| I've taken sertraline, venlafaxine, bupropion and fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is the only SSRI I experienced no withdrawal from. I was on a low dose (10-20mg) though, and it mostly worked (went from severe depression to mild/none). I have a standing prescription for this as a fallback, but haven't taken it in 3 years. I avoid taking it because of the sexual side effects. I like having orgasms. Bupropion triggered a seizure after the first dose. Immediately discontinued. Venlafaxine was mostly effective, but I went from depressed to robotic/apathetic. When I stopped taking it, I tapered off, but I had brain zaps and developed acute tinnitus for over a month, alternating in each ear. To this day, 15 years after treatment, I still experience moderate hearing loss in my ears several times a month for about 60-90 seconds at a time. Sertraline was the worst. I got up to 150mg before the problems. It triggered a hypomanic episode that lasted for about a month. I didn't sleep at all for the first three days it manifested. The doctor stopped treatment immediately and put me on risperidone, which is a new level of awfulness. I just quit taking it after a month, and told my doctor I would never take any antipsychotic again. I have a great doctor now. He's not even a psychiatrist, just a generalist, but he's treated many cases of depression over the past 20 years. He figured I didn't have unipolar depression, but bipolar, due to the hypomania. SSRIs are bad, and not recommended, as monotherapy for bipolar. So he put me on lamotrigine and I haven't had a depressive (or manic) episode for over two years. I've also experienced no noticeable side effects. I've found the only thing that matters in the treatment of mental/behavioral disorders is your doctor's skill and knowledge. Don't be afraid to dump a mediocre doctor; it's your wellbeing on the line. |
I had a very similar experience. Tried a couple of SSRIs prior to sertraline and had a manic episode shortly after starting it. I was up for about 3 days and drinking furiously. Felt like I was on coke. Immediately stopped once I realised what was happening but it was so gradual and I was manic so it had to be pointed out to me that I was flying.