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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Do SSRI's actually help you?

Not really, I have used one (forgot the name already LOL) in the past before being put on Neuroleptics like Clopixol and Dipiperon which seem to work a bit better for my chronic depression, still, I find Opiates to be a more Serotonin and / or Dopamine upregulator but I am getting tested in a while for manic depression instead of the usual psychotic episodes which was the first they said I was suffering from, however, I never had anything remotely psychotic-like in a few years now so it can possibly be have been mania I was suffering from (if you don't include speed psychosis which I've suffered a few times from, not fun at all and very different to my other experiences).

Maybe try a TCA (Tri-Cyclic Antidepressant instead of a SSRI, I've found Amitryptiline to be useful for more things than sleeplessness. :)


--» Peace o/
 
I have Major Depression Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, and Social Anxiety.

Welbutrin nearly killed me, pretty literally. We don't get along.

Prozac gave me the walking zombie syndrome, made me pretty much not care about shit. It wasn't a good thing.

Effexor, however, has helped me greatly. It helped with the depression, the generalized anxiety, and the OCD. They're not 100% all the way fixed, but they're managable now. Adding Vistaril and Ativan for the social anxiety has gotten me from severe agoraphobia down to being able to go out once a week without screaming and crying afterwards.
 
just picked up some lexapro now to take the fucking thing lol
not sure how i developed anxiety about taking anti anxiety medication lol the irony
 
SSRIs helped my anxiety, but only after taking them every day for 5 weeks or so. Don't expect them to immediately fix everything, they take time to work, and even then they don't help everyone
 
SwelledPupil said:
SSRIs helped my anxiety, but only after taking them every day for 5 weeks or so. Don't expect them to immediately fix everything, they take time to work, and even then they don't help everyone
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Yea that's what I've heard that they take forever to kick in, if they are a bitch to get off of then why is a Dr more cautious to prescribe those instead of a benzo which has been proven to work for pretty much everyone? (Based on Statistics). I understand that they say ssri's aren't "addicting" but I call bullshit, they might not be mentally addicting but if you have trouble coming off of anything than to me that's physical addiction which in my eyes is the same thing. I'm making an appointment tomorrow, Ive only slept 1.5 hrs in two days and when I did that I woke up with sleep paralysis. I'm about to go ape shit if I can't get this sorted out.
 
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whatson zo said:
Yea that's what I've heard that they take forever to kick in, if they are a bitch to get off of then why is a Dr more cautious to prescribe those instead of a benzo which has been proven to work for pretty much everyone? (Based on Statistics). I understand that they say ssri's aren't "addicting" but I call bullshit, they might not be mentally addicting but if you have trouble coming off of anything than to me that's physical addiction which in my eyes is the same thing. I'm making an appointment tomorrow, Ive only slept 1.5 hrs in two days and when I did that I woke up with sleep paralysis. I'm about to go ape shit if I can't get this sorted out.
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Yeah I've heard a lot about Withdrawals after long term SSRI treatment, it kinda makes me scared to stop taking em.
 
I suffer with severe depression and anxiety in addition to decades of severe pain. The pain has been treated with only Darvocet until it was taken off the market. My GP then tried Tramadol, but referred me to Pain Management when I didn't get relief. I've been in PM for 1.5 years with no success.

I've tried several ADs over the many years. Zoloft has helped me somewhat fo almost 15 years. I sometimes think it's not helping to ease the depression. My PM specialist tried increasing dosage of Zoloft, but I didn't want that "walking dead" brain fog. He's tried several opiates with little success. (Morphine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone)

The point of this post is DEPRESSION. Mine has grown even deeper as I lose all hope that pain will ever be relieved. The SEs of the big gun opiates (yes, justified w/medical history) are debilitating. The Oxycodone helps my mood and makes me not give a rip about the pain. I break it into 1/4s because I don't want to grow tolerant/dependent on large doses. I feel better initially, but then feel very pissed off when the med wears off. I KNOW it's the Oxycodone. I fear this devil I don't know, because it creates residual anger and rebound pain IMO.

I've taken Zoloft for 17 years now. Before that, the list of trials is LONG including Wellbutrin, Effexor and Prozac, Pamelor. For me personally, I can endure the physical pain better than the depths of despair I am feeling. I waited SO LONG to surrender to PM for fear of addiction, etc. I'm almost 54 with crippling pain, but extremely conflicted about continuing pain management.
 
They absolutely DO help some people. Anyone who believes they hurt everyone or help everyone is deluded or ignorant. As a class, they are not for everyone, but many people can find benefit from a specific one (often it does take a couple tries), but they are not meant to be a forever band-aid. Proper talk therapy as well as exercise and meditation are essential parts of any mental health treatment.
 
Agreed, as exercise and mindfulness are an absolute to "manage" depression and anxiety. I probably will be on some form of AD and anxiety med for life. I confess that my psychologist was on speed dial, until he blocked my number. :\ There is no MAGIC PILL or instantaneous "relief". One must be patient and consider pros/cons. The side effect of weight gain is a deal breaker for me. That's another reason I stick with Zoloft...no weight gain. As with any med, I avoid blanket generalization.

I tend to ramble and get off subject. Sorry. :!

Zoloft saved my life, as anxiety was off the charts. I was ripping my flesh, requiring treatment/injections from dermatologist. When I start to think it doesn't "help" I can look at the deep scars on my chest, literally. I'm quickly convinced that it indeed has helped me navigate some rough terrain.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's run its course and perhaps I need to change. I tried Cymbalta and Abilify when they were new, but chose to discontinue both after 8 week trial. I would NEVER stop taking the SSRI cold turkey. I've been on it so long, I get brain zaps if I forget my daily dose. I would not start or stop any maintenance med without consulting my prescribing doctor.
 
No, they don't help for anxiety, in my opinion. They leave you feeling like a robot, soulless - you feel neither happy, or sad. You look in the mirror and it doesn't look like you. Citalopram (lexapro) gave me mania like symptoms. Sertraline did nothing other than make my dick weak.

I think they may work better in women than men, as they have less side effects. I couldn't ejacualte easily when I was on them and I'm pretty fit physically, it wasn't something I was prepared to live with so I stopped taking them (they didn't work anyway).

Get some valium instead, just don't get cocky with it; Use it medicinally and strictly, not to get high. I have anxiety really bad but I find that at least I have Perception of reality and who I am. My experience with ssris is that they were fake and mind bending.
 
Cheezed said:
No, they don't help for anxiety, in my opinion. They leave you feeling like a robot, soulless - you feel neither happy, or sad. You look in the mirror and it doesn't look like you. Citalopram (lexapro) gave me mania like symptoms. Sertraline did nothing other than make my dick weak.

I think they may work better in women than men, as they have less side effects. I couldn't ejacualte easily when I was on them and I'm pretty fit physically, it wasn't something I was prepared to live with so I stopped taking them (they didn't work anyway).

Get some valium instead, just don't get cocky with it; Use it medicinally and strictly, not to get high. I have anxiety really bad but I find that at least I have Perception of reality and who I am. My experience with ssris is that they were fake and mind bending.
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Zoloft did lessen my anxiety over time, but the inability to bust a nut was a bummer for sure. As for benzos, they work wonders for anxiety, but taking them everyday wouldn't be realistic for me, the anterograde memory impairment really sucks.
 
SwelledPupil said:
Zoloft did lessen my anxiety over time, but the inability to bust a nut was a bummer for sure. As for benzos, they work wonders for anxiety, but taking them everyday wouldn't be realistic for me, the anterograde memory impairment really sucks.
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Agree benzos aren't good either, I was taking valium everyday in lowish doses (5mg) half a pill in the morning and half in the afternoon just to get through work. They make you pretty dopey and mong you out but at least relax you somewhat. I find that better than fighting off a panic attack for 8 hours a day. I did have to quit work recently though as had really bad panic attacks, even on the valiu, but I feel that was partly due to the environment i was in the office. I have another job lined up, hoping I won't get the fear and run away from that one too! I'm. Having cbt at the moment which is helping a bit, have built quite a good rapport with the shrink.
 
Cheezed said:
Agree benzos aren't good either, I was taking valium everyday in lowish doses (5mg) half a pill in the morning and half in the afternoon just to get through work. They make you pretty dopey and mong you out but at least relax you somewhat. I find that better than fighting off a panic attack for 8 hours a day. I did have to quit work recently though as had really bad panic attacks, even on the valiu, but I feel that was partly due to the environment i was in the office. I have another job lined up, hoping I won't get the fear and run away from that one too! I'm. Having cbt at the moment which is helping a bit, have built quite a good rapport with the shrink.
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Taking Zoloft manages my anxiety for the most part, and if things get bad I have a stash of klonopin that I can take for a day or two, but I wouldn't go any further than that.
 
Do SSRIs actually help to make life more interesting? I suffer from depression but I do not suffer anxiety. I do not need something that has the ability to make life more dull than it already is, is it common for SSRIs to reduce emotions? Because my problem is I dont have any to begin with.
 
Toz said:
Do SSRIs actually help to make life more interesting? I suffer from depression but I do not suffer anxiety. I do not need something that has the ability to make life more dull than it already is, is it common for SSRIs to reduce emotions? Because my problem is I dont have any to begin with.
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For me SSRIs do make me a lot more even tempered. I'm not sure if I would say my emotions are "dulled", but I'm definitely less impulsive and quick to anger. As far as depression, after taking Zoloft for a couple months, I did start to feel like I was more consistently in a better mood.
 
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