Medication - anyone else had this?

[Danny4445]

I have depression and anxiety. I've taken over 7 different types of SSRIs but all of them make my anxiety so bad I can't leave the house. I'll be grinding my jaw and my shoulder will be up by my ears all day. I already have social anxiety and it makes it impossible for me to do anything.

Does anyone know of an alternative or have you had this problem and found a medication that works?

The ones I've tried are:
Prozac
There are currently 8 SSRIs prescribed in the UK:

citalopram (Cipramil)
escitalopram (Cipralex)
fluoxetine (Prozac)
fluvoxamine (Faverin)
paroxetine (Seroxat)
sertraline (Lustral)

And Duloxetine

I was on Duloxetine for a long time, about five years and it helped with my depression. Side effects were extreme anxiety, constipation and extreme tiredness and thirst. I really don't want to go back on it.

I tried all the medication for the recommended three months or longer. On Prozac I lost three stone and had a permanent clenched jaw and bulging eyes.

Hi there, I can't have SSRIs, so I am on a low dose of amitryptiline (10mg) to help me sleep, works brilliantly and also helps with my anxiety during the day. My issue was more anxiety than depression though.

Hi thank you! I'm glad to hear it's working for you. I don't really have depression, more anxiety. I would love to be able to go outside for a walk which I haven't done over the lock down because of my social anxiety, that's how bad it is.

I'll look into that.

how about beta blockers like propranolol?
my DD 17 takes 40mg in the mornings to help with her debilitating anxiety.

I take venlafaxine - it's for anxiety/depression. It works. But...the half-life is really short, so you have to take it regularly, at the same time, as even a few hours late and you get side-effects. (well I do).

Previously was on Paroxetine (it also worked for me), but the withdrawal was horrendous, and I swore i'd never go back on it. Unfortunately, now I'm on venlafaxine, I suspect it is going to be similar if/when I ever do reduce or come of it. Sigh.

Hope you find something that works for you.

I second the recommendation for propanolol - magic wee pills those.

I take propranolol. 40mg 3x day.
I was originally prescribed it twice per day for migraines. Then anxiety hit me like a sledgehammer. So the Dr upped it to 3x.

(I also take 45mg mirtazipine for depression)

I've used propanolol on and off when I get panic attacks. I find that I'm still anxious on them but they stop the physical systems of panic by slowing down my heart.

Valium doesn't even work on me! I just feel anxious but tired, I don't feel relaxed.

I'll look into all those recommended though, please don't think I'm a naysayer. I'm looking for help here and my Dr isn't helpful.

Mirtazapine is ment to be good it's not an SSRI main side effect Is a dry mouth
Hope you find something soon x

Try a tricyclic like Amitriptyline or Imipramine. I can't get any benefit from SSRIs either, no point keep trying variations of the same type of drug. You need to try one that works differently.

Be prepared for a bit of a bumpy start though as they take about 3 months to settle in and during that time the dry mouth is murder and you don't see improvement straight away.

They're a slow starter and it can be a bit difficult to stick it out through the side effects. I had dizzy spells but those tend to stop after the first 2 weeks and luckily I haven't experienced anything else. The only one that stuck around was the dry mouth but I consider it a fair trade.

On the up side you will sleep like the dead so set 2 alarms.

They will start you on a very low dose as they aren't widely tolerated so you can expect to start on about 10mg and work up to a therapeutic dose which could be up to 150mg. You may have to be seen by a psychiatrist before they let you go over 50mg as GPs are sometimes cautious with it.

The problem with me trying different SRRIs is that's what I've been prescribed. I saw a psychiatrist who even prescribed Prozac after I told her that I had lost so much weight and was climbing the curtains on it. They aren't prescribing anything else to me.

I will look up these medications and speak to my Dr about them. Ty

As for dry mouth, Duloxetine made me so thirsty that I had to carry two litres of water around with me all the time. If I could stop feel so much anxiety I would put up with a dry mouth.

I e tried several too and the best for me has been venlafaxine which I'm still on. I agree with what a pp said about taking regularly though. Missing a dose can cause issues. I used to have terrible weekends as I took it at a different time, took me a while to work out what was going on.
Good luck!

I take venlafaxine. It's considered good for depression that is ssri or medication resistant.

Hi OP, I'm prescribed mirtazapine and venlafaxine together, (California rocket fuel ). Had very few side effects with the mirtz (just felt a little weak and had raging munchies for a week or so) Side effects with the venla were fairly intense, but glad I persevered with it.

I'm another on the Venlafaxine/ Mirtazapine combo, like you I tried all the above and feel better on these. I also take quetiapine for bed and diazepam when I need it - oh and pregabalin works for sciatica which o suffer from but it's the best thing I've tried for anxiety too - no more sweaty palms and feet. Hope you get sorted.

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I will look into all these medications, write them down and speak to my Dr about them. I'm due to speak to her soon so will bring it up then. Thanks

SSRIs or SNRIs are all they generally offer up front. You have to really push to try another type.

Problem is that although Tricyclics are very effective in treating stubborn Depression or Anxiety they also tend to have the most side effects and are by far the most lethal in overdose when compared to most SSRIs.

So they have to weigh up the fact that a significant number of patients find them difficult to tolerate, there are gentler alternatives to try first and the increased risk of serious damage or death in the event of a suicidal gesture. As a result they aren't commonly prescribed anymore or at least not in the dosages that would help anxiety or depression. You get 10mg and 25mg for nerve pain or sleep problems but for depression or anxiety you need more like 50 or 75mg.

You can usually get them to prescribe it if you ask for it upfront and say no, I really want to try it. I asked for Amitriptyline and got it. It works. My doctor refers to it as the sledgehammer approach to depression but it does work.

Gets some double takes when you tell other doctors what its for. They always assume pain then when you tell them depression they look at you like you/your GP just stepped out of the dark ages.