[Bluesday]

After FINALLY talking to my doctor, she prescribed Paxil for my anxiety and depression. However, it turns out my insurance won't cover it, but the pharmacist gave me a list of drugs they will take. They are: Citalopram, Fluoxetine, and Sertraline. Can anybody tell me which is overall the best choice among them for both disorders?

[Hexagram]

Everyone reacts differently to these drugs. Every day on these forums there's hate mail for drugs that I tolerated and success stories from those on drugs that did nothing or completely incapacitated me. You'll have to try each one for yourself; your doctor will help you find the right choice.

[-jimi-]

There is a myth that you can swap SSRIs around and it makes little difference. True for most people, nope.

Paxil is a bit special, it didn't agree with me at all, but I have heard when it has helped with both anxiety and depression.

If anxiety comes from turning thoughts inside, citalopram might help. It seems to add impulsiveness and fearlessness in some.

Fluoxetine and Sertraline helping with anxiety? I hope some people say they were helped, but they can cause quite a bit of hyperness and I can't see how that is helpful.

I'm on an antidepressant that is NOT covered. I can't take any of the others. So I pay up. For me this is the best option.

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by Bluesday

After FINALLY talking to my doctor, she prescribed Paxil for my anxiety and depression. However, it turns out my insurance won't cover it, but the pharmacist gave me a list of drugs they will take. They are: Citalopram, Fluoxetine, and Sertraline. Can anybody tell me which is overall the best choice among them for both disorders?

Generic paxil's on the $4 plan at walmart, target, most grocery stores in I think every state. Did you try running it through without insurance?
If your state doesn't have that plan, every person is different and you often have to try different meds to see what works best for YOU. If I was given the option, I'd pick sertraline over the other two to try first, but that's just my opinion.

[eeyorestail]

Like pinkflower, I'd be surprised if you can't get generic Paxil quite cheaply even without insurance.

[Bluesday]

Originally Posted by pinkflower17

Generic paxil's on the $4 plan at walmart, target, most grocery stores in I think every state. Did you try running it through without insurance?
If your state doesn't have that plan, every person is different and you often have to try different meds to see what works best for YOU. If I was given the option, I'd pick sertraline over the other two to try first, but that's just my opinion.

Apparently, b/c my doctor specified the extended release version, it can't automatically be used for the generic version. The pharmacy faxed my doctor and I'm waiting for her to either choose a different med or change the prescription so I can get the generic.

Meanwhile, this extra delay is just giving me time to read about SSRI's and I'm kind of worried about using them now, actually.

[Danny Leary]

Prozac (Fluoxetine) is a good option after Paxil, it's one of the more potent SSRI's. I've been on almost every SSRI under the sun, and it was quite effective comparatively. You'll never know for sure which one works best for you until you've tried them.

Don't worry too much about SSRI's. Every medication has it's side effects, researching just about anything will bring up something that'll scare the bejeezus out of you. Under a doctor's supervision, they are an extremely safe medication to take. The biggest problems most people report are anorgasmia, changes in libido and weight gain. Worse symptoms may happen, as with any med, but they are rare.

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by Bluesday

Apparently, b/c my doctor specified the extended release version, it can't automatically be used for the generic version. The pharmacy faxed my doctor and I'm waiting for her to either choose a different med or change the prescription so I can get the generic.

Meanwhile, this extra delay is just giving me time to read about SSRI's and I'm kind of worried about using them now, actually.

Gotcha. That makes sense. I think the ER version's a much better choice. Paxil IR is a ***** to get off of. What exactly are you worried about? It really depends on what you're using the med for in choosing which one will be right for you, even then, it's kind of luck of the draw....

FYI, out of those three, technically, Zoloft or sertraline is more potent that Prozac and celexa at all 3 biogenic amine uptake sites (dopamine, norephinephrine, and serotonin), it's actually the most potent SSRI. Celexa or citalopram is more potent than Prozac at serotonin sites, but less so at norephinephrine and dopamine. Nationwide - Effexor, Zoloft and Lexapro are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, if that means anything. (Lexapro is Celexa's refined version, called an enantiomer). I don't know if that helps any. Sometimes certain ones are prescribed more so than others more certain disorders.
Hopefully your Paxil ER goes through and it works for you and you don't have to worry about anything else...

[Alone_and_Afraid]

My doctor said Paxil is the worst anti-depressant. He won't prescribe it because it can make you feel like you're losing your mind if you forget to take it. I was on it and it caused me to be hospitalized because I thought I was going crazy.

I was prescribed Prozac two days ago. I'm also taking Wellbutrin. My doctor said it's a good combination. Now, I wait to see the results.

But Paxil is cheap. So is Prozac. They're both like $4 at Walmart.