Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?

#61

Post by aaaaaaaaata » Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 5:39 PM UTC

barrysteve wrote: post #8

SSRIs feel like a forced mood lift. Like Coca Cola gives you a sugar high. It has that same artificial-chemical vibe, just inside your brain. You are aware you are less depressed, and it's not from you, that's about it. You reason and perform intellectual tasks at the same pace as before, just less ruminating and negative mood. They also kill your sex drive and can cause some difficultly in the act of sex. This has f…

Sex hormones and stimulus need to make it to the brain to orgasm "right".

Receptor inhibitors will obviously inhibit receptors from receiving more than only "depression or anxiety related" signals.

Do the studies, but...seems like an easy win.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?

#62

Post by aaaaaaaaata » Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 5:39 PM UTC

NonNefarious wrote: post #25

barrysteve wrote: post #8

SSRIs feel like a forced mood lift. Like Coca Cola gives you a sugar high. It has that same artificial-chemical vibe, just inside your brain. You are aware you are less depressed, and it's not from you, that's about it. You reason and perform intellectual tasks at the same pace as before, just less ruminating and negative mood. They also kill your sex drive and can cause some difficultly in the act of sex. This has f…

The sex issue is disturbing. I found that the drug (now I don't even remember which one) didn't eliminate sex drive... it just made it nearly impossible to, ahem, complete the journey to satisfaction! And given the long ramp-up/taper-down time with these things, it's not as if you can just lay off them on date night.

/me googles how many mass shooters have SSRI history

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?

#63

Post by whoosh3 » Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 8:21 PM UTC

I'm glad you're seeking help! Taking medication of almost any kind is a scary proposition nowadays.

I have taken many different SSRIs and SNRIs since when Prozac was released in the US. I'm not going to say they are without side effects, but I can honestly say they haven't affected my brain, with the exception of helping me feel like getting up in the morning and being productive.

I wish you the best and hope that all goes well. You might also want to consider cognitive behavioral therapy if it's available where you are. I found that really helpful, especially when it comes to my predilection for "catastrophizing". And it could help you decrease your escitalopram dose.

Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?

#64

Post by RGamma » Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 8:23 PM UTC

My experience is actually rather good after 10 years. The 2 years I stopped it (fluoxetine) meant symptoms returned and quality of life declined hard.

It takes the edge away (no significant happiness/motivational boost for me). My intellect definitely has been damaged but it's impossible for me to ascribe it to any one factor.

That said without it the anxiety/panic would return and I don't know if I could take that anymore.

BTW for a time I also tried some of the harder stuff like high dose fluoxetine plus aripiprazole+biperiden (for the extrapyramidal side effects) and that does mess you up.

Also, cannabis gave me a good boost for a bit over a year (under fluoxetine). Almost normal productivity, but with a whiff of artificiality. Not a long term solution for me though. Guess it'll stay this intermediate way for now (and ever?).