Antidepressants

ddsb1111

Apologies in advance if this topic has been overdone. I’ve seen some recent responses to antidepressants that others have used and I’ve wanted to ask more questions but didn’t want to derail the thread.

Like anything this important I’m aware I need to speak to my doctor, and I do appreciate that feedback if and when it comes because it makes sense. However, I’d be interested in knowing what your personal experience has been with different types and how that has impacted your weight loss goals. I’ve been on the same thing for so long I don’t think I have a clue what may be better or other new options.

Particularly interested in a hybrid option for depression and anxiety without the “f-it” symptoms I’ve had from other types I tried almost 20 years ago.

kshama2001

Many antidepressants are associated with increased appetite, and so weight gain. Wellbutrin is not one of them. I was really happy with Wellbutrin and took it on and off for over 20 years, the off being late spring - fall many years as I felt I didn't need an AD as much when I was spending more time in the sun.

I felt it was less effective in 2021 when I was selling my house and started trying different ones. In retrospect, I should have just added something for anxiety. I cycled through a number of ADs which all s*cked for one reason or the other. I've been taking Buspirone at night and this helps me sleep and with anxiety.

I've been back on Wellbutrin for 10 days as one of two drugs in Contrave. Am having a lot more side effects, which I am attributing to the other drug, Naltrexone, since I didn't have them previously. (Headache, stomachache, constipation.) I'm not having much appetite suppressant effects yet, but I'm only on a quarter dose ATM - am titrating up slowly for a variety of reasons.

ddsb1111

@kshama2001

I take Wellbutrin and have a similar anxiety but haven’t added anything for that. Mostly I just avoid situations that overwhelm me, specifically anything with loud noises or crowds. I’ve been nervous about adding anything to the mix without hearing others’ experiences. I also have high functioning Autism so creating a very safe and peaceful environment is really important to me. I teeter from controlling my environment to avoid adding another medication, and taking something so I can have more experiences. I just don’t know if the side effects are worth it.

I really appreciate your response. I hope the Contrave will level out for you soon. Getting used to a new medication can be challenging but hopefully it’ll be worth it in your case.

chris_in_cal

Well this is not my normal posting, but it's a fit. In 2010, For about 18 months I took Welbutrin, and lost a ton of weight. Between my circumstances, my brain, and how that drug impacted me, I was on point. It was also my first couple of years on MFP.

With added anxiety, after a year on Welbutrin, the doctors wanted me to add on an additional SSRI. (Effexor)

I agreed to do the double for 3 months only. It was fight, because they didn't want to set an end date ahead of time. But I prevailed and all agreed to a three month double drug trial.

For three months I was on both, then afterward just Welbutrin for another month or so. Then off both of them altogether.

I was (am) skeptical of the drug treatments. But in all honesty I did very well with Welbutrin except for increased anxiety. And while on both for three months it was a real golden period. It worked.

Since I stopped all 10+ years ago, I feel like I did pass through something and the drugs helped.
I've not had any depression or anxiety since stopping those drugs that made me consider getting back onto them.

ddsb1111

@chris_in_cal

That’s really interesting, I’m so pleased you were able to use it successfully and then taper off as planned. And great job advocating for yourself. I still have hopes that one day I will be medication free, hey you never know.

For some reason I never attributed my anxiety to Wellbutrin, not sure if I’ll ever know unless I’m off the drug. Thanks for bringing that to mind as a possible (maybe even likely) side effect. I’m not aware of any other side effects at this point as I’m pretty acclimated to it now; in terms of an antidepressant that’s pretty good. Would be nice to not be overwhelmed when I go to the grocery store or drive though.

Did you gain weight or did your hunger increase once you stopped using it? And has your anxiety completed stopped as well? I know it’s been about 10+ years so it might not be something that comes to mind at this point.

chris_in_cal

ddsb1111 wrote: »

For some reason I never attributed my anxiety to Wellbutrin

Would be nice to not be overwhelmed when I go to the grocery store or drive though.

Did you gain weight or did your hunger increase once you stopped using it? And has your anxiety completed stopped as well?

A lot of this info isn't specifically about meds.

-I'm pretty sure increased anxiety is thing with Welbutrin. Your topic here is "antidepressants" and "anti-anxiety" is a whole other thread.

-I just returned from the market (before 7:00 a.m. is pretty nice, even though I'm not a morning person)

-Yes, I've blown back up. I'm positive my larger weight fluctuations have many causes.

The 10 year ago meds interaction knocked down a big depression and I've moved on. Anxiety is always an underliying thing with me, one that I continually am trying to address. It is not debilitating, but can be close to overwhelming at times. Good luck. Send a friend request if you have any other ideas or questions.

chris_in_cal

If you are a reader this is my favorite book so far this year.
Strangers to Ourselves
(Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us)
by Rachel Aviv

kshama2001

ddsb1111 wrote: »

@kshama2001

I take Wellbutrin and have a similar anxiety but haven’t added anything for that. Mostly I just avoid situations that overwhelm me, specifically anything with loud noises or crowds. I’ve been nervous about adding anything to the mix without hearing others’ experiences. I also have high functioning Autism so creating a very safe and peaceful environment is really important to me. I teeter from controlling my environment to avoid adding another medication, and taking something so I can have more experiences. I just don’t know if the side effects are worth it.

I really appreciate your response. I hope the Contrave will level out for you soon. Getting used to a new medication can be challenging but hopefully it’ll be worth it in your case.

ddsb1111 wrote: »

@chris_in_cal

That’s really interesting, I’m so pleased you were able to use it successfully and then taper off as planned. And great job advocating for yourself. I still have hopes that one day I will be medication free, hey you never know.

For some reason I never attributed my anxiety to Wellbutrin, not sure if I’ll ever know unless I’m off the drug. Thanks for bringing that to mind as a possible (maybe even likely) side effect. I’m not aware of any other side effects at this point as I’m pretty acclimated to it now; in terms of an antidepressant that’s pretty good. Would be nice to not be overwhelmed when I go to the grocery store or drive though.

Did you gain weight or did your hunger increase once you stopped using it? And has your anxiety completed stopped as well? I know it’s been about 10+ years so it might not be something that comes to mind at this point.

Boy can I relate to wanting to avoid loud noises and crowds! I think I have Auditory Processing Disorder but while the audiologists in the VA are aware of it, they don't treat it. I went to Neurology at the VA for it about 10 years ago and the doctor and his supervisor weren't even aware of it >.<

I did have treatment for hyperacusis because that was all that was available. This didn't help, because issue is not that I find sounds unbearably LOUD, but I find competing sounds DISTRACTING and ANNOYING. For example, I'm fine at a Metallica concert. But if I'm at a smaller venue and the band isn't loud enough, and people are able to talk, I find that annoying. Really annoying. It "hurts my brain."

I had a funny conversation with the audiologist this week. She said there's no treatment for APD. I pressed her. She said kids in school can wear a certain type of hearing aids that will block out background sounds and the teacher can talk to them through a mic. I said I wanted that - this would allow me to go to a crowded restaurant with my partner and be able to tolerate the background noise and be able to focus on what he is saying. So they are going to start the process of hooking me up with that in October.

What I've been doing is using the sound cancelling feature on my airpods. This helps a lot. However, it's a good thing I was treated for hyperacusis because consistently essentially using earplugs without sound could have made things worse. So, it's fine if I have noise cancelling on, as long as I am also listening to music or words.

This helps me deal with the noise of my air conditioner or crowded grocery stores. I try to manage stores by going at off peak hours, but if it's unavoidable, the airpods really help. I'll make an exception to the "must use with sound" rule in this case, as 99% of the time I can arrange my errands around off-peak times. I have difficulty trying to think about shopping while words are in my ear. I could probably handle music, though.

ddsb1111

@kshama2001 I’ve basically diagnosed myself with Auditory Processing Disorder. My husband and I were talking about how it’s painful for me to be around loud noises and/or multiple sounds at once and thought we should look into why that may be and if others experienced it as well. That’s when we first saw the term. I’m not sure how else to explain the sensation other than painful or debilitating. Although it’s different than cutting your hand or falling down, it’s just painful in a different way. I wonder if I started taking something for anxiety it might help with this. I’m not sure I’m ready for another medication with its own set of side effects when I can avoid situations that spike my auditory issues, but I do realize that my husbands life becomes more limited because of me and that bothers me.

It never occurred to me that sound canceling hearing aids were an option, I’m intrigued. I used to joke that I was going to start wearing earplugs and ear muffs everywhere we go and turns out I wasn’t too far off 🤭 I hope you find it effective and helpful, please let us know how that goes.

It’s funny you brought up music. In our house we have music playing from the second we wake up until after dinner. I have different playlists for morning, working, afternoon, working-out, cooking, and the car. Whenever I’m gone my husband says the house feels weird because I’m not there having music orchestrating our life. You’re right, it absolutely cancels out any background noise. I also find it very peaceful and self-soothing. I’m not sure how I would feel in a concert, I’ve always wanted to go, but my apprehension towards the crowds has made me avoid it so far. I’d love to try a smaller venue with tables if that’s even a thing anymore just because I love music so much.

I’m going to try your AirPods idea and see how I do. I honestly think if I could minimize the impact of the volume and surrounding noise I could reduce my anxiety without medication. Might be worth looking into. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and what’s been working for you.

ddsb1111

chris_in_cal wrote: »

If you are a reader this is my favorite book so far this year.
Strangers to Ourselves
(Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us)
by Rachel Aviv

I am, thank you for the recommendation!

kshama2001

@ddsb1111 in the Boston area there are smaller concert venues with tables - the Pavilion comes to mind, although I believe it's been renamed again. However, last time I went we were seated there and I didn't really enjoy it because while the music was still quite loud, people were able to talk/yell over it, and my brain hates those competing sounds.

I think you got what I was saying about sound cancelling but just want to reiterate - using earplugs, or sound cancelling ALONE, can make things worse. Make sure to have sound with your airpods or whatever device.

I have lots of playlists too If I'm using a recipe while cooking and need to concentrate, I use music without words, and if I don't need to concentrate I have music with words or NPR.

ddsb1111

people were able to talk/yell over it, and my brain hates those competing sounds.

Ugh, this is my fear, paying all that money and feeling stressed the entire night, and ruining my dates night. It’s a real thing.

Make sure to have sound with your airpods or whatever device.

TY, and noted 😊

while cooking and need to concentrate, I use music without words

Spotify is my best friend. Their Instrumental playlists keep me from getting board and I can learn new music I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

kshama2001

I totally relate to what you've been saying about not wanting to limit your husband's life. My desire for the same is why I've been seeking help. On my own, I'd stick to my quiet introverted bubble

This summer I went to three movies, an unusually large number for me. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 was pretty loud - I had sound cancelling on a lot. Not so much during Joyride or Barbie. In the past, I've used earplugs, but the airpods work better to allow just the right amount of sound in.

Completely unrelated to my use at movies, where I was essentially using them as high tech earplugs, I bought the 2nd Generation recently because I needed its feature of being able to control the volume on the piece itself, rather than on my phone or my TV remote.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BDHWDR12/

I also tried Bose's version a few months ago. I found them very hard to use and I returned them.

I no longer leave home without my airpods

chris_in_cal

ddsb1111 wrote: »

while cooking and need to concentrate, I use music without words

Spotify is my best friend. Their Instrumental playlists keep me from getting board and I can learn new music I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

I like having music on in my house. For me I've found I can concentrate with instrumentals, and also (I am monolingual) music in another language.

A French stream or Spanish and I am as able to focus just as I do with instrumentals.

davert123

It is really worth looking at a book called potatoes not prozac by Kathleen Desmasions. Don't give up the meds whatever you do if you are taking them, but this book explains some of the physiological causes that can make depression worse - namely simple carbs/sugars affecting endorphin levels in the brain. Its a simple book and you could read it in a couple of evenings so it is really worth looking at.