Recommend anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medication that will not cause weight gain or impact sex

[Anonymous]

I know that I need to be on meds, but I'm scared after a horrible experience with Paxil that left me absolutely ravenous (I gained ten pounds in a month!) and an inability to reach orgasm. It was awful. And getting off it was even worse. A year later I am willing to try again but I can't deal with either of those side effects. Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Lexapro is pretty mild as SSRIs go, though honestly it really depends on the person. Lexapro gave me night sweats and diarrhea. I'd rather gain 10 pounds. Your doc also has to consider your history with Paxil and how it helped with your anxiety/depression. It might turn out Lexapro is not a good fit. I would just talk to your doc and mention that appetite and weight gain are concerns.

[Anonymous]

Trintellix

[Anonymous]

Look up some information about Wellbutrin. It might be a good fit for you. Paxil is of the devil, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Wellbutrin

Lexapro had those side effects on me

But I use it instead of wellbutrin cause wellbutrin made me feel braindead when I didn't sleep well

[Anonymous]

Lexapro completely shut down my sex drive and I don’t think it ever came back to the point it was before taking the drug.

[Anonymous]

Wellbutrin is not good for anxiety. That said, I loved it and haven't found anything as good in the half-dozen meds I've tried since it pooped out on me after almost 10 years.

Currently on Trintellix for going on 2 months. Not doing a lick for anxiety but I'm extra anxious these days anyway and basically need a tranquilizer at this point. It has helped with the suicidal ideation and dysthymia. Orgasms are difficult but not as bad as some of the other SSRIs. It majorly effs up your stomach for awhile...eat yogurt every day and don't be shocked if you have a major shart incident or two. Personally I'd rather crap my pants than endure uncontrollable suicidal thoughts but that's me.

[Anonymous]

I had no trouble with either when I was on zoloft for years.

[Anonymous]

I was unable to orgasm on lexapro (on a very low dose). It was a deal breaker for me, so I stopped. No side effects to stopping. I’m on Zoloft now and I’d say my drive is a little less, but the sex is still good. So I’ve been staying on it. No weight gain...yet. I started back in February And actually lost weight at first, probably due to having more energy and exercising more. I think the sexual side effects have actually lessened over time too. It sucks. But it’s an experiment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was unable to orgasm on lexapro (on a very low dose). It was a deal breaker for me, so I stopped. No side effects to stopping. I’m on Zoloft now and I’d say my drive is a little less, but the sex is still good. So I’ve been staying on it. No weight gain...yet. I started back in February And actually lost weight at first, probably due to having more energy and exercising more. I think the sexual side effects have actually lessened over time too. It sucks. But it’s an experiment.

I’ll add that my therapist wanted me to try Prozac, but my OBGYN recommended Zoloft based on my fear of sexual side effects. She said she had the best luck with Zoloft for minimizing that particular side effect (She said Prozac was the worst for that in her experience) and told me we’d add in Wellbutrin if it happened to me again. she said most people regain libido by adding in Wellbutrin. But i haven’t had to do that.

[Anonymous]

Wellbutrin made me crazy literally. Horrible nightmares and almost to the edge of suicide for no reason. Really messed with my brain. Lexapro for me is great - no side effects at all.

[Anonymous]

Zoloft has worked well for me and not affected my sex drive too much (I have noticed a slightly lower drive and that it takes a bit more effort/time to orgasm but not too much different than before).

I tried lexapro a few years ago and did not like it at all. It made me feel like a completely different person—like I had no personality or connection to myself. I was just empty-no feelings at all.

On the Zoloft I feel basically the same as usual just less anxious and depressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zoloft has worked well for me and not affected my sex drive too much (I have noticed a slightly lower drive and that it takes a bit more effort/time to orgasm but not too much different than before).

I tried lexapro a few years ago and did not like it at all. It made me feel like a completely different person—like I had no personality or connection to myself. I was just empty-no feelings at all.

On the Zoloft I feel basically the same as usual just less anxious and depressed.

Oh and neither medication made me gain weight. In fact I’ve actually lost a bit of weight/noticed less appetite than usual since starting Zoloft.

[Anonymous]

Zoloft didn't seem to affect my sex drive. No significant weight gain either although without anti anxiety meds, I tend to lose my appetite.

Now on Lexapro since July. Weight stayed same and sex drive is normal.

[Anonymous]

I lost weight on Wellbutrin and had no decrease in libido. But it's not good for anxiety and sometimes gave me insomnia.