[larakeziah]

i've jus been put on this antidepressant and i was jus wandering what thoughts ppl have on it. I'm on 75mg and start taking them 2moro. Would be greatful for any feedback thanks

[Ryask]

I tried it actually it was the first thing i was prescribed years and years ago. It actually did nothing for me...no side effects but no change whatsoever for me anyways. I have heard of it working for some.

[larakeziah]

thanks ryask

[dayton52]

It was the first one they tried on my oldest daughter. No effect--switched to celexa--better results.

[larakeziah]

Thank you dayton52. Things are not lookin too hopefull!

[BlackPup]

I've been on it but had to have really high doses. my new pdoc prefers to be able to alter the seratonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors independantly, so I now use zoloft and Endronax, so I don't get an excessive dose of zoloft when I need lots of the endronax.

[Ryask]

Originally Posted by dayton52

It was the first one they tried on my oldest daughter. No effect--switched to celexa--better results.

I was also switched to celexa (citalopram) with FANTASTIC results

[larakeziah]

citalopram was the first one i tried years ago before i was diagnosed with bipolar. It didn't do much good, lookin back now i realise that it sent me into mania.

[Ryask]

Originally Posted by larakeziah

citalopram was the first one i tried years ago before i was diagnosed with bipolar. It didn't do much good, lookin back now i realise that it sent me into mania.

Me too, so she added abilify so i get the happy without the full blown mania

[larakeziah]

whats abilify? I've jus started on 300mg of seroquel slow release as well as the venlafaxine

[BlackPup]

Abilify is a new drug (atypical antipsychotic) that is a lot like rispiridone but less side effects, meant to be weight neutral... I just started a month ago and so far so good, was on rispiridone before that but had some weight gain (most people don't) and elevated prolactin (common side effect), also some sedation (I'm really sensitive to sedation side effects - most people ok I think). So far no probs with abilify.
Seroquel would do the same job but much more sedating. Also I think it is cheaper. Not sure about weight gain.

All of these drugs act as really good mood stabilisers - esp anti manic properties.

[Ryask]

I tried the seroquel the first time i took just half a pill and was knocked out for 16 hours, i only woke up because i had thrown up. It made me very groggy and sedated all day, thats why i had been switched to abilify. Abilify has zero side effects for me, it is an add on drug, it boosts the effectiveness of your antidepressant, acts as a mood stabilizer, and doesnt have weight gain or sedation as a side effect. Anywas overall i was on citalopram (celexa) and it made me extremely anxious for the first 2 days i wanted to jump out of my skin, but then it just made me manic very high and happy to be honest. So i was told i needed a stabilizer so i could keep the happy and not be too high. I tried the seroqual, and i had bad experience with that and switched to abilify. Since then i can honestly say for me it's like the wonder drug, before, the medications about 99 percent of my wakeing hours were anxiety induced illness, i was physically sick with worry, i had panic attacks over the smallest things, on a scale of 1-10 my anxiety was riding 10 all the time. After the drugs...i have ZERO anxiety, i am never anxious. My life has changed 100 percent, my highs arent so high and my lows aren't so low and they both dont last more then a few days, they are absolutly tolerable, and so it's just been a perfect combination for me.

With that being said, that's me, it might not be right for everyone but, i am sure glad i rode out those two or three days of anxiety when i started the citalopram, it has completely changed my life. I have since gone back to school and taken my drivers test, i'm nearly 30 and those have been goals of mine for over 15 years, i am doing it now, and i really owe it all to these wonder drugs, they have not only given me my life back but ensured i have a life worth living.

[Skully]

A female friend of mine was on it and had, lets, "problems below the belt". She could not climax while taking it for some reason. When she stopped taking it, the problem went away. Not everyone will experience this but just be aware it could happen.

[larakeziah]

thank you for sharin Ryask, and i'm glad you have the right med combo for you and i hope it continues to be good for you. Thanks Skully, i did read about that problem, it did say it was rare. I'm not in a relationship at the moment so i wouldn't know if it did affect me that way! Thanks again to everyone for your input

[BlackPup]

Originally Posted by Skully

A female friend of mine was on it and had, lets, "problems below the belt". She could not climax while taking it for some reason. When she stopped taking it, the problem went away. Not everyone will experience this but just be aware it could happen.

That can happen with any SSRI or SNRI (effexor is a SNRI). It happens to me with zoloft, trying to get off it at the moment.

[larakeziah]

has anyone experienced any weight gain or loss whilst on them?

[lonegael]

I had some weight gain, but not as much as I had on some others. Really, when i took Effexor, I realized after a few days what was making me feel so wierd: it was the firsttime in my life i wasn't afraid. Get that! True, I don't like the nausiea if I miss a dose and I can do without the brainshocks, but I am on minimal doses and getting better results than any other AD I have been on together with a stabilizer. I mean, I honestly thought something was wrong with me, not being afraid...

[larakeziah]

wow, thats really good. I'm glad its worked for you. I'm hopin i don't gain any more! I lost a lot of weight last year and have put it all back on! Not happy. The main reason i put it on tho was because i broke both ankles and so was unable to do anythin for a few months. Thanks for input

[BlackPup]

I'm on lots of drugs but I think lithium is the main offender with my weight gain (heaps...) In the prescribing information abilify does cause some weight gain but mainly in underweight people.