Opinions - Taking SSRI's Without Depression?

[Bajeda]

I didn't really search too hard, but I couldn't find anything specific on this topic in the forums anyways.


I was wondering what the effects would be if someone who has practically no symptoms of depression (other than what would be perceived as socially normal patterns) started taking SSRIs.


Any research on this? Also, while Prozac and Paxil and other SSRIs seem to be more powerful and side-effect prone, what about natural SSRIs such as St. John's Wort? What would happen if someone were to starting taking those without really having depressive effects?

Just wondering what peoples' thoughts were who know more about the matter than I.

[wellhelm]

I was waiting for someone else to start the replies but no one has so I'll take a stab at it.

It's an intersting idea. It would take a while to find out though because most ssri's can take up to 6 weeks to show effects. But I don't think much if anything would happen if someone was not "clinically" depressed. I don't think one would notice much other than when one tried to stop and the chemical that destroy's excess seratonin(forgot the name) begins doing its job the way it was supposed to or below usuall standards which would probably result in actual clinical depression. But I'm a dumb ass guessing so I really don't know.

[bewilderment]

All of the same effects and side effects would apply except the medication wouldn't be alleviating anything. I don't really see in recreational value in such or much value period. Whenever swim has been on SSRI's they tend to make her jittery, she sweats more, has tremors in her hands, and has horrible insomnia (she has severe, chronic insomnia anyway and actually only slept 7 hours last week and became delirious whilst she was not even taking any drugs aside from drinking coffee in the morning and having some alcohol on three nights). Her insomnia usually becomes 2-3x worse. The only benefit could be that it may increase confidence a bit (sometimes) and it acts as a stimulant. But, there are much more pleasurable stimulants out there than this. It wouldn't really be worth risking the physical and psychological side effects (it could possibly contribute towards causing depression) especially since it has to be taken for so long daily meaning that it causes abnormalities in brain chemistry that take quite a bit of time to return to normal after cessation of the drug. SSRI's also cause memory impairment in a significant number of people. SSRI's also interact with a great number of drugs so one would need to be extremely careful to research all the interactions if one uses other chemicals.

And, as noted above there is often rebound depression caused when a person discontinues an antidepressant so one without depression may also experience this depression simply because the brain has become accustomed to having more serotonin present in between synapses.

[Bajeda]

I realize this is in the synthetics section of forums, but what about St. John's Wort? Swim knows several people who self-medicate using it and knows several others who are interested in it, hence the thread (they also were thinking about other pharmaceutical substances hence the thread placement).

How do the side effects compare to synthetic SSRIs, and what differences are there? Would it do anything to someone not suffering from depression, or someone suffering from mild depression?

[Lehendakari]

SWIM self-prescribed ssri paroxetine cause he heard great things about it relieveing social anxiety.

SWIM was not depressed, his social anxiety was bad but SWIM didn't get depressed for it, it fact he is and was in a good mood almost all the time.

After 2-3 weeks SWIM symptoms went away and he felt social, confident and extremely happy. It was certainly a great time for him. He was sort of high all the time.

When he stopped, symtoms came back, and for a month was very bad, he started to take SJW which helped for a week or so, but then it made symtoms worse.

SJW effects have nothing to do with those of SSRI's, it provided a good caffeine-like high in the morning and it had a mild calming effect. It reminds SWIM to ADHD medication ritalin although stimulation and euphoria are not that noticeable.

SWIM tried SJW when his brain was a bit messed up, withdrawing paroxetine, and in a very stressing situation in his job and social life so that might be the reason SJW reversed its effecs after a few days. SWIM would give it another try now that his brain is back to baseline.

SWIM also tried another herbal-SRI:
-Rhodiola Rosea which was also claimed to be a miracle. This did absolutely nothing for SWIM.
-Sceletium Tortuosum or Kanna. SWIM says it's good and worth a try but very mild and make sure you are getting the good stuff not the scammer's shit.
-Kava Kava. Works but also mildly and it's not worth the trouble

[Nicaine]

Originally Posted by Bajeda

I was wondering what the effects would be if someone who has practically no symptoms of depression (other than what would be perceived as socially normal patterns) started taking SSRIs.

SWIM's not an expert, but he thinks once the body adjusted to the side effects there would be little to report. Perhaps generally more stable moods... some people complain that SSRI's "flatten" their affect and blunt joy and elation as much as they blunt depression. Makes sense to SWIM... he doesn't see how a substance could eliminate one side of what amounts to a two-sided coin.

Originally Posted by bewilderment

I don't really see in recreational value in such or much value period.

SWIM did try combining Effexor (after being on it 3-4 days though) with propylhexedrine, and experienced some unusually strong entactogenic effects. He doesn't know how it would combine with other stimulants, but figures it *might* add an extra dimension to many substances that boost only dopamine and/or norepinephrine. At least until the brain adjusted to the SSRI, and downregulated serotonin receptors.

[doggy_hat]

Today swim has started a sertraline prescription for depression and social anxiety. In SWIM's opinion he is neither depressed nor suffers from social anxiety. He is being prescribed 50mg a day and is being weened of a different unidentified anti-depressent(SWIM is 16, his parents refused to tell him what it was) he's been taking for about a month. SWIM is curious about what the potential effects are. Should SWIM go along, and try the pills, or would it be best to not get started?

[JaWill88]

swim wonders the same thing. well swim was given a prescription for citalopram (Celexa) for anxiety along with his regular clonazepam and the doctor said swim should try it but deffinately doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. swim doesn't have that bad of anxiety but still has some and really likes his clonazepam. swim heard after a lot of people have had benzos for anxiety the SSRI's do NOTHING for it because that person has experienced real, immediate relief of anxiety. sometimes swim gets very mild depression but swim definately couldn't consider himself depressed. so swim isn't quite sure on wether to try it or not.

[KillroyMindless]

ok for one this isnt a good idea you need to look up what these actually do to your brain. they bond to seritonin reuptake inhibitors and when your brain doesnt have enough seritonin it tells it to make more and that it has more so it says IM HAPPY!!! but when you dont need it it goes and bonds to what recepters you have left and says dont make anymore were full. so if you were to get sad this could possible turn bad as your brain would produce less serotonin. Im not completely sure if this is right but i hope you get the gest its not going to give you a head rush like your moms vicodin so its not something to really get high off of. ssri are power ful drugs and can be very damageing if the person doesnt know what him/her are doing so cunsult a docter first because bad things can happen from/with/on/stopping/ and using these drugs they just arnet good in my opinion and they are prescribed for a reason. Let a docter know your doing this if you do to avoid any potential injuries and such.

[Intoxicating Dreams]

Dudes. Biggest problem is SSRIs DO NOT mix with most of the fun drugs and it is dangerous if swiy try to mix. Don't use it if swiy doesn't need it. Don't know if swiy needs it? Talk to swiy's doctor and be honest about how swiy feels. It does not get anyone high. In SWIM's experience, it knocked out the frequent crying and evened out the depression. Depression can be heredity and her mom had it. Luckily SWIM continues to feel extreme joy and the prozac has only affected the depression.
Be careful, but if swiy is depressed frequently talk to your doc. All the best.