Have you been on anti-depressants? Did they help?

TheLush · 31-35, F

My Doctor prescribed me Mirtazapine and it changed my life - for the better. Phenomenal.
If you're considering anti-depressants do your research and be honest with your doctor. I drink (a lot) and I was honest about it and the choice of Mirtazapine was because its effectiveness is only slightly diminished by alcohol. I've never been happier, more productive or in charge of my own life.

I should add that I had therapy as well and being taught to think differently about your issues can be as powerful as a chemical solution. For me, the combination of both truly worked wonders.

MsSwan

Yes, they seem to stabilize my mood, but they don't do much for anxiety.

Luckylu · 61-69, F

My daughter was on SSRIs for a few months constantly going back to the psychiatrist to get them changed because they made her feel worse and she couldn’t sleep. They kept blaming her sleep habits when it was the drugs and her anxiety that were wrecking her sleep. She wanted medication for anxiety but they would only give her medication for depression. They wouldn’t diagnose her and would only subscribe SSRI. The withdrawals from the SSRIs were worse than her anxiety and I almost had to rush her to ER a couple times. While she was going through withdrawals I wouldn’t work outside of the house unless she came with me. It was awful. She finally got through the withdrawals but won’t see the psychiatrist again because he doesn’t listen to her or believe her. To get her any help from the mental health we will have to drive 1.5 hours away because the unit locally is crap and won’t help her. The other one told her what they were doing was wrong and how they would do things differently but it’s so far away. All she wants is medication that can help her when the anxiety hits so she can work. Right now she hasn’t been working because of having nothing to help her. He anxiety spikes like a rocket for no known reason without being diagnosed she can’t go on disability. The mental health system is a fucking mess and I feel helpless because I can’t do anything.

LilPrincess · 46-50, F

Paxil,Prozac, and Lexapro just to name a few. Not really because it wasn't fixing me.

EPreject · 36-40, F

I was on an SSRI for awhile. It was alright. I got off of it because eventually you have to bump your dose up for it to work, so i stopped it. Therapy does more for me.

OogieBoogie · F

Yes ....and no, they made it hard to sleep - i felt ...tense, restless....couldn't relax. I tried different dosages - no better .
When combined with anti- inflammatory meds my blood pressure skyrocketed to really bad levels - tjr whites of my eyes went pink (and felt like they had sand in them)...my veins in my legs felt like they were cramping.

I wished at the time id been put on some sort of relaxant/depressive instead .

I think you really need to have a good doctor to work out if what works for you .
They might help depression, but i dont think they help anxiety .
But thats just my personal opinion.

Check you vitamin d, b, and magnesium levels - lack of them can cause anxiety and depression.

robertsnj · 56-60, M

I have not --feels like their should have been a poll. Also I think a lot of people who drink heavily are self medicating and while they may not take anti-depressents they use alchol the same way. I have heard the same as true for cannibus from others but no idea and don't use that herb either. .