Need Depresssion Medication Without Serious Side Effects

[Bobby2]

I suffer from mild depression and am looking for depression meds that doesn't have any serious side effects...please help...Bobby....

[eddie z.]

Bobby,
You're not going to want to hear this, but all antidepressants have the POTENTIAL for serious side effects. Every person reacts differently to different meds. It's a whole lot of trial and error. Sometimes there will be side effects initially that go away with time.

If your depression is mild, you may not even need meds, but only therapy. And I haven't heard of too many side effects from that. lol. I wish you the best. If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask!
Love, Eddie

Welcome Bobby,

Go talk to your doctor.

Most antidepressants make you feel sick for the first week. Headache, drowsiness and diarrhea are the main side effects.

Each person reacts differently. I could not take zoloft because it made me too sick, but I took prozac and the side effects wore off in 4 days. Webutrin makes me crazy, but works really well for others. I stay away from paxil because there are withdrawal symptoms if you don't taper off correctly and even if you do with some people. The prozac got me through a tough time, but I can't say that it helped my depression. I live with mild depression too. I was really hoping for the happy pill, but it did'nt quite work that way for me.

Talk to your doctor and see what he/she recommends.

[paula a.]

Hi Bobby,
I went through I think five or six different anti-deppresants before I found one with side effects I could live with. Keep talking with your doctor, do some research on your own, you'll find what works for you if you don't give up!
Hugs,
Paula

[degadar]

Hi Bobby, I've tried wording this a dozen times already and every time it sounds a bit patronizing, or as if it was written by a dyslexic welsh sheepfarmer - so forgive me, as I don't mean to be either.

Have you tried an exercise regime? you're probably a professional sportsperson - in which case I shall consider my head boiled.

I am lucky enough to have a super friend who's a personal trainer by profession and she works wonders. I cycle over about 4 years, and when I'm at the bottom, regular physical exercise does work. and the only side effect is weightloss.

did that sound ok?

Deg.

[eddie z.]

Why didn't I think of that? I can't believe I forgot! Yes, get some exercise, preferably outside in the sunshine.
Love, Eddie

[Rowan]

Exercise and sunshine are both great, I agree, with a balanced diet and plenty of sleep. I try to do all of the above regularly. However, I have suffered from clinical depression for years now. Have tried going without meds not too long ago and it didn't take long for me to spiral downwards again.
Yes, talk to your doctor, but you may find that he/she sticks to recommending 1 or 2 brands because that's what they know and trust. Educate yourself via the internet; that's what I do when a particular med isn't working so well anymore, and then I suggest to my doc what might work and she usually concurs. I'm currently taking 60 mgs Celexa (this is great and no side effects for me) and 300 mgs Wellbutrin which caused some sleeplessness initially but otherwise no side effects. I tried antipsychotics for a time but - whoa - side effects galore. You may try something and find that it doesn't work very well for you. After enough time has passed (your doctor will know) and you aren't feeling benefits, try something else. It takes some time to get the right fit. Good luck! Hope you find what you are looking for

[chuckiec6]

I dont know alot about anti depressants.....never taken any, prolly could use some though!!!! Anyway I thought id suggest something my Grandma takes , and now recently my father also due to Anxiety caused by the Prescriptions he takes for HEP C, and that is CELEXA......not sure of the correct spelling, but as far as anti depressants go i've heard nothing but the best about CELEXA, could just be me but It might be a well kept secret because i havn't really seen any ads for it. ANYWAY GOOD LUCK!!

[woodtick]

Eddie,
I have read that Lilly has a newer version of Prozac that has less side-effects but hasn't released it yet cuz there is still a patent on Prozac and subsequent money to be made or something to that effect. Have you heard anything to that effect?


Bobby,
Take degadar & eddie's advice and try therapy and exercise first. Don't take meds unless you have to. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is very powerful on it's own.

[eddie z.]

Brent,
No, I'm not aware of anything like that, but then again, I've been kind of out of the loop for a while.
—Eddie

[ThreeGraces]

I'm not aware of that either, the only think I know Lilly has released is Symbyax a combo of Prozac and Zyprexa

I agree with the above - all have the potential for side effects, some people find them intolerable, some go away after awhile...some don't have any problems at all. What works for one person, won't necessarily work for another. I have taken Prozac for 8 years with minimal problems (other than it doesn't seem to be working anymore), and I also had a brief stint with Lexapro, which was a total disaster for me.

It's a crap shoot - unfortunatley. Until depression and how the meds all work, that's the way it is. Find yourself a good doc, give the meds time to see if they work and be patient. Hopefully you can find something that fulfills your needs.

Oh and ditto on the exercise, diet, sleep!!

[eveie]

I took the zyprexa and yikes! went for a blood workup and my counts were all over the place, read some not so good things about zyprexa so be careful, yall!! I agree on the excercise and GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!! The Neurontin works well for me, Prozac, bad side effects, Lithuim made me fat, darn it, now thats what they started me on. so at one time or another I have more meds in my dresser drawer then Osco Pharmacy..lol.. but its trial and error.. I keep reading and looking and asking questions with my doctors.. its all any of us can do...