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Has your life been by affected by any of the following drugs? If so please leave feedback to help others make an informed decision about taking antidepressants.

Celexa Effexor Lexapro Luvox Paxil Prozac Wellbutrin Zoloft

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Recent Drug Feedback

Samantha said:

I began taking 5-HTP (100mg at bed time) 3 days ago to manage fibromyalgia related symtoms. I have been feeling tired, very irritable and have been experiencing increased muscle aches, headaches and stomach problems. Is this normal? Should I decrease my dosage or just give it a few weeks for my body and brain to adjust?

Any thoughts?

S. D. Crosby said:

Also, as I read further along this page I want to emphasize that quality SAM-e products will be enteric-coated, so that they do not irritate the stomach. I'm afraid that breaking the tablets in halves or quarters will expose some of the potential binders or whatever that may upset your tummies. Just a thought. And remember...you could be basing your experience of SAM-e not on the actual molecule, but on the crap the manufacturer threw together for you.

Donna said:

I started taking trytophan to help me sleep. It did help me relax. But I noticed I started to have anxiety attacks during the day. Has anyone else noticed and increase in anxiety taking trytophan. I am relaxed soon after taking it; it's during the day when I don't take it that I seem to be having this problem.

kayway said:

Of all the anti-depressants I have tried over the years Celexa has got to be the worst. I started out the first day at 20 mg, started feeling feverish, numb, shaky, and could not sleep. So the next day I tried 10 mg and my symptoms continued and even got worse. I felt like I had the worst case of the flu in my life. I was useless.
Celexa is supposed to help relieve symptoms of IBS as well, which I have suffered from forever, but is not worth risking my health in other ways for relief of IBS. There needs to be more research done with this drug, though some may do well on it, many others I see have sudden severe reactions to it often needing medical attention. Like I said, nothing else I have ever taken has made me feel so sick, was literally like being poisoned. I am not sure taking anything at this point is for me, I think my family would rather me be sad once and a while then to see me sick and in bed all day unable to even function.

gloria said:

I have been on Citalopram 20mg (generic for Celexa) for a year or more. Weigh gain, graving for choc. and poor sleeping and talk about energy. NONE!! I'm depress over how much weigh I gained 15pds. Reading feedbacks!! I found one is so much like me. Faye of 5/24/05 whoever you are? So true!! I was having some anxiety and little depression and I do not like taking pills. Just wanted something to mello! chill pill. I can deal with poor sleep and lack of energy, But not the weigh gain! Other than that it seem's to work for me...

Pat said:

Thank you for this site. I took my first two SAM e tablets yesterday and today and I'm feeling very weird, anxious and like my head and limbs are vibrating. Not good.! Thanks for helping me to find I'm not alone in these side effects.

hussain said:

since last month i take 40 to 50 mg sleeping pills every day ,what will they do to my body if i go like this,some times i go up to 100 to 150 mg

Mary said:

I'm on apo-citalopram (20mgs) for a couple weeks now. i was told it would take 10-14 days to feel any results, but i think its been much quicker. It is great to feel "normal" again. the intense ups and downs are gone. i feel happy and i can't remember feeling happy in a long, long time. my family have noticed a big difference, and my husband is very happy with his new/old wife. Libido is back too. interesting how many say they've lost sexual desire. i have not, nor have i gained any weight. i've actually lost a bit, but then i'm not spending most of my days sitting in the basement watching law and order any more! i hope i don't have the side-effects on stopping treatment. is there any reason to go off the drug?

DMcaLL said:

I recently started taking Wellbutrin, in hopes that it would change the issues I have suffered for over a year. Since having my child in March 2007, I have had anxiety issues, memory problems, turning later into lethargy, lack of motivation, and sexual dysfunction. Even though the baby is one, she continues to wake through the night, contributing to my issues by preventing more than 2-3 uninterrupted hours per night. I started the regimen a week ago. Initially, it felt like magic. I found myself cleaning things before bed time, playing with the other kids, and playing with my hobbies. Subsequently, I have had some major mood swings that I can identify, more difficulty falling asleep, and some mild depressive effects. My sex drive was up for a couple days, now down. I keep telling myself this is all part of reaching a therapeutic level. But it's tough. Does this all sound normal?

Bryan said:

I've been on Paxil about a year and a half and it had been a revelation in terms of stopping my depression/anxiety. However, I always felt like a zombie, with no sex drive and ED. Now being 19 it wasn't exactly fun when my girlfriend suggests and I'm just laying their not wanting any. I keep trying to go off but only last a week or so because the pain gets horrible. Anybody else have those problems?

nik said:

i have been on lexapro for about 6 weeks and its made me feel more horrible than i felt before. i feel more hopeless. i have much more anxiety: the overthinking, obsessive scary thoughts. its ruined my life. after lowering the dose, i got scared that i was gonna hurt myself or someone else. i panicked like crazy and i thought i was having a mental break down. i was almost put in the hospital. since then the withdrawal symptoms have been hell. i twitch and shake all the time. i dont ever feel like being around anyone. my head hurts and i always feel panicky. i also feel as if im gonna literally go insane and lash out. i have even convinced myself that im turning schizophrenic. am i really going insane? help please.

JBStoltzfus said:

I've had tremendous success with Lexapro. You've got to give it a proper chance.

I had several heavy stresses in life. I thought I had the flu but the Dr. diagnosed me as having Severe Depression. He starrted me on 10mg Lexapro. Oh Dear God that was hard. I was feeling Deppressed already, the side affectes made life very hard indeed including almost no sleep. I had a supportive wife who urged me on to stay on the medication or I may have quit. After 1 week on Lexapro I began taking Omega 3-6-9 and the B12 vitimin complex each time I took the Lexapro and things definately improved but I wan't much better.

After 2 weeks on Lexapro I had days that were a bit better but nothing to write home to mom about. I was getting more disappointed. I went to the Dr after two weeks and he prescribed a low dose of loranzapam for anexiety. I took one in the morning and one at bedtime and oh how sweet the sleep came (with out the heavy night sweats). By now most of the side affects have gone.

Three days later the sun began breaking through. I am not home free yet (only being on the Lexapro 3 1/2 weeks but I am able to work, laugh, attend functions, ride my motorcycle.

One more thing. We see all the horror stories of the people who quit Lexapro, many of them going cold turkey. I did researdh that indicates if the drug is weaned properly only 1/3 of the users have withdrawl symptoms more than a headache. So keep up the good attitudes!!!

This Lexapro is a God-send for me because with my depression I could barely go out of the house. I recommend you give the antidepressant enought time 3-5 weeks to work, and do the other good things that others have success with like supplements that help the brain.

Best wishes to all.

Anne said:

Was on Lexapro and it was the worst drug I have ever taken. Ended up going to the hospital (was out of it)...never came to until evening...went in the morning. How they can make pills with such vile side effects. It is the last medicine I would ever take. Depression is the pits, but then to get a drug like that is beyond me.

JBStoltzfus said:

I've had tremendous success with Lexapro. You've got to give it a proper chance.

I had several heavy stresses in life. I thought I had the flu but the Dr. diagnosed me as having Severe Depression. He strarted me on 10mg Lexapro. Oh Dear God that was hard. I was feeling Deppressed already, the side affectes made life very hard indeed including almost no sleep. I had a supportive wife who urged me on to stay on the medication or I may have quit. After 1 week on Lexapro I began taking Omega 3-6-9 and the B12 vitimin complex each time I took the Lexapro and things definately improved but I wan't much better.

After 2 weeks on Lexapro I had days that were a bit better but nothing to write home to mom about. I was getting more disappointed. I went to the Dr after two weeks and he prescribed a low dose of loranzapam for anexiety. I took one in the morning and one at bedtime and oh how sweet the sleep came (with out the heavy night sweats). By now most of the side affects have gone.

Three days later the sun began breaking through. I am not home free yet (only being on the Lexapro 3 1/2 weeks but I am able to work, laugh, attend functions, ride my motorcycle.

One more thing. We see all the horror stories of the people who quit Lexapro, many of them going cold turkey. I did researdh that indicates if the drug is weaned properly only 1/3 of the users have withdrawl symptoms more than a headache. So keep up the good attitudes!!!

This Lexapro is a God-send for me because with my depression I could barely go out of the house. I recommend you give the antidepressant enought time 3-5 weeks to work, and do the other good things that others have success with like supplements that help the brain.

Best Wishes to all

MITZI said:

WHAT OTHER MEDICATION IS GIVING WITH SOLOFT? IS THERE A MEDICATION CALLED LAMATROL? I MAY NOT BE SPELLING IT CORRECTLY

missy G said:

I have beeen taking sam-e for 2 weeks and I cant believe the diffrence in how I feel.Its great a life saver with no side effects{so far.I only hope it continues its nice to feel good again<my husband and KIds love it too.I think any one who thinks they should try it should try it.I am a sceptic THIS WORKS.

grace said:

I know these posts are old but i just had to write something somewhere. I have ADD am a woman and have suicidal PMS symptoms. I am really beginning to think there is bipolar disorder going on as well. I am a recovering Alcoholic and after 2 years sober working an intense AA program (service, sponsorship, steps, evrything) I still felt like killing myself all the time. I even converted to a strict meditation practice and became very religious. Still I wanted to die. I'd have moments of relief and always come crashing down either evry couple of days, every other day, withing the same day...i never know when it's going to hit me. i am so tired of this reading these other posts helps so much at least i know i am not alone. i am reading a lot about women and menstual cycle effects and it's really real...people don't understand this stuff...i've ruined so many relationships and crippled all of the others because of my rampant thoughts of persecution, paranoia and spinning out of control thoughts and incessant talking fits. i wish i knew once and for all what i have...PTSD and pathological grief are 2 more options! Wellbutrin is helping...i took NO meds at all for my first 2 1/2 years of sobriety and i can't believe i wasted so much time...i could keep going forever..no one will probably ever read this...i think for people like me life is just a constant search for balance but with the threat of complete and utter despair always just around the corner. thanks for this website. peace.

Tessa said:

I have been taking 200 mg Zoloft for more than Four years, since I was fourteen. I was prescribed the medication along with many other anti-psychotics by a children's psychiatrist for the simple diagnoses of ADD (Which was revealed false after brain spec imaging). I gained nearly 80 pounds , become lethargic, moody and suffer brain chills.
Finally after two years I became irritated with the doctor treating me like a lab rat and went to a different psychiatrist whom kept me on the same dosage for another two years. I became more and more ill as time went on, until I was hospitalized. I had began to vomit blood, have amnesia and went into a seizure. After four days in I.C.U (intensive care Unit) and a million and one painful tests trying to find out what was wrong with me, the doctors sent me home baffled.
Being the curious I looked up effects of Zoloft and found myself eerily aware of every single side effect. The next week after my hospital release I tried to wean myself off Zoloft, but wound up going into a hallucination induced fit...I am still taking Zoloft and am afraid to go to a doctor or go off Zoloft...And doctors refuse to seen me anymore without phone interviews and three weeks notice while I suffer through symptoms still, What do I do?
P.S: Anyone thinking of taking Zoloft or any Anti-Depressants or medication, research it fully before ever trusting you're doctor. I learned the hard way they aren't always there to help

gina said:

I've been trying to wean myself off of effexor Xr without my Doctors consent for about a year. Within 3 days of not taking the dosage, I am always irritable, angry to the point of spitting and screaming, lethargic, oversleeping, depressed and if bored- I have feelings of uselessness ,despair and enamourthe ease of being dead. I know these feelings are bad- so I get right back on the Effexor until I am feeling better. when on effexor- my side effects are the " brain zaps" someone else mentioned and neuropathy. The good thing os Effexor Xr works for me - prevents my mood swings and helps me focus on the big picture instead of freaking out about the details and my control or lack of control in everyday situations.

Tim said:

I was started off on 100mg dosage, and after taking the drug for the first time every in my life, I had a more horrible experience than my panic attacks, and depression.

I became sick to my stomach, stomach aches, collar bone hurt, my head was throbbing, my eyes would not focus, and my vision was delayed during movement, everything is out of focus, my body felt like it wanted to tear out of its skin, like my inside were restless, I tried to sleep but could not because of heart palpitations, and my brain was so fuzzy, and I couldn't think straight.

I have not taken the medication since the first dose, and I do not think that psychotropic drugs are a good thing now. I use to think that until I actually experienced this. I do not know that I will ever trust the FDA and doctors again, because of the connection between american doctors, the fda, and the pharmaceutical companies.

I am writing this 22 hours after first taking the medication, and I still am not better. I think I will go to the hospital to see if there is something to counter-act this horrible medicine.

I'm sure that it is not like this in every case, but I think they are too quick to prescribe this, along with many other medications. I wish that the FDA, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies would stop working with each other to increase each others profits, and start helping people cope rather than giving crappy medications to people.

Granted my panic attacks are horrible however, they are not constant, and only last for a short time. I would much rather deal with that than deal with this anyday of the week/month/year/decade/century.

judy said:

This medication has practically saved my life but getting off is extremely difficult. I have tried several times but cannot do it. I am back on it now for four years now.

angie said:

I've never been depressed, but life's circumstances lately drove me into feeling down, desperate, angry, crying too frequently. Since I'm on the natural side, I started taking St John's Wort. Within a month, although my life situation didn't change (it actually became worse) I've noticed positive changes in how I feel and look at the world around me. I don't feel hopeless and helpless anymore. I do not have any side effect whatsoever. I'm taking typical recommended dosage: 300mg/3 times a day.

lisa said:

I was on Lexapro for about a year. Started taking in for panic attacks. I'd say for the first 5 or 6 mths I felt great. Then I started to always feel tired. Didn't want to get out of bed and when I would come home from work I would crash on my couch. Wouln't even cook dinner for my family. Then the weight gain started (40lbs). I didn't have suicidal thoughts, but I would have days where I wished I would never wake up. I eventually started having panic attacks again. Anyways I got off the Lexapro and now I feel fine.

Anne said:

I had suffered from panic attacks and anxiety for 20 years, but had been told by countless doctors that I was just high strung or it was all in my head. Over the years I had developed may phobia's, fear of bridges, fear of flying, etc. These fears and the constant anxiety made working in the corporate world and hiding it very difficult. One particular panic attack seemed to open the flood gates of panic and I again went to a doctor which finally gave a name to it all and told me I was not causing it. She put me on Paxil which totally relieved all of the panic attacks and free floating anxiety. That was 11 years ago and I am still taking it.

I have never attempted to get off of Paxil as the doctor told me that I would probably need to take it the rest of my life. However, after recently reading so much negative information about the drug, I am considering trying to wean myself off. I have searched for information about the impacts of long term use, but always end up with vague data. Does anyone out there have any idea if it is deteremental to our health to take Paxil for many years?

janna toolesn said:

Do not take prozac! It has messed our family up in more ways than one. My husband started to take prozac 2 years ago and he changed. He was up to 40 mg a day, becoming more and more distant from our family. He had the racing heart beats, the panic attacks the hallucinations, not to mention the sexual side effects we have been through. He had a hard time with his coordination, he was always off balance. I thought our marriage was over. He was saying things and doing things that he would never normally do. He even asked me for a divorce after being together for 11 years. He almost looked like he was a "demon". The pupils of his eyes were so big and he was not himself. On top of everything he started to drink and it made things even worse. He was even seeing things in the middle of the day that he thought were there and they were not. We started to read about the side effects of Prozac and he had 99% of them. He has been off of them for a week and he seems better. Not to mention his blood pressure has dropped dramatically. He use to be 153/98 and today he was 112/84! Please save your family the heartache of what happened to us. Stay away from this drug! God Bless

Knoxvkid said:

I have been on Celexa for almost two years after my husband died. It suspressed my appetite for about a year and I lost 20 lbs but after that my weight has crept back up. I thought increasing the dose would help me, but I had side effects, 40mg,so I have slacked off to 20mg again. My skin was hurting like I had a sunburn. It has improved.It seems that I had loss of appetite at first,but now it has reversed on me. Has anyone experienced this? As far as my mental state is concerned, I'm okay. One reason I have stayed on it this long was to control my appetite, now it is not working anymore and doing just the reverse.

Kelly said:

Weaning myself off Zoloft 50mg. Took it for 3 months. Wow. I'm feeling "out of myself", like my body is 4 steps ahead of me. I am very light-headed and super tired I have no energy whatsoever. If anyone is experiencing these sxs, please let me know.

carol said:

I've been on antidepressants for l5 yrs. I just had surgery and now I'm in the midst of depression. My doctor increased my prozac from 60 to 80mg. I feel worse. Should the increase cause that?

jeanne said:

Effexor was prescribed to me, I took my first dose and immediatly there were side effects. I woke at 2am with a sick burning sensation like a blow torch had been ignited at the base of my skull. I was sick to my stomach directly after the first sensation and then I had my bowels empty. I had heart palipitations with hot cold sensations. I also experienced issometric like muscle contractions where my whole body would tighten and go slack. My hands would clench into fists and curl in. The worst of all the sensations was the constant suicidal thoughts. I went to the hospital when my household woke up and the doctor on call told me to stop the medication for the week end but to continue taking the prescription on Monday and wait out the first initial responses to the medication. I was devistated and went home and quit the medication cold turkey and with only one tablet I experienced withdrawls for three days! I'll never take another antidepressant ever again. I would like to know if anyone else has ever experienced a response to this medication similar to mine.

Kerin Raukola said:

I would like for the person managing this Blog to contact me please! I would like my comments from April 13, 2005 removed please. Please contact me straight away. I do not want to have to use external help to have my comments removed.
Thankyou.


Leave Drug Feedback


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Why Did I Create This Site?

I was exceptionally depressed for a couple years. I nearly wound up on anti depressant drugs, when all I really needed to do was change some of the ways I was messing up life. Antidepressant drugs can change the way you perceive the world. For some people that is a good thing. For others it is not. Some experience additional stress or strain on social relationships.

Most of the information on the web about anti-depressant drugs is either limited theoretical research or a bunch of junky ultra-biased advertisements, although Demystifying Depression is an amazing article which helped me a lot. This site collects REAL feedback from REAL people, and shares it freely with others. The method of collection will most likely be biased toward negative feedback, since you are more likely to research and comment when things are not going well, but seeing how these drugs MAY alter your personality helps you make a more informed decision before taking any medication. It also shows you that you are not the only one who experiences an unexpected side effect, and perhaps gives you a place to point your doctor at if they are not listening to you. If your doctor does not listen to you then you may want to look for another doctor. A large part of healing is knowing that others care...empathy is important to help you find true happiness.

I am a firm believer that depression is our mind telling us that we need to change some of the things we are doing. We all have a need for energy, exercise, purpose, learning, and social relationships. Life is full of ups and downs, and that makes it more interesting. - Aaron Wall

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and my advice should not replace or act in the place of the advice from a doctor.

Another disclaimer: Your doctor may have learned about medicine by reading a book sponsored by a major pharmaceutical company, and they may be ignorant to many of the potential side effects of the drugs they prescribe. If your doctor does not listen to you then you may want to look for a doctor that actually cares about your well being.

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