Best Antidepressant for GAD

[oasiswaterpool]

with the least weight gain (not including Lexapro)???

What is GAD?

General anxiety disorder ?

Sertaline

GAD is generalised anxiety disorder.

I was going to suggest escitalopram but that is lexapro.

I think most of the ssri's have weight gain as a side effect. Which is a pain but for me at the moment it is more important for me to have medication than worry about my considerable weight.

I am finding cbt quite effective just now

Fluoxetine?

In my experience, Sertraline.

Why Sertraline esiotrot/Enjoyingtheattention? Have you tried others and this has been the best?

Hi Ardiane, I always thought that Fluoxetine was stimulating rather than a calming SRRI? Has this not been you experience of it??

I have not tried Fluoxetine but have heard it is more stimulating than some other SRRI's. I have taken Escitalopram for over 5 years which has been great but am now finding I am unmotivated, forgetful and slow on it and bit restless at night and think it is time for a change.

My GP has suggested Sertraline and I think this is a calming SRRI. Did you put on weight with Sertraline?

Hi - I was told by my GP that fluoxetine does not have the sedative effect of, say, setraline (which I had previously used but without any appreciable shift of depression - but with a side effect of excessive sleeping, and loads of dreams in sleep). Fluoxetine worked well for me and as it did not have the sedative effect of sertraline, did not lead to weight gain.

It is used for some anxiety disorders but I thin sertraline is generally the first port of call in this regard

I wonder if it very much depends on the Dr to be honest. I was put onto citalopram and when that stopped working I was started taking escitalopram which is effectively exactly the same but with slightly different pharmacology. My Dr always hands out citalopram first as it is cheaper Friends on AD's have all been given citalopram too, i can't help but wonder if it is dependent on what drug company rep visits the practice!

Trazodone? Old one but there seems to be a bit of a swing back to some of those - no weight gain either.

Fluoxetine played havoc with my anxiety and I needed beta blockers while I came off it. Sertraline is fine.

fluoxetine works brilliantly for me.

Ironically anxiety can be an initial side effect of fluoxetine - ironic because it can be eased to treat anxiety disorders. I have had very tapered withdrawals of fluoxetine, under supervision.

GPs have a guidelines from NICE on which AD to prescribe. Citalopram seems to be the SRRI most given at the moment (I am a Medical Secretary in a GP Practice). My personal experience was that Escitalopram was superior to Citalopram but it is much more expensive so I have had to make a case for it when I have changed surgeries. I am coming off of Escitalopram because taken alongside a very small dose of Amitriptyline for migraine it can create heart arrhythmias.

My GP has suggested Sertraline which I think I will try. Has anyone changed from one SRRI to another and how did you do this? Did you have to come off one before starting another or can you start one alongside the older one whilst reducing the older one?