Anti-Depressants, what's the experience people have had ?

Post Reply New Topic

I'm going to the psychiatrist to be tested in a couple of weeks, and was asked previously if I wanted to get anti-depressant drugs. After reading about side-effects and stories, I've gotten a bit wary, so I'd like to get an idea of peoples experience with them.
I tried Zoloft for a month a couple of years ago, but it had no noticable effect on me btw.

There are several threads on here about anti-depressants and people seem very split on there effectiveness and side -effects...zI wish brain chemistry was as simple as other forms of chymistry but it is variable and influenced by a lot of factors.Should you or shouldnt you????I wouldnt make it a "light" decision...there are side effects and some of the meds....like the Effexor I take can be horrible to come off of,that said,I dont regret going on it.....it has kept me from crying at annoying times and I can think about things more interesting then suicide now....thats a big plus.I also have a strong genetic predisposition to depression it was easier for me to except that my depression waas not just "situation" or life "experiences" ,though those might trigger the worst of it....I know that it is also chemical for me.One thing you might consider before you start any thing is what you expect to get out of it....If I thought I was going to become one of the "happy shiny people" it would be a waste of time...the stuff is not "SOMA"...just takes the edge off(and may have saved my life).I was also on Zoloft for a few years...gradually increasing the dose because it didnt seem to be working until I ended up not feeling anything..thats not very pleasant either...but real point is its individual are our brains.
Some people can use it to get over the "hump" of a bad situation and then not need it again,some can use it so they have more energy to focus on issues that are bothering them and then deal with the issues....and some,like myself,use them to balance up messed up chymistry,so they can just function...

What they shouldnt be used for is trying to numb yourself to a situation<like a bad marriage or job,that would be better gotten out of....

I take Zoloft. It took weeks for it to build up in my system.

Auorix effected me, I have erratic sleep patterns at the best of times but with the experience of Auorix kept me awake all night and I could not get a wink of sleep

People have very different results from anti-depressant. Like Krex mentioned how
she disliked Effexor. I've seen many others say they hated it and many that it saved their lives! Its extremely complex matter but since I'm bored I'm going to write "War and Peace" right now.

First as Mr Mark suggested it took a few weeks for his Zoloft, a selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to "build up in his system". What is really happening is the
drug "builds up" in a few days or less. It increases level of serotonin that then
triggers a secondary not wll understood process that takes a few weeks to have
an anti-depressant effect.

This is where your first problem happens. The side effects that you will have on an
anti-depressant will largely happen on day one. You may feel no postive effects for
a month, but the negative side effect start at ounce. Those side effect very wildly
from minor (none), dry mouth, sickness, to killing a dozen people in a rage. The very
nature of depression may make even mild side effects intolerable.

In most all cases if you have major side effects on day one by day 30 they will be
greatly reduce even not factoring the anti-depressant action. The anti-depressant action maybe so strong that any lingering side effect will seem minor.

The second problem you may have is you may suffer that 30 days and still be very
depressed. At that point the doctor will likely increase your dose. Your side effects maybe even worst while again you wait 30 days.

Third you may find at no dose will a drug help you and/or it side effects are just
not worth the benifits. So now you switch drugs. Your doctor may have you slowly
reduce your dose or if its safe start the new drug at ounce. You may have the worst side effects you will every have going cold turkey or to quickly off an anti-depressant.
rule never just stop a drug that effects your mind cold turkey.

Most SSRI (maybe except prozac due to its long half-life) can simply be stop and the
new drug started at ounce. With a different SSRI your bodys chemistry may metabolize it alittle different. You may have fewwer or more side effects from one
SSRI. You may have a better anti-depressant effects from one SSRI than another.

So now you repeat the process with another SSRI or try another class of drugs.
A drug like Effexor boost both noradrealine and serotonin(SSRI + SNRI). It gets a
lttle more complex here. The chances for side effect go up with a more complex
acting drug, but the potential modes of treating depression go upto. The noradrealine
boosting effects alone can be a very effective at treating depression alone in
many people. Drugs like Reboxetine, strattarre(spelled wrong) are selective
noradrenaline boosting drugs (SNRI's). The tend to increase drive more where as
SSRI increase mood more. So if the combined effects are well tolerated and the side effects are managable you say Effexor is great.

I'm getting tire. I will write more later if people want.