Anti-drepssants your experiences

[LauRa Lu]

Wondering, what are people experiences of taking them?

Do they do any good, are the side effects dreadful, how long have you taken them... ? etc

I don't want to take them, but everything in my life is going good so for the first time I have no excuses, there's just still this dark heavy feeling hanging over me and it's getting to be tiring... it's hard work ignoring it and trying to block it out!

[Jan B]

I have been taking Zoloft for a few months now, and it has helped. I take 100mg daily. This dose is a little high for some, but not for me. A friend of mine, also 46, told me how much it helped her, so I mentioned to my doctor and he thought it was a good idea. My friend had to decrease her dosage, when, as she explained -- she could see a puppy get run over and not even cry. I can still cry easily on my 100mg!

Zero side effects. I know exactly what you mean about things going well in life - no major complaints, but still just not feeling the way you know you should. Or that dark cloud or chronic sad feeling.

I was diagnosed w/major depression when I was a teenager. It is in no way the same as the depression everyone gets. Which ever type depression you have, there still are some things that help, like exercise and staying busy.

Since I now have a bit of heart disease, it's even more important to take those anti-depressants if needed. For years I always got off them (didn't want so many pills), but I no longer have any embarassment about my real need!

You know you are on the right dose when you feel "normal" again, but like you aren't really taking anything for depression. Make sense?

Get better Laura!

[belyro]

Hey Laura,

I'm on Effexor, which is an antidepressant, but I started on it for anxiety, not for depression. For me, it has worked very well. That said, I"m going to be trying to get off of it sometime this year (with my doctor's help, of course) and I'm a little nervous about that. I had side effects when I first started (weird feelings in my head and on my skin), which is normal, but they went away after a couple of weeks (also normal). I haven't had any other side-effects, but I"m told that you can experience a lot of side-effects when trying to get off of them, so it's very important to get off of them SLOWLY and with the help of your doctor. At this point, even with the anxiety I have about trying to get un-addicted to them....I'm still glad I went on them because they made my life SO MUCH better when I was really really struggling. I felt like me again.

It's a decision that requires a lot of though, for sure, but it's a decision that I haven't regretted. (Ask me again when I'm in the process of getting off of it, though....)

Good luck.

[Dan Gato]

I've heard & read that anti-depressants lower the sexual desire in people, How true is it?

Have any of you tried St. Johns's Worth ? is a natural anti-depressant, over the counter.

I have never taken any antidepressant.

[Sheralyn]

LauRaLu,

I've had depression problems on and off all my life (I'm 62) -- I inherited it from my biol. father, whom I never even met (I found out this info years ago). Anyway, I've been on antidepressants since I was 20 and they can be miracle drugs. They do NOT make you high or anything -- they just let you be yourself, the self that's there inside you that the depression keeps blocking. I even took them when I was pregnant and NO problems, thank God. They're NOT addictive either. In all these years, they haven't hurt me in any way and though they may have to be changed/adjusted from time to time, they keep on working. As for St. John's Wort, I think that would be only for very mild depression -- if you are clinically depressed, that requires medication. Please don't worry; I've never known antidepressants to hurt anyone. But sometimes, it's trial and error; you may have to try a few before you find the right one(s) or combo. Trust your doctor and best of luck. Antidepressants have made all the difference in the world to me -- right now I'm on Paxil and have been on that steadily for approx. 8 years now. I am aware of no bad side effects, and I have blood work done every 3 months. I seem to go between Paxil & Prozac. They work very well for me. Good luck.

[Jan B]

I've heard & read that anti-depressants lower the sexual desire in people, How true is it?

Have any of you tried St. Johns's Worth ? is a natural anti-depressant, over the counter.



I have also read that sexual desire can be lower while on antidepressants. However, when I feel better (as in not depressed), my libido is naturally higher. It may be different for men.

As Sheralyn said, St. Johns Wort may help with minor depression; not sure it helps much.

[BlueSky]

I once used tri-cyclic anti-depressants, but stopped using them because of short-term side effects (upset stomach). And I have managed to get by without drugs since then. Anti-depressant drugs are a life-saver for many people. But the decision to start taking them should not be taken lightly. While they are well tolerated by most people, there are long-term side effects ( Long-Term Side Effects Surface With SSRIs (http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/LongTermSSRI.htm) ). And getting off them can be very difficult. There are various drugs available, and there are other options for dealing with mild to moderate depression. Here is a useful link to explore : Treatment of Depression- Medication for depression / Psychotherapy (http://web4health.info/en/answers/depr-treat-links.htm) . Good luck with it!

[verynicebecky]

I was diagnosed with dysthymia a little over a yr ago (low level, on-going depression). I had never heard of dysthymia until then. I went home and checked it out via computer....wow, that was me!
I didnt look into taking anything until a few months after being diagnosed. A close friend told me to not speak to him until I was happy again. I began a low dose of generic Celexa...wow...what a difference! It was like seeing in color for the very first time. I still could cry..but I was no longer the sobbing idiot in the greeting card section. Hey, I just thought God had made me a bit extra sensitive.
I ran out of my prescription a few months ago. My friend is back to speaking with me but doesnt like the fact that I had resorted to pills. I can tell a difference. Without the med. I am much shorter with ppl. I have to remind myself (especially during my period) that I have a medical problem and things are okay. The medication took the "edge" off things and allowed me to not dwell on problems. In fact it helped me to address the problems in my life. I see my doctor soon and I will be getting my prescription refilled.

[Sheralyn]

VeryNiceBecky -- My son is a psychologist and he doesn't like meds! Drive me nuts! You'd think HIM of all people would realize that chronically depressed people often have no choice other than meds.

[rreno]

I took 150 mg of Zoloft per day for a little over 1 year. I was "weened" off it over August 2007 and stopped completely in September 2007. I took it for anxiety. I will say it was the best thing I ever did for my condition at the time. I was going to work, but would come home and spend all night away from my family (usually in bed). I didn't like to talk to people, wouldn't call people on the phone (not even to order a pizza!). It was completely the opposite of the type of person I am.

I took the edge off almost immediately (within 6 hours - not normal according to the docs) and, with counseling, I was able to get out of my "funk" - as I called it.

I did have "the shakes" each morning for about an hour after taking my dose. That lasted about a month, then went away. There were sexual side effects, but they also went away after about 2 months. I made the decision that the way I felt outweighed any of the side effects I experienced. Anyway, the side effects were not severe in any way.

I would recommend Zoloft for anyone who truly needs it. It worked great for me!

[palefacegirl03]

I was having lots of anxiety and depression , my doctor prescribes Lexapro for me, I started taking it in Aug 2007. I am much better, I can function, before I would go to work and just come home and sleep. Get up and eat and go right back to bed till morning.
I still have some stress in my life , DH is not working and money is VERY thight, so very stressful, but I am able to handle it better.

[pdxdennisj]

Depression is like saying "I feel bad" - there are all kinds of "feel bad" and different anti-depressants work/not work for different people - be prepared to find the right one for you. The SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, etc) cause some to loose interest in sex or have difficulty having an orgasm. Wellbutrin on the other hand may cause premature ejaculation in some males (don't know how it affects women). I personally had a bad experience with Prozac and went into seizures (extremely rare) and was on an anti seizure meds for six months before it worked its way out of my system. Low doses of Wellbutrin and Buspar (anti-anxiety) for about two years. It has been about 10 years now and all is well.
Some folks need to be on meds for the rest of their lives.

[shabbie]

hi laura,

ive been taking citalopram for about 3 months, i too couldnt shake off the black cloud, even with all the positive attitude in the world! i told my doc i felt low and had suicidal thoughts, we talked about suitable options. i said i felt that psycho-therapy/councilling wouldnt help, it felt more like a chemical thing rather than an emotional thing. does that make sense?

the citalopram is a 'seratonin re-uptake inhibitor'.

it doesnt clash with too many other meds like st johns wort does, it doesnt appear to have any side effects in me (i'm pretty sensitive to drugs of any kind). and i do actually feel normal again, even on the low dose that i'm on.

the doc said it would take about 6 weeks to fully take effect, and that was about right.

i think i might come off them at some point but dont see any rush to do so just yet ;)

[LauRa Lu]

Thanks guys... all very useful information :)

I think i'm going to make an apointment with ym doctor, I have a new doctor so hopefuly they will be more useful than the last one I saw about this 2 years ago, she just told me to go and read a book about it.. which was certainly no help.

[nneighbour]

To date I've been on 12 different drugs for depression and related symptoms (celexa, wellbutrin, effexor, lithium, risperdal, olanzepine, prozac, bromazepam, clonazepam, buspar, quetiapine and cipralex). They all have their benefits and they all have crazy side effects. At the moment I don't have much good to say about them as I feel over-medicated and like a toxic waste land. All I have to say is be very careful - these are medications that effect your brain. If you have any questions about any of the specific meds, feel free to ask.

[ant hill]

Wondering, what are people experiences of taking them?
Hello Laura :), I have worked in a mental institution and for what I see is not nice and today as I celebrate 10 years of freedom from this stupid place I can honestly say that this is addictive stuff and as I have known you long enough to say don't take it!! and the stuff that mess with you head can lead to god knows whare. Please Laura, don't take it. :mad:

[TeeJaxx]

hi laura,

ive been taking citalopram for about 3 months, i too couldnt shake off the black cloud, even with all the positive attitude in the world! i told my doc i felt low and had suicidal thoughts, we talked about suitable options. i said i felt that psycho-therapy/councilling wouldnt help, it felt more like a chemical thing rather than an emotional thing. does that make sense?

the citalopram is a 'seratonin re-uptake inhibitor'.

it doesnt clash with too many other meds like st johns wort does, it doesnt appear to have any side effects in me (i'm pretty sensitive to drugs of any kind). and i do actually feel normal again, even on the low dose that i'm on.

the doc said it would take about 6 weeks to fully take effect, and that was about right.

i think i might come off them at some point but dont see any rush to do so just yet ;)


I too take citalopram. I can't really say that I've had any real physical side effects from it. I do notice that my libido is very low (ok, non exisitent) since I've been on it, but other that that, I feel great! Before it, I had 2 emotions - Angry & sobbing! They have let me mellow out a bit, my relationships with my family have improved, I'm not so edgy and quick to snap at people.

[susique333]

My 2 daughters take Lexapro for anxiety and it works terrifically. I a firm believer in going to a therapist at the same time you start anti-depression medications. I think some people think the medications are going to magically make daily troubles go away and of course they dont. Therapy can help the medications put some positive perspective back into your life.

[Fenway]

I've taken 2 different antidepressants - for the pain relief properties that some of them have.

Elavil, a tricyclic, did relieve the pain, but caused me to have night terrors. Paxil did nothing for the pain, but was a wonderful diet drug - lost 10 pounds in 4 weeks. It also caused me sexual problems.

You might have to try a few until you find the right one. Good luck!!

[Subby]

Laura Lu, here's my experience. Won't speak for anyone else.

As well as unstable type 1 for many years (which has always stuffed my body and head around) and a chronic fatigue sufferer at the time, I was in a pretty black and bad state for a while there and also diagnosed with depression.

I have many misgivings about ad's in many situations, but agreed to trial anti depressants with a relaxed psychiatrist who just counselled on the actual drugs.

I went through 4 types giving them all a good trial run (few months each). I don't think it's useful giving a run down on each, but they all had horrible side effects for me. Not only physically, such as causing constipation and muscle weakness, impotence, and more erratic BG, but also mentally, they made me feel not myself and unable to make decisions properly. They didn't help me improve my health or my life decisions.... things like lift my game with my diabetes and get out of bad situation... which were the sort of things I needed to do to feel less "blue".

The most positive experience I had was Zoloft which acted as an anti-anxiety - but again the cost was that I felt floaty and disconnected and raging inside as I got further from being able to act on convictions. WIth Zoloft I also remember thinking all the time "sometimes unhappiness is there for a reason, to kick your butt... but this just takes the sting out of that - leaving me hopeless to act somehow"

I agree a counselor along with AD's is better than just AD's. However I feel they change the way you think and take you away from yourself, making psychological progress towards health (which is IMHO an expression of YOU and your decisions and preferences) that much harder.

The final straw came when the last type I tried had a hugely detrimental effect on my mental capacity. After a couple months I thought I was going mad. I could see.... my.... thoughts.... trip... like spasms. I was in the pits of depression. Ugh.

Getting away from them all was a great move for me.

One final point, if you do take AD's go in with your own mind and skepticism about their effect. The doctors I saw immediately tried to blame the side effects on my "depression". It took will power to not be convinced when in that state, to remember maybe it's the drugs making it even worse. And I was right.

Very final point, fluctuating blood sugars have a big connection to depression. If there is room to improve you BG it may well be the very best way to stabilise your moods and cognitive functions. Bad sugars are 100% the main cause of depression in me when it strikes. Good luck.

[Eddy]

I took 150 mg of Zoloft per day for a little over 1 year. I was "weened" off it over August 2007 and stopped completely in September 2007. I took it for anxiety.


I couldn't help but notice that you stopped taking it shortly before DX. Pardon me for overstepping, but I can't help but think that perhaps diabetes was to blame for some of your symptoms...

[rreno]

Eddy,

You could be right, but at the time, I had no indication there were any problems. In hindsight, there probably were symptoms that I just attributed to being overweight. I was pretty oblivious. Diabetes was the furthest though from by mind until the moment I was diagnosed in October 2007.

Not sure if diabetes was solely to blame. I was in a VERY stressful position at work for over a year before I started taking the Zoloft (with therapy). I was slowly getting a mental "beating" that I couldn't do anything about (without risking my career and the ability to provide for my family - which would have been worse, in my opinion).

Once I started therapy (and the Zoloft), I was able to clear my head, get a new job and move my family to a new neighborhood. I never would have been able to pull myself together without the therapy I went through.

Looking back, I wouldn't rule out undiagnosed diabetes potentially contributing to what happened to me, but there were some pretty clear, non-medical, events occurring in my life that I can attribute to my anxiety issues.

[Eddy]

Once I started therapy (and the Zoloft), I was able to clear my head, get a new job and move my family to a new neighborhood. I never would have been able to pull myself together without the therapy I went through.


Yes... I hope I didn't come across as trivializing... the important thing is getting better. :) It was just something to keep in mind in the event that you ever start feeling cruddy again, especially if your A1c starts creeping up...


Looking back, I wouldn't rule out undiagnosed diabetes potentially contributing to what happened to me, but there were some pretty clear, non-medical, events occurring in my life that I can attribute to my anxiety issues.


I hear ya. Although I never had to have ADs, I certainly was tired, stressed, and reportedly very grouchy for a while prior to DX. I blamed things on job stress, caffeine consumption, and poor sleep patterns; after all, I had no medical conditions! ;)

Anywho. Glad you're feeling better, and hope things stay that way!

[LynnRut]

I went through a period where I was on a SSRI. I am thankful I weaned myself off after a year. The doctor showed no real interest in getting me off so I did it myself. Was it necessary? Yes. Are they dangerous? You bet. I could tell stories.

[rreno]

Everyone reacts differently to SSRIs. I've also discovered that. A relative of mine had a completely different experience than me. For some reason, I got lucky and the medicine did exactly what it was supposed to.

As for my doctor, I asked him how long I should take Zoloft during my therapy. He said the decision was really up to me. Some people stay on it for years, others come off it when they feel the counseling has done enough to "go it alone". I could have probably stopped taking Zoloft a few months earlier, but I wanted to feel confident about what I was doing.

It's my blunt opinion that if I were diagnosed with diabetes before my therapy started, it would not have been a "good scene" (not like I would have had a choice). I was pretty fragile at the time.

Again, it's not for everyone. It just happened to work for me.

[bcradio]

I have been taking Paxil CR25 for about 3 years now and the only negative effect on the libido was (and usually is) temporary. There are other homeopathic remedies for "depression" but in order to get the same effect as many prescribed drugs you have to take a much higher dose. I am not defending the pill-fix, but in the case of depression there are many, many questions that must be addressed.
Most importantly, try to be completely honest with your healthcare professional, and if you have feelings of helplessness, or of being overwhelmed or even suicide, tell them: they won't think you're crazy - after all, you're seeking their help.
I actually suffer from a mild form of Autism diagnosed as "Asperger's Disorder". Paxil has allowed me to organize my thoughts and presentation quite well. As for depression, here is a little-discussed fact: the person suffering from depression is as much a victim as those around him.
We are not weak because we need help, our bodies change with um um - maturity... Sometimes we as the inhabitants of those bodies have to make adjustments. This is the responsible thing to do.

At some point in the future I would like to be off medications entirely, but let's face it: this forum is about people who will very likely require treatment on a long term basis.
Don't deprive yourself of happiness if you can fix it. All we can do for anyone is to be encouraging of whatever works for them.

--bcr

[CuriousBoston]

Hello Laura :), I have worked in a mental institution and for what I see is not nice and today as I celebrate 10 years of freedom from this stupid place I can honestly say that this is addictive stuff and as I have known you long enough to say don't take it!! and the stuff that mess with you head can lead to god knows whare. Please Laura, don't take it. :mad:


Antidepressants are not addictive. You may be referring to anti-anxiety drugs, which maybe addictive if not monitored.:confused:

One antidepressant may work, another dozen may not. A good psychiatrist will help someone work through choices, including talk therapy. Interviewing at least a couple of psychiatrists before choosing is a good idea.

Antidepressants have side effects. Many people with diabetes are depressed.

Posting inaccurate information is not good. FYI, it's called a hospital, and many hospitals have floors or sections for people that need help with with the biochemical imbalances in their brain. There are other floors dealing with the people that have problems with the imbalances in their endocrine system.

I'm sorry you worked in a "stupid place." :(

[Axel Slinger]

My Neurologist put me on Cymbalta for Neuropathy in my feet. He said it would help with the pain and tingling, and that because it also is an anti-depressant it would help with my mood. I said I didn't think I needed any help there, but he said pain naturally makes you a little bit depressed. (I've been in pain so long I guess I hadn't noticed...)

The desired effects never came, but the side effects sure did. My feet still hurt every day, and the tingling did not go away. And in addition to that I was nauseous all the time, I was light-headed and dizzy, I had a doozy of a headache, and my sex drive was there same as always, but the ummm... "equipment" wasn't working. I kept taking it in hopes that all that would pass. It didn't. In fact, it just got worse by the day.

So after about four months I asked him if I could stop taking it since it was doing more harm than good. He gradually lowered the dose over a month, and after about two weeks of not taking it at all I was back to (somewhat) normal. My feel still tingle and hurt, but at least I don't feel like **** all the time.

[Grammy J.]

My 28 yr. old daughter has been taking anit-depressants since high school. I truly believe they have saved her life. Our only problem was finding a good psychiatrist and a capable therapist. Believe me, that was difficult! I have taken 75mg of Effexor for "hot flashes" Believe it or not, it works for those of us who have been treated for breast cancer with Tamoxifen. I believe that a mental health disease is like any other disease and requires a great doctor and support from family and friends.

[CuriousBoston]

My 28 yr. old daughter has been taking anit-depressants since high school. I truly believe they have saved her life. Our only problem was finding a good psychiatrist and a capable therapist. Believe me, that was difficult! I have taken 75mg of Effexor for "hot flashes" Believe it or not, it works for those of us who have been treated for breast cancer with Tamoxifen. I believe that a mental health disease is like any other disease and requires a great doctor and support from family and friends.
I second that effexor helps women on tamoxifen.I do take a higher dose, to treat depression as well, along with other meds.

[BriOnH]

I have been on paxil for about 10 years. Anxiety/depression is an ever increasing problem for us diabetics.

I get so obsessed with my blood sugars and insulin it can crive me mad at time. I am lucky if I can go 10 min without a mental bgl thought.

IMHO use meds as a last resort. Once you are on SSRI's/NSRI's coming can be (6 out 10 people) a horrendous nightmare to come off of.

[misstacalone]

Hello Everyone,
Does Anyone Know If Effexor XR And Clonazepam Raise Blood Sugar Levels. I Am Having A Heck Of A Time Managing My BG Levels, They Went From 120 To 350. I Don't Eat Much because meds decreased desire to eat and have stomac upset anyways-side effect I think,but when I do Eat My BG Are way Out.Medication was given to me because of Anxiety and Headache Control. I'm not getting answers on the internet.Please help. I see the specialist for my headaches tomorrow, I will also ask her. Maybe another med I can't take. I don't like the High BG Readings.:( thanks For The Help And Any Answers:afraid:

[CuriousBoston]

Hello Everyone,
Does Anyone Know If Effexor XR And Clonazepam Raise Blood Sugar Levels. I Am Having A Heck Of A Time Managing My BG Levels, They Went From 120 To 350. I Don't Eat Much because meds decreased desire to eat and have stomac upset anyways-side effect I think,but when I do Eat My BG Are way Out.Medication was given to me because of Anxiety and Headache Control. I'm not getting answers on the internet.Please help. I see the specialist for my headaches tomorrow, I will also ask her. Maybe another med I can't take. I don't like the High BG Readings.:( thanks For The Help And Any Answers:afraid:


I've been taking Effexor 150 mg daily (a high dose), clonazepam four times a day, for over two years. In that time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and gained twenty pounds due to "comfort" and "take-out" eating. I never had a blood sugar reading over 230-and that was a test, within half an hour of eating a meal. My last A1c test was 7.8, the highest since I've been diagnosed, due to the weight gain, and my lack of exercise-tamoxifen is very hard on leg muscles, it really takes all my will to walk over 3000 steps daily, which is a pitiful amount of exercise.

Your pharmacist should be able to tell you if high blood sugars are the result of the medications. If your pharmacist can't, get another pharmacist.

Your headache specialist is not going to have a clue about this. You need to take your blood sugar readings and an honest food diary to your primary care physician or endocrinologist.

[Sheralyn]

I have also read that sexual desire can be lower while on antidepressants. However, when I feel better (as in not depressed), my libido is naturally higher. It may be different for men.

As Sheralyn said, St. Johns Wort may help with minor depression; not sure it helps much.

Had to comment on those dogs -- they're adorable! My husband and I have an 8-year old auburn Golden Retriever and she's our "child". We wouldn't trade her for a billion dollars! (You can't put a price tag on love.)

[Sheralyn]

I have been taking Zoloft for a few months now, and it has helped. I take 100mg daily. This dose is a little high for some, but not for me. A friend of mine, also 46, told me how much it helped her, so I mentioned to my doctor and he thought it was a good idea. My friend had to decrease her dosage, when, as she explained -- she could see a puppy get run over and not even cry. I can still cry easily on my 100mg!

Zero side effects. I know exactly what you mean about things going well in life - no major complaints, but still just not feeling the way you know you should. Or that dark cloud or chronic sad feeling.

I was diagnosed w/major depression when I was a teenager. It is in no way the same as the depression everyone gets. Which ever type depression you have, there still are some things that help, like exercise and staying busy.

Since I now have a bit of heart disease, it's even more important to take those anti-depressants if needed. For years I always got off them (didn't want so many pills), but I no longer have any embarassment about my real need!

You know you are on the right dose when you feel "normal" again, but like you aren't really taking anything for depression. Make sense?

Get better Laura!

Hi Jan, don't know if I told you all but I've been on antidepressants for FORTY-TWO years. I'm doing well now, except for depression over recently losing my dear sister to cancer (she was only 58) and the fact that my sugar is still way too high. But -- I ate a lot of potatoes this past week, so it's my own fault. See doctor tomorrow. I was on the antidepressant triavil for years, now I'm on paxil, 60 mg. Lucky me, I inherited my clinical depression from my biological father whom I never even met! See you all soon, hugs to all.

[Lulika]

Hi Laura I am also on Citalopram.
I am from the UK too and always was afraid to be "on something". I didnt want the feeling that I wasn't really "me" any more. But things got really bad and I plucked up the courage to see my doctor. We had a good talk and she gave me Citalopram. I am on a very low dose and have had absolutely no side effects at all.
It doesnt make you feel like a zombie and I just feel "normal" again. I still cry and get bad tempered (we wouldnt be human if we didnt) but I can cope with far more stress now than I ever could. I have a stressful job and I dont get so anxious any more about everything, which is great!
Dont be afraid to try...I never would have realised how bad things had got if I hadnt taken this drug and felt SO much better.
Godd luck :)

[j_perd]

I have also read that sexual desire can be lower while on antidepressants. However, when I feel better (as in not depressed), my libido is naturally higher. It may be different for men.

As Sheralyn said, St. Johns Wort may help with minor depression; not sure it helps much.

Mines Increased if anything!

I've been on Wellbutrin for six months now, and it's done wonders. Depression can take a toll on your diabetes, causing stress induced high BG.
Wellbutrin also helped me quit smoking, as that is one of the side effects.

[camjen1]

I'll join the group here and let everyone know I have been started on Prozac. Not sure if it's going to work for me as I have only been on it for about 2 weeks.

The side effects make me question whether or not I want to take it. I feel like I have flu symptoms all day and in turn it's an appetite suppressor. I'm going to talk to my dr about possibly changing to find one that plays less havoc on my stomach.