4 ms·

Lexapro (Escitalopram) saved my life. I don't care what any meta-analysis says: years of diet, exercise, and meditation did 5% of what 1 month of Lexapro did fo

by seibelj 11y ago

Lexapro (Escitalopram) saved my life. I don't care what any meta-analysis says: years of diet, exercise, and meditation did 5% of what 1 month of Lexapro did for me. I will take it until I die.

exolymph 11y ago
I've had a similar experience with venlafaxine (Effexor). I feel no need to go off the drug. I don't care if it's addictive -- I'm able to function and feel happy. That far outweighs $60 every couple of months. I wouldn't want to risk losing my stability and capacity to enjoy life.
berntb 11y ago
Be careful. I am no expert, but do know that at least some people will have bad influences from antidepressants. (An ex gf was dependent on antidepressants years after the reason she needed them. She was quite messed up, until she started to quit very slowly. [Details might be sensitive, comment if you want me to email details.])
stevedonovan 11y ago
Myself likewise. I don't wish to revisit the pit and wallow through the cognitive fog. An interesting aside: why do users of antidepressants feel the need to reduce their dose? It's a benign addiction, like moderate caffeine dependency. One reason is that there _is_ a trade-off; these drugs make us a little dull and less interesting to ourselves.
- biturd 11y ago
  side effects.
  - stevedonovan 11y ago
    Fair enough, I've been lucky. The only side-effect I've noticed over long-term use is a slight dullness. Some people suffer all kinds of weirdness.
    - neverknowsbest 11y ago
      The worst luck is experiencing side effects/personality change from the meds, but not being able to notice them _because_ of the medication.
  - exabrial 11y ago
    May try reducing the dose without going off? Sure things will be a little bit wilder, but there's non-drug therapy (exercise, CBT, etc)
- Jasamba 11y ago
  Just the nagging feeling that this is not really you but a 'drug' induced state. In any case, I'm generally paranoid of medications given the frequency of hidden side effects that aren't revealed/discovered years later and the general evilness of the pharma industry. Down from 100mg to 25mg now, I've constantly been trying to find a way to replace it with more 'natural' things like meditation, reformulation of stressful situations. That being said, the effect of the SSRI's was like day/night for me, and I would recommend anyone who's been suffering for depression to atleast give it a go with the caveats in mind.
a3n 11y ago
Same.

by seibelj 11y ago

Lexapro (Escitalopram) saved my life. I don't care what any meta-analysis says: years of diet, exercise, and meditation did 5% of what 1 month of Lexapro did for me. I will take it until I die.

exolymph 11y ago

I've had a similar experience with venlafaxine (Effexor). I feel no need to go off the drug. I don't care if it's addictive -- I'm able to function and feel happy. That far outweighs $60 every couple of months. I wouldn't want to risk losing my stability and capacity to enjoy life.

berntb 11y ago

Be careful. I am no expert, but do know that at least some people will have bad influences from antidepressants. (An ex gf was dependent on antidepressants years after the reason she needed them. She was quite messed up, until she started to quit very slowly. [Details might be sensitive, comment if you want me to email details.])

stevedonovan 11y ago

Myself likewise. I don't wish to revisit the pit and wallow through the cognitive fog. An interesting aside: why do users of antidepressants feel the need to reduce their dose? It's a benign addiction, like moderate caffeine dependency. One reason is that there _is_ a trade-off; these drugs make us a little dull and less interesting to ourselves.

biturd 11y ago
side effects.
- stevedonovan 11y ago
  Fair enough, I've been lucky. The only side-effect I've noticed over long-term use is a slight dullness. Some people suffer all kinds of weirdness.
  - neverknowsbest 11y ago
    The worst luck is experiencing side effects/personality change from the meds, but not being able to notice them _because_ of the medication.
- exabrial 11y ago
  May try reducing the dose without going off? Sure things will be a little bit wilder, but there's non-drug therapy (exercise, CBT, etc)
Jasamba 11y ago
Just the nagging feeling that this is not really you but a 'drug' induced state. In any case, I'm generally paranoid of medications given the frequency of hidden side effects that aren't revealed/discovered years later and the general evilness of the pharma industry. Down from 100mg to 25mg now, I've constantly been trying to find a way to replace it with more 'natural' things like meditation, reformulation of stressful situations. That being said, the effect of the SSRI's was like day/night for me, and I would recommend anyone who's been suffering for depression to atleast give it a go with the caveats in mind.

a3n 11y ago

Same.