SSRI experiences

[bbanxiety]

Hi all, hope you're all well.

I frequently see on the support group that there are a lot of people that are apprehensive about starting an SSRI, so I thought I'd talk about my experience with SSRI's. I was also hoping to learn from you guys about your experiences of starting or ending an antidepressant. Personally I am currently on my third antidepressant and currently waiting for it to balance out. Here are my experiences.

Fluoxetine

I found that it made little to no difference to how I felt, it didn't feel like it took the edge off and I just felt a tiny bit groggy. I started at 20mg and went all the way up to 60mg. I stopped these cold turkey (don't do that) but I didn't notice any real side effects, but that's mainly because Fluoxetine has the longest half-life in the SSRI group with 4 - 6 days.

Sertraline

I was on Sertraline 50mg for about six months, again didn't feel like I noticed much difference. My panic attacks actually started about four months into being on Sertraline, and my anxiety only seemed to increase. My doctor decided that we should increase the dosage to 100mg, I felt less anxious but I also felt more hopeless and empty. I tapered off of them from 100mg then to 50mg for a week and then down to 0mg. I didn't have terrible side effects, aside from constipation and the incredibly irritating brain zaps and head "whooshes". Sertraline has a pretty short half-life which was why I felt those brain zaps, especially if I looked directly to the left or to the right. These got less intense over a few weeks.

Citalopram

Started off on 20mg five days ago. I have to say, and not to get a head of myself, but I started feeling more content about three days in. I know if you feel a lot better within a day or two that this is largely probably a placebo effect, but I have read that antidepressants can actually start to kick inside of a week in some cases. Side effects have been that I feel a bit spaced out, not like I'm drunk but like I'm sort of light and no longer weighed down. I also have been a bit forgetful and my memory feels all over the place, but I'm sure that's just the adjustment period. Has anyone experienced these side effects from Citalopram or any other SSRI?

Also, please bear in mind that antidepressants are hit or miss for a lot of people, something that might work for you might not work for someone else, it's just about finding the right medication and dosage that works for you. Four out of ten people find the right antidepressant the first time they start them.

Hopefully this had helped some of you if you're thinking about starting an SSRI, I was somewhat anxious and apprehensive about starting them but anything is worth a try when it comes to anxiety and depression.

Remember, you're a biological entity, and if there is an antidepressant out there that can help, try it.

[Blindmagg]

Thank you! This is very very helpful! I’m about to start my 3rd week on Citalopram and am starting to feel better. I do still have a slight spaced out feeling and I’ve heard it’s common to have that side effect but people say it goes away as you adjust so we shall see how it goes... I wish you well on your journey!!

[Blindmagg in reply to Blindmagg]

Also just for context.. I started 8 days on 10 mg then went up to 20 mg so I’m still having some side effects from my body getting used to the 20.

[bbanxiety in reply to Blindmagg]

You're welcome.

Glad you're feeling better on Citalopram. Keep it up!