Which antidepressant has the least side effects?

[JanaeAshley]

Hi. I have been on antidepressants for years. Im getting older though and so the whole gaining weight and just changing as a whole is starting to take place. Im 23 years old almost and I am concerned that with my metobolism slowing down I am more likely to gain weight than before. Which medications used to treat anxiety have the least chance of causing weight gain as a side effect? More importantly what medication has the least reported side effects. The idea of having side effects from medicine makes me want to stop them completely.

I have taken Zoloft to have nothing but bad side effects and now Im on Sinequan now but I have read weight gain is a side effect of it :(

Anyone with any help would be great. Yes i know every person is different and gets different side effects.

[Petes13]

Joey?? How is the 30MG going..Is strange been on 60 for over 2 years and side effects seem to be worse the ever...Breathing,arythmia, and sweating the main Issues I have. I am considering a lower dose.As I still feel Cymolta is the best for me, As it also helps my lower back,and is proven to help many aches and pains. As well as Depression...Please Let me know how the 30MG is doing
THANK YOU
Peter

[TJ1003]

Please be careful taking Xanax.  It's very addictive, even when taken infrequently, and can be very difficult to get off of.  I found that I had rebound anxiety on the days I didn't take it, and lots of unpleasant symptoms.  Finally got off it, but it was a horrible process. Had to switch to Valium (longer-acting, so less drastic changes in blood levels) in order to wean off of it.  Stay away from short-acting benzodiazepines!

[JGF25]

There are many anti-depressants out there and unfortuantely it sometimes comes down to trial and error.  Some medications are tolerated well by some people but not by others thus the trial and error part.  I have successfully taken prozac and unsuccessfully taken celexa and lexapro.  I now take a SNRI rather than a SSRI.  What I take is Wellbutrin and while it did increase my anxiety for the first 4 or so weeks, after that I was good.  I think it has the least side effects as far as weight gain goes and it has the least side effects on the libido.  So if you are not happy with what you are taking, then you should discuss this with your doctor and possibly try something else.  

You asked why do doctors prescribe medications with so many side effects that change your life....the alternative in most cases is worse than the "cure."  These medications help a lot of people albeit with some side effects that have to be tolerated and I guess it comes down to are you better off mentally on meds or off meds.  

Take care.

[Joey503]

I am taking Cymbalta and I noticed it's not on the list above.  A prescription for 60 mg has been reduced to 30 mg because the side effects on 60 were starting to get worse after 30 months.  I tried to come off Paxcil CR and could not function.  Why do these meds prescribed by a doctor cause so many side effects that change your life?

[ann927]

I have been on Celexa for the past 6 years. I have gained weight on it and feel it is losing its effectiveness for me. I recently tried Effexor, and felt like I couldnt sit still and would sweat a lot.
I really want to find an antidepressant that helps me ( I have Major Depression) without the side effects
Anybody got any ideas?

[laspoone]

My daughter is 22 and has suffered from anxiety since age 5. She was on Pristiq for 1 yr and it did great except the side effect were awful. She was on the lowest dose but still would sweat profusely at night and it smelled like chemicals. The dr changed it to Cymbalta but she only took it for about 1 mth becuase of nausea. She weaned herself off which was really hard but she got through it. Its been 6 mths and now shes having terrible anxiety, depression and its affecting her eating. She also is so depressed because she doesn't want to be reliant on meds but is realizing she is to lead a functional life. She becoming more and more afraid to eat things because shes afraid of having an allergic reaction to it even though shes only once had any mild episode. She married in May and now its affecting her marriage. Her husband just doesn't get it still after 3 yrs and I can't blame him because unless you've suffered from it you don't understand. It sends you in a downward spiralin all areas of life. You just want to be normal and have a carefree life as thats what you see most as living. You feel like your a freak sideshow and unworthy. Your depressed because of the fears and feeling you have. You try to control them but can't and wonder why your so weak which sends you even lower mentally. You finally just want to give up and stay in the house in your own little world and not have to deal with anything outside those doors. But not really. There are things you want to do but are too afraid to try them, or go there. Then your afraid of what the meds are doing or will do to you. I suffered myself yrs ago and finally fought my way back natuirally and through prayer. There were no drugs to help so I just had to deal and make my mind up that I was stronger than it was. Anyway. Thats my 2 cents worth. As for my daughter shes seeking help again and I'm praying she gets some relief and peace for the torture shes living in.

[krishnaraj89]

im taking escitoploran of 10mg daily. im gaining wait too. im 21 years now. i take alcohol rarely like once a month. does that seriously effect or is it ok??? my doctor dint tell em any do's and dont's when she prescribed. the next day after takin alcohol weird stuff happens. i get dizzy n stuff. anxiety shows up. my god. then it comes down. i do exercise. i play basket ball. i do relaxation exercise too. ive been taking the medicine past one year. does this medicine cause any harm? i mean a real dangerous harm??? a life threatening??? can somebody tell me plz.....

[Toni3838]

I was on Zoloft for over 10 years and it did a marvelous job for me, however, I finally decided to get off of it as I felt I was slowing down as
I was getting older.  Doc wanted me to stay on it but I got off of it.
It's been over two years and now I am willing to admit I really need to be
on something as depression is rearing its ugly head again.  My family doctor agrees and prescribed Prozac......feels it is really good and his other patients have had success with it.  I had the prescription filled but a voice deep down inside of me hesitates to take it.  Can anyone
explain my hesitation?  Thanks for your ideas.  Toni

[sinde224]

I myself, have been on lexapro, effexor, and zoloft. Right now I am currently cutting away from the lexapro. Like what everyone else talks about thier are many side effects like "Tingling in my arms+drowsyness". My biggest issue myself is now lack of self-motifation and fatique. I have always had a history of depression and anxeity. I have not given zoloft much of a chance in the past but just rememering that I did not help me in any way but on the positive side had no real side effects.

These SSRI, in some ways are like any drug can be hamefull if not explained to your doctor. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! I myself, I am trying to get more exercise and taking lots of vitamens... Thier are many kinds licke Fish Oil. B-12. and other that can help with anxiety and help you feel better...

[cnote]

It depends. Everyones chemistry is made up differently. So different drugs may work better for you vs for me. It's a trial and error. I like Lexapro, it's supposed to be one of the easier SSRI's. =) Good luck to you.

[Dee4659]

Dear JanaeAshley,
I am on effexor now and must go off of it.  My fingers are tingling and I think that I have a bit of sinus involvement.  I am grossly afraid of taking foreign chemicals into my body,but with a major depression what do you do?  Last year I was fine.  In June of this year I developed Posterior Blepharitis in my eye and it threw me into a major depression.  Could I have stopped myself from going into a depression and not be in need of meds? I feel angry with myself for needing chemicals and not having the strength to persevere, and not become depressed. I understand that coming off of effexor is hell and I'm so scared that it has caused my depression to become worse. Has anyone here weined off of effexor (slowly) without negative side effects. Please answer me I am a total wreck and don't know what to do.  

[Dee4659]

Dear JanaeAshley,
I am on effexor now and must go off of it.  My fingers are tingling and I think that I have a bit of sinus involvement.  I am grossly afraid of taking foreign chemicals into my body,but with a major depression what do you do?  Last year I was fine.  In June of this year I developed Posterior Blepharitis in my eye and it threw me into a major depression.  Could I have stopped myself from going into a depression and not be in need of meds? I feel angry with myself for needing chemicals and not having the strength to persevere, and not become depressed. I understand that coming off of effexor is hell and I'm so scared that it has caused my depression to become worse. Has anyone here weined off of effexor (slowly) without negative side effects. Please answer me I am a total wreck and don't know what to do.  

[JanaeAshley]

Yea I am just so scared of any "strange" feeling in my body that I want to be on a medication that will not make me tingly or feel strange. And the last thing i want to do is get really fat. I do exercise and I walk a whole lot because I am a college student so I walk through campus all day. I read that tricyclics actually cause weight gain more than SSRI's ... i was on Zoloft for years and didn't gain a pound, stopped all medication all together for a year came back to it and gained weight on it...

im just growing up and changing, things work differently sadly.
I have tried therapy but besides my worry "what if"  mind . I have been taught ways to challenge my worrying thoughts and i still use them. It is hard to be convinced you are ok when you are putting a foreign substance into your body everyday though.

I think on friday when i go to the doctor im going to request i be taken off sinequan due to the fact that i experience nothing buy sleepiness from it... no relief from the anxiety or depression and i have had side effects such as urine retention and hypoglycemia. All within 3 weeks of use.

The xanax works like a charm but i have only taken 3 in over a week. I wish they could just give me xanax xr and that be it. :/

thank you for always reading and trying to assist me.
btw i start therapy yet again whenever there is an opening at the counseling center on campus.

[Paxiled]

Probably Prozac or Lexapro.  But you answered your own question -- everyone is different.  Prozac does seem to have the least chance of the ssris for weight gain.  With the tricyclics weight gain is rarer, though it can happen, but then there are other side effects such as dry mouth and constipation.  Look, these meds are affecting your brain, they're all going to have some side effects.  The question is whether they do more for you than against you.  And you're only 23, you're metabolism isn't slowing down that much yet unless you don't exercise.  I'm 56, and my metabolism is still fine because I exercise a lot, but I still gained 50 pounds on Paxil.  You're not going to get a good answer.  But I will ask, are you in therapy?  If you can make that work, you might be able to get off the medication carousel.