antidepressant choices?

[LaurieRose]

Hi Ive recently been given the diagnosis of depression gain, along with anxiety. I'm getting on ok with a short dose of diazepam to ease panic attacks. /unfortunately it's not helping with my chronic insomnia....I think that's because I have sleep apnea and keep waking up every two hours. My question to the community is, do we have anny choice in which antidepressant to take? I've been prescribed mirtazapine again, last time was November 2016 after the other dose of steroids. Steroids make me depressed as a withdrawal symptom....probably due to the irritability they cause me and the extensive weight gain to face and abdomen...which in turn causes difficulty in mobility which makes me even more depressed. Anyway ramble over....I'm reluctant to begin the mirtazapine as the first side effect they mention in the patients leaflet is weight gain. It is said to be a very common side effect. Well my BMI is already around 35 and my abdomen can easily swell up to 44 inches/ I really need some advice....is there an antidepressant which has a side effect of weight loss...i'm depsperate now. If my weight increases anymore I'm worried about heart attack or stroke. I already possibly have developed diabetes type 2. My last gp was reluctant to give me the usual high dose of steroids for my severe allergic asthma so just prescribed a low dose but as my asthma wasn't clearing the benefits of a higher dose outweighed the side effects. I'm glad to be alive most days but some days I feel life is so uncomfortable I would be better off not this way. I have family and a boyfriend and his family to think about so can't end my life, but I don'yt think I have long left.

[lostonrye]

diazepam is not an anti depressant medicine, it is usually prescribed for anxiety, But it is not easy to Come off after long term use

prozac tends to help as it Does not contribute to weight gain

Citalopram is another commonly prescribed SSRI

sounds like you need some face to face advice from maybe a consultant who has the time to go through things. Your GP should be able to arrange this,

[LaurieRose in reply to lostonrye]

Thank you. I will go back and see the Dr.

[Steve12]

Hi Laurie

I have tried nearly every antidepressant over the last 15 years, I've been on Mirtizapine for over 3 years now, and it's by far the best for me.

30mgs one hour before bed gives me about 6 hours sleep every night, means you can actually turn off our over active minds.

I have never had weight gain with mirtazapine.

I think if you get good sleep, and try to make life as simple as possible, and as stress free as possible, you start to feel better, which then helps you to eat a better diet, which is the main cause for any weight gain or loss.

I wish you all best. It's always good to know we are all going through the same struggles

Steve

[Daffers123]

I have kicked Mirtazapine into touch (for the second time in 2 years) - it was a very effective AD but I couldn't handle the weight gain. I am taking instead L-theanine - which is working very well indeed, but is quite expensive.