Side effects of anti- depressant tablets...

[Sarahlouiseis33]

Hi,

This is my first post in this section, hoping someone can help. Am seeing the doctor again on Friday for an assessment as have been feeling very down and like everything is getting on top of me. I'm pretty sure that he will prescribe anti-depressants and I was just wondering what the side effects of these types of tablets are (have never taken them before) and do they work?

Also how will I know when I start to feel better and can come of them?

Thanks.

Some people do not get any side effects!! They will probably give you one of the more gentler ones ( not the more heavy duty ones they give out for people that have tried all sorts or need lots of help!!) and on a low dose. They can take a few weeks to work and side effects if happen usually go in a few weeks.

Remember any medication one takes can have side effects but we sometimes need those antibiotics etc.

When you feel so much better then they will suggest reducing the dose before stopping them.

Hey, they recommend you stay on AD's for four month after treatment has ended, so you'll want to engage on CBT or similar treatment for your condition.

My pills make my poo looser and make my face sweat. I am on sertraline 100mgs. They help me loads and have given me the freedom of self to go to uni among other things, best of luck for your appointment, they are there to help you so don't worry, that you have got to the point where you can ask for and seek help is amazing

Thanks guys,

Making poo loser would be a bonus. I take iron tablets too and they make me constipated. Lol!!!

I must admit I do feel better for going to the doctors and talking about it rather than obsessing over other things and not the true problem.

Onwards and upwards.

And it's been a real eye opener that practically everyone I have confided in has been on anti-depressants at some point in their lives.

I've taken a couple of different anti-ds and they had similar side effects - had to take them with some food or they made me nauseous and they disturbed my sleep. I must stress though that both only lasted for a few days until I got used to them and after that there were no more side effects. The benefits were massive though.

I noticed improvements after about 10 days - 2 weeks and then continued to improve until I'd been taking them for a month when I felt much more like my old self.

Good luck with your assessment and hope you start to feel better very soon.

Bear in mind that anti depressants are not 'happy pills'. They will not make you feel happy. They work by toning down your emotions, so instead of being ecstatic about something you will be mildly pleased, instead of fierce hatred you will feel slight dislike. Sometimes everything feels like there's cotton wool in the way, I used to like that feeling but others don't. This 'damping down' of emotions affects all emotions, so I struggled to reach orgasm as I felt so much less than before. Funnily enough, I used to hate going for walks, but found them completely tolerable when I took AD's, so the effects are worth it IMO.
I also found I got very tired, but I think that may have been the depression and not the AD's at work.
I also got double vision, but again this is something I like so it didn't bother me at all. If the effects do bother you, then don't be scared to ask about changing tablets, but do give it a few weeks for them to work.
I was on Fluoxetine (Prozac) by the way, for 18 months. They probably saved my life.

Mine don't tone down my emotions. They just make me feel completely normal instead of riddled with anxiety and barely able to function. I feel happy, joyful, loving, grumpy, tired, bored ... whatever is appropriate. I did have side-effects for the first couple of weeks - a little nausea and dizziness I think - but they passed after that and nothing else since then.

I'm on 150mg Venlafaxine. On the downside, it made me sweat copiously for the first few weeks, and I still do if I'm a bit warm/exercising - I know you would anyway, but this is embarrassing amounts.

On the plus side, it does exactly what I asked the doctor for, which was a sort of reboot/restore factory settings button. They've not made me bounce off the walls with joy in their own right, but they have made me feel normal enough that I can concentrate/plan/get motivated enough to do the things that WILL bring joy IYKWIM.

I had severe side effects with Fluoxetine.

I developed violent tendencies/suicidal thoughts/mood swings. Research is ongoing and far from conclusive but it's wise to bear in mind when weighing up the pros and cons. In a lot of cases, people will suffer no side effects and it's different for everyone.

Mine didn't tone down my emotions either. What they did do was allow me to reengage with everyday life - and as bishop says being able to do that made me feel better I think.

Goodness shakey1500, that's not good - sounds like the exact opposite to what they are supposed to do!!!!

Thank you everyone, you have made me feel much more positive about going on them and hopefully getting more of myself back.

I must admit that until now and suffering from depression myself, I thought people should just be able to snap themselves out of it. I cannot snap myself out of this on my own. To see some joy and hope for the future will be lovely.

Thank you x

That's what I wish for shoewhore to care about everyday life again. And to kind of be there rather than just going though the motions. IYKWIM.

I am on Citalopram. The only side-effect that hasn't worn off is insomnia - I have to take it in the morning otherwise I'm up all night.