Hi Mkal,

My doctor (a woman) also prescribed antidepressants for my severe menopause symptoms--I am taking a generic called sertraline, which is likened to Zoloft. I find that it does have a positive calming effect for my anxiety and depression, and I know this because when my prescription ran out, I waited a few weeks before refilling it, and found the symptoms returning! I choose to keep using it since it helps me, and I do not notice any side effects.
I still feel great emotions and mood swings, but am able to self-soothe via guided meditation, exercise, just being outside on Mother Earth, and having someone to talk to is always nice. That is why I am in this support group online! all the best to you :)

I had very bad experiences with 4 of them. I am dead set against them.

1. Paxil - caused vomiting and headache
2. Effexor - hot flashes, sweating, weight loss, nausea
3. Lexapro - hallucinations
4. Zoloft -headaches and dizzy spells.

I think they are horrible drugs!

I went on a very low dose of Celexa for about 2 years. For me it worked GREAT! (every one is different, so you need to find what works for you). I had no side effects. I was able to sleep again, no anxiety or depression. It also worked quickly. I could feel a difference within the first week.

After about a year and a half, I felt I could go off of it. I weaned off, but had some stressful crap happen and the depression and anxiety came back. I went back on for about another 6 months and then weaned off again. I have not had a relapse in symptoms even with 2 deaths in the family and some other assorted stressful events. I have been off of it now for about 9 months and so far am doing fine without it.

My aunt tried Celexa and it didn't work for her . .. however, she tried Cymbalta and she said it was like a miracle for her. Her depression was VERY SEVERE. She says she now has her life back!

I would highly recommend working with your doctor to find the correct med at the correct dose. Anti-depressants affect everyone differently so it is often times a matter of trial and error until you find one that works. Celexa is one of the newer ones.

One thing to keep in mind is that behavioral changes should also take place in addition to the meds, and not just meds alone. I started trying to get more exercise (biking and hiking) as well as going to some group meditations. Walking the beach helps me a lot! It is very important at this stage of the game to FREQUENTLY indulge in the things that give you JOY!!

I think I am finally over the worst part. I still get the occasional hot flash and heart palpitation, but the emotions have leveled out A LOT! I just reached the one year mark without a period mid January 2014. Yay! I am feeling like the old me now!

I hope this helps :)

I would never tell anyone not to take them but as I had such horrendous, life-altering experiences, I felt the need to compel my feeling about these "mid-altering" drugs.

First of all, after I joined the Citizens Commission For Human Rights, I realized that I had learned the hard way. First by listening to these doctors and doing what they said, going through withdrawals like a drug addict and then making my own conclusions by listening to what others had gone through by using the ones I mentioned above.

Basically they all work the same depending upon the dosages. There is no medical test that can determine if the brain is lacking serotonin or other so-called "happy" chemicals. if you see Zoloft commercials it will say "it is thought that these 2 chemicals" A+B and the little sad blob is floating to uptake these chemicals with their poisonous inhibitors. It is therefore, that when my aunt who was on Celexa, tried to jump out the window of her 3 story home after a bout with knee replacement surgery, I went on the anti-depressant bandwagon and preached from my soap box.

Call anti-depressants my "pet peeve." Sometimes I get into trouble for expressing my views and so be it if I do. If someone feels they help, good for you. I have seen too many bad experiences and suicide attempts because of a "theory" that the pharmaceutical companies advertise on televison

Mkal, are you suffering from depression or anxiety or both? I think each person is so unique with how they react to these meds. What works for one person may not work for another. And I honestly think the key to it all is finding your own way, using whatever tools work best for you.

I was offered anti-depressants...I even got the prescription filled...but I never took one. It just didn't feel like the right answer for me. But I was suffering from really horrible anxiety, not depression. When I switched to my new doc, she put me on Vistaril which is basically an antihistamine (in the Benadryl family)that is prescribed for anxiety. It's not habit forming (like Xanax), it's mild, and I just take it as needed.

If you are suffering from depression (which I do from time to time), then I say do whatever you can to feel better. I've heard many success stories about A/D meds and you deserve to feel better.

Good luck to you and hang in there!

I was curious why your neurologist rx'd it, then I read your profile. Since he/she thought it'd be okay, it might be worth a try. I was on lexapro for 4 years and have recently weaned off it. (my choice). Do not believe all the horror stories you read about coming off an AD. They are not "addicting" in the true sense of the word. Your brain does get used to them, but you don't have to increase the dose as an addict would.
I can say that hormones, Lexapro and ativan saved me. Meno was so bad for me, I thought of suicide. So, yes I'd have taken a pill made out of poo to feel better. I'm past that now after 5 years. I was a year w/o any meds thinking I was losing my mind and I almost did.
The choice is yours. But, you won't become addicted to an antidepressant.

Anti-depressants ARE addicting. I was told this by my primary care doctor and then you must wean yourself off of them.

Effexor was given to me for hot flashes. It did not work. I took it for one week at one dosage and TOLD by the doctor to take more the second week. By the fourth week, I was addicted. When I called her and told her how rotten I felt, she said "Okay, just stop taking them." WRONG. I stopped and what I didn't know was that it was cold turkey. I got very, very ill. I threw up for days and could not keep anything in my stomach. I tried jello and cottage cheese and nothing would stay down. I laid in bed sweating and hallucinating. My grandmother who died in 1957, was sitting on my bed and stroking my hair. I hope it was her, but this pill causes hallucinations in some people and suicidal tendencies.
I would suggest using google and seeing the support groups for people "hooked" on anti-depressants and how they can't get off of them. They also cause weight gain. They play with the thyroid function. Also please see "The Citizens Commission For Human Rights." There are shrinks on there that turned on their own profession because of these horrendous, mind-altering drugs.

Much thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences. I've decided not to take anti-depressants. I'm just going to be good to myself, continue therapy, eat well, exercise, and whatever else I need to do, including staying on this website.
Good luck and hugs to all of you!