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.

I tried five different ones, finally I can take Mirtazapine.

I have never taken them myself however I have known many people take them and they have always helped, few had side affects- they either passed or about 3 went on to another type.

it might be a bit wobbly at first but will be much better in the long run.

I always say it’s like your wounded leg needing a bandage for support- sometimes minds need a bit of support from a pill. No big deal, it’s normal nowadays to need them but also normal not to!

Don’t pressure yourself.

I’m on 20mg so a smaller dose.

Oh yes, I’m sorry I didn’t mention this, libido has taken a massive hit. I can still orgasam, but not like before. 😭

That affected me but given I’d just been raped I wasn’t especially bothered by it! Obviously for other people it might be a bigger problem.

Oh I’m so sorry. That’s awful.

For me it was better than all the other symptoms without the meds, but for sure, for some women this may be a sticking point.

I was prescribed Citalopram (20 mg).

I had no side effects beyond a dry mouth for about a week.

I started feeling better after maybe 10 days or so of taking the medication.

I take a low dose of Escitalopram and whilst I had side effects they weren’t debilitating and after two weeks I really noticed the benefits. With hindsight I wish I hadn’t spent so long umming and ahhing and had just taken them sooner.

Yes of course, many people. A side effect that affected 10% of people
would be considered extremely common.

The ‘side effects’ of untreated depression are life threatening.

I tried sertraline but had the most awful nightmares for the first 3 nights of taking it so begged the GP for something else. he gave me citalopram with instructions to take half a 20mg tablet for a week before moving onto a full dose. No side effects and I've been on and off 20mg daily for over 15 years now - unfortunately recently more on than off but that's life!
I really didn't want to go on anti depressants as, like most people, I thought it was an indicator that I had failed as a human, that everyone else coped with life OK so I should be able to as well. Whilst they weren't an instant fix, they helped me see through the black fog in my mind and work out a path to take to help me get out, eventually helping me to deal with everyday life without spiralling down.

When my partner of 5 years died in 2022 I was really struggling and GP told me to double my dosage to 40mg a day. I settled on 30mg and have been managing OK on that. Thanks to the summer sunshine I've actually gone back down to 20mg but suspect this may be temporary.

My recommendation - give them a go. They aren't a complete solution but do make finding the solution a little easier

Can’t comment from taking them, but prescribed them on many occasions, part of that is to follow up and monitor for any issues, can honestly say I saw far more people who had no significant issues either physically or mentally than people who had problems

Yes long term my side effects were emotional numbness and reduced libido. The emotional numbness is the reason I came off sertraline but I still take a propranolol when I need as I get awful physical symptoms of anxiety.

I read quite a few studies on the side effects of anti depressants and a common theme was that people didn’t tolerate the side effects well and so didn’t get the therapeutic benefits because they didn’t stick with them. Is that not your experience?

Not really, some did seem to have a greater likelihood of causing side effects, so, as pretty much any antidepressant is as effective as any other, you just didn’t use them. For whatever reason, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another, so changing was more around a drug just not working effectively rather than the side effects, that’s not to say people didn’t experience them, just often they were tolerable especially if you advised well beforehand what may happen

I tried citalopram and it made my anxiety worse. But then I tried fluoxetine and didn’t have any side effect at all. I’ve been on them for over 15 years.

sertraline just made be feel better. The panic attacks and waking in the middle of the night in terror stopped. I did get a sore jaw though.

I took citalopram for a year or so ( can't remember) to treat pnd and anxiety and my experience was 100% positive. No side effects and a positive effect on my mood after a few months.

My GP is looking at Duloxetine for me for both low mood and nerve pain. Has anyone ever taken this?

The options are limited by the fact that I have a heart rhythm problem.

Just updating this to say I have been on Escitalopram for two months now and it’s had an amazingly positive effect. No side effects, and my mood and anxiety have both been improved tremendously.

I was so unnerved to try them but I’m so glad I did - to anyone wavering about starting, I hope this helps (although I know we are all different).

I’m so happy to hear this!

Trazadone, fantastic sleep for me, no awful side effects apart from loss of orgasim

Really glad to hear OP 😊 🤞 x

I have been taking Citalopram 20 mg for the past two years. No issues. The only side effect was a dry mouth for the first week or so. It has really helped me and I am in my 50s and also take HRT.

I would consider that an awful side effect, but I guess it depends on your situation beforehand.

I am on 20mg Lexapro and it saved my mental health and my life. It's worth trying. You have to grit your teeth through the first few weeks.