[flannel_pajamas]

I tried Celexa, Zoloft, Cymbalta, and Lexapro in that order. Every single one made me too tired to function and killed my ability to have sex. I went back to the doctor and asked about Prozac since it's one of the only familiar names I haven't tried yet, but he didn't want to put me on it since I'd already failed all those other similar meds. Instead, he put me on something called Brintellix.

He has me stopping Lexapro and starting Brintellix. I've been taking Wellbutrin for 4-5 months which is the only thing that has worked at all for me without the exhaustion and sexual side effects, but it's not enough on its own. He wants me to stop the Wellbutrin which I'm really reluctant to do since it's the only thing that has helped at all, but I guess he wants to see how Brintellix will do by itself.

I'm only taking 5mg a day from sample bottles he gave me and this is day two. I already tapered off he Lexapro, and am tapering off the Wellbutrin this week. So far, I feel lower than usual, but I guess that's to be expected since I'm changing meds.

I've read a bit about Brintellix online and am happy to see that it seems to have a much lower rate of sexual side effects than all the others SSRI's I've tried. But, I'm also worried about what it will cost if it ends up working for me b/c my insurance won't cover a name brand drug and I've seen that some people are paying as much as $650/mo for this drug which would make it absolutely impossible for me to continue. My doctor just wants to see how it does for me and said he'd have more samples for me if I continue it, but I'm still worried about starting an incredibly expensive drug that I know I can't afford if I stop getting samples.

I'm trying not to worry about it and just figure either it won't help me and it's another one I can scratch off the list, or it will help me and then I'll just have to beg for samples. But, at least I'll know. Still, I kind of wish I would've been more firm about trying Prozac first before jumping to the expensive name brand drug that my insurance won't touch.

I guess I'm mostly just venting. Part of me desperately wants this drug to finally be the one that works, and part of me has been hoping I'll just start throwing it up and be unable to take it so I don't end up on a drug I can't afford. I'm just so tired of trying and failing all these different things. It's like I either have to be depressed and tired and uninterested in life, or slightly less depressed, more engaged in life, but so exhausted I can't do anything anyway. Not to mention that as a guy in my early 30's, it's incredibly depressing in and of itself to not be able to have sex because of a med. I didn't even try to be in a relationship for 10+ years b/c of anxiety and depression and lack of confidence and now that I've finally reached a point where I am able to have a girlfriend again I still can't have sex because of the same meds that helped me reach the point where I could talk to woman again.

Oh well...maybe this will magically be the med that helps me and doesn't cause exhaustion and sexual side effects, and doctors will keep feeding me samples until a generic is available.

[Patsfan]

My Pdoc had to get prior authorization before insurance would cover it. The copayment for me is $50/month. I like it and it is worth the money for me.

[ilive4music]

It didn't work for me, but good luck to you

[gina_re]

I was given an option to take it when I was in PHP. But then I found out how much it was, and told the pdoc to give me something else. I can't afford that. I did start Pristiq because I was given a bunch of samples. Eventually when I had to start paying for them, it wasn't too bad, then the price jumped and I told my pdoc then to put me on something else. If I can't afford it, I make them give me something else. Stressing about paying for my meds is not good for me.

[starryprince]

Hey there! Wellbutrin was the first antidepressant I took and it worked so well for me, but I had to stop because it gave me seizures. Then I went on Prozac and that did nothing. It made me feel worse, I had sexual side effects and my anxiety skyrocketed. I was JUST put on Brintellix and I was about to make a post about it until I saw yours. I have also gotten the sample bottles and I'm hoping to works but I didn't even think about the insurance part of it. I'm waiting to see how I am on it. I'm on day two so fingers crossed! I wish you the best!