side effects of anti-depressants (12 Oct 02) 2messages

The Lumie forum is for general discussion of Seasonal Affective Disorder and all things light therapy. To join in you'll need to register.

We do not monitor this forum every day. If you want to reach Lumie please go to our contact us page.

Anonymous
joined 21 Nov 2008
45904 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 16:08 20 October 2002

side effects of anti-depressants

posted by Melissa on 2002-08-12 08:04:14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been taking anti-depressants for over four years to treat SAD.I started on Seroxat (Paroxetine) and am now on Lustral (Sertraline Hydrochloride). Although they help with the SAD to some extent, the side effects are not good either. I get nausea, shaking, headaches and a definite loss of libido. I find I have to monitor my dosage closely as too much means side effects and not enough means sypmtoms of SAD. Has anybody else found this? I use a light box, but this alone does not do enough.

Melissa

Johann Hughes

Topic: Re: side effects of anti-depressants

posted by Johann Hughes on 2002-10-12 15:32:12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Melissa, I sympathise with you greatly. I have been taking antidepressants for about 5yrs now, i've tried the two you mentioned, and i could not handle the side effects, especially the seroxat, my doctor then prescribed me prozac, and i find you don't get the nausea, shaking or headaches with them.
Ask your doc to try you on them.
Hope everything gets better for you.
Please let me know how you go
Take Care
Johann

Anonymous
joined 21 Nov 2008
45904 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 20:19 17 November 2002

Hi Melissa,

I tried prozac last winter, Dec to March. I felt rather nauseous and groggy for about three weeks, then after about five weeks I felt a lot better - an inner glow, and it boosted my immune system - no colds all winter, which is unheard of for me. However, I did get side effects:

-it hugely interfered with libido - dead from waist down
-it interfered with sleep patterns - I got about four hours sleep and then dozed on and off for the rest of the night - and felt sleepy during the day because of this
- I developed a sort of muscular twitch, almost unnoticeable to others, and this has not 100% gone away.

From what you say, the other two antidepressants have much the same effects, so this year I am investigating light therapy. I need to decide quite soon about what sort to get as I believe you have to start before th SAD symptoms really set in. I am not sure whether the wake-up bodyclock sort is enough or if a proper light box is necessary. Both together seems rather expensive. Has anyone any advice?
Sally

Jez
joined 29 Nov 2002
5 posts

send a pm

Posted by Jez, 20:35 29 November 2002

This all sounds very familiar - terrible side effects (nausea/sweating/shaking) from Seroxat and loss of libido from Prozac. Tried Zispin last year which was better but made me very tired - might be a good bet if you just want to hibernate but makes it hard to get up and go to work.

I use a proper light box but that doesn't usually get me through the winter on it's own. I haven't tried the wake up one, I'd also nbe interested in comparisons.

Anonymous
joined 21 Nov 2008
45904 posts

send a pm

Posted by Anonymous, 15:09 5 December 2002

Hi Melissa.

I can sympathise fully with the side effects you describe, particularly the muscular 'twitches'; at first I thought it was nothing to do with the SSRI I was taking (Lustral). I was wondering if you have considered trying St John's Wort, which, in Germany has more prescriptions written for it than Prozac! Other things that you may want to think about are getting some outdoor exercise every day, even if its only a walk.

Best wishes,

Elixir.

Gordon
joined 7 Nov 2002
5 posts

send a pm

Posted by Gordon, 11:33 1 January 2003

Hi there Melissa,

well, I had the same side effects, but from Edronax and Cipramil. bad enough to make me give up after persevering for 10 days each.

I am now on Edronax, I started on 50mg a day for a month.. no benefits that were noticeable, but also no side effects... My GP upped the dose to 100mg a day, but this gave ne nausea, diarrhoea, anxiety attacks etc.. but I by chance ended up taking the dose spilt - i.e. 50mg morning, and 50 mg evening, and it worked..

side effects vanised in a day, and I was aware of a significant improvement in my moods. I still have bad days, but im a lot better.

I put a more detailed description in the post about citalopram.. take a look.

Regards,

Gordon

Julie in Sussex
joined 21 Jan 2003
541 posts

send a pm

Posted by Julie in Sussex, 12:08 27 January 2003

Hi Melissa,
...........From what you say, the other two antidepressants have much the same effects, so this year I am investigating light therapy. I need to decide quite soon about what sort to get as I believe you have to start before th SAD symptoms really set in. I am not sure whether the wake-up bodyclock sort is enough or if a proper light box is necessary. Both together seems rather expensive. Has anyone any advice?
Sally

Hi Sally. Yes, I believe in the ideal world it is good to start Light Therapy before the days get too dark. However I began light therapy four months into my seasonal despair, after simply 10 days I was alive and vital again. I find the Natural Alarm Clock a wonderful comfort and a bonus, but it is the Light Box which is the cure. Dedicate a minimum of 1 hour a day to it and it will repay you in full. Your message was posted a long time ago, how have you got on? Julie

Post a reply

home > forum