Do you guys think SSRIs would help me? (story)

[JackiesBabyy]

For years I've always had episodes of depression for no reason and EXTREME social anxiety. Well, everyone always suggested SSRIs, but I thought they were bullshit because they didn't seem to help anyone on them. So, the other day, I try 4-FA for the first time (200mg oral and smoked) and, like magic, the depression turned to an AMAZING euphoria and it completely eliminated my social anxiety, much better than alcohol or benzos do. Very empathogenic to me too, while most people say it's only mildly euphoric. For me, the euphoria was only rivaled by MDMA.

So since serotonin releasers work so well for me, would an SSRI help the depression/anxiety over a longer period? (I don't expect to "roll" off of them, just be less anxious and sad.)

 

[airsh0w]

I always loved serotonin MDMA too but SSRI's always made me feel like shit.

 

[JackiesBabyy]

I always loved serotonin MDMA too but SSRI's always made me feel like shit.

Well they're supposed to make you feel like shit for 3 weeks before actually working. I've dealt with worse things than 3 weeks of feeling like shit in exchange for less anxiety and depression.

 

[airsh0w]

Well they're supposed to make you feel like shit for 3 weeks before actually working. I've dealt with worse things than 3 weeks of feeling like shit in exchange for less anxiety and depression.

I took it for three weeks and noticed nothing but less sex drive and less motivation. Maybe they'll work for you but a lot of people don't have much luck with them.

 

[effie]

I don't think feeling euphoria from a serotonergic drug = SSRIs working for you. Pretty much everyone gets euphoria from serotonin-releasers (at least initially anyway!)

This is something to discuss with your doctor - depression and anxiety are complex; there are lots of different antidepressants, SSRIs work well for some but not others, for some people antidepressants aren't the answer at all, and especially given that you have social anxiety too I think it would be really helpful for you to address the psychological and social factors with some form of therapy eg CBT. But again - discuss this with your doctor

Also, take a look at the TDS directory in my sig - lots of information on depression, anxiety and treatment options there

Finally, be careful that you don't start taking serotonergic drugs too often because they offer you such relief from your depression/anxiety - they will stop working as well and the crash (which seems to get worse over time, grr) can really exacerbate depression.

 

[F1n1shed]

Yea feeling good off a strong serotonin releaser is normal and the feelings don't last. You are left with less neurotransmitters after which leave you with the opposite effect the drug gave you. SSRI's work by inhibiting the re uptake of serotonin so more serotonin is left flowing around in the synapse for a longer time. A lot of people report positive experiences with them, and yes you will feel weird during the beginning period of starting them until they start taking a positive affect.

 

[Acidtek]

Effie has given excellent advice! All I have to add is that I'm on Venlafaxine 150mgs and it really helps keep me level, talk to your doctor about pregabalin combined with a course of CBT, it has done wonders for my social anxiety and I've recently been able to leave my house on my own and go to the local shop, that might not seem like a bing deal for most people, but it's a big step for me! I can't stress how important it is to combine your medication with some sort of therapy to address the deep rooted problems!

Good luck with your difficulties and I hope your feeling much better soon

 

[effie]

^ Thanks! :D

I'm also on venlafaxine which has worked well for my depression, and had a course of CBT which was excellent and I know of another success story for it treating pretty severe anxiety. Really glad it helped you Acidtek

YMMV of course JackiesBabyy, everyone is individual which is why it is best to discuss it with a doctor and try a few different things

 

[BogusBill]

I went through a battery of ssri's in my darker days and I would agree with the majority here venlafaxine was by far the most effective for me. getting the doseage right is one of the bigger things on drugs of this nature. Unfortunately my psychiatrist gave me samples to start off on around the holiday times and practically told me to find my own dosage. The only weird side effect I had with these is hard to explain but ill try my best. When I was laying in bed I would feel something very similar to a muscle spasm only it was up around my scalp area it would be a very brief tremor and when it would happen I would hear like a popping sound. It would only happen once every 5-10 min or so and wasnt an evveryday occasion. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? When I asked my psychiatrist about this she told me she didnt know what i was talking about. Dont let this shy you away from this option however, I really dont think this would happen to just anybody and I think I was around 250-300mg a day when this was going on.

 

[Allein]

Effie has given excellent advice! All I have to add is that I'm on Venlafaxine 150mgs and it really helps keep me level, talk to your doctor about pregabalin combined with a course of CBT, it has done wonders for my social anxiety and I've recently been able to leave my house on my own and go to the local shop, that might not seem like a bing deal for most people, but it's a big step for me! I can't stress how important it is to combine your medication with some sort of therapy to address the deep rooted problems!

Good luck with your difficulties and I hope your feeling much better soon

We can all join the Venlafaxine and CBT Club, there all 3 of us we should have our own website FFS