Which Anxiety/Depression Med Has Least Side Effects?

So let me ask thisi understand if on anxiety/anti-depression meds that it can cause sexual dysfunction- especially in men- i have read where (spelling) Welbutran has the least amount of sexual dysfuntion- Now i understand this is a pesonal subject and alot may not want to share or simply wont- but my question is: if a man was to select a anti-anxiety/anti-depression drug which one has the least side effects and especially for sexual dysfunction? and women please chime in if you have information you would like to share on the subject on your self or your partner- and i have another question -how long can you take anti-anxiety drugs forever? or are u supposed to get off of them eventually- I understand that some drugs are better that others at fighting pain (and i have alot of pain) so is there one that does it all very low cause of sexual dysfunction, no zombie effect, controls twitching, and helps with pain- also last question- if you have been on an anti-anxiety/anti-depression drug for a long time how does it effect you in the long run- I have not tried then for a long time as im not supposed to as i am a pilot- however i believe i may be losing the battle with the anxiety/depression and may need to hang up my headset (which s***s bad)D

David,sorry to hear of the anxiety issues, mine as well! I am on lexapro, and have been for about a year. I have really no side affects that I am aware of except the one that you are suggesting. It is not that there is any 'dysfunction' per say ( everything works OK) it is just that I am never 'in the mood'... ie no or little sex drive. I have a wife who 'feels' the same, so I guess it is not an issue. but it could be for others!PS ADs may not 'cure' your anxiety, they just take the edge off itcheersRodger

David, I took anxiety drugs for 4 months when i first started the twitching and self diagnosis, i am no DR. (but i do play one on the internet LOL) but i can tell you that you build up a tolerance to these drugs very quickly and they lose effectiveness as that tolerance goes higher. I had a lot of pain with the onset of the BFS and all the excercise intolerance that is talked about i don't fly but i drive 50-60k a year so i have a lot of lower back issues that are just part of aging that sucks as well. My doc asked about depression and i said no because i new i wasnt depressed i just had anxiety that i had to deal with and i will say that the xanax helped immensly for the first 60 days then it was of no use and i had to wheen off the physical addiction that happens with Benzo's and then figure out how to deal with from there. I will tell you that i still have goofy stuff happen that screws up my head hear and there but i have gotten back into working out and i find that it helps more than any drug i ever took. the first 30 days i had twitchin, buzzin, numbness, aching everywhere and i thought it wasnt worth it to continue and i told myself that i would give it 60 days and i am now at 120 days and i don't have any of thoses feelings outside of the normal BFS crap. I am back to all the weights i was doing before the freakout (benched 335 the other day and i am 41). Sorry this got long winded, also to your point on sex, it never slowed me down, and i was taking 1mg three times a day for a long time. i wouldnt recommend that much to anyone though, i was crazy. Good luck

i am now on Venlafaxine 225mg.these type of meds can reduce sex drive in the beginning but your body seems to get used to it and sex drive returns to normal levels.hope this help ......keep it up

Was on lexapro for a few months and then switched over to celexa when my health insurance changed. Lexapro had the same active ingredients that celexa has, but is apparently refined. Anyway, didn't have any sex drive issues or dysfunction the way you seem to indicate, but getting to the "O" took longer (though this could be a good thing and sorry to anyone who is offended by this as I am just trying to help). Anyway, that side effect went away after a couple of months. I needed the anti-depression/anxiety meds or I would never have gotten through the "dark days". I stayed on them for around 9 months total and just went cold turkey getting off them, without side effects (this method is not typically recommended, though. Weaning is supposed to be the way to go). Didn't have any effect on my twitching, but would recommend it for depression/anxiety. Hope this helps.

Thank you ALL for the replies- i greatly appreciate them all-as of yet no anit-anxiety meds yet as my GP is also my flight physical Dr so he is kinda anti - anti anxiety or anti depression drugs - as he knows how much i love to fly- but i may be gettin close to just havin to take them for awhile- he will give them to me if i ask for them i think but i have not asked yetDavid

I took seroxat (sp) for a while....and when I found that the "old man never got to the top of the hill" I gave up. he would climb the ladder but never get to the top...LMFAO. I hope you know what I mean.......

Totally understand what you are saying Angus-great analogy..bit like the little steam train going up the steep hill story..I think I can ,I think I can..I know I can.........no I f**kin' cant! Mate watch out when you actually get to the top of that hill....there'll be a landslide!!!!! see yaRodger