wellbutrin SR 150mg tablets. The reason I switched off of the SR was because I generally can't remember to take a pill twice a day, and I needed to go up to 300mg which can't be taken all at once in SR form. I think that today, this once, I can remember to take the pill 2x a day -- but is Wellbutrin SR in 2 150mg doses ok to substitute for Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for one day? I don't want to get off my med schedule because it makes me crazy. Thanks, if you have an answer?

Advice on antidepressants

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:49:08 -0800

Antidepressant filter question #4529, I've searched the archive to no avail and I am wondering what antidepressant might be right for me. I know, I know, YANAD, but I am looking for anecdotal info. I have been struggling with anxiety and depression, and it is poisoning the well of the rest of my life.

Okay, so due to my job, having a small child, and having had a tumultuous life the problem has come to a head, I have finally decided to go talk to a therapist. I don't want to turn into my Dad, and I sure as hell don't want to mess up my kid. So despite not being confortable with the thought, it is time for me to accept this problem and deal with it. I have been going to a therapist (not an MD, but a counselor) for about a month and a half.

I have a unspoken about but clear family history of Depression and Manic Depression on both sides and am going to make an appointment with a psychiatrist to look into antidepressants and maybe anti anxiety meds, as I fear that in addition to my stressful circumstances I may have a physiological problem too.

I am a male in my late 30's. I have always had terrible sleep problems. About 10 years ago I once was put on a low dose of paxil for that and it made me feel weird and made me unable to have an orgasm. I pitched them out after a couple weeks.

I am concerned about weight gain as well (does that happen to men the same way it happens to women? I don't know). I think picking up an additional 40 pounds will make me even more depressed than I am now.

From my research I see that there are different pharmacological types of anti-depressants, for the fellas out there what have been your experience with this. Obviously this is something I need to discuss with a medical professional, but I am hoping to gain enough info from people's anecdotes to at least give me some talking points.

I don't need critical responses please! On a ledge here. I just want some friendly advice from those who have experience with these types of meds and their side effects.

to medicate (again) or not to medicate?

chicainthecity — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:10:34 -0800

Should I go back on the antidepressants before even my cat starts to hate me? So, I went off of my antidepressants (300 mg. daily of the generic form of Wellbutrin XL, 37.5 mg. daily of non-generic Effexor, both of which I'd been on for over three years) about two weeks ago. I hadn't planned to do so, but between being super-busy and not being able to see my doctor, who was away for a month, it just happened. First, I started taking them less often (e.g., every two or three days) to maximize what was left; then I realized that I was about to run out altogether; then I did run out and thought (perhaps stupidly) that I'd just see what happened.

Since running out of the meds, though, I've become a bitch on wheels. I'm not the world's most patient person in the best of circumstances, but my levels of impatience and irritability have now gone through the roof. I've also been a little more weepy than usual, which could, of course, just be regular ol' hormones. So far, I'm not feeling depressed, but I'm also not feeling quite as calm and optimistic as I was when I was still on the meds. To be fair, some of these effects may result from my newly-hectic schedule (being back in school while working full time). Still, I'm a little concerned. Should I tough it out for the next month or so, then reassess? Or should I call my doctor, confess the error of my ways, and beg his forgiveness/prescription pad? I know that he (the doctor) is ultimately the best person to answer this question, but a) given my work/school schedule, it's hard for me to get in to see him right now and b) I've never felt that he was especially invested in my situation, perhaps because he has so many patients.

Is my liver going to rot and fall out my ass?

Soulbee — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:48:25 -0800

I've been pooing water for nearly 3 months now. My liver tests came back a month ago with the GGT being extremely high. I take a lot of prescription meds, and before the shitting-water problem was a heavy drinker. I've stopped drinking completely for several weeks now, but have yet to notice much of a change. I'm seeing the doctor again soon. What should I be thinking about/asking? I'll try to be as brief as possible. I know YANAD or YANMD. I'm seeking good questions to ask at an upcoming follow up appt with my doctor. Here's the story. On 2/22 I had a gallbladder attack, my first. After spending most of the day in the hospital, I discovered the next day that I was having serious intestinal issues. I assumed it was a flu as I had been in the hospital at the height of flu season. I was basically shitting water. And it continued. And continued. On 3/22 I got my gall bladder out. I still had serious intestinal issues and had cut my food and drink intake to BRAT (bananas rice apples toast) and electrolyte powder and water. My doctors didn't seem particularly concerned and after the surgery sort of waved the problem off as adjustment to the lack of gall bladder, even tho the problem had been occurring for a month beforehand. Fast forward a month, they tested me for C.Diff, which came back negative, then kind of threw up their hands again and offered me no answers other than the possibility of giving me a bile binding powder or something like that, despite the fact that I was adamant that the problem had existed before the surgery. So I was pretty ticked at my GP, and elected to switch doctors. When I told my new doctor that I was going up to 2 dozen times a day, he immediately agreed that it wasn't likely to be related to the lack of gall bladder and ordered a large series of tests. What came back was kind of scary. My liver function tests were not normal. The two beginning with A's (AST and ALP I think?) were fine, but the GGT was 305 (normal is less than 50). FYI everything else appeared normal and I tested negative for celiac, although I have cut out wheat, dairy, and caffeine as well as alcohol from my diet. He said there was no indication that my liver was actually damaged but the GGT indicated that it was seriously irritated with me.
Now I'll admit to being a rather heavy drinker in addition to being on a lot of medication. However, honestly, my alcohol intake was greatly reduced after my gall bladder attack. However, during that period, I was still taking the following medications at various times or continuously -- Celexa 40mg/day, Benicar, Adderall 20-30 mg/day, Klonopin 0-5 mg/day, Trazodone 0-100 mg/day, Seroquel 0-100 mg/day (either Trazodone or Seroquel but never both at the same time on any given night), Oxycodone some days, lots of Immodium Advanced, Mucinex, Advair, prednisone, and Zithromyacin. The last four were prescribed by my previous doc in the 2 weeks running up to the surgery because I had a bad cold/possible sinus infection in addition to the intestinal issues.
SO once I got the LFT's back, my doc said quit drinking completely for 6 weeks and within 3 weeks, he said, I should see a good reduction in the intestinal issues. Well I did quit drinking completely which has not been easy but definitely better than my liver rotting and falling out of my ass. And I haven't seen much improvement. My med intake has decreased, though I took pain killers for about 2 weeks post surgery, so that I am now on 40 of Celexa, 20 of Adderall, 0-3 mg of Klonopin, and 0-100 of either Trazodone or Seroquel depending on the time of night I am able to take it to sleep. Also he prescribed Lomotil (lonox) for the diarrhea, which I have been taking occasionally.
So...what does the hive mind think...what questions do i need to ask him next time i see him (next week)? Can the high GGT be related to the combo of drugs and alcohol, or is it just the alcohol, even though my intake was greatly reduced in the 2 months prior to the test? Can I expect the level to drop back to normal ever? Will I ever be able to drink, even just occasionally? Is it a sign of liver toxicity because of the combo of celexa and alcohol? What else am I not thinking about? I get so frozen when I'm in the office i forget to ask questions and I would really like to make a list and seem like I know something about it. TIA.

Experiences coming off Wellbutrin?

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:32:10 -0800

Experiences coming off Wellbutrin? So I'll put a disclaimer on this that of course I am going to go to my doctor and have no intention of just trying to come off it on my own, but I want people's advice and experiences so that I can gauge how hard it will be and how big of an impact it will likely have on my life, so that I can schedule accordingly.

So I've been on Wellbutrin for a little under 4 years. I'm a female in my mid 20's. I take a very high dose, 450 mg XL. I want to come off for a variety of reasons. First of all I don't think it does much for me anymore, honestly it was never all that effective for me but all the other antidepressants had unacceptable side affects and it was better than nothing. It also helped me lose weight and I need less sleep than I used to. Second, I think it makes me more jumpy and by extension more anxious, which is half my problem. Also there are other small side effects, I believe it effects my intelligence/ability to articulate myself ever so slightly, increased sweating is annoying, and I get hangovers from hell because of it. I also don't know if I will have insurance 6 months from now, and if I don't have insurance that means I don't have a job and so I won't be able to afford it...

Currently I go to grad school and work part time and I really can't afford to be out of commission. I'm really overstretched as it is and not being able to get out of bed or having panic attacks just ain't going to cut it. So anyone that has come off wellbutrin or knows someone close to them that did, I'd love to hear your experiences. Especially ways you minimized the effects and also things I should bring up with my Dr(s) (who are not very helpful or very attentive so I have to go in armed with questions and preferably knowing exactly what I want.) Also, did you gain weight? You can also email me at wellbutrinmefi@hotmail.com. Thanks!

On antidepressants. Need to lose weight. How to get started?

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:28:00 -0800

I'm taking SSRIs. I've experienced significant weight gain while on them and am now trying to work it off. How to get started? I need assistance with physical fitness and getting back into optimal shape while on Celexa/SSRIs.

I'm male, 28, 6'3 and currently 255 lbs. I started taking Celexa in June 2007 (started on Lexapro, switched over to Celexa over cost issues) to help treat severe anxiety and regular panic attacks.

On the mental front, the combination of SSRIs and therapy have worked wonders. I feel like a new person. But before I started taking Celexa, I weighed 220 lbs. That means I gained 35 lbs. in a little over six months.

The problem is that, once I started taking SSRIs, I lost interest in working out. While before I'd go running on 3 mile runs at least 4x a week and go to the gym 3x weekly, I simply stopped working out for six months or so. In addition, Celexa really f'd with my head in regard to hunger. I could eat a huge meal - a footlong sub, a few slices of pizza, a Chipotle burrito and be hungry two hours later.
Combine the lack of exercise, the overeating and the metabolic changes that came with going on SSRIs and, bam, I gained a ton of weight.

Now I want to work on losing it and getting back to where I was before (and, hopefully, lose even more weight and build more muscle). I'm consciously eating healthily and forcing myself to work out daily. Accepting my current weight isn't an option; I looked damn good before and don't want to resign myself to looking like a premature John Goodman.

But the big question... has anyone been in this situation and managed to do it successfully? Or if you haven't, if advice can be offered?

Antidepressants through a GP or clinic

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:50:46 -0800

How can I get a prescription for an antidepressant from a GP or (preferably) a walk-in clinic, and how long would the prescription last? --- Back story ---

I'm quite sure I've been depressed for 15+ years; I used to write "suicide notes" and "wills" at as young as 12 years old, and I've relied on suicidal ideation as a weird coping mechanism ever since (I am not suicidal now). I also have general feelings of worthlessness, crippling guilt and anxiety, uncontrollable crying, etc. Basically, I've always felt like every moment of contentment or happiness I've had is just a temporary distraction from my long-term state of sadness and self-loathing.

However, although I've thought about seeking therapy on and off for about 5 years, I can't bring myself to do so.

One reason is that I've never felt like my depression was bad enough for me to "deserve" treatment.

A second reason is that the whole process of therapy seems like it would just be a huge drain on my time, energy, and wallet (I'm in the U.S. and have health insurance).

A third reason is that I have a huge aversion to talking about my feelings, and when I start to get upset, I physically can't speak. Especially if I start to cry; I just can't make my mouth GO. Also, acts of kindness, empathy, or sympathy usually set me off into hysterical crying and I shut down further. So I have this feeling that I wouldn't make any progress because I'll never be able to communicate the depth or the range of what I feel.

Therefore, I think I need to be on an antidepressant before I can be stable enough to seek therapy.

--- The actual question ---

I've read this thread and have found it quite helpful. However, I don't understand the process of going to a GP or a walk-in clinic and getting an antidepressant prescription. I don't really have a primary care physician; I do see a great endocrinologist regularly for a hormonal issue (definitely not related to depression), but I would never feel comfortable talking to him about depression. I actually haven't been to a GP in 10+ years; if I feel unwell I just go to an urgent care/walk-in type clinic.

If I go to a walk-in clinic and tell them I'm depressed, will I really get a prescription for an antidepressant? Approximately how long would that prescription be good for (would it be a few weeks, a couple of months, etc.), and what do I do when it runs out? Or does all of that depend 100% on the doctor I see? I have always had a LOT of trouble talking to doctors, even about simple physical symptoms, so any advice on exactly what to say would be appreciated.

Is SSRI poop out recognized scientifically?

happyturtle — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:10:10 -0800

I know that SSRI poop-out is well documented on the web, but I can't seem to find any references to the scientific literature. Has anyone really studied this? This is a followup to this question about a horrible session with an unsympathetic psychiatrist "Dr Meanie". When I told Dr Meanie that my current anti-depressant had stopped working after being stable on it for two years, she said 'Anti-depressants don't just stop working.' I explained my history and that it had occurred several times over the years, and in each case, switching to a new medication had solved the problem. She was clearly skeptical. At first I was appalled that a Psychiatrist Consultant would not have heard of it, but I've tried googling for references, and all I can find are anecdotes. I don't expect a specialist to be up to date on web anecdotes. However, I do expect her to be up to date with the scientific literature in her field of study.

Has SSRI poop out been studied properly? Can anyone provide any citations to medical journals? Is there a more scientificy-sounding name for it that I should be looking for?

What have all these prescription drugs done to me?

Drohan — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:26:04 -0800

What has a decade anti-anxiety medication done to me? You name it, I've probably been on it at one time or another--Serzone, Topamax, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, BuSpar, Gabitril, Provigil, Klonopin, Ativan, Lexapro, Seroquel...the list goes on.

I've gone from my early 20s to my early 30s constantly on some combination of medication to combat Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Some of the drugs I've been on have been to combat the major side effects (weight gain & sexual dysfunction) of the main drugs. I've also been in therapy the whole time.

At this point, I'm still experiencing anxiety, which I hope to deal with with yet another cocktail of drugs/therapy. I'm on 20mg of Cymbalta and 2mg of klonopin a day. I'm trying to go off the Cymbalta because it doesn't seem to be working. I just went off Seroquel because it was making it impossible to wake up and I had a feeling it was causing a huge explosion in weight gain.

My question: Will I ever be "normal" again? Now that I've gone off the Seroquel, will I have an easier time losing weight? Will I ever get my sex drive back? Before all these drugs, I had a really healthy sex drive. Even in the few months between being on SSRIs etc. over the past decade, my sex drive hasn't magically come back. Am I doomed to be overweight and sex-drive-less from an early adulthood of pharmacological roulette?

What are the implications of long-term antidepressant use?

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:44:42 -0800

Can anyone share or point me towards anecdotal or scientific information regarding the implications of long-term antidepressant use? I know this can be a sensitive subject in the green, but since crazymeds went down, I'm not sure where to look. I'll try to keep this short as possible, but it seems that such personal questions require personal information...

My basic question is: Is there any evidence to show that long-term use of antidepressants can cause any sort of future mental impairment?

The backstory is as follows: I'm 26 years old, and have been on antidepressants since I was 16 for Anxiety/Depersonalisation and OCD. It took a while to find something that worked, but a low dose of Effexor XR at 75mg/day seemed to do the trick after a few months of trying things out.

On medication, I am highly functional, perhaps even superfunctional. I started a new life on the other side of the world, am in a healthy relationship, and am highly regarded and awarded in my field, in which I successfully operate my own business and and a number of self-initiated projects on top of that.

I have tried to go off the Effexor about 4 times total. Each time was closely monitored and weaned myself over a number of months. Each time I reached the point where I was totally off the meds, I would be stable for a week, and then I would just lose it, and be basically crippled with uncontrollable anxiety. (That said though, those four times were probably not the best times to pick in terms of other things that were happening in my life, i.e, new job, new house, etc)

I have been in therapy this whole time, and working on alot of other areas of my life such as my overall health (which is basically garbage at the moment) as well as taking up a meditation practice in efforts to reduce my overall stress in addition to making alot of smaller changes across the board.

I have reached the point where I have accepted that I will probably have to be on medication for many years to come while I sort these other things out in therapy, because being able to leave the house is something that I greatly value. While the anxiety can still break through the veneer of medication some days, its manageable at least.

Anyone who has tried to come off meds, especially Effexor, knows the awful withdrawal symptoms as discussed on previous posts. The sheer power of the drug, combined with the overall ignorance of how these drugs 'actually' work and my overall distrust of big pharma, makes me a bit uncomfortable, and ironically, can increase my anxiety levels.

Has anyone here been on meds 10+ years and successfully come off? Are there any studies or other resources I could use to possibly gain some more perspective on the reality of long term use of mind-altering substances? Any input would be most dearly appreciated.

Will going off of Paxil help me lose the weight I gained while on Paxil?

dumbledore69 — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:50:44 -0800

I gained a lot of weight after going on birth control pills & antidepressants. Will going off these make it easier to lose this weight? In college, the year I went on birth control pills was the year I gained 50 lbs. That was several years ago. Two years ago, I went on antidepressants. First I was on Effexor, then Paxil. Right now I am on both Paxil & Wellbutrin. The first year I was on antidepressants, I gained 70 lbs. In a single year. The second year, I worked my ass off and lost about 15 lbs, which I keep yo-yoing with, despite my best efforts to keep it off and keep losing. Note that I have never had trouble losing weight before OR keeping it off with minimal effort. My efforts have been far more than minimal with crappy results.

Three months ago, I went off of birth control pills & am now using non-hormonal birth control methods. So far, I am still struggling.

My question is - assuming that the weight gain was a side effect of the antidepressants, will going off the antidepressants make it easier to lose the weight I've put on?

I'm really interested in personal anecdotes.

I know you are not my doctor/pharmacist/etc & that my mileage will vary.

Help me help my boyfriend

odayoday — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:09:26 -0800

Help me help my boyfriend. My boyfriend is caring, supportive and great in all the ways that matter, but I think he's depressed, and it's gotten past the point where he's willing to talk about it. He's said several times that he feels there's no way out, and while he's had brief spells of depression in the past and has been able to pull himself out of them, I'm worried that this time it's too deep for him to do it alone. I've suggested counseling, but he says that he's tried it in the past and doesn't think that he'll find someone he trusts. I explained that it's a process which takes time, but will ultimately worthwhile, but he thinks that he should be able to handle this himself (a holdover from his father, who was a domineering workaholic. As a side note, he recently tried to mend his relationship with his dad, but was basically completely rejected, which I imagine is feeding into the depression as well). He was on prozac for about 5 years before we met, and now refuses to consider antidepressants because of the side effects, and also because, again, he feels like he should be able to deal with it himself. I've said that I don't think antidepressants are something to be taken lightly, but that sometimes when you can't find your way out, and don't have the strength to make the changes you want to, they can help you get to the point where you can do it. Also, we've been fighting a lot more, which makes me scared to keep bringing this stuff up, since he just shuts down or gets angry when I do. He says that he can work it out himself, but I'm really starting to think that that's not possible any more. For most of our relationship he's been nothing but wonderful, and I hate to see this happening to him. I'd really appreciate any advice about what I can say to him, whether I should push him to get help (which I'm afraid might alienate him) or whether I should just back off and let him work it out in his own time. Thanks in advance, and sorry about the length.