Anti-depressants

Hey everybody. I went in to my doctor today by request of my therapist and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder w/ anxiety, and I'm starting the SSRI Celexa later tonight.

I'm curious if any of you have any experience with mood stabilizers or anti-depressants that you'd like to share. I'm not really sure what to expect, and I'm a little frightened.

Have you ever/do you take anti-depressants, did they help, etc would be much appreciated.

 

I was prescribed some for my panic attacks...They didn't help me at all and when I drank with them, I got really, really aggressive. I know you shouldn't drink with them, but I had to take them everyday and I sure as hell wasn't going to quit drinking...

They gave me Cymbalta...

Also, one of the possible side effects listed was death...Even though it's a very small chance, I was like fuck that...Especially as they didn't work at all for me...

 

They wouldn't help. Depending on the severity of your mood changes I'd suggest going to a therapist instead.

Side effects of taking Anti-depressants

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Trembling.
Increased thirst and increased need to urinate.
Weight gain in the first few months of use.
Drowsiness.
A metallic taste in the mouth.
Abnormalities in kidney function.
Abnormalities in thyroid function.

I actually was given a prescription for a mood stabilizer during my time with mono. I suffered a lot of drowsiness and nausea. It's just not worth it

 

My mother was diagnosed with extreme bipolar syndrome (which I've always been able to see) when i was 5, along with server depression ( common in women after childbirth, but hers stayed with her).

I don't know what she takes to stabilize but i can tell you that they can make you extremely drowsy, some of her hair started falling off (then she got switched) along with some memory issues (not all the time but sometimes) along with a little bit of confusion. Everyone in my family has a "j" name even the dog so sometimes she calls one of us the wrong name, but corrects herself. As for inside damage or effects i couldn't tell you.

 

I have anxiety and anti-depressant med. I take celexa and clonopin and tamazapan. They have saved my life.

Smart choice going to the doctor give the a week or 2 to take effect

 

I have taken them, i stopped for multiple reasons.

Lots of people who take them and become dependent on them and eventually stop have an extremely high chance of suicide (a few of my friends killed themselves this way).

I was never hungry on them, sure my mood was good but i lost an extreme amount of weight, sickly looking weight.

They messed my sleep schedule up, i would be up till 7AM and sleep till 6PM.

They made my mood good, more enjoyable but turned me violent, i was extremely rough.

 

Well.. I'm about to take my first pill... so hopefully I don't get any of the severe side effects.. like seizure and coma lol.

 

Everything has a chance of seizure, you'll be fine.

Just don't become too dependent on it.

 

Why not? If I'll always be able to get some, why not? If it really helps me be happy, what's the problem? If it works it's not like I'd stop.

 

Tell us how it goes. Personally i've never taken an anti-depressant but I have always wondered if such a thing could really help with anxiety and depression.

 

Yeah, I thought I was going to start tonight but I've decided to start Wednesday night since I'm going to be alone until then just in case. Since I have no idea if people are over-exaggerating their reaction to them and the side effects, I'd rather not be home alone.

 

Never taken any of them nor have I been recommended to have them, been through enough shit in my life. I know a guy who was a chemical engineer with lithium (main ingredient in most anti-depressants) and about 3 months after he got his job to about 3 months after he quit (about 2 years) he changed a ton, He never wanted to hang out and his fiancee ended up leaving him for a while. That shit completely changes who you are for better or for worse. I wouldn't take anti-depressants regardless of whether I needed them or not because of how badly it can fuck you up.

Personally though I think my philosophy on life has allowed me to never actually need that stuff though.

 

They usually don't prescribe medication that's not health altering permanently, especially not anti depressants.

 

Anti-depressants are easier to get your hands on than a gun. That's the only reason I'm going to be trying them at all.

If it changes who I am, I'll definitely stop taking them.

 

I don't know what its like at all. I have a very strong mind though, so I don't think those sorts of things are for me. I have taken all kinds of drugs but anti-depressants are the scariest for me personally, that shit can change who you are as a person.

 

Anti-depressants completely alter your state of mind, generally you don't see yourself changing, it just happens.

 

Like I said above I take the same medicine you do. You will be greatful for it. It has changed my life. I'm finally able to be happy. You won't notice the effects for around 2 weeks. It's not like smoking weed or doing other drugs, these pills make life easier.

If it wasn't for anti depressants I might not be typing this. If you feel no increase on happyness just tell your doctor. You won't be come dependent on them. I forget my meds here and there and notice no difference it's a long lasting effect.

 

The weird thing is that extended use of mood stabilizers is a huge jump in suicide chance. How they work is they cause the brain to produce more neurochemicals in an attempt to balance some kind of chemical imbalance in the brain. I mean the stuff can fry your brain and cause it not to produce the chemicals naturally. If you have to take them then there isn't much we can do, but I have seen people who have been on these things for a long time and they're just totally screwed up without them and can't live without that fix. Kind of like a junky.

 

I feel vulnerable to my brain. I would never take anything that could change the way I view life no matter how I felt about life. Not that I've been though extremely hard times.

 

If your doctor prescribes the right dosage and how to properly take them then you are not in any harm. I am not dependent on my medicine, it's there for a reason and that's to help people. I don't use it for recreation and it's only small dosages to keep me stable. There is nothing wrong with having a little help to get you back to a normal state of mind. My worst choice was not seeking professional help sooner.