Do meds work for anxiety/depression? Tell me your experiences

[Vampyhooch]

Just what the title says really.

Do meds work? What ones have you tried with success? How have they made a difference?

Do you believe you can get over these problems without meds?

I’m suffering with both at the moment. Not currently on meds and finding everyday really hard.

I've been on fluoxetine, venlaxafine, lofepramine, escitalopram, sertraline, citalopram, paroxitene, amitriptyline - maybe others which I've forgotten. I persevered with each one for some time except for amitriptyline which gave me horrific and frighening side effects early on.

Not one of them did any good, they made me more ill than ever. I was eventually told I was particularly sensitive to antidepressants and nothing else was offered by the mental health team. It was either drugs or nothing.

I coped without and wouldn't have another one if I was paid to do so.

Sertraline is working excellently for me

Citalopram saved my life, quite literally.

There’s no 100% guarantee, though. Everyone is different. Whilst for me personally this drug was extremely effective, I have a friend who it didn’t help at all.

It’s also not a bed of roses going on to them, and when they do help, it takes time.

I really think the best person to talk to is a doctor, though, not people on the Internet.

Citalopram for 15 years. Works well for me. No shame in it as some people I know seem to think. Not weakness. Citalopram balances the chemicals in my brain. No difference from diabetics topping up with insulin.
It's sad that medication doesn't work for some people but no-one knows till they try.

I've been on sertraline and citalopram. If I am honest I didn't feel that either of them worked for me. I am in a really bad place mentally right now and some days i just go to bed and think if I died in my sleep it would be over. But i have the kids to think about and i love them.
I know i need to seek some sort of help but I'm just trying to get by without, as from those experiences I didn't feel they helped.
I'm sorry you are feeling like this and hope you can find something suitable.