Has anyone started on an anti depressant and not had awful side effects? Any positive stories very welcome.

[StrugglingAndSad]

I think I need to try antidepressants - I’m 53 and on HRT but my anxiety and depression has spiked horrendously over the last few months. I’ve scared myself recently with really dark ideation and hopelessness.

But I’m scared of taking them. So many awful stories of side effects of worsening anxiety and dizziness etc. Which are the best to start trying with, too?

I would love to hear some positive stories, but in the absence of any positive stories the bald truth about their impact.

Following

The first time I went on sertraline I didn’t have any of the horrible mental side effects, but I did have physical side effects that lasted for about 2 weeks.

The second time I went on it, I was fine physically but I did have a few days of intense anxiety. It wasn’t nice but it was no more than a week and I knew it was temporary so I was able to get through it.

Everyone is different and there’s no way of knowing how you will react. It is 10000% worth it though - made me feel like a new woman.

Thank you @ForHeartyPoet that’s really helpful to hear and it’s great it’s made such a positive change for you.

I took sertraline for anxiety, I honestly had very little side effects. Potentially felt slightly more nervy over the first couple of weeks. but after that I felt just like myself - but without the pit of anxiety! One thing that happened was that I did get more sensitive to alcohols and would suddenly get very drunk while not drinking a lot. Apart from that I felt exactly the same but calmer. For me sertraline was very helpful.

That’s amazing @Fleetheart - great to hear.

I’m on fluoxetine and it changed my life. Never had any side effects and it keeps the noise out of my mind!

I take citalopram
and have done for over 10 years - without being dramatic, they’ve saved my life.
no side effects and the benefits far outweigh any problems anyway.

Like you I was very reluctant and worried about taking it.

I had a slight worsening of anxiety when I started, but it was short lived and massively worth it. My teenage DD stated sertraline about 6 months ago, she’s had zero side effects except for a bit more tired than normal - she would be the first to tell you that they’ve changed her life for the better.

You may get side effects, you may not. But they won’t help you feel better unless you try. Wishing you well op.

I am on an antidepressant that is not first line treatment , I have taken it for 2 weeks no side effects or difference either am awaiting an increase .

I could never manage to start up on my SSRI as the initial side effects were so strong for me (including vomiting). In the end my GP gave me a liquid. Each drop contained 1mg of Cipralex and I was able to start and increase extremely gradually with mild side effects only.
My experience is unusual, though. Most people can start on low doses by cutting a tablet in half or whatever, and be fine.

Thank you all. I feel less alone hearing your stories ❤️

Would you mind if l asked what dosage you’re on?
I’m also taking fluoxetine, for about 3 months now, on 60mg.Finding everything such an effort, no interest in anything.

@Starlightstarbright4 which were you prescribed if you don’t mind sharing?

I am thinking of requesting escitalopram, with maybe some diazepam to help with any initial anxiety spikes.

I’m sorry you’re struggling at the moment. I’ve been taking 50mg sertraline for 4 months now and it has completely changed my life. Feel like my normal self again after struggling for quite a while with anxiety and depression. I was lucky and had very few side effects. A slight upset stomach for a few days but that went away fairly quickly. I did have some mood swings quite early on, but I think that was more down to starting to feel a bit better, and yo-yo-ing a bit. I would say after about 5 weeks I was feeling significantly better than before taking it and this gradually improved and I now feel like a completely different person!

I also felt scared to take the plunge and was worried about side effects but it was so worth it! I would really encourage you to speak to your GP about your options. They might be able to start you on a lower dose to gradually acclimatise to it if you’re nervous about side effects. It’s important to remember that there are plenty of medication options out there, so if one option doesn’t agree with you, you can try another. My only regret is not starting them sooner! I hope you’re able to find something that works for you.

Thank you @Plinkingon ❤️

Can I suggest you talk to your gp about what they think is best - talk to them about your anxieties . They see so many situations and will have an idea what is best for you.

I was prior to my lastest antidepressants prescribed Mirtazepine because my sleep was so awful it was the best medication for me at that time .

Thanks @Starlightstarbright4 that’s good advice. I will.

I take sertraline along with HRT. I had an awful peri menopause and embraced HRT as a way of suddenly feeling myself again then last year I felt like I was back in bloody peri (about 8 years after starting). The anxiety, the panic, the twitching - feeling shit and agitated about absolutely nothing.

I've had fluoxetine in the past and I piled about 4 stone on, so I didn't want to do that again (already very overweight thanks to menopause).

I was prescribed sertraline - 25mg - for a fortnight, no side effects, no change in anxiety, then they doubled it to 50mg and said 'give it a month'. I would say within about a fortnight it was an absolute game changer. I just felt 'myself' again, with huge relief. I'd been struggling on for months, doing everything positive that I could and then these meds just gave me my life back.

I'm still on them 6 months later - think I'll give it another 6 months, but I've honestly had no side effects at all, and actually, now I feel better in myself I've gone on to lose a couple of stone through healthy eating.

Sertraline user on and off for the past 6 and a bit years. When I started I felt a bit wobbly but tbh it was probably my anxiety focussing on every twinge. I've come off and gone back on a few times (my anxiety and depression is linked with specific situation so my dosage varies depending on what's going on) and honestly I have zero side effects now and even after a break I can cycle up to my therapeutic dose very quickly without issue. I see it now like a vitamin pill that tops up a deficiency which makes it less scary.

Cipralex has been really helpful for me, even at a low dose. You might not get prescribed diazepam as they don’t seem to give this out anymore, but Pregabalin can be really calming for some people.

I started fluoxetine for peri menopausal anxiety. I had side effects for about 2-3 weeks with bad wind and loose stool, and increased anxiety. I was prescribed propranolol by the gp and took that each day to reduce the panic and it really helped for the first 4/6 weeks. I took 10mg in the morning and it just took the edge off. Once the fluoxetine had built up in my system I didn’t need it anymore.
it’s made such a huge difference , I have space in my head to think things and not just escalate and my anxiety has disappeared and side effects all gone.

I’ve experienced citalopram and it was an excellent experience ! I felt better in myself by day 10 and they really do make a difference - I had mild nausea and trouble sleeping but it’s worth it x

I'm on Mirtazipine and my H is on Trazadone. Both work for us (I can barely function after a few days off) I tried sertraline previously and it screwed me over to be honest. I think not all meds work for everyone so sometimes you need to try a few