Do Antidepressants Always have side effects?

[BigBlueLamp]

Im depressed, I know it, the GP has confirmed it. Some days are really dark, I put on a smiley face for the family but inside I'm numb.
I've shared with my best friend who has been my rock.
I'm currently off work which I'm not sure is a good idea as I'm just sat doing nothing with too much to think about.
Anyway I'm going back to GP next week and she wants me to think about antidepressants
I am scared stiff of them if I'm honest, all I hear is terrible side effects making people feel worse and them taking weeks to work .
Please can anyone share their antidepressants stories with me, good and bad.
Thankyou

I've tried a few, the worst for side effects was definitely Sertraline. Currently on Mirtazapine, the only side effect is sleeping soundly all night instead of waking up every hour in a panic.

If you’re going to try an antidepressant, OP, you need to commit to giving it a fair trial and time to work. It’s not an instant cure, they all take between 4 and 6 weeks to become effective. Side effects are worst in those early weeks.
The other thing I’d like to warn you about - most antidepressants will increase your energy and motivation before they lift your mood. If you have been suicidal, this can temporarily increase your risk, as you have the energy to plan and make an attempt before your mood lifts enough to stop you wanting to.
However, your depression does not seem to be getting better on its own, and the only alternatives to antidepressants are counselling (such as cognitive behaviour therapy) or ECT (normally reserved for severe cases refractory to antidepressant treatment).
Being realistic, I think you may well need to accept your GP’s offer of medication, as the alternative may be months off work and the risk of running out of sick pay or losing your job, neither of which would be conducive to good mental health.
At least make an appointment to discuss your concerns re treatment, and take it from there. Best wishes for your recovery.

A lot of people on lower doses of mirtazapine experience not insignificant weight gain; be aware of this if it is suggested to you and you are already overweight or obese.

I’m in the same position as you op. My gp gave me Sertraline 2 weeks ago and I was due to see her this coming Monday to update. Ive had to cancel the appointment as I just can’t bring myself to take them due to my crushing anxiety over the possible side effects. I drive a disabled lady about for a living so can not afford to have diarrhoea, headaches or feel spaced out.

involved erections lasting over 4 hours. That could be hard to work around That made me smile! I've no chance of that happening

how does the GP decide what antidepressants to put you on? there seems to be so many different ones
Do they just pick one and hope it?

Good question. Mine did suit my symptoms but many years later a different GP prescribed something else and said that escitalopram may not work for me. I asked him why and he said research was showing if you'd been on it before it might not be as effective and research was also showing some of the older types of ADs were actually more effective. I was off and on escitalopram every year though (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and it always worked.

I don't know what the other ADs were as I had situational anxiety that resolved itself and I think I'd only taken a few and then stopped as I didn't feel anxious anymore.

I would imagine that your GP would go for sertraline or citalopram as they are the usual first line treatments. I've taken both at various times (plus my psychiatrist has also had me on a number of different ones on and off). No side effects on any of them.

It isn't just libido you know.

Anorgasmia is a real problem. I had it on every AD I tried. It isn't just the desire, I didn't gave any feeling at all in terms of sexual pleasure

Weight gain, worsening mood, raging anxiety, terrifying vivid dreams, I stuck with the depression itself rather than put up with that