Have you tried multiple antidepressants and found one that worked eventually?

[9amTrain]

If so, which one?

I tried fluoxetine, citalopram at varying doses with no effect whatsoever.

They then tried mirtazapine but I came off it not long after starting as it made me feel simply awful and drugged. But maybe I should have given it longer.

I haven't been on any for years now, have just lived with it and been investigating potential other causes for depression as I wasn't 100% convinced it was purely depression in itself.

What worked for you? I'm considering something else, I just never feel right. Can't remember the last time I felt something, though I got used to it it still sucks.

And my libido is dead.

[Diamond25]

Sertraline & olanzapine has been the best ones for me. I have tried loads. I am currently weaning off olanzapine as I was on a low dose to have a boosting effect on the Sertraline. I have been on it 12 years & it is affecting my cholesterol levels now.

[educatingarti]

Venlafaxine has been the best for me, although I believe it is pretty difficult to come off ( I haven't tried).

[RumerGodden]

I've tried half a dozen and hated them all - ineffective or terrible side effects. I now take Valdoxan (that's the brand name here, active ingredient is Agomelatine) - it's newish so not subsidized here in Australia but worth every penny. Zero side effects, can miss doses/move dose up and down (for instance during stressful times or PMT) without impact. It's brilliant. Occasionally I stop taking it because it is so subtle but the whole house suffers a week later! (My depression manifests as anxiety and anger so it's not pleasant...)

[peasyeasy]

I don't have anything useful to suggest, but I just wanted to say I've also been on mirtazapine, it made me feel like a zombie too. I took it for about 14 months at various doses to try and manage the side effects and it didn't get any better, so don't worry too much about not sticking with it for longer!

[Twotabbycats]

I tried citalopram, sertraline, duloxetine and some others I can't remember, then settled on fluoxetine and was on it for several years. Unfortunately I developed side effect that I couldn't tolerate (shaking) so had to come off it. After a few months with nothing I tried duloxetine again but the tremor came back.

Had assessment with psycho-pharmacologist and they decided I shouldn't take SSRIs or SNRIs or anything that acted on serotonin. I'm now on Valdoxen like RumerGodden and I find it ok. I have no side effects and it helps with sleep. I would say depression and anxiety are more manageable but not completely controlled. But I have a lot of health problems and my day-to-day activity is quite limited, which definitely has an impact on my mental health.

[BippityBoppity87]

I tried mirtazapine too. Was on it for about two weeks and my anxiety went through the roof. I was anxious before, but I think those tablets made things ten times worse. At one point I couldn't even leave the house without my partner. And the hunger, oh my gosh I was hungry all the time on them. Every half an hour I was rading the fridge/cupboards for food.

Off it now and have been switched to sertraline. It's like night and day for me. I've only been taking them for about 5 days but I feel like a completely different person. And no longer anxious!

Everyone's different though. I was hesitant to go on SSRI's again as they made me quite hyper. This was ten years ago though.

[MrMeSeeks]

Yes been on medication for over 15 years. I know which ones work for me.

[FaithEverPresent]

I’ve tried citalopram, setraline and paraxotine. All had bad side effects - Weight gain, tremor, nightmares. Eventually one GP suggested trying a tricyclic instead - lofepramine. Only side effect has been dizziness when standing up which I managed by taking it slowly and drinking loads and it did settle down. Definitely the drug for me.

[HoppingPavlova]

Valdoxan. Not cheap but does the trick for me.

[Bombardier25966]

Another one on agomelatine! I can't say it is helping much at the moment, but it has been more effective in the past. Also had some success with bupropion. Both are available on the NHS but only in secondary care.

I'd also point out that anti depressants actually have a relatively low success rate. They're touted as a miracle cure but in reality their efficacy is pretty hit and miss.

[HoppingPavlova]

What dose are you on? I was on 25mg (1 tablet) and it wasn’t great but when I went to 50mg (2 tablets) it did the trick. All very individual though, what works for someone wont work for another.

[Bombardier25966]

I'm on 50mg, but in one of those phases where nothing really helps. Except long amitriptyline induced sleeps!

Thank you for asking though. It's positive to have something different on the market, albeit all too difficult to get hold off. I think it should be a first line treatment.

[HoppingPavlova]

I’m sorry it’s not cutting it. I wish there was something better for you.

[dangermouseisace]

Various Dr's tried my on basically all the SSRI's but then when a GP put me on Lofepramine (a tryclic) it changed my life. A lot of it was probably down to me sleeping properly for the 1st time in about a decade.

They don't really like prescribing it any more, so when I got ill again with PND I was put on paroxetine, which worked, despite me not getting on with it 1st time around (I think I dismissed it too soon).

Getting ill yet again, and again, and again has led me to be on a right cocktail of drugs now though. Mirtazapine is one of those drugs- I typically have problems sleeping so if you do too, it is worth perservering with. It means I can do things like drive a car...when I've just been on SSRI's etc I've been falling asleep at the wheel, or any time I'm sat down really due to not sleeping for more than a few minutes at a time at night.

[BeyondRadicalisationPortal]

Omg, I have never (literally) seen someone else mention lofepramine!

I've been on it for six years now and - while it isn't magic and I've had a few bad days - it's made such a difference.

Is it not prescribed much now, then? It was given to me by the GP I'd been with since birth, who has since died - to give an idea of his age.

[StateOfTheUterus]

I have had recurrent bouts of depression which had always responded to taking an SSRI. However the last time I was poorly, my mood would not lift - I was under the Crisis Team and kept increasing sertraline - with no effect - I was terrified that this time I wouldn't get better. Then the psychiatrist added quietapine to the Serra line - and just like that my mood lifted and I was fine. After 6 months I weaned myself off the quietapine - it isn't a nice drug long term but it saved me in the short term. Good luck I hope you find something that helps x

[dangermouseisace]

nope when I was put on SSRI's with PND, and yet again had the falling asleep all over the place problem I was told that they don't prescribe lofepramine any longer, and that the effect of the SSRI on my mood was worth the side effects. Trying to work at a computer when your eyes are rolling about in your head isn't fun!

You'll be ok on it at the moment, but if you ever come off it and need to go back on anticipate difficulties!

[BeyondRadicalisationPortal]

😬 in that case I won't come off it!

[WhoWants2Know]

Venlafaxine (after having tried fluoxetine and sertraline) has worked wonders for me. But I'm a bit afraid they'll try to get me off it now because my BP is getting high.

[FaithEverPresent]

My GP described lofepramine as a very old drug but it was clear I didn’t suit any SSRIs (the nightmares were awful, I was dreaming about bus crashes and decapitations!) we figured it was worth a try. I’m really glad I did!

[iveburntthetoast]

Another one on Agomelatine, but I have Bipolar and also take lamotrgine, carbamazepine and a massively 2050mg of Quetiapine.

Agomelatine isn’t funded by the nhs in Scotland, unlesss you apply for special funding (which I did and was given)

[MrMeSeeks]

Was on high doses of sertraline and thst worked, and highest dose of mirtzapine.
Hated it at first as i ate everything in sight and i felt dopey but after a few months things lifted and i was glad i was on it.
I hated citalopram, only on it 6 months before i refused to stay on it.

[didyouseetheflaresinthesky]

Yep. I tried Sertraline, Citalopram, Paroxetine and I think Venlafaxine. They were awful. I eventually concluded that SSRIs were not for me and went the Tricyclics route. I opted for Amitriptyline as I'd had it before for nerve pain and been ok on it and it's been a god send. They don't like prescribing it though as it is considered an old fashioned antidepressant with lots of side effects. I had to really push for it.

I burst out laughing and pointed out that on her supposedly well tolerated and less side effects anti depressants I had experienced head aches, hallucinations, suicidal urges, night terrors and the list goes on. How bad could they be?!

At this point she gave in and allowed me to start at a low dose and work up and I've been fine. They've all but nixed the anxiety. Keep trying OP, you'll find one that suits even if it isn't the Drs first choice.

[Twotabbycats]

Interesting to see so many others on Valdoxan. I'm on 37.5 mg (1.5 tablets) because 1 wasn't really enough and 2 brought back the tremor and sent my LFTs above the acceptable level. So 1.5 is a compromise. I'm not in the U.K. and pay the actual cost for my medication from an allowance that's part of my insurance. Prozac was much cheaper!

One thing I notice is that I feel good after I've taken the tablets but the good feeling has mostly worn off by morning. Anyone else get this? I know part of the point is that they make you sleepy but they also seem to focus my mind so I have a 'golden time' of a couple of hours after I take it, when I get back the focus that's missing during the day, but I can't really put it to good use as I'm a bit dopey. (I also feel braver and more articulate and am more likely to post on MN!)

[redsky21]

I had citalopram which worked great for a few years before it suddenly stopped working, then had same thing happen with venlafaxine. Am now on sertraline and mirtazapine and wondering how long these will work for!