Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 483362

Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

are SSRI side effects really that bad?

Posted by tendency on April 12, 2005, at 13:51:25

hi. i keep hearing horror stories on this board about SSRI side effects and withdrawal problems. Not I understand that the people that tend to come to this board are those having problems so this might tent to skew the reporting.

however, I'm still curious. What are your opinions (for thos of you who have or are taking them) on there relative merits and weaknesses? Thanks.

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » tendency

Posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 14:41:34

In reply to are SSRI side effects really that bad?, posted by tendency on April 12, 2005, at 13:51:25

Hi Tendency - I think they are good for some forms of depression. I have been on them all and never had nasty withdrawal symtoms. They either didn't work (with the exception of Prozac) or threw me into hypomania (with the exception of Prozac). Eventually Prozac just pooped out on me.

I think one of the most common complaints I hear from people who take them is that the medication leaves them feeling flat. Before they felt depressed but at least they felt something. But for some reason the SSRI's seem to do that to many people. I don't know why. Someone like ED or SLS would probably know more about the "whys" of this phenomena.

When it worked, Prozac was an amazing med for me. It lifted me out of the fog. I had some life again. But then it didn't work anymore. I have tried going back on it, but it didn't work.

Doctors like them because they are safe. You can OD on an SSRI and it's unlikely that you will die
(with the exception of one that I can think of but I am not saying which one).

So that's my opinion for what it's worth.

Maxime

> hi. i keep hearing horror stories on this board about SSRI side effects and withdrawal problems. Not I understand that the people that tend to come to this board are those having problems so this might tent to skew the reporting.
>
> however, I'm still curious. What are your opinions (for thos of you who have or are taking them) on there relative merits and weaknesses? Thanks.

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?

Posted by Racer on April 12, 2005, at 15:46:11

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » tendency, posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 14:41:34

Everyone is different, both in how the meds affect them, and in how much they're willing to tolerate. I've been on several SSRIs, and my tolerance for adverse effects has dropped over the years.

For the most part, if the meds work for you, then the side effects are generally mild enough to be worth it. Most SSRIs will "poop out" eventually, but there's some evidence that just rotating through various SSRIs will work pretty well if that happens. Even just taking something else for a year or so until the first med works again.

As for side effects, one problem is that most of the side effects that are particularly bothersome occur right at first. So, you take a drug that causes nausea, insomnia, maybe some GI distress -- and you say, "FORGET IT!" Only problem is, those may all go away after two to four weeks, and the drug might have worked if you could have stuck it out. Some side effects are longer lasting, of course, such as sexual side effects, but even those can usually be mitigated.

Guess my answer is, "it depends..." Helpful, huh?

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Racer

Posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 16:11:16

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?, posted by Racer on April 12, 2005, at 15:46:11

Hey Racer. Actually your last few sentences were spot on. Don't give up from side effects like GI upset, sedation or insomnia. I always waited 3 weeks at the same dosage to see if a side effect went away with the exceptions being: lactating; hives or rash; going psychotic; cardiac symptoms;or SEVERE GI upset like what poor "Alien" is going through with Tegretol ( but Alien, do look into the test re. your sodium level).

Even when I was fighting the puking from Lithium I tried various doses, increasing my sodium, drinking more water. In 3 weeks I threw up in more public places than I care to mention. I tried it again but gave up after 2 weeks.

Another thing is sometimes you need to be on a much higher dose than is what recommended in the PDR (in the U.S.). Sh*t, if my pdocs went by those I would never have found relief from Prozac (I needed 80-100mg) or Parnate (80-100 mg) when 60 mg is the max for both.

Maxime
> Everyone is different, both in how the meds affect them, and in how much they're willing to tolerate. I've been on several SSRIs, and my tolerance for adverse effects has dropped over the years.
>
> For the most part, if the meds work for you, then the side effects are generally mild enough to be worth it. Most SSRIs will "poop out" eventually, but there's some evidence that just rotating through various SSRIs will work pretty well if that happens. Even just taking something else for a year or so until the first med works again.
>
> As for side effects, one problem is that most of the side effects that are particularly bothersome occur right at first. So, you take a drug that causes nausea, insomnia, maybe some GI distress -- and you say, "FORGET IT!" Only problem is, those may all go away after two to four weeks, and the drug might have worked if you could have stuck it out. Some side effects are longer lasting, of course, such as sexual side effects, but even those can usually be mitigated.
>
> Guess my answer is, "it depends..." Helpful, huh?

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?

Posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 18:09:26

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » tendency, posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 14:41:34

I had a little bit of nausea/lack of appetite when I was first put on Zoloft, then it went away. Did lose a little bit of weight. I developed some minor muscle twitches later. On Celexa, the only side effect are the muscle twitches...for me at least. So for me, there are next to no side effects with Zoloft or Celexa. Whether they work or not...still unsure.


> Doctors like them because they are safe. You can OD on an SSRI and it's unlikely that you will die
> (with the exception of one that I can think of but I am not saying which one).

I think I know which one. Can you provide a yes or a no answer? I will write it in code...

35125241

Thanks a bunch

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?

Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2005, at 18:53:43

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?, posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 18:09:26

First time I took paxil l0mg it worked with xanax. And luvox worked the first time. Then when I was switched to celexa it was like a switch was turned off as none have ever worked again for me. So either I'm not that depressed, or my anxiety was causing it cause now I'm just taking valium and 25mg of zoloft. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Shy_Girl

Posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 21:08:48

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?, posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 18:09:26

I don't know what the code means ...
Maxime


> I had a little bit of nausea/lack of appetite when I was first put on Zoloft, then it went away. Did lose a little bit of weight. I developed some minor muscle twitches later. On Celexa, the only side effect are the muscle twitches...for me at least. So for me, there are next to no side effects with Zoloft or Celexa. Whether they work or not...still unsure.
>
>
> > Doctors like them because they are safe. You can OD on an SSRI and it's unlikely that you will die
> > (with the exception of one that I can think of but I am not saying which one).
>
> I think I know which one. Can you provide a yes or a no answer? I will write it in code...
>
> 35125241
>
> Thanks a bunch
>

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Maxime

Posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 23:18:43

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Shy_Girl, posted by Maxime on April 12, 2005, at 21:08:48

> I don't know what the code means ...
> Maxime
>
>

> > > Doctors like them because they are safe. You can OD on an SSRI and it's unlikely that you will die
> > > (with the exception of one that I can think of but I am not saying which one).
> >
> > I think I know which one. Can you provide a yes or a no answer? I will write it in code...
> >
> > xxx

Sorry, I thought I gave the key:

xxx

> >
> > Thanks a bunch
> >
>
>

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Shy_Girl

Posted by Maxime on April 13, 2005, at 0:23:39

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Maxime, posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 23:18:43

Sorry Shy-Girl. We will get out knuckles rapped if we take this discussion any further.

Be well. I hope you are feeling better today.

Hugs,
Maxi

 

Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad?

Posted by jessers11581 on April 13, 2005, at 18:11:18

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Maxime, posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 23:18:43

> > I don't know what the code means ...
> > Maxime
> >
> >
>
> > > > Doctors like them because they are safe. You can OD on an SSRI and it's unlikely that you will die
> > > > (with the exception of one that I can think of but I am not saying which one).
> > >
> > > I think I know which one. Can you provide a yes or a no answer? I will write it in code...
> > >
> > > xxx
>
> Sorry, I thought I gave the key:
>
> xxx
>
> > >
> > > Thanks a bunch

Wow. I took that one for a long, long time. I had no idea it might be dangerous.

 

Re: blocked for week » Shy_Girl

Posted by Dr. Bob on April 14, 2005, at 4:49:43

In reply to Re: are SSRI side effects really that bad? » Maxime, posted by Shy_Girl on April 12, 2005, at 23:18:43

> Sorry, I thought I gave the key:
>
> xxx

Please remember that the idea here is not to discuss specific ways of harming oneself. This has come up before, so I'm going to block you from posting for a week.

If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil

Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.

Thanks,

Bob


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