antidepressants

[briseus]

hey everyone - hope you all are having a nice (long) weekend...
i was just curious who on here is on antidepressants or has been on them in the past...and your thoughts on it.
i was recently prescribed zoloft for my ocd/panic disorder...i never wanted to take meds...but am at a loss...i'm sorta afraid...of the side effects and all these things that i have been reading (i know, i shouldn't be reading all this crap online!) - just have been seeing that these drugs can change your brain..mind you, so can alcohol....
just wanted some advice...and some personal stories/journies...

bri

[Lizann]

Bri, I'm taking lexapro at present. I have had panic attacks and anxiety. I took Zoloft about ten years ago much to my husbands chagrin. After about 2 weeks I woke up one morning and couldn't wait to get out of bed and start my day! Made all the difference in the world. I did do cognitive therapy and found it helpful as well. I went off the Zoloft after about 2 years because I thought I had it under control and I did for a long time. That's when the drinking started. So about a year ago I figured I'd be better off on the antidepressant rather than self medicate with alcohol. I found initially when going on these drugs, that I was tired and nauseous. That went away. I never gained the weight like I've read. I'm still depressed and I attribute that to al, because when I get a good sober stretch I feel good. I hope this was helpful and feel free to ask me anything, I'm an open book. I personally think taking the Zoloft is a good idea, worth a try and you can go off if you don't like. Just do that very slowly, wean yourself off.

[SKendall]

Complicated issue Bri. I think everyone reacts differently. Zoloft killed my sex drive, mirtazapine awaken it, but gained 25 lbs. On Lexapro at the moment, but still not sure. Anxiety a little better I think.

[little beagle]

I take Elavil. Not a lot, but it helps with anxiety and insomnia.

[briseus]

SK - why is it a complicated issues? or do you mean that because everyone reacts differently on them?
I used to be diagnosed depressed in the past (but it actually was OCD/anxiety, not depression) and was on a bunch of ADs...which did nothing, but I also drank over them (pointless - but this was years ago and I wasn't educated on any of this stuff back then).
Thanks Beagle - I will look into Elavil..I don't believe I've ever heard of it.

Liz - thanks for posting as well, how come your husband didn't want you taking the zoloft? or was it ad's in general? my partner isn't too thrilled, but he has been seeing how i've been suffering the last little while so he thinks to just go for it and see how i feel, can always stop if it doesn't work out, right? i really hope i get positive results with this. i started at 25mg and am to work my way up to 150...but i'll see how i'm feeling at 75 or so. i will definitely be pm-ing you, if you wouldn't mind...i've just been doing a lot of reading and it's 50-50...some people think it's a bad idea to go on ad's others say it's a lifesaver. to be honest, i've really been struggling...anything is better then self-medicating with alcohol, right?
i better not gain weight on these meds either, that'll make me totally depressed...
and i drank alcohol over other ad's in the last few years...and i attribute the shitty feelings to drinking heavily as well...as well as the worsening of my ocd...i know for sure that alcohol made it as bad as it is now.

thanks for sharing everyone.

[Lizann]

Bri hubby is a chiropractor and doesn't "believe" in drugs. He thought they were mind altering. He's ok with it now. Yes PM me. I'm here for you.