Comparing the SSRI's - Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, etc.?
I know that all drugs work differently on different people, but I'm just posing very general questions.
Which SSRI tends to be the most effective for the most people? And which tends to have the lowest amount of side effects?
I took Paxil years ago for anxiety, and it was wonderful - worked great, and zero side effects except for the dreaded sexual side effcts. Withdrawal was bad but manageable by weaning myself slowly. More recently, I took it again, and it put me to sleep. I was yawning all day. Same with Lexapro.
My problems have increased now to incude depression as well. I tried Wellbutrin for a couple of days, and the first two days and the first night were fine, just a little dizziness, but the second night it made my anxiety way worse, and I couldn't sleep because I was having panic attacks and my heart was racing. I couldn't sit still.
I am thinking I need to go back to an SSRI, and potentially add the Wellbutrin back in once my anxiety is under control.
Prozac is the only one of the group I've truly never touched. Technically not Celexa either, but that's basically just another form of Lexapro. I was on Zoloft for a very short period of time a long time ago with no issue.
Any general thoughts on the differences between these meds?
I know these meds need a certain amount of time before giving up, but the wellbutrin made me have terrible panic attacks, heart racing, etc, and there was no way I could go in to work Monday like that.
I know Lexapro is not exactly the same as Celexa, but it's pretty darn close. They just pulled one of the isomers out of Celexa to make Lexapro, hoping that it would result in less side effects. (Or at least give them a new patent...)
