Medication Choice?

[Michelle68]

I have been on Effexor for 3 months, but have gained 7 pounds so called my doctor for alternatives. He suggested the following: Welbutrin, Prozak, Zoloft, Paxil, or Selexa. Does anyone have any personal experience with any? I would love to hear.

[sandyrdh1]

Only Zoloft which you should watch as it can make anxiety worse . Also weight gain and sexual side effects .

Looked into Welbutrin which looked good but is something like $170 a month here .

Yes Zoloft make my anxiety 100 times worse for me and landed me in the hosp:( but everyone is different.

[alankay]

I would try zoloft, followed by celexa. I use prozac but it can be activating(cause some initial anxiety) but for me it has few side effects at 20mg. If depression is the main issue, try wellbutrin first. Alankay

[bpage]

Zoloft worked wonders for me, no anxiety ( on 100 mg) and no racing thoughts, but a few days ago I started feeling really funny. I don't want to get out of bed any longer, I am very anti-social and I don't want to leave my house with out my significant other. My boyfriend told me I've been like a zombie, and I seriously feel emotionless. It's a shame because I really have loved the feeling of peace lately but I don't like what it's been doin to me lately. It works different for everyone but my advice, take your time in upping the dosage if you try zoloft, I upped it in a month and wish I would have waited longer. It works different for everyone. Good luck to you.

[Michelle68]

Thanks, everyone!

[nicole2003]

Have u.found a med yet? Im recently on 20mg paxil and have taken up to 40mg of celexa before. Celexa helped a little.but.more for depression then anxiety. It has few side effects though and easy to come off of..no weight gain. paxil helped in the beginning but i gained about 15 lbs in 4months and feel anxious again. Has lots of side effects. But like everyone said each.one of us.is.different with each med.

[Michelle68]

Still taking the Effexor ... trying to deal with the weight gain by watching everything I eat. I'll add exercise if diet alone doesn't work. I feel great emotionally, just not physically :(

[Unsociable Me]

I had my dr. switch me to Wellbutrin after taking Effexor for many months. You are lucky - I gained almost 30 pounds, I used to exercise 5 days a week, and lost all interest in that and was constantly hungry, not to mention I had absolutely no sex drive whatsoever. So far the Wellbutrin is doing it's job although I think it needs to be upped a tad, I have only been on it for 3 weeks. I have noticed I am a bit dizzy.

[bajablue]

Add the exercise Michelle. It is a big part of my fight against Anxiety. I take a high dose of Zoloft with zero side effects and it helps greatly against panic/anxiety in my case. Welbutrin was a killer on the anxiety - making things much worse for me (I took a small dose in addition to Zoloft as it is in a different family - not an SSRI). Of course like many here - for the breakout situations I have a Benzo on hand at all times because one never knows :D