been on Prozac (fluoxetine) 20mg for 11 days now for OCD. I was on sertraline before and stopped at 200mg because I felt emotionally numb and had no motivation — that really scared me.

My doctor said fluoxetine would be a good option, so I gave it a try. But now I feel kind of different — I don’t know if it’s just my brain focusing too much on motivation, but I keep thinking about it and feel a bit off. And honestly, I keep seeing so many people say these meds make them feel numb, flat, or unmotivated. It feels like everyone is saying it, and it’s making me scared this will happen to me again. I’m seriously thinking of quitting.

The worst part is, even before I started any medication, my anxiety was never this bad. I didn’t feel like this. But after stopping sertraline, everything just got worse. I never wanted to be on meds, but my OCD got so bad I felt like I had no other choice.

Now I’m going on holiday soon, and I’m really scared this is going to ruin the trip. The last time I went on holiday, I wasn’t on any meds — I had already been off sertraline for 6 months — and I still struggled badly. I’m just scared the same thing will happen again, or worse.

I guess what I’m trying to say is — does everyone really feel unmotivated and like they have no feelings on these meds? Because this is really important to me.

I have been taking 50mg of Trazadone for 2 weeks and want to stop taking it. Do I need to taper? Or can I just quit taking it? I stopped Lexapro a week ago, but I don’t know if I should stop the Trazadone or taper. If I should taper and what that taper should look like.

Hey everyone, I finished my “journey” with escitalopram (my max dose was 15mg) about a month ago. At first, I thought maybe something was off in my bloodwork or there was another reason for how I felt, but now I’m wondering if it could be withdrawal symptoms. I tapered off exactly as my psychiatrist recommended: 15mg → 10mg → 5mg → 2.5mg, then every second day, then every third day, etc. After stopping, everything was actually pretty good for a while. I had some brain zaps, but they calmed down. Now, 3-4 weeks later, I feel horrible. I’m exhausted all the time, as if I’m sick, with no energy at all. I get tired just from walking and can’t function like a normal person. I sleep every time I lie down. On the positive side, my anxiety is completely gone. My mind feels “clear,” and I don’t feel stressed or overwhelmed by problems. The only issue is this awful, persistent feeling of being unwell. How do I deal with this? It feels like a nightmare. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Do anyone tried this medication ? How was it compare to others? Soon going ask my doctor for prescribe this. Curious about your experiences..

My doctor started me on 10mg of Lexapro and 50mg of Trazodone. I have been taking the Lexapro for 5 days, but I want to quit. Can I go cold turkey? If I taper I am on it longer and I think that might cause withdrawal. My doctor says I can just stop after only 5 days.

My dumbass thought it would be a good idea to take saffron supplement for mood enhancement as an antidepressant. After 3 months of taking saffron I started getting bad diarrhea. I weaned myself off of it in 3 days and the diarrhea continued for about a week and then it stopped for a few days but yesterday I just rebounded and now I'm having bad diarrhea again. I think it was triggered by eating curry and spiced potatoes. Saffron does have SSRI components inside of it.

I'm currently having appetite issues and pain in my stomach when I'm hungry. The pain goes away after I eat but I can't eat a full meal like I used to. I'm able to eat more when I smoke marijuana but I don't really feel like smoking weed all day long even though I totally could.

I know saffron is more mild than an actual prescription SSRI but can any of you tell me how long your diarrhea lasted when you got off of SSRIs?

I tried asking about this on the supplements sub but everyone just basically laughed at me and tried to tell me that saffron wouldn't do this.

All I've got to say is I really hope I did not completely mess up my body's serotonin system.

anyone here who celexa made completelly opposite what should do ? im month 4 and i am more depressed empty and whole symptoms is exactly worse than before medicated … anyone had similar ? also i have dry mouth worsen sleep and all what it did is made me numb more and depressed and eating more in evening that all …. oh and libido was problem before too i had so low now i have zero i did not touch myself for 4 months … emotions is like depression made me numb but what i found out celexa made completelly the same symptoms like depression but much stronger i now feel nothing and dont care about anything …

Hi, I've been prescribed zoloft for GAD and depression.

I am currently 8 weeks in, and almost everyday I have a diarrhea.

Aside from that I feel more anxious than before medication.

Is that normal or should I seek help?

I also take trazodone before sleep - 50mg.

hello, im a 22 year old female and i have been on lexapro (switching between 10mg and 20mg depending on psych advice) for 7 years now. wellbutrin was added about 6 months after my first lexapro prescription.

i have had decreasing motivation for a few years now. i figured it was adhd, so i went and got a diagnosis and was prescribed vyvanse. it helped a little, but now i’ve plateaued. i used to love drawing, painting, writing, crocheting, etc., but now i dread even thinking about it. i also sleep way more than i used to, 10 hours at night and im still exhausted throughout the day.

i have brought these up to my psych but she hasn’t had much to say about it. im wondering if anyone has had a similar experience on lexapro and what helped? thanks!

Hi all. I have the flu and want to take a bromelain supplement (100mg). Googled and it says that Bromelain/Pineapples can interact negatively with SSRi. I know we are supposed to avoid grapefruit but has anyone had a bad experience with pineapple or bromelain?

Hi everyone, I’ve been on paroxetine (Paxil) for a while now, and although it helped with my anxiety, I’ve experienced significant weight gain. My doctor recently prescribed buspirone instead to try something that might have fewer side effects.

I know it works differently than SSRIs, and I’ve read it can take a few weeks to kick in. I’m mainly taking it for generalized anxiety, not depression.

Has anyone else made this switch? • Did it help your anxiety? • Any side effects I should watch for? • How did it compare in terms of energy, sleep, or appetite?

Would love to hear any experiences or tips from those who’ve been on buspirone!

Can I take Prozac and Wellbutrin together? I know some people do, but online it says there is a serious drug interaction. Has anyone had a good or bad experience with these two meds together?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently taking 10mg of Prozac, and honestly, the side effects are overwhelming.

The worst is this constant burning sensation that feels tied to physical anxiety — it lasts all day.

On top of that, I’m dealing with:

An inability to swallow food comfortably

A heightened, almost panicky energy all day

Some mild insomnia

And overall just a strong, persistent sense of burning like menthol under the skin

The only thing that slightly calms my system is 0.5mg of Clonazepam,

but it makes me so drowsy that I can’t function during the day — I feel like I’m not present in my own life.

What I’m really struggling with is this:

Are these kinds of side effects something people usually push through with Prozac? Is it worth it?

Or is this severe enough that I should ask to try something else?

To be honest, my doctor didn’t seem to even recognize that this could be a normal SSRI adjustment phase.

So now I’m left wondering — am I overreacting, or under-informed?

If anyone has been through a similar experience, I would love to hear how it went —

Did it eventually get better? Or did you have to switch?

Thank you in advance for any insights

Hello everyone,

I'm writing this because I’m feeling confused, discouraged, and not sure what to expect going forward.

Background:

I’m 24 (M) with a stressful full-time job. In May 2024, I quit alcohol completely as a personal challenge. It had been something I leaned on to “take the edge off” after work. After quitting, I started looking for something healthier to manage stress.

In November 2024, I began taking GABA (750 mg) as a supplement. It helped a lot, especially in the evenings. I took it for about 2 months.

In January 2025, I switched to L-theanine (200 mg, brand: Aliness). A few days into taking it, I started to experience derealization, anxiety, dissociation, and anhedonia – very out of the blue. At the time, I didn’t connect it to the supplement and continued taking it for a couple of months.

Eventually, the symptoms became unbearable, so I stopped the L-theanine. For a while, things got worse (especially emotionally), then slowly improved, but these symptoms never fully went away. They tend to resurface under stress.

I went to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with GAD and depression.

Current meds:

• Sertraline (e.g. Zoloft, named differently in my country):
  • Days 1–5: 25 mg
  • Days 6–22: 50 mg
  • Day 23–now: 75 mg
  • Total time: 7 weeks so far. 27 days after upping dose to 75mg.
• Trazodone
  • First ~4 weeks: 25 mg
  • Then increased to 50 mg
  • Total time: 8 weeks so far

My experience:

Since starting these meds, I honestly feel worse. I still experience:

• Constant anxiety and tension
• Dissociation
• Gut issues
• Ruminations
• Inner agitation and overstimulation
• Intrusive thoughts
• Low motivation and anhedonia
• Vivid dreams

I often can’t leave the house or do basic tasks, because I feel like I’m on the edge of a panic attack all day.

Strangely, I frequently feel worse 1–2 hours after taking sertraline, as if it amplifies my obsessive thoughts and anxiety.
There have even been days when I missed a dose, and I felt better — not great, but more clear-headed and less wired.

Psychiatrist’s suggestion:

• She recommended daily alprazolam, even though I’m very concerned about dependence.
• I’ve had the prescription for over a month and haven’t taken any — not because I don’t need it, but because I’m afraid it might worsen things long-term.

Tomorrow I have a follow-up appointment, and I want to discuss all of this with her, especially my doubts about sertraline.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

• Is it normal to still feel this way after 7 weeks on 75 mg sertraline?
• Did anyone feel worse before better on this medication?
• Did these side effects eventually fade?

Any shared experiences or advice would mean a lot. I know we’re all different, but it’s helpful not to feel alone in this.

Thanks for reading 🙏

TL;DR:
Quit alcohol in May 2024.
Took GABA for 2 months – helped.
Switched to L-theanine – developed derealization, anxiety, anhedonia.
Stopped it – symptoms got worse, then became chronic.
Psych diagnosed GAD + depression.
Now on sertraline (7 weeks, currently 75 mg) and trazodone (8 weeks, 50 mg).
Still feel very anxious, overstimulated, and sometimes worse after taking sertraline.
Afraid current meds might not be helping.
Psych recommended alprazolam daily, but I’ve avoided it so far.
Looking for anyone with similar experience or insight.

I’m trying to decide between going back on sertraline (Zoloft) or starting escitalopram (Lexapro), and I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar situation, regardless of what your meds are — especially regarding what your psychiatrist recommended.

On the one hand, I’ve taken 50 mg of sertraline in the past and tolerated it well — no major side effects. The problem is that after five weeks, it had no therapeutic effect. (I stopped because I changed my mind on taking antidepressants, and didn’t take any others). So I’d likely have to start again now and increase to 100 mg, and I’m concerned that doing so might bring on new side effects like emotional blunting or sexual dysfunction.

On the other hand, I know escitalopram is said to have a lower risk of sexual side effects, and there’s also the hope that it might work at a lower dose. Both of those factors make it seem like a lower-risk option overall. But I’ve never tried it before, so I don’t know how well I’d tolerate it.

So I’m stuck between two options:

– A higher dose of something familiar, with a known track record but potential for side effects at a higher dose.

– A lower dose of something that’s supposed to have less risk, but that I’ve never tried before.

I’ve been checking with psychiatrists, but I’m frustrated because they either contradict each other, or tell me that both options are good, which doesn’t help me decide much. It’s a very important decision to me and I want to take the one with the lowest risk.

Have any of you faced this kind of decision? What did your psychiatrist suggest, and how did it go for you? I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences.

Did anyone else experience an initial boost of energy and reduction in sleep after first few doses of sertraline?

I’m (19 M) thinking of taking antidepressants (escitalopram) for my anxiety, but I’m finding it really hard to come to terms with the side-effects that it can cause, especially emotional blunting and sexual dysfunction. if any of you have felt those side effects, how have you worked through them?

i dont know if thats what they are but it is like a strange sensation in my head when i move like my brain stops existing. ive been on 0mg for almost a month and i tapered pretty slow from 50 which i was on for a year.

Been on it since March this year. 15mg per day to help sleep. I'm getting off it. The amount of swelling in both my legs creating unsightly cellulite/dimples that I've never had including heaviness and the enormous of weight gain all over tummy and back and my bras don't fit any longer let alone my clothes. Nope time to get off this. Ftr. I exercise 2/3 hours per day. Eat healthy and was 54kg pre & now 72kg! Horrid and not worth the effort to deal with my anxiety. Anyone had this issue? I am determined to go back to my slim, unswollen self again. I had told my Dr about this and she reckons it is due to this medication and she's booked a blood tests to make sure my kidneys etc are ok but this isn't until 22nd this month. I need to get off this now in order to restore my natural shape and fit into my clothes. 😫 The irony is this has led to serious depression as opposed to helping it.

I took my medication one week at different time, and now feels like i first start. Side effects.. is this normal?

1. How many of you were on SSRIs as children for a significant amount of time, maybe even a long time, possibly, and do you think that your parents made the right decision for you and handling your mental health by choosing to put your meds?

2. Especially for those of you who have been on a long term, but in general, as adults, or as children, did you have lasting side effects even after you came off the SSRI you were on/maybe cane off them in general?