XNemesisX Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Ok, well this is going to be personal but here goes. I have been on antidepressants for years off and on. I can't stay off them for too long though, because I will feel like I am in absolute hell when I am off them and cry hysterically. I have tried just about everything and can't seem to find the right medication. I had the most luck with Prozac but after so long of it, and increased dosages, I began having difficulty making facial expressions. No other side effects, just almost a complete inability to make expressions. It took a lot of effort and thought to laugh or to frown or smile, as weird as this sounds. I felt like I was losing my personality and was more of a zombie than my normal self. So I tried Wellbutrin, didn't work AT ALL. Also didn't help the smoking which is probably part my own fault because I wasn't in the mindset to WANT to. Tried Lexapro and it made me dizzy. Now I'm on Effexor 150 mg. I had previously been taking 75 mg but it wasn't making me feel better. I have now been on Effexor for about 2 months and this week my doctor upped my dosage to 150 mg. Now, I don't know if this is due to the increased dosage or not but I'm having difficulty in memory. For example, I forget how to spell even the most simple words. Grammar is harder for me now, and even basic math. It's very strange! I'm having to use my dictionary a lot now. (which I was doing with 75 mg too but now it *appears* to be getting worse). I also lose track of time very easily and haven't been going to class much because I can't seem to care a great deal. I also feel sometimes like I can't speak right. I stumble over my words a lot and get disoriented and forget what I was talking about during a conversation pretty frequently. My personality is back since the Prozac but at the same time I feel like people think something is wrong with me! I also can't remember many other things. For example, sometimes I will walk downstairs to get something then once I get down there I have to sit down and think about why I walked downstairs and then I just can't remember and go back upstairs. I'm feeling like I am becoming senile and I am only 22! I have noticed this really bad forgetfulness and disoriented feeling starting since I began Effexor. My question is, does anyone else take antidepressants and if so what do you take and do you have any strange side effects? I know that I HAVE to keep taking antideps so completely stopping them is not really an option for me at this point. I don't cry as much now and I generally feel better but I am wondering if I should get off Effexor and go back to Prozac. I just don't know which is better - no facial expressions vs. forgetfulness and being disoriented. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Have you spoken to your doc about this? Link to post Share on other sites
erika2610 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I agree.. I would def see your doctor. Get on something comletely different. I took antidepressants for years and I never had any problems like that.. Link to post Share on other sites
jellybean Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 There's dozens of anti-depressants available, and they all come complete with a list of possible side-effects. But it's still a lot better than walking around with untreated depression, don't you agree? Try Paxil. Link to post Share on other sites
erika2610 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 She's right.. anything's better than depression. Paxil's good or try Lexapro.. Link to post Share on other sites
7on Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Hell, I have all those problems and I don't take antidepressants! Though if they only started since taking medication, seek your doc Link to post Share on other sites
Author XNemesisX Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 Hey erika I have tried Lexapro and it makes me dizzy I have heard good things about Paxil, but I do hear it makes you sleepy. I told my doc that whatever she put me on needed to be one of the meds that make you the LEAST sleepy. I may give it a try though. I'm wondering if this is all in my head but I don't think it is. My doctor keeps putting me on one different kind after another and I don't want to seem too difficult always going back...but I guess that maybe I should. Anyone else have any success with a different medication? I have asked my friends and one of my friends had tried everything under the sun and she had problems with it but the Paxil is what she liked the most. However, she has to take Ritalin too just to have energy and stay focused because of the Paxil. She says the two in combination have worked miracles for her. I asked my doctor for Ritalin and she just laughed and said no way Anyone have any success with a particular medication? I may go back and request a certain different medication. She just seems to put me on one different kind after another at random... I guess until I find one that works right. Oh and yes, the forgetfulness, etc I can definitely tolerate over untreated depression - anyday! I just wish I could find just the right med for me..and I seem to have some difficulty in this. My mother takes Effexor so I figured it would suit me the best but she also experiences these same side effects, if this is truly what it is, which I think it is. She seems to be able to cope with it well enough, though. Hmmm... Link to post Share on other sites
erika2610 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Maybe Celexa? I tried Lexapro, celexa, and paxil CR. Paxil CR didn't really help me at all. Celexa was good. Alot of antidepressants will make ya sleepy. Just take them before you go to bed at night.. Link to post Share on other sites
HotCaliGirl Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 My suggestion might not be popular here contrasting to the medications, but I HIGHLY recommend that you give up on the drugs for a while and try out St. John's Wort. It is an herbal supplement that will make your depression disappear with the only side-effect being thatyou feel much much better... Personally, I would not take the artificially created medications on the market today that alter brain chemistry since they have too many side-effects (I know, I know, it helps people etc etc) but try this natural and inexpensive cure which doctors won't prescribe and pharmaceuticals can't compete with. I promise you'll be feeling better after just a few days on it. Link to post Share on other sites
brashgal Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Wow, 150mg! I'm thinking that might be part of the problem - that's a lot of drug for someone your age and size (saw your pic on show your mug day). Were you on that much Prozac also? Maybe if your Doctor backs off the dosage it would help. Do you have OCD as well? Higher dosages are usually prescribed for OCD than depression. Everyone on this board can share how antidepressants have affected them but what I have found is that you cannot predict how your body will respond - just because your neighbor is on Paxil doesn't necessarily mean it is a good drug for you. You just have to continue to work with your Doctor (or maybe another Doctor who specializes in treating depression) to find the right mix for you. This is the real bitch of being on these drugs, the experimentation needed to get the right balance for you. I've been on Zoloft, Effexor, and now Prozac - lucky I only had to try three and Prozac may not work forever, I understand a lot of people become desensitized to their antidepressant after a couple years and have to switch. Keep the faith - I hope you feel more like yourself soon. Big hug Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 but try this natural and inexpensive cure which doctors won't prescribe and pharmaceuticals can't compete with. I promise you'll be feeling better after just a few days on it. St. John's Wort has a mild antidepressant effect: Based on the evidence, Dr. Fetrow recommended that St. John's wort preparations administered at a dosage >= hypericum 900 mg/day are effective for the treatment of mild to moderate depression (Grade B recommendation). Patients with severe depression or who are at high risk for suicide are not candidates for treatment with St. John's wort. Additionally, there is a paucity of data for the use of St. John's wort in patients suffering from depression that is refractory to conventional allopathic agents.medscape.com Plus there are several contraindications. I suspect Nemesis may be suffering from more than 'mild to moderate' depression given its duration and severity. Link to post Share on other sites
Author XNemesisX Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks you all for your input I tried the st. john's wort before I went to a doctor, it didn't help me at all. I think moi may be right that with my diagnosis, it just wasn't powerful enough. I wish it was all I had to take though Brashgal~ Do you have OCD as well? Higher dosages are usually prescribed for OCD than depression. No, I don't have OCD. Although sometimes I think it would be nice because then my apartment wouldn't be so messy My doctor upped my dosage because I still did not have an appetite at all and I have quickly been dropping weight. I have been having to see her every 2 weeks the past few months, although this last time she had me schedule to see her again in a month this time. They check my weight and give me a goal for each time I see her. I haven't been able to gain any weight though and have still had to force myself to eat. So, I think she felt that the 75 mg just wasn't cutting it so she increased the dose hoping that it may be able to give me an appetite again. I think the actual diagnosis I was given was Major Depressive Disorder. This is the real bitch of being on these drugs, the experimentation needed to get the right balance for you. AMEN TO THAT!!!! I feel like I'm never going to find the right drug. Sometimes I think I should go back to Prozac because it did have the least amount of side effects I thought. Brashgal, is Prozac working pretty well for you? Have you experienced any "flatness"? I'm really thinking of going back to Prozac. I did notice that with Prozac my loss of appetite got worse (which idk..I guess sometimes this can be a good thing though, right?) I know a lot of people have gained a lot of weight from Effexor and Paxil and other antideps, but I haven't noticed this (at least not yet). I think I will try to go back to her and see if there is something else I can take. I just don't want to seem like too much of a perfectionist. I guess that with any drug, there are going to be side effects so I just have to weigh the pros and cons and decide which is more important. I know that the way I am untreated is not something I want to go back to, so I will take the side effects of these meds before I will go back to total hell. Link to post Share on other sites
brashgal Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Flatness? Hmm, guess I am a little more flat but I tend to be a bit of a drama queen in real life so a little flatness is probably a good thing for my coworkers - lol. My depression manifests as anger as well as the crying thing so better that I am level (cause I know if provoked I could kill someone!!) I wish I didn't want to eat - Prozac initially gave me more of an appetite but I think it's levelled off. I have low thyroid too so if I'm not religious with my meds I tend to self-medicate with the carbohydrates. Right - they all seem to have side-effects -Zoloft made me bruise, Effexor killed my libido, Prozac initially made me hungry but it has been the best for me so far. Again, it just seems to be so personal - everyone's biochemistry is different. Nemesis honey - I feel for you and I hope you find balance with your meds soon. Don't give up!! Link to post Share on other sites
MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 My dosage is 75mg per day for anxiety and mild depression. I only experience the side effects if I forget to take one. The next day I have moments of blanking out. The only other side effects are dry mouth and if I don't eat anything with the meds I have a major headache the next morning. It is possible that your side effects have nothing to do with the medication itself, rather the fact that you have been switching meds over the years, and at your young age. There are alot of topics on the Web about Effexor and its withdrawal effects, so whatever you do, DO NOT quit cold turkey on this drug. See your doctor or another doctor to confirm your diagnosis if necessary. You are also right about the "flatness" - I am only starting to feel and express emotions again and I've been on it almost a year. But that could be due to my marriage ending. Link to post Share on other sites
Thinkalot Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Hi there... I guess chatting to your doc is thebest bet. I have taken a couple of different types for OCD, including Lovan and Luvox. I found they calmed down my obssesive thoughts A LOT, however they also pretty much killed my sex drive and ability to orgasm, and I stopped taking them. I am now still off them, and seeing a psych for CBT and practicing meditation etc, to keep calm. I am doing pretty well. My fiance of course is the real judge of that, but he agrees, that I am doing much better. I have to be vigilant though, it's so easy to slip backwards if I'mnot careful. Good luck in finding something right for you. Link to post Share on other sites
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