Who has taken anti-depressants?

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I took Effexor XR through the last year of high school and all throughout college. It really did help rebalance my moods, especially while I was growing.

Out of college and on my own now, I've been off all medication for about 18 months. Things are going pretty well for me, though I've still got the gift of deep moods and overactive imagination. Recently a traumatic event happened between my girlfriend and I (long story, can't post it here because she also posts here and its her story to tell when she's ready) but after three days of sleepless grieving, I thought about asking my doctor to prescribe the antidepressants again, as I'd worried myself senseless.

But then the event got a little better, so I was cool. But I'd consider going back to the meds if/when life gets too screwed up for me to manage alone.

I think they vary from person to person. What helps one person, doesn't help another. I've been on them since I was fourteen for anxiety and depression. I was terrified of going on them at the beginning, because they were OMG DRUGS!, you know? But if they help, then take them. So far I've had:

Amtriptyline - it really helped for the first couple of years, but then the effect started to wear off and they stopped helping with my depression and anxiety. Side effects? None that I noticed, or at least can remember.

Citalopram - or EVIL, as I call it. Really made me feel very ill and anxious to begin with. Side effects were horrible for the first few weeks (dry mouth, mouth ulcers, sickness and dizziness) . Stayed on it for a bit, but didn't do enough to make the side effects worth it, and when increased the dosage they made me worse than before I'd be on them.

Fluxoetine (prozac) - didn't really notice anything while on them so I suppose helped with depression and anxiety. No noticeable side effects. Felt they weren't doing anything, but they were. Went off them and Whoosh! Anxiety and depression went extremely bad. But I needed something a bit stronger.

Mirtazapine - Am currently on this and want off now, although I've only been on them a few weeks and not sure if I should be patient. Make you extremely drowsy to begin with (though that helped me recover my sleep) so you're pretty much non-functioning for the first seven days. I found that extremely scary. That's worn off, but I've found that they make me more anxious (I haven't been as bad as I am agorophobia-wise for a while as I have been now) and aren't really helping with my depression. The weight gain is horrible! I'm extremely unhappy about that. A few weeks and can't fit into most of my jeans!

Diazipam (valium) - I always get this if I have to go somewhere that I know is going to be extremely stressful (holidays, flights, etc). Really helps with the panic attacks (stops them within five minutes of taking), but is addictive long term (I can see why) so wouldn't recommend. It's my 'boost' for in between meds.

Most definitely true...it's all about finding the kind that works for you. I've been taking a small dose of Celexa for two years with amazing results: my depression is eliminated as long as I keep taking them. However, this particular drug may not work for everyone, and it's just a matter of trying different ones out while finding the right fit.

My best advice is to give it time: I know that most require you to take them for a few weeks or a month before you start feeling the effects, especially if you're taking a small dosage.

after around 12 different meds, extreme insomnia, 1 suicide attempt, i finally found one that worked, lexapro

though i will say it makes me like a robot, i'm never happy or sad. it's just... yeah.

I was on Prozac earlier this year for anxiety... I switched between 5 and 10mg since I'm so sensitive to meds. I had the hardest time waking up on 10 and would have to get 10-12 hours of sleep a night... even then I would be way too drowsy! It did help level out my mood so I didn't worry so much, but what's the fun if you don't have the energy to undergo daily tasks?

That didn't work. I'm now on Wellbutrin, and it's a lot better. I still get anxious sometimes but I'm far more awake and focused, and can actually get things done! I didn't experience weight gain on either (Prozac actually made me lose weight), so it depends on how the medication affects you individually. In order to know how something will work for you you'll have to try it yourself.

To me, they seem to take the edge out of you thoughts, or keep most thoughts of a negative nature at bay. Been through 5 before finding one that works for me (ones that keyed to serotonin messed me up, but the ones targeting dopamine have done quite well for a little over half a year since i started taking them). For the most part, if you start getting negative effects in the first 1-2 weeks of taking it, get with the doctor and get off it somehow. For me, those negative effects were increased heart rate, fatigue, and anxiety from the serotonin targeted medication.

I am currently taking two antidepressants, one mood stabilizer, one mild prescription for anxiety, and (most importantly, in my case) one huge daily dose of an anti-psychotic medication.

The thing with any medications for mental illness is that each and every one of them has a different effect on everybody who takes them. It took about three years of trial and error for the doctor to figure out what combination of medications worked best for me. That was a couple of years ago, and I have not had any symptoms since I've been on this particular cocktail.

If you are seriously depressed on a nonstop basis, don't get discouraged if the first couple of prescriptions don't work out for you, for the reasons I just mentioned. It sometimes takes time to figure out what works best, which does kinda suck, but that's the way it works.

Ok, firstly why do you want to take them, in my experience depression was only ever a side effect of not understanding how I worked as an aspie, my understanding has grown a little and I am trying to just ride it out naturally now having stopped fiddling with pharmaceutical meds and stopped smoking pot on the pretext of self medication.
At the end of the day most meds are designed as short term solutions for depression that has been triggered by an event, where as my depression was symptomatic of my despair that resulted from trying to make sense of the world. I tried three different meds, fluoxitine hydrochloride[arapax, prozac...], citalopram and venalfaxine[? spelling]. They all ceased to work over time and were to varying degrees addictive. Citalopram was very 'speedy' and actually accentuated my anxiety and sensitivity and venalfaxine was the most unpleasant to withdraw from [dissassociation, depressive plunges, dissy turns...
Ultimately I would suggest using therapy first or at the vary least use the anti-depressants in conjunction with therapy because looking for a simple consumptive quick fix solution is not going to allow you to be the best you can be, peace j

I have been on various anti-depressants for twenty years. The only adverse side-effect I notice was anorgasim when I was on Paxil and that was no big deal, skip a pill anytime there was sex in the air. Never gained any weight. I'm on Bupropion (Wellbutrin), have been for 8 years, and don't have any problems.

Anti-depressants don't make you happy, but they certainly allow you to try.

I was on Lexapro, even though I wasn't depressed (gee there's a surprise). It was supposed to be something "mild" for anxiety. All it did was make me belch all the time. I don't see why they even bother prescribing "mild" drugs for anxiety. If anxiety is so bad that you need drugs in the first place, go straight to the "hard" stuff.

I was on Paxil for depression/PTSD and for me, it caused weight gain. I also had to go off it gradually because that's one drug you should not quit cold turkey. It did save my life when I was suicidal at one point, so I could never be a Scientologist.

mysterious_misfit, I currently take Lexapro for my depression & anxiety though, I'll admit its not easy especially when you not only have social issues to deal with as part of AS but, having depression tends to add upon those and actually, sometimes has made me feel like an outsider even among other Aspies..Anyways, I have managed to overcome some of my insecurities but, it's a longterm battle neverless..

I used to take Effexor XR. Those things contributed to many of my problems in life. If you take anti-depressants, prepare to have many problems.

IMO they are only good as a last resort, when therapy hasnt worked. I have had a horrible time with the antidepressant I was on and I regret going on it .

I have tried, but it hasn't had an effect on me.

I'll admit lexapro has created some sleeping troubles for me and this is something I deal with on a daily basis though, I still try to find ways & means to deal with my troubles neverless..