Anyone here on our board take antidepressants?

I took them for years up until about 2 months before surgery. I weaned off of them and never got back on once I had the surgery. The way I have been feeling the last couple of weeks makes me think it's time to get back on them. Lately, I struggle daily with so much stress and anger. I am sure I am a bear to live with too! I was taking Effexor XR before. It worked well for the most part. But, if I missed just one dose, I felt like crap! I do know that there is a non-extended release form of Effexor. I was just wondering if there might be something else out there that may work better. I can't do Paxil (no big "O"), Prozac (gave me a rash), or Zoloft (ended up in the ER with severe anxiety). Lexapro anyone? I hear alot of WLS patients taking that with good results. I don't know what to do. I have a doc appt tomorrow to discuss it. I need to get out of this funk for sure! Thanks for listening... from the woman! Lori

Hi Lori, From one woman to another, I too take antidepressants. I take lithium and a generic brand of prozak(fluocetine) cause my insurance won't pay for the real thing lol. I say go to your doc and get him/her to put you back on the effexor if it worked for you. I know from experience that you will only go further into your funk if you don't take hold and do something. Take care Joyce

Thanks Joyce. I need all of you right now during this rough time. I went to the doc and she prescribed me Celexa. She said it has the lowest occurance of side effects. I agreed to try it since it comes in liquid form. I figured it would absorb better. My insurance doesn't cover Effexor and it's expensive so I am gonna try this. Hopefully it works for me. Thanks again! Lori

Hey Girl... Sorry to hear that you've been down in the dumps lately. I hear ya when it comes to busting our butts & being looked at like we have 10 heads when we fly off the handle & ask for help.... Families can just tear a woman up... Anyway, I took lexapro for about 6 or 7 months prior to surgery. It wasn't too bad, but it made me kind of wacko. Like I would want someone to hand me a pen & I couldn't remember the word "pen"... I'd be like "hand me that thing over there...you know the thing you write with" So that didn't last long. It was also really reduced the sex drive...pretty much was GONE... Just a little note. That Dr. that spoke at the convention spoke alot about metabolism boosters & vitamins etc. He said that 5-HTP was just as good as paxil or any other anxiety medicine. You may want to give that a try. I believe he said work up to 900 mg a day, but not quite sure on that. You may want to talk to your Dr. & see. I say we plan a girls weekend away...hahahahahaha Now there's a stress reliever right there.. Keep posting, we're always here for you.... Tammy

Girls weekend away???? I'M SO THERE!!! Thanks for the advice. I went to the doc and she put me on Celexa. I have never tried it but she says it has the least side effects so I figured, what the heck. And it comes in liquid form. It is like Lexapro so I will be careful to watch for the same effects it had on you. I have real problems with lots of meds so we shall see. I just hope it makes me feel better. Lori

Hi Friend... Glad that you saw your Dr. right away & didn't wait until things got out of hand. I hope it works for you. Keep me posted & remember I'm here for you ((((HUGS)))) & Tammy

Lori Awww.. Im sorry but I was a Zoloft girl.. But I have noticed increasing amounts of testsertone and my PA says its because as we gained weight- we gained testosterone- men gain estrogen- isn't that weird? I thought I had too much estrogen and that was throwing my TOM cycle off - so maybe its this excess testosterone that is wreaking havoc with yu and intensifying everything..I wish there was another way I could help ya.. I stopped doing the zoloft at surgery- and tried it like in December- but I dont think Ive done it since- I think my outlook has picked up- but whatever you do wind up taking- ask if it will cause you to gain any extra weight- the endocrinlogist told me - Zoloft would hold up some of my weight loss. Just thught Id mention that. Hugs .Im into Gnite! Feel better Donna

Thanks for the hugs Donna! They mean alot! I will try this new stuff and see what happens. I just hate the thought of being back on daily meds but I will do what I have to to feel better. Thanks for always having kind words for me. You are the BEST! Lori

Lori, I've taken Celexa for a long time. I take pills thuogh, they're quite small. I've never really had any side effect from them. They say that it decreases your sex drive, but as I have no sex life I wouldn't know! I've been really bad lately about taking any pills at all and am really starting to feel the effects! So I've posted reminders all over the place and have gotten better. But I didn't restart the Celexa thinking I didn't need it. I'd just begun to realize that this was a big mistake when I saw your post. I'm starting to cry at the least little thing again and I think I look like a fat pig! The last part is probably true, I still have a long ways to go. But I haven't felt this way since surgery. So it's back to Celexa I go! Hope it helps you! Michele T

Hey Lori, I take Lexapro. I took it preop and continued taking it post op. It's been 2 years now. I've tried many others over the years and find that this one had the least amount of side effects. We are all so different and unfortunately, it's a trial and error thing. Good luck and hope you're feeling better soon. JP