r/antidepressants • u/Solid_Yesterday_4409 • 5h ago
r/antidepressants • u/That-Group-7347 • Nov 29 '25
Informative Guide Ultimate Guide to Antidepressants and other ways to improve mental health
I moved this from another sub. It contains a lot of information that will answer many common questions.
The Basics
Most Common Antidepressants
- SSRI's - Works on Serotonin
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Vilazodone (Viibryd)
- Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
- SNRI's - Works on Serotonin and Norepinphrine
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
- Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
- Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- SNDRI's - Works on Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
- Nefazodone (Serzone) -- Available in U.S. only.
- Ansofaxine (Ruoxinlin) --- Available in China, coming to U.S. in 2025?
- Atypical/Misc.
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin) <--- NDRI, works on Norepinephrine and Dopamine
- Mirtazepine (Remeron)
- Esketamine (Spravato)
- Bupropion/Dextromethorphan (Auvelity)
- Gepirone (Exxua)
- Zuranolone
- Agomelatine. -- Not available in U.S.
- Trazodone --- Used mostly as a sleep aid
- Tricyclic
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Meds for Anxiety
- Can be added to antidepressant or used independent
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica)
- Propranolol
- Buspirone (BuSpar)
- Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
- Mood Stabilizers
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- Depakote
- Lithium
- Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Antipsychotics (seroquel, abilify, risperdone, vraylar, rexulti)
- MAOI's
- These are a last resort medication and are rarely prescribed
- Nardil (Phenelzine)
- Parnate (Tranylcypromine)
- Moclobemide
- Selegiline
What to Expect When Starting Antidepressants
When you are first prescribed antidepressants you are usually started on a low dose as your body needs to adjust to the medication. You usually have more side effects when you first start. These side effects may include, nausea, drowsiness, headache, lower libido, and increase in anxiety to name a few. These will usually subside over the first few weeks. If at any point you have suicidal ideation or thoughts you need to contact your doctor immediately as this is a side effect not to mess with. Also just because you don't have a follow up appointment for a month later if you are having problems call the office up and talk to a nurse.
Many people when they first start antidepressants get activated, increased anxiety, heart rate, and restlessness. Below is a flyer on how to identify activation syndrome vs serotonin syndrome. It was created by a Psychiatric Pharmacist.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XM3fomHwDXHX4Cb_MIOYzXC0Jk-Os-cO/view?pli=1
Antidepressants are not a medication that works immediately. The brain has to adjust to the changes and it reacts rather slowly. You may notice some changes after 2 weeks, but they can also take up to 8 weeks to start working. I say this is the time to give your brain a little help with some lifestyle improvements. Add some regular exercise as studies have shown this to help depression and anxiety. Try improving your diet. Start by removing junk food/drinks. There was a study just done that showed that artificial sweeteners actually increase anxiety. Finally make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. Your brain needs that time to recover from out stressful lives. If after 8 weeks you are not noticing any kind of improvements it is time to contact your doctor about changing your dosage or trying a new medication. Don't be frustrated by this as it is normal for people to have to try a few before finding the one that works best for you.
When you start noticing improvements it usually isn't an overnight event. The changes are gradual and you may not notice it. Sometimes if you journal or rate how you feel it can help. You may start to notice you don't feel so awful or you feel like you want to start doing activities that you had been avoiding. Also make sure to communicate with your doctor how you are doing. You may need to gradually increase your dose to find what is optimal for you.
People often ask how do antidepressants actually work. I came up with a good analogy based on how my doctor explained it. People seemed to like it so you can find it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AntidepressantSupport/comments/14bjnrh/explaining_how_antidepressants_work_with_an/
Additional info about Antidepressants
- Wellbutrin can cause an increase in anxiety.
- Trazodone and Mirtazapine both can be used to help with sleep
- If the antidepressant causes insomnia you may want to try taking it in the morning, and if you take it in the morning and you are drowsy try switching it to the evening.
- Even though Trintellix and Viibryd are considered SSRI's they have a different mechanism of action so if other SSRI's don't work for you those two could still help you.
Information Bias on the Internet
When people start looking up antidepressants and want to see how they have worked for other people they find all of these horror stories about terrible side effects. Please remember when someone has a negative experience they are more likely to complain or are looking for help. Look at the number of stories you read and think about the fact that tens of millions of people take antidepressants. The people for whom they are working don't go online to tell people about their experience. They are back to enjoying their life. I have found that drugs.com has a more rounded reviews. Also if you are having anxiety be careful about reading some of the horror stories as all they do is end up increasing your anxiety. Doom scrolling can have a real negative effect on your mental health.
Tapering Antidepressants & Withdrawal
If you ever decide you are going to stop antidepressants it is very important to taper off of them very slowly. The longer you have been on them the slower you want to taper. The reason for this is the brain gets accustomed to the effects of the medication and it expects those effects on neurotransmitters. This causes dependence, not addiction. So if you yank the medication away from the brain it will result in withdrawal which can be awful. You can experience nausea, dizziness, headaches, brain zaps, emotional highs and lows, insomnia, agitation, etc. So you need to slowly over time take the medication away. Doctors are taught in school that tapering can be done in a short time and withdrawals only last a couple of weeks. This isn't true. Research has shown that the 10% method of tapering has been found to be one of the safest methods. This is taking the dose you are taking at that time and subtracting 10% each month. This is a long process, but the goal is to get off the medication with the least amount of withdrawal. If you were taking 100mg this is how your tapering schedule will go. 100, 90, 81, 73, 66..... For more information on tapering and how to make these custom doses you can visit Surviving Antidepressants. I want to say Surviving Antidepressants has good information for tapering, but many of the stories are the worst of the worst cases. They are not representative of what the majority of people will experience. Please take them with a grain of salt.
Withdrawal is something you want to avoid, but if you find yourself going through it there are some things that you can do to get yourself out of it. Withdrawal is most common when going off a medication cold-turkey or tapering too fast. There is no timeline for how long withdrawal will last, it could be weeks or months. One way to possibly get your self out of it is going back on a lower dose than you were last on. This is called reinstating. You let your brain stabilize and once you feel better give yourself 2-4 weeks to heal properly. Then you want to begin tapering off again. People also report that taking Fish Oil can help with recovery from withdrawal.
Sites and more information on tapering and withdrawal. https://www.reddit.com/r/AntidepressantSupport/comments/10krlmd/sites_and_resources_for_tapering_antidepressants/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants
Switching from one Antidepressant to Another
There are 3 methods doctors will use when switching from one antidepressant to another. Many times it is just the doctor's preference to which they recommend.
- Direct switch - the doctor gives you an equivalent dose of the new medication and you stop the original and the next day you start the new one.
Dose Equivalence: 40 mg fluoxetine | 350 mg bupropion | 40 mg citalopram | 75 mg pristiq | 20 mg escitalopram | 40 mg paroxetine | 150 mg fluvoxamine | 50 mg mirtazapine | 100 mg sertraline | 500 mg nefazodone | 150 mg venlafaxine | 60 mg duloxetine | 125 mg amitriptyline | 125 mg imipramine | 115 mg clomipramine
Drugs not listed do not have any reputable source for dose equivalency. Doses are rounded up.
- Taper and washout - you slowly taper off the old medication give your body 2 weeks without any medication and then you start the new one and titrate up.
- Cross taper - As you taper off the old medication you titrate up on the new medication. The doctor will usually give you a schedule. If you are taking 100mg of Med A. and wants you to go to 200mg of Med B. Week 1 -- 75 of A and 50 of B, week 2 -- 50 of A and 100 of B....
I think the third option is the best as it is more of a gradual transition. If you get bad side effects from the new medication it is also easier to go back to your old medication. No matter the method there is a couple weeks in there where it can be kind of rough. You are stopping something your brain is accustomed to and adding something new that it has to adjust to. www.survivingantidepressants.org for more tapering info.
Treatments Beyond Medication
If you have tried numerous medications and just can't find anything that helps there are few treatments that you can look into. You may even want to try some of these things before trying meds. Some of these do have higher side effect risks.
- Talk Therapy - alongside your antidepressant or independent of taking a medication. This is about the safest thing you can do.
- Life Style Changes - Exercise, Diet, etc. Again this is very safe and can be always used in conjunction with other therapies.
- Ketamine - This is a medication, but is usually a treatment when meds don't work.
- TMS, in 2023 we should see a new protocol for TMS called SAINT which is supposed to be more effective and involves less sessions. As of 2024 this is being done in California and Massachusetts.
- ECT - This is usually done as a last resort, it has some significant side effects such as short term memory loss. Do your research before considering.
- Stellate Ganglion Blocks - This is fairly new as far as being used for mental disorders. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8664306/
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Very new research that this is effective in treatment for treatment resistant depression. https://krdo.com/news/2024/12/19/for-those-with-treatment-resistant-depression-vagus-nerve-stimulation-may-be-an-answer-studies-suggest/
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Mental Health
Medication can be helpful, but it is not the only way to improve your mental health. Here is a list of some things that can help you on the road to improved mental health.
- Exercise -- Regular exercise is really helpful. Studies have shown that it can improve depression/anxiety. More intense exercise has been found to be more helpful for anxiety. Exercise can help produce endocannabinoids which can make you feel better. It is sometimes described as "runner's high". Plus if you can get out in the sun for your exercise that is good as sunlight helps Vitamin D. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-truth-behind-runners-high-and-other-mental-benefits-of-running Here is a new study on the benefits of physical activity on depression. https://www.psypost.org/physical-activity-and-mental-health-exercises-therapeutic-potential-for-depression-highlighted-in-new-meta-analysis/
- Speaking of sunlight many people will suffer from seasonal depression in the winter as their levels of Vitamin D drop due to the lack of sunlight. If you are in a northern climate when you go out in the winter the only skin exposure may be the little area on your face. To combat this you may wish to look into light therapy during the winter months. https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/light-therapy
- Improve your diet. Cut out junk food/drinks. There is a link below about which foods help depression/anxiety and which ones aren't good for it. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318428
- Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. Your brain needs that down time to rest and recover. If you feel like you are getting enough sleep, but are always exhausted talk to your doctor about having a sleep study done. They have kits you can do at home. I found out I had central sleep apnea and my oxygen levels were around 80% for half the night.
- Socialize, keep the brain active. Try activities that challenge your brain. Suduko, crossword puzzles, trivia, etc.
- You also may want to try some type of talk therapy or learn some different coping skills and methods of relaxation such as deep breathing exercises.
- Volunteer. You are helping others and sometimes seeing just by giving your time to people and seeing how it helps them can be rewarding.
- You may even want to consider getting a pet as they are supposed to be beneficial for depression. You can even go one step further and get a Psychiatric service animal. They are specifically trained to and are allowed to go with you on airplanes and other public places. Some are even trained to recognize certain side effects in medications. For more information you can visit this site: https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/ It is your responsibility to make sure you are in compliance with all laws and ordinances.
This was published during the pandemic, but has many helpful ways to help improve your mental health. Medications can be very helpful, but there are so many different things that can improve your overall mental health. As a bonus they don't come with side effects. https://neurosciencenews.com/resilience-mental-health-19986/
Talks about lifestyle changes to help with mental illness and other therapies like light therapy. Some doctors hand these out to patients. https://www.psycho.farm/resources
All of these are tools that we can use to improve our mental health. Medication may help, but it is also a tool and you need to help it out by working on yourself. I wish everyone the best on their journey!!!
Lab work and tests
This lists out some blood tests that can be done to see if something else is contributing to your depression. I'm sure their are others, but this gave a little explanation why you would check out some of these. This may not eliminate depression, but it may find something that can be treated and can decrease the amount of depression. https://www.optimallivingdynamics.com/blog/13-important-blood-tests-to-get-done-if-you-have-depression
Many times people ask about the genetic tests and are they helpful. These will tell you how you metabolize the medication, but that plays no role in whether it will be effective for you. The one helpful thing is the MTHFR gene mutation, but your GP could do this lab at a much lower cost. I actually just ordered this test for myself and even if insurance doesn't cover it, the cost is $188. The below article explains in detail why the FDA actually recommends not using these. An upcoming blood test will be able to show in a couple of weeks if a medication will work for you. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gene-testing-to-guide-antidepressant-treatment-has-its-time-arrived-2019100917964 https://neurosciencenews.com/depression-antidepressant-biomarker-19863/
Sexual Side Effects
The is one of the most unfortunate side effects to antidepressants. Some things to remember is if you have sexual side effects on one medication it does not mean you will have them on all of the medications. Some people say that the effects are the worst when you first start the meds and can slowly recover after a few months. You may also realize this, but untreated depression and anxiety can have an effect on your sexual performance and libido. So for some people treating their mental disorder actually improves sexual issues.
This really dives into exactly what causes the sexual side effects, which medications are more likely to cause it, and ways to treat it. As of note nefazodone is another medication that is known not to cause sexual side effects. As well as the upcoming medication Ruoxinlin (ansofaxine). r/Nefazodone https://psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/sexual-dysfunction-with-antidepressants/
Rate of incidence of sexual side effects of some of the medications. The average for SSRI's is 59%, but there are other antidepressants that have much lower sexual side effect percentages. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11229449/
Nefazodone, mirtazapine, wellbutrin (bupropion), trazodone, viibryd, and Trintellix (vortioxetine) are they medications with the lowest rate of sexual side effects. Wellbutrin is often added to an SSRI to relieve some of the sexual side effects. Buspirone can also be added to help with sexual side effects, but it doesn't seem to be as effective as wellbutrin.
Here is a guide I put together about sexual side effects: https://www.reddit.com/r/AntidepressantSupport/comments/14bicp1/guide_to_antidepressant_sexual_side_effects/
Side Effects & Medication Interactions
If you really want to read about the side effects of each medication pdr.net has some of the most comprehensive information. It even lists the rate of incidence of each side effect. It also lists out the interactions with other medications. Drugs.com has probably some of the best user reviews of each medication. You can even look how a medication is rated for depression, anxiety, ocd, etc. None of the information contained in this guide should be a substitute for your doctor. You should always run any type of medication change by your doctor and keep him/her in the loop on side effects you are having. Including supplements you are thinking of adding. There are some supplements that just don't mix good with antidepressants. You should be upfront with the doctor about how you are feeling. Always let them know about side effects. Most importantly it is your health so you deserve to have a say in your treatment plan. Don't be afraid to speak up if you are uncomfortable with something because it is your health.
Many times people think that antidepressants work by blunting emotions. This is a myth. Emotional blunting is a side effect of antidepressants and you don't have to, "just deal with it". A different medication may not blunt emotions at all and some doctors will add wellbutrin to balance emotions out.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/antidepressants-do-not-work-by-numbing-emotions
Tracking your mood, side effects, and tips for improving communication with your doctor
Below is a good post about tracking how you are doing and different side effects. The more information and context you can provide to your doctor will help them in helping you get the best treatment.
https://www.reddit.com/r/antidepressants/comments/1jokoqh/importance_of_tracking_your_symptoms_when/
A quick note that dextromethorphan (DXM) a common ingredient in cold medicine is not something that you should take if you are taking antidepressants. St. John's Wort, and 5HT are also supplements to avoid if you are on antidepressants. All of these can increase the risk for serotonin syndrome.
r/antidepressants • u/That-Group-7347 • Dec 28 '23
Please Read Information on Withdrawal, Cold-Turkey, & Tapering -- Extensive Resources included.
As these are topics we see many questions about we created this post to give you some general information and resources to find helpful information. When writing a post it is helpful to list what medication, how long you have been on it, and your dosage.
Cold Turkey
Going cold turkey off of any psychiatric medication is never recommended and can induce withdrawals symptoms that can last up to months. Withdrawal (also referred to as discontinuation syndrome) is something you want to avoid and can be done by slowly tapering off your medication. There are a couple situations where you may not have to taper. If you have been on the medication for less than 6 weeks you can probably get by without tapering. If you have a severe reaction to a medication, say serotonin syndrome, your doctor may advise you to stop cold turkey immediately.
Withdrawal
This happens when your brain becomes dependent on the medication after being on it for some time and the medication is taken away too fast. The meds need to be slowly taken away from the brain so it can return to its base state slowly. Some of the common symptoms of withdrawal are brain zaps, headaches, insomnia, agitation, increased anxiety, aches & pains, brain fog, inability to focus, and fluctuating emotions.
We are seeing more people claiming they are in withdrawal after only taking medication for a very short time. Dependence takes time to develop. Research shows approximately 8 weeks. This is where tapering then becomes necessary. Even if you become dependent quicker, a very short taper is only needed. After 4-8 weeks of taking a med, a one week of 50% reduction is probably all you need. Otherwise you are just extending the time on the medication becoming more dependent.
Recovery
Many people ask how long after I stop will the side effects go away such as emotional blunting and sexual side effects. Again there is really no timetable. Some people start to notice within a few days to a week, for others it can take months. The length of time on antidepressants plays a role. There is much written that it can take the brain approximately 3 months to return to homeostasis. So if something like emotional blunting doesn't immediate go away after stopping the medication be patient and give it some time. The brain is quite adaptive and is remarkable at recovery, but works at a slow pace.
Tapering
Tapering has many layers to it and there really is no universal plan that fits everyone. The safest method based on studies is the 10%. This is cutting 10% of your medication you are taking at that time per month. For example if you are taking 100mg this would be your first 4 months (90, 81, 73, 67). This is a time consuming process that is going to take at least 1.5 years. How long you taper is based on the length of time you have been on the medication. Someone taking it for 1 year might be able to do 20% every 2-3 weeks. Someone who has been on a med for 20 years might have to do 5% every 6 weeks. You have to listen to your body as you go. If you drop your dosage and feel like withdrawal is coming on up your dose a little bit or hold that dose longer. Below I have listed tapering info pages for the most popular meds.
If you are on multiple medications on you are planning on going off all of them you want to taper one at a time. Tapering multiple meds at the same time is really hard on the brain and the withdrawals will usually be much worse. Before starting the tapering of the 2nd medication give yourself a month to stabilize more fully.
A little side note. Occupancy of the receptors plays a role in tapering. These numbers are just examples. Zoloft has a max dose of 200mg. Most people start on 25-50mg. Antidepressants occupy a large portion of the receptors at low dose. Say at 50mg, it occupies 80% of the receptors. 100mg, 85%. 150mg 88%. 200mg 90%. Because of this you can usually taper faster at first, but as you get down to a low dose you have to go really slowly. If you were taking 200mg of zoloft you could probably taper by 25% until you got down to around 50mg. Then you would want to taper by 10%. Here is a source that is very detailed. You can look at the charts to see actually numbers.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-021-01285-w
Below is a post that talks about tracking your symptoms and side effects to provide your doctor with better information in an effort to maximize treatment. This helps you to be heard and feel like you are more active in your treatment.
https://www.reddit.com/r/antidepressants/comments/1jokoqh/comment/mkvfb81/?context=3
Resources
Here are some site that provide information about tapering, withdrawal, etc. Some of these are quite complex, but there should be something in here that you should find valuable.
Going off antidepressants, withdrawal, tapering, and half-lifes. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants
Post that contains info about antidepressants, including methods of switching medications, non-med options.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AntidepressantSupport/comments/10vv3s6/ultimate_guide_to_antidepressants_and_how_to/
Forum about tapering individual meds and creating micro doses. Has individual sections for tapering each medication. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/
Directions on how to grind pills up to create custom doses for tapering.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AntidepressantSupport/comments/17oaxh9/how_to_crush_pills_to_get_custom_doses_for/
An extensive article on protracted withdrawal (PAWS). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2045125320980573
Extensive detailed info about tapering and withdrawal from the founder of Surviving Antidepressants. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2045125321991274
This is a very comprehensive article that references multiple studies on tapering. Some of it applies to antipsychotics (but those can be used for depression or anxiety), but I think it applies to antidepressants too. It talks about rapid withdrawal causing movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia). https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/47/4/1116/6178746
Tapering off of SSRI's https://markhorowitz.org/.../04/18TLP1004_Horowitz-1-11.pdf
'Playing the Odds' - Antidepressant Withdrawal - An article and follow-up written by a psychiatrist who explains who tapering should be done very slowly. https://www.madinamerica.com/2013/08/ssri-discontinuation-is-even-more-problematic-than-acknowledged/
'Playing the Odds - Antidepressant Withdrawal - Revisited https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/07/shooting-odds-revisited/
Relapse after stopping antidepressants. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/30/health/stopping-antidepressant-wellness/index.html
This talks about akathisia which some members got from tapering too fast or going cold turkey. It has some of the meds used for treatment. Please note that akathisia is rare. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/may/beyond-anxiety-and-agitation-a-clinical-approach-to-akathisia/
Medication specific tapering info pages:
Sertraline (zoloft): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-zoloft-sertraline/
Fluoxetine (Prozac): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/
Paroxetine (Paxil): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/405-tips-for-tapering-off-paxil-paroxetine/
Escitalopram (Lexapro): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/406-tips-for-tapering-off-escitalopram-lexapro/
Citalopram (Celexa): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/2023-tips-for-tapering-off-celexa-citalopram/
Fluvoxamine (Luvox): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/5095-tips-for-tapering-off-luvox-fluvoxamine/
Vortioxetine (Trintellix): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/10246-tips-for-tapering-vortioxetine-trintellix-brintellix/
Vilazodone (Viibryd): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/4318-tips-for-tapering-off-viibryd-vilazodone/
Venlafaxine (Effexor): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/272-tips-for-tapering-off-effexor-and-effexor-xr-venlafaxine/
Duloxetine (Cymbalta): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/283-tips-for-tapering-off-duloxetine-cymbalta/
Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/876-tips-for-tapering-off-pristiq-desvenlafaxine/
Buproprion (Wellbutrin): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/877-tips-for-tapering-off-wellbutrin-sr-xr-xl-zyban-buproprion/
Mirtazapine (Remeron): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/23158-tips-for-tapering-off-mirtazapine-remeron/
Trazodone: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/2883-tips-for-tapering-off-trazodone-desyrel/
Clomipramine: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/19509-tips-for-tapering-off-clomipramine-anafranil/
Amitriptyline/Nortriptyline/Impramine: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1099-tips-for-tapering-off-amitriptyline/
Quetiapine (Seroquel): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1707-tips-for-tapering-off-seroquel-quetiapine/
Aripiprazole (Abilify): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1896-tips-for-tapering-off-abilify-aripiprazole/
Lamotrigine (Lamictal): https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1122-tips-for-tapering-off-lamictal-lamotrigine/#comment-9926
Benzos: https://benzobuddies.org
r/antidepressants • u/SmoothDependent3693 • 5h ago
If Prozac worked for years, should I increase my dose or try another SSRI?
I've only ever taken Prozac. It worked well enough for years, but I have nothing else to compare it to. My main issues are severe anxiety, depression, harm-OCD/intrusive thoughts, and occasional panic.
After years of stability, I've recently had a pretty bad flare-up (possible Prozac poop-out?), and I'm torn between increasing my dose or trying something different.
Switching honestly scares me. I know I've tolerated Prozac, and the thought of tapering off, trying something new, titrating up, potentially getting worse, and spending months trying to stabilize again (all for a hit or miss) is absolutely effing terrifying... Especially knowing how bad I can spiral and how debilitated I could become. Been there, done that, never want to experience that again.
I'm also wondering if responding well to one SSRI makes you more likely to respond well to others, or if it's really just trial and error... and are SNRI's even worth looking into? Or just stick with focusing on SSRI's.
For anyone who's switched:
How difficult was the transition and did your anxiety get worse?
Did you find something that worked better? Was it worth it?
If your original SSRI worked for years but suddenly gave out, did you try increasing the dose before switching?
I've looked into a few alternatives based on my symptom profile, mainly Zoloft, Lexapro, Luvox, and Paxil, but I'm not sure whether switching is worth the risk when Prozac has helped me for so long. Whatever I would hypothetically try next I'd hope to be in it for the long haul.
So, would you stick with what you know and try a higher dose first, or consider switching?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been in a similar situation.
r/antidepressants • u/healthykoala5562 • 1h ago
Will antidepressants make my emotionlessness worse?
One of my most prominent symptoms of depression is anhedonia, which comes with being mostly emotionless. I know this will sound very corny but my friends joke around and call me ”nonchalant” but I‘m afraid it’s making me appear off putting and unapproachable. I heard that starting antidepressants, especially SSRIs make people more emotionless and I was worried starting antidepressants would worsen my symptoms. did anyone else have the same problem as me and did your symptoms improve or worsen after taking medication?
r/antidepressants • u/Siwa1998 • 19h ago
Psychiatrist is letting me down...
I have been searching for a med that gives me some relief for over three years now. I first tried Citalopram, in late 2022 and it gave me relief for maybe three weeks before it stopped working. Since then I tried Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Bupropion and a combination of Venlafaxine and Bupropion and Citalopram for a second time, Cymbalta and now I am on Fluoxetine. I don't feel good. I still don't know myself anymore. I am crying every day.I have been searching for a med that gives me some relief for over three years now. I first tried Citalopram, in late 2022 and it gave me relief for maybe three weeks before it stopped working. Since then I tried Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Bupropion and a combination of Venlafaxine and Bupropion and Citalopram for a second time, Cymbalta, Fluoxetine and now I am on Escitalopram. I don't feel good. I still don't know myself anymore. I am crying every day.
The thing is, my psychiatrist said, there is no point in trying out other meds anymore (in fact, it was me who suggested alternative meds after the first two options did not work and I began doing research on my own), infact, it was my therapist (who is also a doctor), who put me on Escitalopram, after my psychiatrist said, there would be no point in trying other options. Even my therapist said, I'd be on the last option in terms of meds. That scared me to be honest. Should you say something like that to a depressed person?
Is that the point to look out for a new psychiatrist to get a new perspective? I am doing a lot of research on the guideline of depresion-treatment in my country and it terns out, that my psychiatrist did not really treat me correctly. There are other, older trycyclic antidepressants, there are non-antidepressant augmentation options and he never suggested that...or maybe go back into diagnostic territory. Is it not depression, os it ADHD, is it anything else? Nothing. Just "there is no point in trying other options".
I just wanted to know, what this all says about my psychiatrist. Is this incompetence? Am I too harsh?
r/antidepressants • u/scatpig25 • 11h ago
Anger issues after switching medications?
I recently switched from fluoxetine to venlafaxine, I had some pretty awful news, my dad has spent all his money on prostitutes just for context and was asking for money, now I know anger would be normal here but it literally took me over to an extreme degree, to the point that I can't even remember much of what I did. There was a group that was set up by colleagues in a previous job and they had all been messaging about how much they hate me and stuff.
I went insane and messaged each person involved and even messaged their families and new employers.
I'm not proud of it but is it normal to get angry on these meds?
because if so id rather not continue taking them.
I'm not a mean person but I've been bullied all my life and I snapped.
r/antidepressants • u/vmartaa • 11h ago
are anti depressants worth it?
i recently got diagnosed with severe depression & also ADHD, along side with some other worrisome markers. so i got heavily recommended to go on anti depressants, most possibly - fluoxetine or sertraline. but so far i'm really against it, because at this point
1) i've just accepted that this is how i am. and im okay with living like this.
2) i'm REALLY scared of possible side effects. especially things like weight gain or acne which i've heard a lot online and also from friends i know that also suffer from depression. i just feel like if i'm okay like this, then why even fuck around. what if i try anti depressants, they give me some unexpected side effects that completely destroy me. it would be like the cherry on top of everything else i'm handling right now. it'd be like poking a hole in a sketchy dam and the side effects would cause it to completely break and the water to flow and ruin cities. makes sense?
so those with experience, are anti depressants truly worth it?
r/antidepressants • u/Positive_Bottle_4140 • 9h ago
Stopped taking sertraline for some days and spent the last two days sleeping+ lack of motivation. Is anyone like me?
r/antidepressants • u/Desperate-Dot-571 • 10h ago
Is it possible to get high with duloxetine?
r/antidepressants • u/Conscious_Concern_65 • 10h ago
Hi! I’m starting clompiramine (Anafranil) soon and I’m currently on 20MG of Lexapro. My doctor wants to me to taper down 5MG per week and start 25MG of the clompriamine when I’m at 10MF of Lexapro. Has anyone done anything similar? Just worried about serotonin syndrome but I know it’s rare.
r/antidepressants • u/Important-Action-149 • 11h ago
Week 8 on Venlafaxine (Effexor) – Severe Anxiety, Crying Spells, and Still No Relief From Depression. Does It Get Better?
Hi everyone! ❤️
I’m currently in my eighth week of taking venlafaxine (Effexor), and I’ve been on 225 mg for just over a week.
Honestly, this entire experience has been absolutely awful. The process of starting this medication and gradually increasing my dose has been incredibly difficult, both mentally and physically.
Yesterday was particularly horrible. I experienced such intense anxiety that I ended up crying uncontrollably for two hours straight. I felt completely overwhelmed, and it was genuinely frightening how intense everything became.
On top of that, I’m struggling with severe depression and anhedonia. I barely feel any happiness, excitement, motivation, or pleasure anymore. I feel emotionally numb and disconnected from everything, almost as though I’m just existing rather than actually living.
I’m also experiencing extreme daytime exhaustion, yet I struggle to sleep properly at night. It’s such a frustrating combination, and it’s making everyday life incredibly difficult.
I’m starting to question whether venlafaxine is even the right medication for me. At the same time, I’ve worked so hard to get through these eight weeks that I desperately want to give it a fair chance before considering another medication.
For those who have taken venlafaxine, especially at 225 mg:
Did you experience severe anxiety, emotional breakdowns, or worsening depression during the first few weeks after increasing your dose?
Did your depression and anhedonia eventually improve, even if you felt absolutely terrible during the initial weeks?
And how long did it take before you noticed a meaningful improvement?
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but this has been one of the hardest experiences I’ve gone through. ❤️
r/antidepressants • u/apk120490 • 14h ago
Paxil/Lexapro
Been on Paxil 20mg since 2020. Tried coming off 3 times in 2021, 2022 and 2023 but had to get back on it each time. Have been consistent on Paxil 10mg and Hydroxyzine 10mg from 2023 to Feb 2026. PCP advised to switch to Lexapro 10mg so been on that. But started having bad anxiety so bumped up to 20mg Lexapro 3-4 days ago, mild changes so far but night time is rough.
Unsure how long I give it before requesting switch to Paxil if that is even a good option. Thanks for the feedback
r/antidepressants • u/Sevenmoren • 11h ago
Oi
Oi, tudo bem ? Estou passando pelo mesmo usando antidepressivo 3 semanas, ela me impossibilita de ter orgasmos, poderíamos conversar ? Esse remédio tá destruindo minha vida, parei hoje.
r/antidepressants • u/Various_Artistss • 11h ago
Thinking about starting on AD's
Hey all,
So while I've always been low or depressed I've never taken anti d's as I always wanted to tackle it myself and try and sort it through therapy. But as time has gone on its getting harder with my Suicidal Ideation going through the roof and I'm just feeling low even when I should be on a high. All and all I'm honestly thinking about starting my AD journey as I feel it could be something to help me along my mental health journey.
I have no idea about anything involved and what ADs to try, what to look out for, what to avoid and what to expect. Is there anything I should know going in before I make the gp appointment to get it started? I'm in the UK ir that helps.
Any advice would be ace, cheers all.
r/antidepressants • u/SeveralTooth2682 • 12h ago
Urinary Incontinence
What are some of antidepressants that have been effective at managing Urinary Incontinence?
r/antidepressants • u/Icy_Proposal4815 • 12h ago
Effexor 75mg to Viibryd 20mg
Hi all, I’ve been on Effexor for 2 months. I got a new psychiatrist that will hopefully listen to me. She wants me off Effexor and start Viibryd. The taper is brutal. Anyone have any advice, this just unmanageable. The anxiety is SOO bad. I went from Pristiq 75mg to Effexor hardly no withdrawal signs at all. I do not know how people just stop cold turkey. I would absolutely die, well it feels that way. Any advice or any medicine that would help? Thanks!
r/antidepressants • u/DRDynamyteOfficial • 17h ago
Quit or taper mirtazapine? Please help!
I took 15mg mirtazapine every weeknight, not on weekends, for insomnia for less than two months. Around 4-6 weeks I believe. My last dose was Thursday October 8. I didn’t feel too different but had anxiety and nausea yesterday morning to the point where I felt like throwing up. Now I just have anxiety and low appetite. I’ve experienced these symptoms MANY times in the past years before I started taking the medication (diagnosed with GAD). So I can’t tell if it’s just anxiety or withdrawal; and I’m worried I made it worse by reading all the scary stories on the mirt sub.
My psych suggested I go cold turkey but I can't see him for another few days, and am worried he'll just tell me to continue CT. I really need help with a taper schedule: Do I need one based on how long I took it for? how much do I decrease the dose, how many weeks do I stay at each dose, when do I jump off, where can I find a compounded solution? Please help! TIA
r/antidepressants • u/Weak-Ad-7055 • 17h ago
Adding SSRI to bupropion + metylphenidate?
Hi, I'd like to consult adding escitalopram to the combo I'm taking now - 300 mg Bupropion and 27/36 mg Atenza (Concentra). The text below is a bit long to provide background, but what I'm generally trying to figure out is - is it worth to add escitalopram to Bupropion and Atenza? Will it lead go weight gain? Is it possible I would react better to different ADHD drug (Vyvanse) and that would help get rid of side effects?
To provide a bit of background - I'm AuDHD, got officially diagnosed last year. However, I've been going to psychiatrists since I was 16, and during that time I've taken escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline. After taking SSRIs for over 10 years, the side effects were really bothering me - I was constantly sweating, gaining weight, lowered libido, drowsiness and neverending tiredness.
At that time I changed my psychiatrist, who suggested Bupropion and was the second doctor who suggested that I get tested for autism. Getting off SSRIs was terrible - I was irritated, sad, had no energy, but bupropion helped. It also helped me get rid of excess weight. Once I got diagnosed with both, my doctor added ADHD medication. At first, it was revolutionary - I've never felt such peace and was able to get things done.
Fast forward a few months, my anxiety has increased, and I also have issues with increased heart rate. Though it's most likely caused by metylphenidate, it's worth to note that I've been having issues at work and with my relationship. Atenza also seems to make my autism more prominent, which has not been easy adapt to.
My psychiatrist recommended I start taking escitalopram again - to help with sadness and anxiety. But it feels like failure to me, going back to SSRIs that led to many side effects and were so hard to come off. I also worry about gaining the weight back.
What do you think, is it a good direction to go back to SSRI? If you have been in such situation, how did it affect you and your appetite? Do you see any alternative?
Thanks in advance!
r/antidepressants • u/Unlikely_Fig_2757 • 17h ago
Reta + Rexulti - can I take them
Can I take Reta + rexulti together? Has anybody done it and it was ok? I've been on Reta for 2 weeks and am going to start rexulti soon.
r/antidepressants • u/cutelittlee • 21h ago
Can pregabalin (Lyrica) genuinely change your life, confidence and ability to socialize, or can it make you dependent on it?
Hi everyone! I’m a 20-year-old girl who’s been on and off psychiatric medication since I was 15. I’ve tried Vyvanse, guanfacine, quetiapine and citalopram.
I’ve struggled with motivation for years. I have big dreams of becoming a successful content creator, but I struggle to express myself, keep conversations going and sometimes even know what to say. I feel like I have so much potential but can’t seem to unlock it.
Yesterday, I was talking to a guy about pregabalin because I took it once and liked it and he told me it could change my life by making me more confident, talkative and comfortable around people. However, he also warned me that once you start taking it, you can become dependent on it and potentially feel like you can’t function normally without it.
**For those who’ve taken pregabalin:**
Do you regret starting it, or do you genuinely feel that it improved your quality of life?
Can long-term use make you feel like you can’t function normally without it, even if you didn’t have those problems before?
Has it genuinely improved your confidence, social skills or ability to express yourself?
Does it make you more talkative and less socially anxious?
If you miss a dose or stop taking it, do you feel like you lose your confidence or personality?
Have you experienced dependence or withdrawal, and did you feel normal again after stopping?
I’m not taking it currently. I just want honest experiences, especially from people who’ve used it long-term. I want to understand the benefits and risks before considering anything.
Thank you! ❤️
r/antidepressants • u/Sufficient_Bell_957 • 17h ago
Extreme Tiredness On Prozac 12 Weeks
I’ve been taking 10mg of Prozac for 12 weeks and I am extremely tired all the time lately. When I first started the medication, I had so much energy and was feeling amazing. I’ve had no other side effects and have been loving it.
At 7 weeks, I noticed an extreme decline in my energy and I’ve become so unbelievably tired. I asked my doctor about this, and they said they believe this is from the medication and that we should lower the dose to 5mg (liquid form). I started this a couple days ago. The tiredness that I’m experiencing is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before and I don’t understand why it would suddenly occur 7 weeks into the medication. I’m hoping to stay on Prozac because it has helped me tremendously with my mood, but the fatigue isn’t worth it. I’ve tried 3 other antidepressants in the past and had bad side effects from them, but no fatigue.
Has anyone else ever experienced this and will it get better??
r/antidepressants • u/johnysmith7171 • 18h ago
Pregablin withdrawal?
So i used to take 1200/2100mg everyday gained a ton of weight in the last 5 months so i decided to quit it’s been 7 days and ive decided to have alchol but it doesnt feel the same feels different i dont get the usual nice relaxing buzz why’s that is it cause im withdrawing im so confused it doesnt give me that nice relaxing buzz when i drink??
Even smoking weed during withdrawals doesnt give me the munchies or put me too sleep when it did before whats happening to me can anyone explain?
r/antidepressants • u/Pink_Tulip_407 • 1d ago
Lexapro 10 mg: No Sex Drive
Hiii!! Some background.. I am a 29 year old female and engaged!! I take Lexapro 10 mg and Vyvanse. Lexapro has helped my anxiety more than anything else, but my sex drive is completely nonexistent with my partner. When we do have sex, I experience vaginal dryness and virtually no mental satisfaction or enjoyment.
I was on a high dose of Prozac for about five years. It also caused sexual issues and didn’t help my anxiety nearly as much as Lexapro.
My psychiatrist has offered several options, and I’d love to hear your experiences:
Tadalafil 2.5 mg — I tried it once. I took it after drinking at a wedding and experienced a horrible migraine. I don’t recall much benefit and never tried it again. Has a higher dose helped anyone?
Sildenafil 25 mg — prescribed/offered, but never tried. I felt hopeless and never picked it up. Did it help you?
Wellbutrin or Buspar — offered by my psychiatrist, but I haven’t tried either. Did either improve your libido?
Switching SSRIs: Has anyone switched from Lexapro to another SSRI with fewer sexual side effects while still controlling anxiety?
I really don’t want to lose the anxiety relief Lexapro gives me, but I’m frustrated with having no desire or enjoyment of sex.
What has actually worked for you?
r/antidepressants • u/Lumpy-8855 • 1d ago
Coming off antidepressants that you have never truly needed them.
I have came to a conclusion that I’ve never needed antidepressants. I think they are what’s making me ‘depressed’. When I was 14, going through puberty, my doctor convinced me I was depressed so I was put on medication and told for 15 years if I come off these meds $uicide would be in my future.
Every 2-3 years, I have a depressed episode & convinced my meds aren’t working & I need to try something else. I’ve tried 6+ different ssris & snris. I’ve been put on so many pills at high doses I’ve had physical symptoms of too high of a dose. I havent been off of them since I was 14. I’m tapering off now to see what ‘normal’ feels like or if I even need these pills. I am currently almost tapered off effexor.
I guess what I’m wondering is has anyone else experienced this? Did you have symptoms coming off these meds? What is your life like now being off of them?