ANTIDEPRESSANTS??

Hey all, I had a question for those of you who are on any kind of anti-depressant. Since my surgery I have felt so over emotional. I feel like I am having PMS 24/7. I used to only feel this way the day before my period now I feel emotional all the time. I am experiencing serious highs and lows. There are times that I don't even know why but I am down in the dumps. I am thinking about talking to my doctor about something to balance me out. I was wondering about what others where on and what you would recommend. I think I remember reading about an anti-depressant on this board that also increased you sex-life. I have heard that certain types are better for weight loss. Please let me know. Much Love, Shelli 337/237/137

Hi Shelli, I have been lucky, I was able to go off my antidepressants after surgery but was on a nice ****tail before. Indeed, many do have sexual side effects-usually they depress your sexual interests. Your doctor would be the best person to recommend a course of action for you as all. These meds work differently for different people and you may need to try a few over a course of time before you find relief. I would not let my PCP prescribe antidepressants for me, seek a qualified individual in the field to help with this. You will find that a good psychiatrist will be much more informed and able to get you on the right meds sooner. Good luck-I hope that you will be feeling like yourself again real soon!! Nancy A p.s. Some of these drugs also have unpleasant side effects so be very attuned to your body and your outlook-it would also be a good thing to have someone you love and trust give you their honest feedback about how they think you are doing.

I suffer from chronic depression, but since WLS, I haven't had any symptoms. In fact, I have done much better since my hysterectomy in 2003, and that may be one of the reasons. Over 12 years ago, when I was first diagnosed, I used Prozac, but it really snuffed out my sex drive. It was as if someone turned off a switch---and I had zero libido! Well, my doctor cut back on my dosage, but it never really came back on while I was taking the drug. Also, another side effect of antidepressants was not being able to feel the extremes of emotions---like uninhibited joy when you feel like laughing, and deep grief when you're at a funeral for a loved one. (sigh) Although you know the drugs are doing what they were intended to do, you cannot experience the natural range of emotions that are actually very normal with life. So.....as the years went by, and if I ever needed to go back on antidepressants, I would discover that there were new and better drugs (supposedly) than Prozac. Honestly, I don't know if they are any better---because I had a bad side effect with the last one I took, and I have just avoided taking them in recent years. For me, this is what has worked the best: Exercise. Plain and simple. Exercise is what I need to kick my serotonin levels back into normal range. It's just what I need to keep feeling good. But.....this is just me. If you are feeling depressed, and you know what that feels like.....get some help. Depression is a real side effect of WLS. Don't delay from feeling better! You deserve to feel good! About the sex drive....You can try the new drugs and just see how they affect you. You won't know for several weeks probably, and then make your assessment then. Just check with a professional about this. And, also think about talking with a counselor while you're taking antidepressants. Studies have shown that the two work best, hand in hand. Good luck with your journey! ~Laura

I am on a low dose of Zoloft and have been on it for a year now, but like Laura said exercise has done more for my depression than the Zoloft has, so much more that I was thinking of asking my doctor about weaning me off of it. I have been clinically depressed for most of my life but only started getting treatment for it in my forties. At forty I was put on paxil and talk therapy and that helped a lot but insurance issues caused me to finally stop the talk therapy (by then I was on a high dose of paxil) and I realized I was feeling numb more often than not so I went off the paxil without a drs supervision. Huge mistake, so much so that I know that I will discuss stopping my Zoloft with my doc instead of doing it alone (I am doing the therapist bit every two weeks to help with my food issues). I cannot speak about the sex life bit since I have always avoided sex issues. Good luck Shelli, but don't ignore the power of exercise for feel good endorphins.

I felt the same way , and my doctor gave me lexapro now i feel great all the time , i donot even get pms anymore

i take lexapro , it helps weight loss, kills sex drive , but keeps you happy, happy , happy , you do not enen get pms duting that time ofthe month