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depression

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MaT.T 5 Jul 9:18am, 5 Jul 2025 10,475 posts	Quote Pin MaT.T Big love to you all x
idle_wilder 5 Jul 9:22am, 5 Jul 2025 4,059 posts	Quote Pin idle_wilder Hugs to everyone. I've not been great for a while and have made the change over the past month from Mirtazapine to Sertraline. It's been rough, especially in the mornings - feeling really sick and dizzy. I didn't get on with it when I tried it years ago, but Mirtazapine didn't appear to be working as well any more.
Nellers 5 Jul 12:42pm, 5 Jul 2025 45,419 posts	Quote Pin Nellers Hugs and support for anyone having a tough time. @HappyG(rrr) Yes there are differences between the various AD meds. They all have different formulations but all aim to have the same effect. However, in my experience (and that of a few friends and family members) they can all have different side effects on different people. eg. I've always got on well with fluoxetine and haven't had to try any alternatives. One family member is on citalopram having tried sertraline and not got on with it, while another had the opposite experience and is now on sertraline. Unfortunately you probably won't know whether any of them is going to suitable for you until you try it, but the good news in that there is a wide range of alternatives if you don't. If you have problems with whatever you start on don't be scared to go back to the doc and talk about it.
Little Miss Happy 5 Jul 1:40pm, 5 Jul 2025 8,494 posts	Quote Pin Little Miss Happy As a MH nurse I echo what Nellers has said - different meds suit different people so if you don't get on with the first one be prepared to try a second or even third. Most side effects (if you do get them) should go in the first 2-4 weeks and it will take that long for the meds to have any real affect. You may feel worse during this period too. LG - much better to acknowledge that you aren't ready to decrease further than to just do it because you want to be off the meds. Hope things improve for you soon. i_w - if you've been taking it for a month and still feel like that I'd suggest going back to your GP and asking to try something else. Hugs to all who need them.
Nellers 5 Jul 1:44pm, 5 Jul 2025 45,420 posts	Quote Pin Nellers Thanks for bringing an actual expert opinion, LMH. And I'd back (again from personal and friends and family experience) it takes a few weeks for the meds to kick in properly, although I did get a placebo element of relief when I went back on Fluoxetine for anxiety at one stage. It definitely wasn't chemically induced but knowing I was back on "something that helps" helped.
Musashi 5 Jul 1:51pm, 5 Jul 2025 2,831 posts	Quote Pin Musashi @HappyG(rrr) I’ve not taken any ADs for a while but was on them consistently through my 20s/30s/40s. Citalopram did nothing for me, but Sertraline worked really, really well. Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Citalopram, Sertraline are all Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors if you want to look them up. Seeing side effects listed can be quite scary & off putting for some people, for others it’s empowering to know what MIGHT happen in terms of side effects. I guess you know which camp you’re in, so looking them up is up to your own discretion. They all take about 2 weeks to start to work so you have to ride out the rough stuff before you get to the therapeutic side of things. It sucks, but I always found it was worth it. When I was younger my main side effects were nausea, diarrhoea and insomnia but they changed over the years. Last time I took Sertraline it was quite heavily sedating, the exact opposite of when I was younger, but had no other side effects. A fair bit in there is just reiterating what Nellers said. Whatever happens, good luck.
Little Miss Happy 5 Jul 1:57pm, 5 Jul 2025 8,495 posts	Quote Pin Little Miss Happy Not an expert in anyone else's MH Nellers but I do have professional and personal experience which I am always happy to share if people want.
Nellers 5 Jul 2:00pm, 5 Jul 2025 45,423 posts	Quote Pin Nellers As an MH nurse you've certainly got more actual expertise than me! Also thanks for the work you (and your colleagues) do.
Derby Tup 5 Jul 2:26pm, 5 Jul 2025 72,839 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup My experience with the ADs was they acted like a comfort blanket and I gained weight on all. Sertraline worked best for me; Fluoxetine didn’t suit me at all and driving in particular was dangerous on it, especially if taken in the morning. As a short term help they had a role to play for me but I’ve not taken any for something like ten years
Little Miss Happy 5 Jul 3:22pm, 5 Jul 2025 8,496 posts	Quote Pin Little Miss Happy Thanks Nellers. It's nice to be appreciated, doesn't happen much in my current role. DT - I think of antid's as a safety net for the people they work for. They don't actually make anything better but if they work they provide a platform to enable people to work from and recover. I never found one that worked for me at all and I tried just about everything going at the time SSRI's; TCA's and a SARI but I would still encourage a friend to give them a try if they needed them. They help more people than they don't.