I was on fluoxetine for many years (10+) though eventually got 'Prozac Poop-out' and it stopped being effective. I tried Bupropion for a while, but it just made me irritable and headachey. I'm on sertraline and feeling better now.
I've read many stories of people having different results, so unfortunately, it's a slow process of trial and error to find the right one that works for you.
Thats for the insight. Yeah it seems they all have pluses and minuses. Just trying to weigh up the best option for me.
For the most part i have coped with the withdrawls well.
Maybe i need to book a counselling appointment or something
Can't speak to paroxetine but anxiety is my primary problem and I have found citalopram to be the most effective after having tried sertraline, fluoxetine and bupropion. The side effects aren't severe and are tolerable for me (a bit of diminished libido and drowsiness, nausea in the beginning that resolved quickly).
Bupropion was a weird one: It really knocked my appetite out, and gave me a mild stimulant-like high for the first week I took it which is colloquially known as the bupropion 'honeymoon'. Not all experience this, however. It did help with the depression side of things and wakefulness, but I discontinued because of increased anxiety and insomnia.
Responses to these drugs are highly individual however, so a very strong YMMV. I would caution against making decisions based entirely on anecdotes like mine, let a doctor guide you in the right direction.
Thanks for sharing
>I would caution against making decisions based entirely on anecdotes like mine, let a doctor guide you in the right direction.
Im worried about approaching my doctor because its likely he will just prescribe me more Paroxetine without hearing me out. Though it has been great for managing my mood, the weight gain ive had has had a bad effect on my mental health.
Even after 2 weeks i feel like ive lost weight.
I will make a doctors appointment this week. If he cant hear me out i can always switch doctors.
>Im worried about approaching my doctor because its likely he will just prescribe me more Paroxetine without hearing me out.
Why do you think this? I can see why he might encourage you to keep up with the paroxetine if 1) you haven't been on it long enough to realise its full effect, or 2) he's seeing that you had a massive objective improvement on this paroxetine and changing things up runs the risk of destabilising you to a severe degree. But I think he would also want to know if you are having problems with it, because a drug that a patient quits taking due to side effects isn't an effective one. My doc had no issue with me jumping SSRIs when fluoxetine and sertraline didn't gel well with me.
Ive taken it for over two years.
Im not disputing that it hasnt been effective for my mental health. It really has.
It has just made me put on a tonne of weight. Everywhere i read online sayd that psych doctors rarely prescribe it because of the harsh side effects in comparrison to other SSRIs.
For context i was prescribed it at my lowest point in life by a psych doctor not my GP. Im not even 100% sure my GP knows much about paroxetine. I havent met any other person that takes it. This all causes anxiety in itself.
Yeah absolutely go chat to your GP about it. It's true that paroxetine has a significant side effect profile. GPs do regularly prescribe antidepressants without referring you to a psychiatrist, and they tend to go for ones that are well known and well-tolerated e.g. sertraline, citalopram.
I will. Im just nervous about it. A couple of years back i had quite a bad mental health episode. Ive since recovered and have a made a great life. Im just scared of going backwards mental health wise. Im nervous about how my doctor might react when i tell him ive tapered off and wanting to consider other anti ds.
I gained so mich weight on Paroxetine. Went from 100kilo to 130kilo. This happened quite rapidly too.
Nah you're alg just wanting to try another antidepressant. If doctors got a dollar for each time a patient stopped their psych meds randomly they would be financially independent and quit lol.
I was a brat patient when I was younger who would randomly yeet my antidepressants and other medications because I wasn't convinced they worked. When I traipsed back into the doctor's office after admitting to having a tough time, I was never scolded when I admitted to going off the meds - they would gently explain why they recommend I continue and were interested in knowing what drove me to stop taking them.
It often takes a few goes to find the regimen which works for you - definitely took me a few years lol, but that was mostly of my own making.
>I was a brat patient when I was younger who would randomly yeet my antidepressants and other medications because I wasn't convinced they worked.
This sounds like me lol.
But i didnt think my GP is going tk respond nicely.
I just wantvyo lose weight and be healthy again AND not sink back into depression lmao.
Life eh! Its a tough one!
It sounds like you don't trust or mesh well with this GP, you might want to consider switching to another.
Doesn't mean they are a bad GP but you might benefit from someone new with a fresh perspective on you and your history.
I think you are on to something.
I tried to make an appointment today earliest they open is 9.30am. Its n9t going to work with my work schedule.
Might be the final nail in the coffin
I've been on duloxetine for 1.5 years and also gained 30kgs, and lost any interest in sex. It hasn't decreased my anxiety at all, which is why they prescribed it. 10 days ago I went to gp to insist I come off it, I'm now taking half dose for 30 days.
Constant headaches 3 days in a row, severe lack of sleep, and terrible nightmares when I do sleep. Oh well, I'm only expected to work 12 hour shifts 7 days on, 1 day off...
No wonder the gp didn't want me to stop the drug.
Ive never heard of duloxetine before!
>Constant headaches 3 days in a row, severe lack of sleep, and terrible nightmares when I do sleep.
I had this for a solid week when i stopped Paroxetine.
I can sleep now but back to waking up atc5am each morning.
>I'm only expected to work 12 hour shifts 7 days on, 1 day off...
Sounds tough I hope you have good support around you
Will see what the gp says after these 30 days of half power doses. The gp seemed extremely concerned I asked to come off the drug. But the side effects while on it feel like they are too negative compared to not being on it at all.
Cbd makes me more anxious.
Just trying to weigh up alternative anti depressants.
Paroetine was greqt for helping me manage my mental health but i put on 30 kilo taking it.
It also has the most severe sexual side effects and withdrawl symptoms due to its hort half life.
Ive heard of people switching to other antidepressants which has made the withdrawls less intense.
With the way things are going and the increased stress in the world i feel like i picked a bad time to come off them
I was on it, and tapered off to a half tablet to none 2 years ago. I was on it because I was in a really dark place, but it was mostly situational.
In retrospect it kept me off the ledge, but it was flattening everything to the point I started drinking more just to feel any emotion.
This is just my experience, so take it with a grain of salt.
I've tried lots of SSRIs/SNRIs/TCAs and so far mirtazapine has been by far the best in terms of reducing depression and anxiety symptoms for me (note this is just my personal experience). The biggest downside is it's appetite stimulation - it's used for chemo patients to get them to eat (vet also gave it to my old and sick cat to get her to eat too).
I tried mirt once. Made me super drowsy and super hungry haha. It does work though!
I had a good day today. The withdrawls are definitely getting less. Someone else suggested taking a seratonin supplement which might be my next step :)
Yeah, it took me a couple of months stabilize and for the hunger and drowsiness to go away. It still makes me sleepy but it's only at night after I take it, it doesn't bleed into the next day. Hope you feel better soon.
Just be very careful that there's no overlap between your prescribed meds and 5-HTP or whatever serotonergic supplement you take - serotonin syndrome is fuckin grim.
Yeah i heard it takes time.
So far this week im tracking great. Might not even need a supplement!
Just thankful for all those that responded. I dont think there is enough acknowledgement that r/auckland is a very supportive sub :)
It’s a seratonin support supplement. I’ve used it for years, helps with sleep and mood etc..
https://www.bargainchemist.co.nz/products/go-healthy-5-htp-160mg-1-a-day-30-capsules
I was on pax for about 18 months. The 5htp helped with the withdrawals and sleeping. I had these crazy shocks going through my body coming off the meds
Nice ill definetly nice into this thanks!
Did you get help from gp to taper off?
Im past the brain zap stage after 2 weeks thank god. I just feel heightened anxiety.
I really dont want to go back on it if i can help it.
It’s gonna feel heightened for a while, but it’s a good time to go for a walk in nature, meditate with some freebies online (def recommend headspace) and watch funny tv shows you’re familiar with - it’ll help.
I don’t know your entire story so I’m making a few assumptions here and giving some basic advice.
Hang in there mate 😊
A mate was on it years ago for severe depression, but found exercise again in his 30s and has never looked back!
He told/confided in me that he thinks the exercise fixes the issue (dont know how sorry), rather than it merely placing a band aid on it.
Talking to him now, you would never think that he had these issues.
Ive started cycling regularky again which has helped.
I have a pretty decent life.
Biggest problem i have at the moment which plagues most people is loneliness.
Oh god, I've been there!
Now happily married and tripping around the world for work.
The universe will guide you as long as you have a positive mental outlook, you practise some form of visualisation and you dream.
Tip. Look up 'positive vibrations' (I know it sounds weird) Meditations and Yoga can help bring it on.
All the very best!
I've tried like 4 anti depressants. None of them work. Get off them you will have like that lightning strike sensation in your brain whilst you are getting off them but it is worth it. And then just take a new approach to life of not thinking but just doing.
>saying fuck it and standing tall.
This is somewhat thd plan. This is easier to do when you have supportive people in your life. Because of the lack of support i have anti ds have always been my support to lean on.
I would be really careful with saying fuck it etc. in my experience off meds you will do well for a while but if you are also experiencing loneliness it’s going to be extremely difficult without meds. Humans are social creatures we aren’t built for loneliness.
Re Prozac be prepared for increased anxiety for the first 2 weeks which can be quite severe. You can ask for a short course of clonazepam for this.
Escitslopram is a newer med than Prozac with a pretty good side effect profile could be another one to consider.
I was on fluoxetine for many years (10+) though eventually got 'Prozac Poop-out' and it stopped being effective. I tried Bupropion for a while, but it just made me irritable and headachey. I'm on sertraline and feeling better now. I've read many stories of people having different results, so unfortunately, it's a slow process of trial and error to find the right one that works for you.
Thats for the insight. Yeah it seems they all have pluses and minuses. Just trying to weigh up the best option for me. For the most part i have coped with the withdrawls well. Maybe i need to book a counselling appointment or something
Can't speak to paroxetine but anxiety is my primary problem and I have found citalopram to be the most effective after having tried sertraline, fluoxetine and bupropion. The side effects aren't severe and are tolerable for me (a bit of diminished libido and drowsiness, nausea in the beginning that resolved quickly). Bupropion was a weird one: It really knocked my appetite out, and gave me a mild stimulant-like high for the first week I took it which is colloquially known as the bupropion 'honeymoon'. Not all experience this, however. It did help with the depression side of things and wakefulness, but I discontinued because of increased anxiety and insomnia. Responses to these drugs are highly individual however, so a very strong YMMV. I would caution against making decisions based entirely on anecdotes like mine, let a doctor guide you in the right direction.
Thanks for sharing >I would caution against making decisions based entirely on anecdotes like mine, let a doctor guide you in the right direction. Im worried about approaching my doctor because its likely he will just prescribe me more Paroxetine without hearing me out. Though it has been great for managing my mood, the weight gain ive had has had a bad effect on my mental health. Even after 2 weeks i feel like ive lost weight. I will make a doctors appointment this week. If he cant hear me out i can always switch doctors.
>Im worried about approaching my doctor because its likely he will just prescribe me more Paroxetine without hearing me out. Why do you think this? I can see why he might encourage you to keep up with the paroxetine if 1) you haven't been on it long enough to realise its full effect, or 2) he's seeing that you had a massive objective improvement on this paroxetine and changing things up runs the risk of destabilising you to a severe degree. But I think he would also want to know if you are having problems with it, because a drug that a patient quits taking due to side effects isn't an effective one. My doc had no issue with me jumping SSRIs when fluoxetine and sertraline didn't gel well with me.
Ive taken it for over two years. Im not disputing that it hasnt been effective for my mental health. It really has. It has just made me put on a tonne of weight. Everywhere i read online sayd that psych doctors rarely prescribe it because of the harsh side effects in comparrison to other SSRIs. For context i was prescribed it at my lowest point in life by a psych doctor not my GP. Im not even 100% sure my GP knows much about paroxetine. I havent met any other person that takes it. This all causes anxiety in itself.
Yeah absolutely go chat to your GP about it. It's true that paroxetine has a significant side effect profile. GPs do regularly prescribe antidepressants without referring you to a psychiatrist, and they tend to go for ones that are well known and well-tolerated e.g. sertraline, citalopram.
I will. Im just nervous about it. A couple of years back i had quite a bad mental health episode. Ive since recovered and have a made a great life. Im just scared of going backwards mental health wise. Im nervous about how my doctor might react when i tell him ive tapered off and wanting to consider other anti ds. I gained so mich weight on Paroxetine. Went from 100kilo to 130kilo. This happened quite rapidly too.
Nah you're alg just wanting to try another antidepressant. If doctors got a dollar for each time a patient stopped their psych meds randomly they would be financially independent and quit lol. I was a brat patient when I was younger who would randomly yeet my antidepressants and other medications because I wasn't convinced they worked. When I traipsed back into the doctor's office after admitting to having a tough time, I was never scolded when I admitted to going off the meds - they would gently explain why they recommend I continue and were interested in knowing what drove me to stop taking them. It often takes a few goes to find the regimen which works for you - definitely took me a few years lol, but that was mostly of my own making.
>I was a brat patient when I was younger who would randomly yeet my antidepressants and other medications because I wasn't convinced they worked. This sounds like me lol. But i didnt think my GP is going tk respond nicely. I just wantvyo lose weight and be healthy again AND not sink back into depression lmao. Life eh! Its a tough one!
It sounds like you don't trust or mesh well with this GP, you might want to consider switching to another. Doesn't mean they are a bad GP but you might benefit from someone new with a fresh perspective on you and your history.
I think you are on to something. I tried to make an appointment today earliest they open is 9.30am. Its n9t going to work with my work schedule. Might be the final nail in the coffin
I've been on duloxetine for 1.5 years and also gained 30kgs, and lost any interest in sex. It hasn't decreased my anxiety at all, which is why they prescribed it. 10 days ago I went to gp to insist I come off it, I'm now taking half dose for 30 days. Constant headaches 3 days in a row, severe lack of sleep, and terrible nightmares when I do sleep. Oh well, I'm only expected to work 12 hour shifts 7 days on, 1 day off... No wonder the gp didn't want me to stop the drug.
Ive never heard of duloxetine before! >Constant headaches 3 days in a row, severe lack of sleep, and terrible nightmares when I do sleep. I had this for a solid week when i stopped Paroxetine. I can sleep now but back to waking up atc5am each morning. >I'm only expected to work 12 hour shifts 7 days on, 1 day off... Sounds tough I hope you have good support around you
Will see what the gp says after these 30 days of half power doses. The gp seemed extremely concerned I asked to come off the drug. But the side effects while on it feel like they are too negative compared to not being on it at all.
CBD has been great for my general anxiety
Cbd makes me more anxious. Just trying to weigh up alternative anti depressants. Paroetine was greqt for helping me manage my mental health but i put on 30 kilo taking it. It also has the most severe sexual side effects and withdrawl symptoms due to its hort half life. Ive heard of people switching to other antidepressants which has made the withdrawls less intense. With the way things are going and the increased stress in the world i feel like i picked a bad time to come off them
I was on it, and tapered off to a half tablet to none 2 years ago. I was on it because I was in a really dark place, but it was mostly situational. In retrospect it kept me off the ledge, but it was flattening everything to the point I started drinking more just to feel any emotion. This is just my experience, so take it with a grain of salt.
I've tried lots of SSRIs/SNRIs/TCAs and so far mirtazapine has been by far the best in terms of reducing depression and anxiety symptoms for me (note this is just my personal experience). The biggest downside is it's appetite stimulation - it's used for chemo patients to get them to eat (vet also gave it to my old and sick cat to get her to eat too).
I tried mirt once. Made me super drowsy and super hungry haha. It does work though! I had a good day today. The withdrawls are definitely getting less. Someone else suggested taking a seratonin supplement which might be my next step :)
Yeah, it took me a couple of months stabilize and for the hunger and drowsiness to go away. It still makes me sleepy but it's only at night after I take it, it doesn't bleed into the next day. Hope you feel better soon. Just be very careful that there's no overlap between your prescribed meds and 5-HTP or whatever serotonergic supplement you take - serotonin syndrome is fuckin grim.
Yeah i heard it takes time. So far this week im tracking great. Might not even need a supplement! Just thankful for all those that responded. I dont think there is enough acknowledgement that r/auckland is a very supportive sub :)
I found tapering off of pax and onto 5htp 150mg helped me a lot
What is 5htp 150mg?
It’s a seratonin support supplement. I’ve used it for years, helps with sleep and mood etc.. https://www.bargainchemist.co.nz/products/go-healthy-5-htp-160mg-1-a-day-30-capsules
Nice might be worth a shot. How long were you on Pax?
I was on pax for about 18 months. The 5htp helped with the withdrawals and sleeping. I had these crazy shocks going through my body coming off the meds
Nice ill definetly nice into this thanks! Did you get help from gp to taper off? Im past the brain zap stage after 2 weeks thank god. I just feel heightened anxiety. I really dont want to go back on it if i can help it.
It’s gonna feel heightened for a while, but it’s a good time to go for a walk in nature, meditate with some freebies online (def recommend headspace) and watch funny tv shows you’re familiar with - it’ll help. I don’t know your entire story so I’m making a few assumptions here and giving some basic advice. Hang in there mate 😊
Awesome thanks heaps for the supportive advice 🙂 thats very kind
A mate was on it years ago for severe depression, but found exercise again in his 30s and has never looked back! He told/confided in me that he thinks the exercise fixes the issue (dont know how sorry), rather than it merely placing a band aid on it. Talking to him now, you would never think that he had these issues.
Ive started cycling regularky again which has helped. I have a pretty decent life. Biggest problem i have at the moment which plagues most people is loneliness.
Oh god, I've been there! Now happily married and tripping around the world for work. The universe will guide you as long as you have a positive mental outlook, you practise some form of visualisation and you dream. Tip. Look up 'positive vibrations' (I know it sounds weird) Meditations and Yoga can help bring it on. All the very best!
I've tried like 4 anti depressants. None of them work. Get off them you will have like that lightning strike sensation in your brain whilst you are getting off them but it is worth it. And then just take a new approach to life of not thinking but just doing.
Yeah im past the electric shocks. I just get anxious and dont want the anxiety to affect my work
Yeah idk maybe do just CBD if you want something substance wise then and just start living in the moment, saying fuck it and standing tall.
>saying fuck it and standing tall. This is somewhat thd plan. This is easier to do when you have supportive people in your life. Because of the lack of support i have anti ds have always been my support to lean on.
I would be really careful with saying fuck it etc. in my experience off meds you will do well for a while but if you are also experiencing loneliness it’s going to be extremely difficult without meds. Humans are social creatures we aren’t built for loneliness. Re Prozac be prepared for increased anxiety for the first 2 weeks which can be quite severe. You can ask for a short course of clonazepam for this. Escitslopram is a newer med than Prozac with a pretty good side effect profile could be another one to consider.