Antidepressant not SSRIs

[AllStar14]

Is there an antidepressant that isn't an SSRI that has helped anyone? I have tried sertraline and citalapram and had awful reactions to both. I have anxiety and depression and I am currently taking buspirone but I don't feel any different (good or bad) at all. I am taking a very low dose at the moment though so maybe that's why. I know I should talk to my doctor, and I will as soon as I manage to get an appointment, but I just wondered if there was something else that worked.

I can't take SSRIs either as I don't tolerate them well. I've settled on Amitriptyline which is a tricyclic but you might have a job getting it prescribed in a high enough dose. I had to have a consultant psychiatrist authorise it before they would let me go over 50mg which is the minimum therapeutic dose. It also isn't one they like you to be on long term as there is a possibility of heart rhythm issues. I have a yearly ECG and they are trying to cross taper me onto Duloxetine instead.

They will also be very wary of prescribing it to people who have suicidal thoughts unless you are already under mental health team as, like all tricyclics, it is extremely dangerous in overdose.

I'd say it's absolutely worth a shot as it has made such a difference to me but don't go in expecting no side effects at all, the dry mouth alone is murder.

I'm taking amitriptyline at the moment too and I'm feeling quite a bit better after 6 weeks but can only manage 20mg as more knocks me out and leaves me too drowsy the next day. I can't take SSRIs either because my anxiety goes through the roof on them. There's also trazodone and mirtazepine which can be helpful alternatives but each have side effects - mirtazepine can cause increased appetite and eating with associated weight gain amongst other side effects.

I can’t use SSRIs.

I take Venlafaxine in the mornings (SNRI) and Amytriptylene (TCA) in the evenings to help me sleep. Been on this combo in varying doses for around 8 years.

I can't take SSRIs or SNRIs or anything that acts on serotonin. I'm on Valdoxan, which does help a bit. I think the SSRIs worked better but I couldn't manage the side effects.

I take Mirtazapine, which has really helped my mood. It seems a lot of people gain significant weight on it, but this hasn't been my experience. I feel much more clear-headed on it than I did with Sertaline.