At a loss for what to do next ?

I have been off and on anti-depressants for several years now. What I desperately want is to stop taking any drugs. I tried this last year and it really did not work !
Everything I take has side-effects I can't deal with.
I recently started taking Trazodone, I was delighted that they helped me sleep, however I'm tired all day which is making me eat, I'm putting on weight !
Mirtazapine made me jumpy and restless and tired at the same time as well as piling on 10 pounds in less than 2 weeks !
Lofepramine stopped my cycle and stopped working after a while.
I get on fine with SSRI's but I don't like the sexual side effects (don't get me wrong, I'm not a maniac or anything, i just find it an unnatural condition). They do help with my PMS and regulate my weight though.
Am I being greedy and unreasonable to expect a pill to help my mood stay stable without unbearable side effects.
I realise to those with severe depression I may sound like I'm whingeing, I do apologise.
I am in the UK, so some meds have other names etc.
Hope someone can help me.

i don't think it's unreasonable for any of us to wish we didn't have side effects with the ADs. i'm back on what i was taking in the 70s. and it's working and i'm not experiencing any side effects that upset me enough to stop the med.

i hope you find something that works. sometimes we feel as if we never will get better...but we can........pat

mrstumnus - Are you seeing a therapist? Learning to live within the perimeters of your condition helps a lot (it did for me).

Prozac™ (fluoxetine) is the SSRI with the least effect on libido (for most people). I have also noticed that libido often does return after six to nine months with most of the SSRIs. My wife and I had to become creative to overcome this annoying side effect. We saw it as a challege; romancing and toys did it for us.

plus led to but it didn't happen overnight. There was months of and and and the occasional . If you have and (communication); patience and understanding, most things can be overcome.

I know that, for the longest time, I wasn't in the mood. Even though I didn't feel like riding, I still got on the horse (don't tell my wife I used that metaphor). My wife considered my libido loss to be a challenge; a challenge that she wanted to conquer. As a result, our relationship became much stronger. It wasn't easy, but then again, nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

I know, I know; too much information. I would say to pick the SSRI that worked best for your symptoms, and find a way to circumnavigate the libido loss. My therapist did help by pointing us in the right direction. After that it was work, work, work...... ahem!

I don't know if this will be any help to you, but I thought I'd let you know what worked for us. BTW, I am no longer taking antidepressants and I still have a lack of libido fairly often; but I now blame it on age.

- Cam

i take prozac and agree with Cam.................totally. the internet is a lovely source for the aids........

Thanks for all your animated comments !

I imagine it's a lot more difficult for men than women (as we can bluff.. not that I would !). I'm hoping a low dose of SSRI's would not have too much an impact in that department. And, any impact it may have on my weight would be appreciated. I really feel I need something to bridge the gap from taking regular meds to nothing at all. What I'm taking at the moment (Trazodone) is making me like a zombie though my sleep is still very disturbed. I want to feel alive !

Thanks for the input everyone !

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fayerody said:
i don't think it's unreasonable for any of us to wish we didn't have side effects with the ADs. i'm back on what i was taking in the 70s. and it's working and i'm not experiencing any side effects that upset me enough to stop the med.

i hope you find something that works. sometimes we feel as if we never will get better...but we can........pat

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Can I just ask what type of medication you've been successful with ? if you don't mind my asking ?

Have you considered taking Wellbutrin? It is proven to be an enhancer of libido. I have been on it since March and slowly ramping up the dosage to therapeutic. I find it does help and I was also on prozac for several years which seemed to take away my libido forever until my pdoc put me on WB for depression. Just another thought.
Best wishes.

i'm on prozac.........

So many different reactions to antidepressants! Prozac 20mg. for about 4 years took away my sex drive seemingly forever, until my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin. I was off the prozac for over two years and seriously doubting whether I would ever get my libido back. I have had very good results with Wellbutrin.

Thanks Olivia ! I am very interested in this medication as it does not seem to belong to any of the common groups. I am in the UK however so it may not be widely prescribed here, and our Doctors are often influenced by price ! Thanks for the info !