Anti-depressant ??

Just wondering what your experience with them is? Thinking I might start taking one to help me get a grip on things....what do you take and what kind of side effects do you have? Anything you would not take because of WLS? I hear lots of different things about them and I am just not sure....please share your info....I wouldn't come here if I didn't trust your opinion....

I take liquid Prozac for depression.  It gave me a blunted emotional feeling, so my doctor added Welbutrin, and it really evens things out.  I also take Colozepam (sp?) disolve tabs for anxiety.  The only side effect from any of this is a lowering of the sex drive.  But how interested are you in sex when you are drepressed, so I'm really no worse off.  The Welbtrin also helps counteract that side effect.  The important thing is to talk with your doctor and make sure he understands your new issues with absorbing meds, ect.  It also takes a while for meds to get into your system and work to their fullest potential.  Paxil made me gain weight big time before my surgery.  Also, don't take anything that is extended release.  Good luck.

I take Effexor, and it works pretty well.  I do experience muted emotions, but I am ok with that.  The only noticeable part of that is that I have trouble crying.  I feel the emotion, but in a muted sort of way, and the waterworks just dont come. 

I take Effexor because my doc said that it doesn't cause weight gain.  

Good luck.  Keep trying something til you find the right fit.  I have taken Prozac in the past, and it worked for me.  I did have to up it after 6 months, but I think that may be common with any antidepressant as you develop a tolerance to it. 

hey
Everyone is different, and what works for some doesnt work for others  Keep in mind to make sure you tell your doc that you cant do the extended release ones, and it takes a few weeks for them to fully take effect.  Also, sometimes, at first, they may make you really sleepy or drugged feelin, but that will subside after a few days. 
Also, sometimes it takes goin thru a few different ones before you find one that works. Dont give up

Liz

Dang, Julie ..  I've always thought of you as our "Ms. Upbeat" of the TMB!      


   But that doesn't mean you can't have a bout with the post-op blues, like any of us  ..  

   I really think my life was saved by being put on Cymbalta at about 2 years out ..    My POB had slowly snuck on me and  increased to the point it had almost did me in, before I realized what was going on and sought help  ..  

   It's no surprise then that I highly recommend Cymbalta (or its related drug, Celexa) for post-op depression .. 

   Good luck to you ..  

Cymbalta!  I've been on it for a couple of months and it's made a world of difference for me.  Julie sometimes it takes trying different things to take the "edge" off.  I've taken Lexapro before with good success also BUT I gained weight with it.  I've tried Wellbutrin and it did not work for me.

Paul, you are right I agree.  I didn't know what anxiety felt like before the past 1 1/2 years.  Know I know what it feels like and all I can say is WOW.

Paul, I completely agree with you.  Psychotrophic drugs are nothing to play with and certainly need the advice and perscribed by someone who is very confident in what you need vs. what is available.  I was on Welbutrin and it messed me up, I became paranoid and my hair fell out (way worse than WLS).  I've tried several different kinds before having them ween me off all of them and haven't taken any in several years.  I've been struggling with some depression issues lately myself but my fear of going through that mess again has really caused me to look for more natural choices first. 

Just be sure to get the right help when taking these... please. 

welbutrin works great for me - my doc told me there are basic`ally 2 differnt brain chemicals that they can treat with meds - I am violently algerci to the other one so finding one that works is a huge deal to me

like liz said - give it a few weeks to see if it is working and if you are having alergy symptoms and on some kind of alergy med be aware some of us react to certian meds with alergic reaction

I know that for me anti depresants are a way of life b/c I have a chemical inbalance that causes me a LOT of sever depression -

I have not had the weight gain side effect many experance on them - I do know one thing - what ever you end up taking

DO NOT GOT OFF THEM WITH OUT YOUR DOCS KNOWLEDGE AND HELP!!!!

my OB insited that b/c of some issues while pg I went off of mine for 5 days - by the end of day 3 I was not able to be left alone b/c I reacted sooooooooo badly to coming off them cold turkey - so just relize you must build them up in your systme and you must wean off them slowly when you come off - and I am not normal  - shocked to hear that right - most folks take them for a year or so and then come off

hugs
danni