Non-SSRI Anti-depressants

[Buckmark]

Folks,

I'd like to solicit your thoughts and experiences with anti-depressants -- specifically those that are not SSRI types.  My current anti-depressants just haven't been cutting it for the past few months, and even my therapist suggested that it might be a follow-up with my psychiatrist, which I have on December 19.

Currently, I am taking Wellbutrin and nefazodone, which are not SSRIs.  They're just not cutting it.  I've tried a litany of SSRI anti-depressants in the past, but they have all caused insomnia, jitters, and sexual side-effects that were fairly complete (no erection, no ejaculation, no nothing), even though I stuck with them for about 3 to 4 months each.  Talk about depressing!  And they really didn't do much for my depression.  Over the years, the SSRIs I have tried include Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Cymbalta, Lexapro and Zoloft

So I'm investigating what other non-SSRI type anti-depresants are out there.  From what I read, other types like MAOI and tricyclic anti-depressants look like they have even more onerous side-effects. 

Yes, I know my psychiatrist will have the knowledge and experience to suggest alternatives.  But when it comes to my health, I'm the type that likes to be prepared when I talk to a health-care provider.  I'd greatly appreciate any of you who could share their own non-SSRI anti-depressant experiences, so I can do some additional investigation before talking with my psych.

Thanks,

Henry

[Miss Philicia]

Remeron

[gregftl]

Folks,

I'd like to solicit your thoughts and experiences with anti-depressants -- specifically those that are not SSRI types.  My current anti-depressants just haven't been cutting it for the past few months, and even my therapist suggested that it might be a follow-up with my psychiatrist, which I have on December 19.

Currently, I am taking Wellbutrin and nefazodone, which are not SSRIs.  They're just not cutting it.  I've tried a litany of SSRI anti-depressants in the past, but they have all caused insomnia, jitters, and sexual side-effects that were fairly complete (no erection, no ejaculation, no nothing), even though I stuck with them for about 3 to 4 months each.  Talk about depressing!  And they really didn't do much for my depression.  Over the years, the SSRIs I have tried include Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Cymbalta, Lexapro and Zoloft

So I'm investigating what other non-SSRI type anti-depresants are out there.  From what I read, other types like MAOI and tricyclic anti-depressants look like they have even more onerous side-effects. 

Yes, I know my psychiatrist will have the knowledge and experience to suggest alternatives.  But when it comes to my health, I'm the type that likes to be prepared when I talk to a health-care provider.  I'd greatly appreciate any of you who could share their own non-SSRI anti-depressant experiences, so I can do some additional investigation before talking with my psych.

Thanks,

Henry

 first of all...what kind of depression are you suffering from?  do you suffer from fatigue, sleeping too much, or do you suffer from insomnia and do not have fatigue...or anxiety?
 lets do this...email me and describe to me your symptoms...my email is sflaboy25@yahoo.com
 i will try to help you the best i can because i know how depression just sucks everything out of you and feels like you are drowning in a black hole...with nobody to help you

[bobino]

Hi Henry,

I've been on a lot of non-SSRI antidepressants as well as a number of SSRIs, and the non-SSRIs definitely work better for me.  Another advantage is that most, if not all, of them are now available in generic form and are thus dirt cheap.

Right now, I'm on trazodone (Desyrel), which I take at bedtime.  It's neither an SSRI nor a tricyclic.  It's a great medication for those (like me) who have anxiety that gives them trouble sleeping.  I understand that these days it's rarely prescribed as an antidepressant, but it works really well for me.  I've experienced very few side-effects from it.  Trazodone does affect blood pressure, so it can throw your balance off, especially right after you've taken it.  In addition, it can give you nasal congestion.  I've found all of these things to be minimal, though.  Best of all, I have NO sexual side effects from it.

I have also been on nortryptyline (Pamelor), which is a tricyclic antidepressant.  The principal problem with this drug was the incredible dry mouth it caused.  I also had some weight gain from it, but some of that was water weight from all the water I drank trying to deal with the dry mouth.  It can give you some pretty vivid dreams, too, especially when you first start taking it.  It caused me more than a few "night terrors" when I started treatment.  So, you have to realize that it might cause you to wake up screaming in fear, but if you're like me, that'll only happen a few times before your body adjusts.  After a while, I sort of developed an ability to control the dreams, and that was pretty interesting.  Otherwise, no noticeable side effects.

Another tricyclic I was on was imipramine (Tofranil).  It worked as an antidepressant, but that's about the only good thing I can say about it.  It made me extremely lethargic; I gained weight; I had no libido, and I had a hard time getting or keeping an erection.  Not sure if that was just because I had no libido at all, of because the drug was causing ED.  Kept with it for months until I finally gave my psychopharmacologist an ultimatum -- either he'd have to find me another med, or I was going off the stuff entirely.  It was miserable.  Oh, yeah, then there's this whole urinary retention thing that some people get from the drug.  In me, it was minimal, but some people start taking the drug and discover that they can't pee.  Nice.

I also tried desipramine (Norpramin) for a while, which I was told would be similar to nortryptyline.  I really didn't stay on it too long.  I think the prescribed dose was too low, since I basically crashed back into a deep depression.

One thing you have to remember, though, is that these meds have radically different effects on different people.  My personal experience is only that -- my personal experience.  I had a horrible time with Tofranil, but you might take it and find that it's the perfect drug.  I'm sorry to have to say it, but finding the right drug is pretty much trial and error.  It took me over two years of experimenting to find what works for me.

Not sure if any of this helps, but then, as the old saying goes, this advice is worth exactly what you're paying for it.  

John

P.S.  You can read more about tricyclic antidepressants here:

http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/treatment/antidepressants/tricyclic.asp