How best to choose an antidepressant? What are main differences btw different types?

Question

I am now on prozac but gained weight and want to switch.

Answer 1

First, depending on how long you have been on it you may not even be feeling the 'true' side effects. Usually after a month or two everything starts to level off and the initial weight gain will subside and you should go back to normal.
If you have been on it longer than that or you absolutely hate Prozac, tell you doctor and they can slowly get you off of it. After that they can prescribe you another drug that fits your needs. There are a bunch of them out there that affect different people in different ways. I takes a while to find a drug that you like and that is best for you.

Answer 2

There is no magic formula for choosing a new med as each med reacts differently for each person. The best way to choose new medication is to see your doctor and let him help figure out what might work best for you. Also since weight gain is NOT a side effect of Prozac I am not sure if switching would be the answer for you. If the Prozac is working I would consider finding out what is causing your weight gain and work on that instead of just switching the medication.

Answer 3

With all SSRI's, changing the seratonin picture will likely lead to a small amount of weight gain. This is not uncommon. On the grand scale of things in the balance, which is better? Struggling with mixed depressive and anxious symptoms or struggling with a small amount of weight gain?

Converting to Lexapro with the assistance of a doctor may help some. It is a considerably newer formulation. Best side effect profile in general amongst all the meds for affective disorders. I would recommend it if you have insurance (it is more spendy if paying out of pocket, no generic). There are other types of depression meds but I would not suggest them unless you are struggling with addictive patterns or anger too (Wellbutrin). Otherwise, you might go with the Lexapro and then get a plan together to work on the weight gain as a separate concern.

Answer 4

I am so overweight right now from prozac (and other combos of meds) that I was put on in Junior High and Highschool. This is my second year out of highschool and I have only managed to loose 20lbs of the weight I gained when put on anti's.

If you need to be on the prozac, and it turley makes you feel better, stick with it. It will mean working harder towards an ideal weight, however I have found it very hard to find anti-depressants that work right with my body. If weight gain is the only side effect, be happy!

The last anti-depressant that I was put on was called Effexor. My mother was also put on Effexor (she had once been taking prozac). She still takes effexor and she loves it. It worked well for me however, i get VERY bad migranes. The effexor seemed to give me more headachs.

If you truley need to get off the prozac, I would work with your doctor. Our bodies are all so different, you need to find whats right for you.

(Dont forget exercise. exercise helps with weight loss and it also has been said to help with depression. it can relieve stress and produce 'happy chemicals'!!)

Answer 5

I found that before I was diagnosed with depression, I was skinny. I was unable to eat because of my constant anxiety. Once I was placed on medication(Prozac), I began to eat again. I think my body was so used to not eating anything that once I did start eating, it went right into storage. I went from being 180 pounds to 220 in six months.

Answer 6

I would try Welbutrin.,... I have been on celexa and Zoloft too... Both of them made me have a horrible sex life, Celexa made me have NO emotions, and I couldn't cry no matter how hard I tried...
I am on Welbutrin XL now and I love it... I still have feelings, im a little tired... but no one gains weight usually on it, IF anything you will loose some.... ALSO, its great because you can have sex again and actually feel something!

Answer 7

Sunni- Muslims trust the role taken by way of the various Prophet's partners, that the brand new chief will have to be elected from amongst the ones ready of the activity. This is what used to be performed, and the Prophet Muhammad's near buddy and consultant, Abu Bakr, grew to become the primary Caliph of the Islamic country. The phrase "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a phrase which means "one that follows the traditions of the Prophet shia-On the opposite hand, a few Muslims proportion the notion that management will have to have stayed inside the Prophet's possess household, amongst the ones in particular appointed by way of him, or amongst Imams appointed by way of God Himself.The Shia Muslims consider that following the Prophet Muhammad's dying, management will have to have handed immediately to his cousin/son-in-regulation, Ali.

Answer 8

I have taken Seroxat before & it didn't give me any side effects.

Have you asked r GP 4 therapy also? that might deal with the underlying causes. You can have CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) on the NHS.

Answer 9

I don't think it's something you can do by yourself.It's surely recommended to ask a doctor about that.They're not all the same and it really depends on each person.

Answer 10

prozac did that to me too.. its hard to find the rightcombo, but if onesnotworking, tell the doc so he can find you one that does