If you take antidepressants which have given you the least side effects?

[Whostolemyporkpie]

I need to take something for a whole host of issues and have tried several antidepressants over the years but have really struggled with the side effects, in particular an upset stomach which is kind of counterproductive for me as I have severe ibs and a bad tummy is something (along with other issues) that I’m trying to overcome.

I can put up with tiredness, a bit of a lightheaded feeling etc and actually quite like the idea of feeling numb with them (my emotions are in turbo settings atm and I’m just too overly sensitive) but it is gut issues like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which really stops me in my tracks and prevent me from continuing with the meds even though I do try to stick with them for at least 6-8 weeks.

The ones I tried which had these negative gut effects were Sertraline and Citalopram. I tried Escitalopram which made me feel constantly nauseated. Amitriptyline worked quite well even though I did feel zombie like but I was worried about long term effects as my mum has Alzheimer’s and it’s linked to dementia.

I have a prescription for 10mg fluoxetine but am scared to take them.

Which meds have you found work the best for you and at what dosage?

Fluoxetine 20m +Propranolol 120m per day. I've had strong meds and tried everything over years. Fluoxetine made my appetite decrease for 2 months, lost a stone but gained it back eventually.

I found trazodone and venlafaxine to give me no side effects, only meds that have kept me stable out of all I've been on. Ssris have never agreed with me.

Felt tired on trazodone but quickly got used to it, venlafaxine made me feel a bit spaced out for a few days but that was it and no side effects now and I'm on 225

I think fluoxetine is Prozac isn't it? I think it's very similar to paroxetine/Seroxat which I take - I've never had any stomach issues with it at 20mg. It made me dopey for a few weeks but once that settled down I've had no side effects and I've been on it a long time. When I reduce the dose I get weird, vivid dreams but that's all. It's not prescribed very often these days though, but neither is fluoxetine I don't think.

I tried Lexapro/escitalopram for a while but didn't get on with it, it caused racing heart rate like I'd overdosed on caffeine.

My adult DS found Zoloft/sertraline worked best for him in terms of side effects. Effexor/venlafaxine really wasn't good, it lifted the depression but caused horrendous brain zaps if he was even an hour late with the dose.

I think 10mg of fluoxetine is a low dose - why not try it for a week and see how you get on?

Citalopram & duloxetine had the least side effects for me - in fact, none noticeable with either. Fluexotine would make feel dopey & clench my jaw for the first 2-3 weeks but it was OK apart from that.

Sertraline gave me the least side effects. I have taken citalopram, Sertraline and fluoxetine (all SSRI’s). I’ve also taken propranolol (for misdiagnosed anxiety - it was actually a heart defect) and Wellbutrin.

I am assuming that you mean the side effects you experience while in a stable long-term dose, rather than when starting/building up or weaning off - because that’s a whole other bag of carrots!

So Citaolpram, while building up to a correct dose, really amped up my suicidal feelings. This settled within 2 weeks and suddenly I felt better. The only long term effects I had were sexual distfunction (inability to orgasm - this was only when in a dose higher than 40mg), stomach pain and night sweats. I felt very stable and positive on it. Citalopram however, is an absolute cunt to withdraw from and is also the worst SSRI you can take while pregnant.

Fluoxetine was nice. I can’t comment much on this one due to limited experience - I was only on it for a short while (moved over directly from citalopram) and slightly easier to withdraw from.

Sertraline gave me manic thoughts and the inability to sit still for the first 5 days I was taking it and then worked wonderfully. It is the absolute best one I have taken in terms of social anxiety. No sexual dysfunction with this one either, though still some stomach pain and night sweats. Much, much easier to withdraw from than citalopram. I actually withdrew from this one quite quickly (over the course of about a month), had some episodes of rage, dizziness and brain shocks but at a totally manageable level. Literally a THOUSAND times easier than coming off citalopram.

Wellbutrin was an absolute no for me. Gave me high blood pressure, a perma headache and a level of dangerous, murderous rage and anger that I have never felt before. Very, very dangerous. Do not recommend. I stopped this one after a week.

Propranolol was fine. Didn’t notice any side effects whatsoever. Became a lot less scared of spiders (which I used to have a phobia of) when taking this, interestingly - which persisted after stopping the medication. It didn’t really do much for me, as it was prescribed for palpitations caused by ‘anxiety’, which I later discovered were caused by a physical heart defect that needed another form of treatment. So I’m neutral on propranolol.

Thanks everyone.

I know we are all different with our reactions to meds and I’ll never know until I try them but I’m stuck in this vicious cycle of feeling just awful and cannot imagine coping if the meds make me feel worse. This obviously perpetuates the existing anxiety to the point I end up in such a state that I just can not bring myself to try them.

I truly hate anxiety and what it has done to me.