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Have they helped you

  • Changed My Life

    Votes: 6 23%
  • Had A Massive Impact

    Votes: 2 7.7%
  • Helped Me

    Votes: 8 31%
  • Helped A little

    Votes: 4 15%
  • They didn't do anything for me

    Votes: 6 23%

How have antidepressants helped you?

7.1K views 14 replies 13 participants last post by  Raptors  
#1 ·
Hey

what experiences have you had with antidepressants.
Do all antidepressants do the same thing or do only ssis
Do they compleatly vanquish your SA or do they just help you talk more?

After hearing about what they can do, its kind of a light at the end of the tunnel for me :)

thanks
 
#3 ·
Antidepressants are grouped into different classes,.....most SSRIs are similiar to other SSRIs, same with SNRIs, MAOIs, and Tricyclics. There are significant differences unique to each specific drug. Probably the most commonly shared trait, is side effects.....SSRIs have a specific set of side effects, different from SNRIs, MAOIs, ect.

In terms of vanquishing SA, it completely depends on the individual, and which drug they are taking. SSRIs seem to work great for some people, while for others, they are completely ineffective. Usually, most people get a combination of effectiveness and and side effects, the balance of both , determines if its worth it to continue taking the drug. For me, SSRIs definetly reduced my SA, but they did not vanquish it. Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, ...all decreased my worry, about whether or not I said the right thing in social situations. Overall, they helped me talk more, made me want to talk more, and made me worry less about how i talked/what people thought of me. But, I experienced a lot of Emotional numbing, I could not feel normal emotions as clearly, I felt kinda of blank and numb.

I haven't tried SNRIs adequately........MAOIs, specifically Parnate, are significantly more effective in reducing my Depression. Parnate is somewhat helpful in reducing my SA, many people apparently have better responses, at higher doses such as 40-60mg/day, I am only taking 20mg a day.
 
#13 ·
Yeah was gonna say I could already 'see' a difference in you simply just in the way you reply to topics on this forum now. Very noticeable when compared to last year for example. Glad it is working for you. :)

Back to topic, for me, I remember Paxil giving me quite a profound effect on my depression and social anxiety but it's been so long since that I am not really sure if it really was as good as I remember or simply it not making me worse like the other SSRIs I tried before it. I think it gave me some relief but I don't think it 'cured' me. I remember it giving me a whole host of rather annoying side-effects though, like loss of libido, restless legs, crazy weight gain, dry mouth etc.

I usually give Zoloft a lot of criticism but it's the only one I have gone back to more than any other anti-depressant. I think is simply to do with the fact I get very few side-effects and it's very easy for me to come off whenever I choose to without suffering crazy withdrawals. The only thing I dislike with Zoloft is I can't take 100mg otherwise I get quite severe anhedonia and headaches for some reason more than any other SSRI.

Prozac is another which I felt I was quick to criticise. I couldn't get past the first month on it because it made me sick all the time but despite the horrible nausea I remember it having an absolutely dramatic effect on my depression but unfortunately it also made my anxiety shoot through the roof.

I will probably go back and explore Prozac and Paxil at some point again but for now I think I am gonna give myself a break. Effexor at 150mg and above also interests me.
 
#6 ·
Anti- ds have not helped me at all. I have only tried escitalopram and trazodone and both were a complete nightmare. My experience has made me very sceptical about these medications but the depression has come back strong again and I think I need to start something new. I am thinking about asking my pdoc about mirtazapine or maybe venalfaxine or sertraline.
 
#7 ·
None of the ones I have tried thus far have helped me.
Zoloft, Cymbalta, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin/Celexa Combo
 
#8 ·
I said "helped a little." When I was on Lexapro, my mood improved, but that was about it. I still lacked motivation and drive, so there was no major impact. It didn't help me to become any more functional.

As for the impact on my SA specifically, I'd say that Lexapro improved the quality of my interactions with the people I already interacted with anyway (mainly because of my improved mood), but it didn't motivate me to put myself in new social situations. I didn't feel inspired to try to meet new people or take more risks socially or anything.
 
#9 ·
Let's see: Paxil numbed all my emotions and caused me to put on 40 pounds. Zoloft didn't do anything except numb my emotions a little. Cymbalta didn't do much of anything.

I'm currently on bupropion, and it helps a LOT with my depression. It doesn't do much of anything for my anxiety, but I have clonazepam for that.
 
#11 ·
The only anti-depressant that did anything for my anxiety was Paxil. I am on Nortriptyline 50mg right now and my depression went into remission, my anxiety is still here though. Without anti-depressants I'd likely be long dead.