Anti-D or SSRIs

[MS]

Celexa (like many of the SSRIs including Prozac) can cause changes in appetite. Paradoxically it it may increase some folks appetite, but decrease others. Wellbutrin is more likely to decrease appetite, which is why the recommend that people with EDs avoid it. Obviously many people with EDs seek it out because of this recommendation!

I will stress that everyone is different, and I will also point out (despite the bells and whistles that the manufacturers blow on their own behalf), that even the "best" antidepressants only have a 30-40% success rate above the placebo effect. This means that 60-70% of the people given an SSRI will either not get benefit from it (only side effects), or they improve, but would have improved even with out drug intervention. Don't expect miracles in the first few weeks of SSRI treatment. Or maybe you SHOULD expect miracles since the placebo effect can be so strong (if you believe in the drug enough) that it can lift you out of your depression.

 

[luvs2workout]

3V -

I have 2 friends on Celexa - they both love it, no sexual sides...I have another friend whos been on wellbutrin for 6 wks and still no sexual sides....I tried the Zoloft - over a year 1/2 ago and after a few wks quit it b/c of the sexual sides and many others...it sucked...I would definately agree w/others as far as Paxil is concerned - I have witnessed someone go from slight depression to fricking nuts on that shit.....

I battle depression often ----highs and lows---- think it has something to do w/our age????? I was just discussing this w/a friend - I am the only woman I know who IS NOT on something right now (even though I probly need it the most..hehe) the reason Im not on is strictly b/c I dont want the wieght gain or any sexual sides - that in itself would make me REALLLY DEPRESSED!!!

 

[goldsgirl]

Loved celexa - but I as trying to lose weight while on it. It didn't make me gain, but I couldn't budge with losing. So my DR put me on Wellbutrin which made me very angry. Am on Ananvar right now and am trying no anti-depressants. Will go back on Celexa after this cycle.....

 

[starfish]

I have looked into antidepressants A LOT!! I have been on Paxil for anxiety attacks- hated it. Weight gain and turned me into a zombie. Withdrawal from Paxil is horrible. Effexor has some pretty bad stuff going for it too.

I am currently trying Wellbutrin. It is not an SSRI. It works with dopomine and not seratonin. So far, I love it the best. It is supposed to have the least amount of sides.

Everyone reacts differently though.. You may have to try different things.

Wellbutrin gets the best rating from me. It often makes women lose weight too. No sex sides either..

 

[bunnymt]

Prozac makes you like a zombie and it kills the sex drive. We're all better off without anti-depressants. It is possible to live without them...yes, i said live. I have said nothing about the quality of life with or without anti-depressants. Now that is another story.

 

[Temple]

Bunnymt - prozac doesn't zombie everyone out or kill everyone's sex drive. I function great on it. It is a very individual thing. It actually improves my ability to focus for long periods of time which is necessary with my job. IMO if you have severe depression then help from an SSRI or the like is something you should pursue. For those that are so depressed that they are suicidal it is may not be possible to "live" without them.

 

[bunnymt]

Bunnymt - prozac doesn't zombie everyone out or kill everyone's sex drive. I function great on it. It is a very individual thing. It actually improves my ability to focus for long periods of time which is necessary with my job. IMO if you have severe depression then help from an SSRI or the like is something you should pursue. For those that are so depressed that they are suicidal it is may not be possible to "live" without them.

agreed. However, I do believe that doctor's nowadays prescribe far too many anti-depressants to people. Understandable if you are severely depressed or suicidal. However, I have heard of instances where doctors are prescribing these serious drugs to young children having the normal growing pains.

 

[thebabydoc]

Celexa (like many of the SSRIs including Prozac) can cause changes in appetite. Paradoxically it it may increase some folks appetite, but decrease others. Wellbutrin is more likely to decrease appetite, which is why the recommend that people with EDs avoid it. Obviously many people with EDs seek it out because of this recommendation!

I will stress that everyone is different, and I will also point out (despite the bells and whistles that the manufacturers blow on their own behalf), that even the "best" antidepressants only have a 30-40% success rate above the placebo effect. This means that 60-70% of the people given an SSRI will either not get benefit from it (only side effects), or they improve, but would have improved even with out drug intervention. Don't expect miracles in the first few weeks of SSRI treatment. Or maybe you SHOULD expect miracles since the placebo effect can be so strong (if you believe in the drug enough) that it can lift you out of your depression.

Thanks for the good info in the first paragraph but you just blew the placebo effect for the others!!!!
BTW, Prozac is one of the only drugs that has been shown in studies to help with severe dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome. It is marketed as Sarafem for Premenstrual Mood Disorder. Usually you start with 10mg and can work your way up to a max of 40mg/day.

 

[angel_eyes]

Been there, tried a lot of different ones. My major illness was Hypothyroidism, which can cause severe depression.

First did the Paxil thing, complete nightmare. Made me sick, made me a worse wreck than before. Also added some Lithium to the mix...they seemed to think I might have been bi-polor. All those mood stablizing drugs made me a zombie.

Switched to Effexor, same problems, plus had severe withdrawal from stopping Paxil.

Then they added some Depakote the the Effexor. Quit the Depakote and put me on Remeron...could not move for days.

Stayed on Effexor and finally moved to Zololft. Zololft with Synthoid for my thyroid disorder helped quite a bit.

Now the zoloft does not seem to be working, and have been bumped up on the synthoid. So I am going to try Wellbutrin and see how it goes.

Thyroid is still wacked out and they don't want to mess with the dosage anymore, so....what do you do???

 

[Debu]

I was on Serzone, pretty mild, it does not affect the sex drive!