Thread: Going on antidepressants

I was on a low dosage of Lexapro for almost a year after I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. YES they did help. I was on the lowest dosage and I felt a huge change in my mentality and other people noticed it as well. I bet your doctor will start you off on a low dosage and up it if/as needed. It might take a couple of weeks for your body to adjust. My only "side effect" was a lowered sex drive and inability to orgasm. I am not sure if you are sexually active, but if you are, it is something I would suggest talking with your doctor about. Anti-depressants can affect libido. I know many people who are on anti-depressants and will need to be for the rest of their life. It is nothing to be ashamed of!! People take pills for headaches and other illnesses. Anti-depressants are no different. They definitely help.

Asiangrace said it beautifully!

Depression is a chemical inbalance in the brain. It is BELIEVED (not 100% proven) that there are three chemicals in the brain that effect mood; Dopamine, Norepinephrin and Serotonin.

There are many different families of antidepressants available today. The two most common groups are:

- SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) These drugs increase the brain's level of serotonin, thus improving mood. SSRI's have also been shown to be useful in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and some forms of severe shyness.

They are generally well tolerated and effective. Some common SSRI side effects include: heartburn and drowsiness. They can sometimes produce a transient loss of appetite. SSRI medications can have drug interactions. You should consult with your doctor or pharmacist prior to mixing them with other medications.

- SNRIs (Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) are a class of antidepressant drugs used in the treatment of major depression and other mood disorders. They are sometimes also used to treat anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), and for the relief of menopausal symptoms.
SNRIs act upon and increase the levels of two neurotransmitters in the brain that are known to play an important part in mood, of which are serotonin and norepinephrine. This can be contrasted with the more widely-used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which act more selectively on serotonin.

- Multiple Reuptake Inhibitors These drugs affect more than one neurotransmitter, usually serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine are the three neurotransmitters responsible for a lot of depression issues.),

- Tricyclic Antidepressants get their name from their chemical structure. This class of drugs is very effective in combating depression but is associated with troublesome side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.
Tricyclic antidepressant medications can have drug interactions. You should consult with your doctor or pharmacist prior to mixing them with other medications.

Other families of antidepressant drugs include the MAOI's (monoamine oxidase Inhibitors). MAOI's are very effective but have potentially life-threatening drug interactions and food interactions.

If you are taking a MOAI drug, it is important that you consult with your doctor before you take any other medicines. Your doctor will also tell you which foods to avoid mixing with your medicine*****.

SSRI's:
Celexa (citalopram; Drug Family: SSRI )
Lexapro (citalopram HBr: Drug Family SSRI )
Luvox (fluvoxamine; Drug Family: SSRI )
Paxil, Paxil CR (paroxetine; Drug Family: SSRI )
Prozac, Prozac Weekly
Zoloft (sertraline; Drug Family: SSRI )

SNRI’s
Venlafaxine (trade names Effexor XR, Effexor) was the first and most commonly used SNRI.
Desvenlafaxine (trade name Pristiq) is the active metabolite of venlafaxine and is believed to work in the exact same manner
Duloxetine[2] (tradename Cymbalta)


MRI’s:
Effexor, Effexor XR (venlafaxine; Drug Family: serotonin and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor )
Cymbalta (duloxetine; Drug Family: serotonin and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor)
Remeron, Remeron SolTab: see below. Effects serotonin and norepinephrine
Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin XL (1x/day) effects serotonin and dopamine

Tricyclics:
Amitriptyline; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)
Desipramine; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)
Nortriptyline; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)

Misc:
Nardil (phenelzine; Drug Family: MAOI )
Parnate (tranylcypromine; Drug Family: MAOI)*****
Remeron (mirtazepine; Drug Family: tetracyclic)
Serzone (nefazodone; Drug Family: phenylpiperazine)
Trazodone; GENERIC (Drug Family: triazolopyridine - various manufacturers)
Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR (twice a day),
Wellbutrin XL ( Once a day) (bupropion; Drug Family: aminoketone

Having dealt with depression most of my adult life and having taken several antidepressants to help treat it, I have become quite passionate about it.

The BIGGEST NEGATIVE EFFECT FOR ME personally has been the sexual side effects of not being able to "perform".

I have tons of data, have done tons of research and am pretty informed in this area or about as much as a consumer can be.

Keep in mind that it will also take about4 weeks before the drug takes effect, as your body has to build up to certain levels before you feel any results.

Your body is a temple....treat it accordingly.

Update: I did go to my doctor today and was put on something called Mirtazapine 15MG. I am also scheduled for blood work to make certain everything is in check. Thank you for information and advice, trust me when I say it really did help.

Hi there, I have been on Effexor (venlafaxine) for years now. I helps me with mild depression but mainly helps me with my anxiety or panic attacks. It has done wonders for me. I feel happier and not worried anymore about a panic attack. I have zero side effects but am on a low dosage. Definetly hasn't done anything to my sex drive, its as high as its always been.

good luck.

Van,

You've been put on the generic version of Remeron. If you have questions that remain unanswered, you can either go to their website or type Mirtazapine into a search engine and see if you can get answers there.

As you are probably well aware, generic versions of brand name drugs are the same as far as the molecule that makes the difference and are significantly "cheaper" then the brand name version of the same drug.

Good luck. I hope you find relief for your depression.

I would have to say that Lexapro is the overall best on the market as far as covering several problems with minimal side effects.

Have you tried L-Theanine? It's natural and it's the only thing keeping my mom "afloat" after losing her dad this past October. I take it as needed when I have bouts of depression. It's pretty potent and effective stuff. Just throwing that out there.

TigerPrettyBunny, I may mention that one to my doctor next time I'm there. Finding it really heard to get used to my new dosage. Like it helps the depression but if I don't get it within my normal 5 hour window I get extremely agitated, and am constantly tired. Thanks for the suggestion I'll keep it in mind.

"I would have to say that Lexapro is the overall best on the market"

A very BIG statement considering there is not one bit of evidence, scientific or otherwise, to back it up.

EVERY drug works a little differently in EVERY body as each of us are our own "living laboratories".

I would suggest that you stick it out a while longer as any anitdepressant takes time to build up to reasonable levels in your body. There shouldn't be a "window" to worry about either. Take the med at the same time every day and be done with it.

If, after several weeks, you are still having concerns or problems then maybe Remeron or its generic equivalent is not the drug for you. Then ask your physician about changing to another type. Keep in mind that there may be a weaning off period form the first and a building up of the levels for the next before you notice any difference.

Treating depression with antidepressants takes time. These drugs are not like antibiotics or pain relievers like ibuprofen.