Depression (major depression)

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• December 10, 2011 12:46 a.m.

  I have been on Lexapro for about a year and Seroquil for about 6 weeks. I have had a tremendous weight gain, particularly my torso area. I hardly eat, as I have so much gastric discomfort. I really want to get off of these drugs so I will feel better and get my weight normalized. I have read a number of well cited articles on the weight gain issue but actual experiences tell a different story. These drugs cause a pretty sizable weight gain. I exercise 3X a week for about 1.5 hours and can't believe I gaining weight. I hate to think what is causing this in my brain.

  - Terry

• October 31, 2011 8:20 a.m.

  My son has been on Wellbutin for some time and has serious constipation and numerous resulting hemmorhoids.

  - Mary

• October 2, 2011 12:49 p.m.

  Was prescribed Paxil to treat my major depression a few years back. It caused me to have absolutely horrendous nightmares almost every night. Ended up afraid to go to bed. Was switched to Celexa and Welbutrin, after which the nightmares subsided. I didn't realize, at the time, how dangerous Paxil can be for some people. Anti-depressants can be an excellent treatment for these disorders but must be approached very carefully. Do your homework before getting involved. Several of the side effects noted in these comments are things that I/we have to deal with everyday. As much as I need treatment for my long standing major depression, at times, I loathe the day I began drug treatments due to the nasty side effects and the fact that I feel like I've been experimented on like a guinea pig. The help, provided to me, by the use of anti-depressants has been nebulous at best.

  - Dave

• September 17, 2011 2:56 a.m.

  Interesting article, but it did not mention sun sensitivity, which several antidepressants are known to cause. Several years ago I was on Prozac and another antidepressant that I don't remember how to spell. I developed a horrendous case of acne and sun sensitivity (burned whenever I went outside). My face is now permanently scarred. While on these drugs, I tried to commit suicide twice and once attacked my mother for no apparent reason. I gained 50 pounds (even though I was not eating, an no exercise/diet would let me lose it) and the insomnia I suffered from became much worse. Taking an antidepressant was the worst mistake I ever made. Worse still, the condition I was treated for turned out to not even BE depression. My exhaustion was due to an infect gallbladder and my pain was a birth defect in my spine. Please, please, PLEASE make sure that you are actually depressed (and not sick) when you are given an antidepressant! These drugs are over-prescribed. I will bear the scars of my misdiagnosis for the rest of my life.

  - Camille

• September 14, 2011 10:35 p.m.

  Doctor, i require your professional help, I have a friend who lives in indonesia and is being treated for major depression, been to see a specialist in Malacca Malaysia and was given a three month course of treatment of fluoxetine Hydrochloride (prozac. This was about 6 weeks ago, since then he has not worked, wants to be alone and not see people and I went with him to malqaysia for short holiday, during the last day (September 6) sharted to show signs of depression and made statements such as may never return to Indonesia for example. he is in a relationship with a married woman who has two children and wants a devorse from the husband but husband refuses to give. The situation is complex regarding the house and the business which the woman owns and operates in indonesia, my friend desires to marry the woman but cannot do anything due to womans family situation. I am getting concerned about him as he is a good friend what advise should i give him.

  - Peter

• August 20, 2011 10:50 p.m.

  I also suffer from sweats that keep me absolutely drenched all day long. I am taking Cymbalta. The drug does seem to relieve depression symptoms while increasing energy, but my husband swears he will soon die of hypothermia. I cannot tolerate heat whatsoever. Also, to the person who asked about not wanting to shower when depressed, I absolutely dreaded the process of getting into the shower and could not even bear the thought of water running down my body.

  - shana

• June 22, 2011 2:22 p.m.

  I took Efexor for 14 years and developed a sever case of scalp psoriasis..not one doctor..and I had many including 2 dermatologists suggested the anti-depressant could be the cause..I weaned myself of Efexor and the psoriasis has cleared up. Now I have to find something that will help my with me depression but not have this very extremely anti-social and uncomfortable side effect.

  - Sara

• January 20, 2011 11:14 a.m.

  I have been on Efflexor for a few months. I am finding I have memory and concentration problems. I've also experienced confusion as to where I am when out and about. Is this unusual? It is scarry.

  - Smiley

• November 19, 2010 6:18 a.m.

  It very nice post.. Thanks for sharing this antidepressant side effects..

  - Bezielen

• November 5, 2010 2:55 p.m.

  I see several comments about excessive sweating. I have found that norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are proving to be my cause of the sweats. At first I thought I was enjoying the lovely "hotflashes"; however, this type of sweating is distressful, to say the least. If I take only SSRI's..such as prozac..lexapro..I do not have the excessive sweating problem. It is only when I take a medication that inhibits the norep reuptake that I suffer the dreaded sweats (such as Cymbalta, Pristiq, Wellbutrin). It is unfortunate that I seem to actually feel better..happier..energized with those meds that cause me to sweat. I wonder if there are other remedies or meds that would allow the use of SNRIs or NDRIs by counteracting the effects of excessive sweating? Any ideas? Do any of you get feedback from your posts? Good luck to all.

  - Debi

• October 5, 2010 10:24 p.m.

  DOES DEPRESSION IMPACT CLEANLINESS? I DON'T WANT TO SHOWER ANYMORE AND AVOID IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

  - HANNAH

• September 13, 2010 9:54 p.m.

  Can Seroquel cause a person to do things without being aware of doing them? Does anyone else take the prescribed Seroquel and go to bed, then awaken to find that he or she has driven, bought things, eaten or drunk without knowing it?

  - Lou

• July 16, 2010 2:25 p.m.

  hello! having stress depression and anxiaty is hard enough to deel with. then when we are put on these medications that are supose to help us it seems to make things feel worse beacause of theeir side effects. i think if people are going to be put on meds that they should make meds that have less side effects,and also be put on meds that are usfull according to their body's cemical inbalances that are usually not testet for.

  - joann

• July 13, 2010 4:12 p.m.

  I have dry eyes and with Celexa my eyes are unbearably dry and irritated. Also lots of fatigue. I quit Celexa and immediately dry eyes are okay and fatigue is gone. I finally feel normal again. This drug is not for me.

  - Hena

• January 21, 2010 11:37 p.m.

  I didn't know there was a name for having the swets. I am on effexor, have been for 5yrs. I swet profusely, at work, in conversation sitting, forget it when ib am really doing something physical! I never thought it may just be Effexor. I still have bad days, but not severe as before. I heard it is hard to get off Effexor, thanks for making me aware of a problem. Janet

  - janet

• December 13, 2009 8:51 p.m.

  I also have the "Seroquel Sweats", but they started out a long time ago when I was put on Serzone after a suicide attempt. I'm feeling much better now (12 years later) on Effexor and Seroquel. I still have the sweats though. The thing that works best for me is to have a small fan with me everywhere I go. I can't use it all the time, but it's a life saver when I can.

  - Margaret

• December 5, 2009 5:38 a.m.

  Informative post. Thank you for sharing such an important information about the antidepressant side effects. This will be very much helpful for the people to know about the side effect. When I have suffered by the depression my friend suggested a product ProVanax which an natural products without any side effects. I am able to see lot of changes myself..

  - Jacob876

• December 1, 2009 8:48 p.m.

  My daughter has alopecia universalis and she has been taking lexapro. She has stopped the lexapro and her hair is coming back after a year and a half. She was taking lexapro for about 3 years. Not sure if it was the cause of the total hair loss but we can't help wondering!

  - Nanci

• October 27, 2009 8:00 p.m.

  Anyone else out there experience hair loss while taking prozac?

  - Pam

• October 20, 2009 1:17 p.m.

  i was starting to think that there was nothing for my depreesion i need to know the symptoms and causes.

  - Jo

• October 9, 2009 11:34 a.m.

  My sister is on antidepressants and she is now in a state of just not caring about anyone but herself. This was not her old personality. Unfortunatly it is her children, my husband and I that see this. She manages to fake interest when other people are around. We all see her much more than anyone else. Plus she has told all of us she just does not care any more. She is in a state where she does not disagree with her husband at all, so he keeps telling everyone that their marriage is the best it ever has been. I am truly concerned for her. Should I be??

  - Debbie

• October 2, 2009 9:44 a.m.

  i have a ex-girlfriend who just got out of another bad relationship. We lived together for 14 yrs. I broke up with her because she had abandoment issues. We are still friends. When things go wrong in her relationships, she always calls me. I told her she needs to get help. She is now on Cymbalta 60mg. I told her she may need to increase her dosage. She is shaking, while taking it. I still love her dearly, she really is a good person. I can only do so much for her. I need suggestions as to how to help get her over this last failed relationship. He use her for 6 yrs. Now she is so depressed it is shameful. I am afraid she will kill herself. I need help quickly.

  - Tony

• September 28, 2009 12:45 a.m.

  I seem to be one of very few who has Serotonin Sweats and frankly the sweats make life very frustrating, also dumb things like messes up my make up, makes me heat intolerant big time, like forget trying to do anything outside until the temps go down to the 60's otherwise I get lightheaded. I wear very light clothing all the time, sleep with two fans on me, and often throw the windows open in Dec. resulting in my husband wearing a heavy coat indoors, under a blanket to watch TV. I could really use some ideas.

  - Mary

• September 1, 2009 4:47 p.m.

  I have been taking anti-depressants for 16 years. For the past two years I have been suffering from dry mouth and recently I also have dry nose. I do not know if this is caused by the pills, but it is certainly unpleasant.

  - Frances

• August 4, 2009 4:09 p.m.

  After taking Pristiq for about six weeks I started having nose bleeds and wheezing. My doctor told me to stop which I have but I am regressing to my depressed state that began when I lost my husband of 53 yrs. I am nervous about staying alone at night, I am constantly on the verge of tears. If someone mentions my husband I start to cry. I would appreciate any advice. The nose bleeding has stopped but an ENT cauterized my nose and the pulmonary doctor washed my lungs so I can't be sure if it was stopping the pristiq or the treatments.

  - JoAnn