What SSRI/SNRI has worked best for you?

[pesuto]

Just started taking 25mg (half tablet) of sertraline / generic Zoloft this week. Psychiatrist said any effects felt before 2 weeks would be placebo, but I doubt it. I've know I've taken too much MDMA in the past year and a half, without the necessary gaps, so that is definitely a major factor in my state of mind. I'd been feeling especially anxious and extremely self-conscious in social settings. I do have prior history of heavy methamphetamine usage some years back with a relapse about 1 year ago as well. I never thought I'd be taking an SSRI, but here I am. I'm supposed to increase my dosage to 50mg in a couple of days, but I think I may stick to this half dosage.

 

[halfoz]

after an incredibly bad experience with Effexor, and relatively worthless experiences with Wellbutrin and Zoloft, I had relegated all anti-depressants to the bullshit category.

and then i had a hugely traumatic car accident and the subsequent post trauma massive depression for which i was scribed Lexapro and it has worked wonders.

and i'm a true disbeliever when it comes to mood disorder medicines - dyed in the wool. but Lexapro has been effective without leaving me feeling medicated. No brain zaps, no getting fat, no impotence or loss of libido (damn you Effexor!), no side effects at all that i can tell, other than maybe a small tolerance slowly developing.

beyond Lexapro, what's worked best for me has been endorphins generated by workouts - and not the sit on the bike for 30mins dying of boredom workouts, but real full sweat exercise. The downside of that was that i needed a personal trainer to get and stay motivated, but man, working out hard 4 nights a week made me feel awesome and "clean" in a way that only people who cant imagine life without drugs could understand.

 

[tripz_two]

If you have Panic Disorder, youre taking the wrong meds.

SSRIs are (sometimes) effective for depression, but are not the gold standard for panic disorder. You need a benzo. All anecdotal/empirical evidence as well as published Pubmed reviews I've ever heard come to that conclusion. Beyond that, I used to have GAD and Panic Disorder and can attest first hand benzos were a miracle.

I would suggest seeing a different doctor who isnt a benzo-phobe or else evaluate if maybe you are saying something to the doctor that for good reason he is not prescribing you a benzo.

Theres a lot of downsides to benzos, but from personal experience I can assure you its absolutely worth it. The one caveat I'll say is that benzos can make depression worse.

If you get relief from a med, whater it is, use that time to work on the underlying issues. The meds are just a bandaid, and its easy to forget that.

edit: if you dont want to go the benzo route, I've heard phenomenal things about phenelzine (Nardil). Only thing is the side effect profile, and MAOI dietary considerations. Otherwise that's the one I'd pick if I couldnt/wouldnt go on benzos for GAD and PD. Plus it treats depression (and is good at it).

 

[Anon54]

took lexapro for a few weeks a few years ago but dont think I took it for long enough to feel all the benefits. (Consitering re-trying)
It may be good for slight motivation maybe. but i dont think its good for an serious kind of anxiety.

took 100-200mg of tramadol (suppose to be a similar chemical to effexor, so I think it should be inculded as an SNRI) daily for a few months. it gave me more energy. but felt kind of like a chemical happiness & it had a mild stimulant effect that I didnt like all that much. Lucky I had benzos to stop using this stuff.

I think this thread should have a poll.