I have been on and off several meds without much success. The SSRI's in particular have done little but cause side effects. The one SSRI I haven't tried is Prozac, and I'm thinking of giving it a go. Can anyone share their experiences with this drug? Also, can anyone recommend a drug that has been effective at relieving their depression?

I have been on and off several meds without much success. The SSRI's in particular have done little but cause side effects. The one SSRI I haven't tried is Prozac, and I'm thinking of giving it a go. Can anyone share their experiences with this drug? Also, can anyone recommend a drug that has been effective at relieving their depression?

Well, I guess there's no harm in trying, especially if a lot of the other meds haven't gave you a success. I tried prozac once and it made me feel quite sick, but it did make me feel less depressed - I just couldn't handle the side-effects. But on the other hand, there's other people who have none at all - so kinda a trial and error thing really.

Rat Pack,

I have been using Prozac (ranging between 20 - 40 mg) for my depression for about 6 years (off and on, as prescribed). I haven't ever had to try anything else, as this medication has worked well for me. When I first started it, I was a little sleepy. That soon wore off, however, as time passed. Right now, I seem to be experiencing some insomnia (whether it's Prozac-related is not clear), but my depression seems to have improved, as in the past, while I have been on it.

Everyone is different, so I can only give you my account. What have your experiences been on other ADs? Perhaps SSRI's are not the right type of antidepressant for you if you have had problems with them in the past, but you should talk with your doctor about it to see whether Prozac may indeed be a good fit for you.

Good Luck!

~Colleen

Rat Pack, everything you hear about the other SSRIs, goes for Prozac too. Drugs don't "work" for a lot of people. We've all been brainwashed, by drug companies, to think that drug therapy is THE way to go, but, in my opinion, it's the worst thing a person can do and should be a very, very last resort. Do some research on what these drugs are doing to our bodies and brains.

I have been on and off several meds without much success. The SSRI's in particular have done little but cause side effects. The one SSRI I haven't tried is Prozac, and I'm thinking of giving it a go. Can anyone share their experiences with this drug? Also, can anyone recommend a drug that has been effective at relieving their depression?

I am on prozac and I have had depression for a long time and I am a teen and havent had any suicide thoughts and have been much happier..I never thought I would be happy..and I had a very bad case of depression.

Yes, there are definately alternatives to medication (which I don't necessarily agree is ALL unhealthy, as some people benefit from it). You can get involved in one-on-one counseling, group counseling, modify your diet to make it healthier, etc. I have actually done all of the above, and I think that they're all beneficial in one way or another. But, I agree that you should think carefully about your decision to try Prozac, as there are some health risks to using it for some people.

~Colleen

Hi,

I have been on amiltirptyline (elavil) for over 20 years. My depession was severe until I saw my psychiatrist and she wanted me to try it. It's a very old AD. It's usually taken at bedtime because there is a sedaitive in it that helps with sleep. It's in a class called triclic. Recently, I had a little backslide and my Dr. tried so many of the newer ones on me. None did any good.

When they tried me on prozac, I felt so much better. It made me feel alive and I had energy. WOW!! I took it until it was time to raise the level to a theraputic dose. For some reason the higher dose caused panic attacks and anxiety. I suffer as much from anxiety as I do from depression.

Recently, they put my on lexapro. It helps anxiety and depression both. The only side effect was feeling sleepy. I'm hoping that will go away after a little more time. I can also take them at bedtime, which should take care of the problem.

I know it's hard to find the right AD that works best for you. There are just a small group of people that will try to scare you out of taking meds. Remember, it's your choice. For me, if my psychiatrist and GP han't found an AD that helped me, I would have isolated myself in my bed and laid there for the last 20 years. I'm glad I made the right choice and I think you will, too

Please keep us posted on what you do and how it makes you feel. There are a lot of nice people on this board. Thanks for posting.....Connie :wave: