Antidepressant opinions

The whole idea of antidepressants is so confusing and ridiculous to me. I reluctantly have tried two different ones and the side effects are just unbearable. My new psychiatrist prescribed me another one and honestly the last thing I wanna do is take them. The second I swallow the pill I'm overwhelmed by all thw different things that could happen to me and the what ifs, not to mention being dizzy and sick and feeling like you're not real is hell. I dont know I try to believe that they'll work but I've heard so many horrible things about them and get so wound up thinking I'm gonna hallucinate or get serotonin syndrome or seizures or something and it's not a fear I can run away from cuz once the pill is in my body that's that. Like how is any of this supposed to help me? Cymbalta and celexa both made me feel worse and I really cant afford to feel worse and ruin the progress I've already made. I wish I could have faith in these methods but I just dont and I think the system is so wrong. I'm open to hear opinions and discuss both sides, I just feel really stuck when it comes to this.

[Hidden]

Hi this sounds very much like your anxiety rather than the meds themselves. These drugs have passed strict criteria and been extensively tested otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to be prescribed for the public would they? They are deemed as safe. It is your anxiety which makes you question them.

All drugs have side effects even aspirin but few people suffer severe side effects and if they do then there are plenty of different ones to try. I take sertraline and I get a couple of the mild side effects such as a dry mouth and nasty dreams. To me it's a good trade off though.

There is no reason why you would get the uncommon or rare ones is there? SSR's help a lot of people but not everyone as some are treatment resistant and they don't work for them, but the majority of people are fine on them. If they can help you feel better why not try them?

If you don't want or can't take meds then that's your choice of course. You are getting counselling and this should help. There is unfortunatly nothing else available on the medical front unless you go further such as being an impatient, ect and so on.

You will have to look at the self help route instead which includes things like mindfullness, meditation, and yoga.

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I've been doing the self help route which has helped. You're probably right and I just get myself too worked up but I cant really "self soothe" because I'm thinking too much about the chemicals in my brain. Mental health is so complicated *sigh*.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Forget about the chemicals in your brain! They aren't important and no one knows all about the brain anyway. Switch your thoughts into how to feel better instead as this is much more productive. This is looking outwards which is much healthier than looking inwards.

[mrspjs]

Try Zoloft it has minimum side affects and the dosages may need to change a pill splinter helps take half the pill in the morning the other half after lunch try different times of day and night like before bed do not give up your combination is out there be patient it is sword waiting on to feel better

[Eddie83]

I never found any anti-depressant which made me feel anywhere near what I felt like when I was young. If you really want to feel well, you have to: (1) get tested for, and treat, food sensitivities, environmental exposures, and autoimmunities; (2) normalize your nutritional levels; (3) normalize your hormone levels. Doing all these things (on my own) fixed my problems. However, the average American MD doesn't know how, and doesn't have the time to do, any of these things; Mr. Average MD just gives you a benzo, anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, or whatever, and sends you on your way.

BTW, are you aware that Kent Holtorf MD calls T3 (the thyroid hormone) "the best anti-depressant"? Mr. Average MD doesn't know how to diagnose and treat thyroid (or most other hormone issues) correctly.

[OddHobgoblin]

It's obviously a complex issue when dealing with anxiety and it might be that you need a combination of meds, I have GADS as well as bipolar disorder and I have been through so many different med, but the only thing that has come close to working is a combination of a mood stabilizer, anti anxiety, and anti convulsant. So my advice is to keep trying until you find something that works for you. (which can feel hopeless or pointless at times, but there will be something that helps!) That might even end up being more therapy heavy, everyone is different.

[Hidden]

Loki - I have had the very same fears. What might help is to keep a log of how you are feeling with the meds. I'm sure others have said this, but it takes about a week for the medicine side effects to wear off - especially the nausea and sleepiness that comes with a lot of these. Recently I went to the hospital (January) and listed all the meds I was on and what worked - this was the best psychiatrist I'd ever had who listened and then we talked about different types of meds I'm on one called Nortiptyline - a tricyclic (older) which had fewer side effects for me than SSRIs - Hope you start making some progress. I literally cried when Lexapro was making things worse for me. It will get better.