Anti-depressant that doesn't make you tired

[OllieR]

I need an anti-depressant that doesn't cause so much fatigue. Right now I'm on zoloft and I'm tired all the time. I don't take it for pain. I actually take it for anxiety. My doctor thinks I have a chemical imbalance from having untreated pain associated with IC for so long. Before IC it was quite out of character for me to be significantly depressed or anxious. Anyways, the chemical imbalance seems to leave me unable to simply go off the medicine. I tried to go off it recently and I ended up sobbing and in tears because it snowed. :loco: Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Cassaundra]

I am taking 25 mg of amitryptiline, the generic for Elavil. While it did make me tired at first, I grew used to it.

I take it for nueropathic pain, frequency/urgency, and nocturia.

What mg are you taking?

[OllieR]

Thanks! I should have mentioned though that I already had tried taking Elavil and it gave me a rapid heart rate and more anxiety. That is the only other anti-depressant I think I have tried though.

[Cricketmk3]

I take Wellbutrin which hasn't made me gain weight like Paxil did...actually I think it helps me maintain my weight. It also doesn't make me tired...seems like it does just the opposite. It has worked well for me. :)

[Jereme]

It's trial and error with those types of meds. If one isn't working for you, try another.

[OllieR]

Hey everyone. For now I've gone off the medicine and I'm doing pretty well. I'm not as tired and my moods are completely out of control. I can tell though that I have some chemical imbalances because sometimes a little thing can really set me off. Since it really isn't too bad I've been talking to my doctor about managing it with meditation and yoga.

[Charisse]

Unfortunately I think most ADs that make you tired are also the ones that work better for anxiety versus depression. Wellbutrin is not as good for anxiety but like the PP said everyone responds differently. There are so many different ones today that it sounds like you have a lot to choose from and I would most definitely try something else. Savella is one that is not supposed to make you tired and is being used to treat pain as well but I am not sure it would be good for anxiety either as my dr. told me it can give you a sensation of rapid heartrate.

[etherealred]

First of all... who is prescribing your meds? If you are not seeing a psychiatrist for psych med distribution and treatment, I strongly recommend that you do. Just like how you wouldn't see a primary care doctor to treat your IC, it's not a good idea to have someone other than a psychiatrist (a good one, too) prescribe your psych meds. The other kinds of doctors aren't specialized enough with psych issues to be able to best help you in that area.

Anti-depressant side effects vary from person to person. I, for one, have never had been on an anti-depressant that doesn't make me a little sleepy after I take it, or with some of them, so sleepy that I had to take them at night. The longer I take the particular med, the less tired I get while on it. The body does usually adjust eventually. I have been on almost every antidepressant they make, including a lot of the tricyclics, all the SSRIs except for the brand new ones that came out the last couple years, and some of the unique ones like Remeron. Never been on an MAOI- never will.

I am so thankful that your symptoms does not appear to be severe from what you are saying. Nobody deserves that kind of hell. I do understand that even though you do not require a lot of meds, that your symptoms are very bothersome and can make life super difficult!

I am happy to say that I can now manage my depression and anxiety without a ton of medication like in the past! After being on 5 different max dose psych meds at one time for about four years, I am down to only taking 20 mg of Paxil at night and am working with my doctor on tapering off my Remeron. I will probably always have to be on some kind of anti-depressant, but I am just thankful to be done with the massive amounts that I used to have to take.

I now incorporate quiet meditation and relaxing/centering activities. When I didn't have such extreme IC pain to deal with, I was a huge fan of yoga and moderate aerobic exercise like using an elliptical at the gym. Swimming is also helpful for me because I love being in the water. The anxiety, which used to be disabling, is now usually able to be managed without meds. If I do need extra anxiety help, I am able to take up to 3, 50-mg pills of Vistaril spaced throughout the day. It is a sedating antihistamine. It helps with my anxiety without making me tired, and I can use it long term without worrying about dependancy. I have specific triggers for panic attacks, high anxiety, and the psychosis that I have identified... now that I know what they are and my baseline of anxiety is lower in general, I avoid those triggers. By doing so, I have only had a few panic attacks in the last year, which is great compared to how I used to have several massive ones a day.

Hang in there. I wish you the best!

[Julie Ann]

I wasn't taking this for IC, but I was on Effexor for awhile, and that didn't make me tired. Years and years ago, I tried Lexapro (for about 5 weeks, I think), and I actually stopped it because it gave me a little trouble sleeping. (Not to stop others from trying it, though, I've always been a bad sleeper and it might not affect someone else that way). Finally, my husband takes Wellbutrin and he feels like he has more energy. Best wishes finding just the right medication - I know that can be frustrating.

[CherylSLP]

Effexor XR is one of the few (and I have tried most of the new ones) that does not make me sleepy. Most of them did make me sleepy too.

[jen48446]

I have taken all but maybe 3 antidepressents, most of them made me sleepy & tired all the time we all react differently though.

It may not be a chemical imbalance however I'm not a doctor either!!! My issue was hormone imbalance & it took me years to figure out what I needed.

:angel::smile tee:cat: