What SSRI has had the least effect on creativity?

[jonathanupr]

i am wondering what SSRI has had the least effect on one's creativity.  I take Lexapro at 10 mgs and it does inhibit my creative urges and energies, though it does a good job on my OCD...........good trade! but is there another SSRI that less inhibits creativity and one's energies to be creative?

[ConfusedCat]

All of the ssri's can cause that flat uncreative "I don't really give a shit" feeling.

While there may be a certain one that is better for each individual, there is no across the board category where we can point to one and say, "Oh yes take this one it is much easier on the creative spirit."

How long have you been on the lex?  I think for long timers the emotions and creativity do slowly return. Im talking like a year into it when you don't even notice the meds much anymore.

Have you used any other of the ssri's before?

CC~

[Velvet Elvis]

Unless you are drawing on feelings of depression for inspiration, none of them should have a huge effect on creativity.  They can make you kinda apathetic though.  Still, not being able to get off your ass and get things done is better than not being able to get out of bed and get things done.

I've found that medications dealing with norepenephrine are better for executive functioning issues.  You might want to look at the multiple reuptake inhibitors, Remeron, Effexor and Cymbalta.

[Nick Post]

I'm on 20 mg and really, its a motivation thing with me.  I don't feel like starting a new project.  Heck, I pretty much don't play playstation anymore because, hey, what's the point.

I was supposed to make a pentric (like a tryptic, but five paintings that work as one work) and, oh, it's been about two months and I've not even settled on anything.  Except that they'll be tall and thin.

I have done works in the mean time, and it's not so much that my creativity is gone, but I lack the urge to make.  So, while your OCD is good, just get down to it.  Start. 

Also, how long have you been on.  I wouldn't say I really leveled out for a full two months.  I was good, mind you, but at the two month mark, I realized that 10 mg would not cut it for me.  Now, I'm good.  I don't give a rats ass about many things, but I'm good.

Which, while I'm rambling, I was thinkign about what extacy does recently.  It bumps up the parasympathetic (go go go) side and I think Lexapro et al really zap it.  Thus the lack of sex, which is a whole different subject.

Oh, and if anyone remembers me.  I'm back.

[ldo]

Prozac gave me a flat feeling for a while, but at the time it was an improvement. When I started to take Adderall, my emotional range came back.

[Dweii]

Zoloft has been working great for me and does not make me feel any less creative. But YMMV of course.

[HazelBLK]

Effexor.  hands down.  Yes, it's hard to off Effexor but I have done it twice and the myth that it's nearly impossilbe is simply wrong.  It's hard, yes.  But who among us hasn't done done some very difficult things and lived to tell it and see that it is worth while?

In my opinion all of this shit is hard.

[Guest Guest]

wellbutrin ftw

[remote_swimmer]

Effexor. hands down. Yes, it's hard to off Effexor but I have done it twice and the myth that it's nearly impossilbe is simply wrong. It's hard, yes. But who among us hasn't done done some very difficult things and lived to tell it and see that it is worth while?

In my opinion all of this shit is hard.

I second effexor. After being on it a month the first time I took it, I began to forget that I was even taking meds. Actually, I felt more motivated than I felt before I had major depression/gad. Also, withdrawal doesn't happen to everyone. Getting off Paxil was like withdrawing from heroin (from what I've read) whereas effexor simply caused me some anxiety and parasthesia when I got off...no brain shivers or anything of the sort.

I took effexor for 7 years and then was off for a while. I'm back on again after trying to not be on meds (wasn't too successful). I will say that it does seem to take its sweet time to kick in.

[Kablume]

I'm on Wellbutrin and Cymbalta and I don't even want to color in a color book. BTW, welcome back Nick Post, it is good to see you again!

[Guest T]

Lex is supposed to make you feel more level - its for anexiety. Wellbutrin will make you feel on top of the world but may make you feel out of control.

I hear you when you say you want more creativity - I paint and do crafts and now I just dont care to anymore - sucks but it is a trade for not feeling suicidal - so it is ok but it sucks

Tam

[KRS]

Effexor. hands down. Yes, it's hard to off Effexor but I have done it twice and the myth that it's nearly impossilbe is simply wrong. It's hard, yes. But who among us hasn't done done some very difficult things and lived to tell it and see that it is worth while?

In my opinion all of this shit is hard.

I second effexor. After being on it a month the first time I took it, I began to forget that I was even taking meds. Actually, I felt more motivated than I felt before I had major depression/gad. Also, withdrawal doesn't happen to everyone. Getting off Paxil was like withdrawing from heroin (from what I've read) whereas effexor simply caused me some anxiety and parasthesia when I got off...no brain shivers or anything of the sort.

I took effexor for 7 years and then was off for a while. I'm back on again after trying to not be on meds (wasn't too successful). I will say that it does seem to take its sweet time to kick in.

Did you have any weight gain problems while you were on Effexor for 7 years?

[Guest viper1431]

All the ssri's had that same effect, effexor was actually the worse at making me emotionless.

The only AD's that havn't done it to me have been the tricyclics.

[remote_swimmer]

Did you have any weight gain problems while you were on Effexor for 7 years?

Nope. I switched to it from Paxil and lost 20 lbs over four months or so. Then, I was able to get within 10 lbs. of my ideal weight. I'm back on it again probably for the long haul again. After trying a couple of different meds in the interim, I will say that it is extremely activating for me. I don't really have racing thoughts, insomnia, anxiety or dysphoria, so it's not hypomania (which I've never really had). It's like having a cup of coffee. I'm finally interested in things again, anxiety and depressive dread are gone.

[JenB]

I agree with posts about Effexor's activating properties. Venlafaxine (active ingredient in Effexor) is a phenethylamine bicyclic derivative. Phenylthylamine class includes medications such as amphetamine, methamphetamine. So Effexor chemistry explains its activating effects.

[Bru]

I've noticed that Lexapro didn't kill my creativity like Prozac is doing right now. My psydoc doesn't want to switch me back though.

It's tough, since my job kind of requires me to be creative.

[Guest jlee]

Im sorry to hear, but im glad I found your post.

I totally feel you on the lack of creativity while taking Wellbutrin. I always saw everything as being a creative adventure. I couldnt wait to get out of bed in the morning to work on whatever art project I had going, even when I was swimming in depression (I produced my most interesting writing during my time of depression:D)

Ive been taking adderall for many years now with my creative side remaining with me. I started to take wellbutrin 150 2x a day and holy smokes... I think its making me more depressed because I lost my passion. Its wierd, it feels like its there, (my creativity), but its sleeping in me, and I just dont FEEL like making anything. Its worth more to me to just sit on my butt in front of the computer.

Im thinking of stoping wellbutrin. If Im living a life without depression, but my life lost what I once lived for, its not worth it, Id rather be depressed. Id at least have something to me and not feel so empty.

[Guest Struggler]

I'm weaning up on Cymbalta, from 30 mg to now 40 mg, with a planned jump to 60 mg in a couple of weeks. I don't have any creativity, and don't much care to do anything right now but watch the tube, which is driving me nuts. I feel empty and dead, but can't get motivated to do much about it.

I was on Effexor XR for 7 years, and it wasn't this bad. I got off of that because I wanted to feel what it was like to be non-medicated, but that didn't go so well...

[borzage]

Im sorry to hear, but im glad I found your post.

I totally feel you on the lack of creativity while taking Wellbutrin. I always saw everything as being a creative adventure. I couldnt wait to get out of bed in the morning to work on whatever art project I had going, even when I was swimming in depression (I produced my most interesting writing during my time of depression:D)

Ive been taking adderall for many years now with my creative side remaining with me. I started to take wellbutrin 150 2x a day and holy smokes... I think its making me more depressed because I lost my passion. Its wierd, it feels like its there, (my creativity), but its sleeping in me, and I just dont FEEL like making anything. Its worth more to me to just sit on my butt in front of the computer.

Im thinking of stoping wellbutrin. If Im living a life without depression, but my life lost what I once lived for, its not worth it, Id rather be depressed. Id at least have something to me and not feel so empty.

That sounds like me.

I was on Seroquel and couldn't create, and didn't give a damn. Similar to how I felt on Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. I lost a lot of years on those drugs. I'd rather be depressed and be able to write songs about it than not feel anything and not write songs.

[Guest Radioboy]

I am a morning radio host. I NEED creativity. I used to have a lot of it. I used to be able to create 4 characters per day for the show, and now

I just depend on phone calls to drive it because I HAVE NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!-----this is after a 5 year stint on Paxil--and then Cymbalta I think.

The GOOD thing is that most everything slides off my back. I just don't let the small stuff worry me. The morning show still goes well, it's just

a LOT different than it used to be and I know it. I always attribute it to 'writer's block' when anyone asks where certain characters have been

on the show, but I know better.

I had no idea this would affect me like this and didn't realize for years THAT was what was going on. I hate the 'feeling' of the 'brain-storms' when

I try to get off the stuff and wind up going back.

[Guest Alien.]

Unless you are drawing on feelings of depression for inspiration, none of them should have a huge effect on creativity.

[Guest Recluse]

I'm so glad I found this thread. Writing is important to my daily life and my career, and since starting Celexa for anxiety, I'm having trouble with it. I can still write well on a non-fiction, personal diatribe level, but I've pretty much lost the ability to imagine anything new or follow a concept in my head. It's horrifying.

Based on what I see here, I'm going to either try Effexor or Buspar next. Hopefully one will work.

[tazlina]

I didn't feel any less creative on Effexor. I did appreciate that, because my few prior experiences with antidepressants made me feel like my personality was gone. That actually put me off psychiatric care for many years.

I'm going off Effexor as I type this; it made me hypomanic. So far I've had two days of nasty headaches, but I can't promise that's all Effexor discontinuation since I'm titrating up Lamictal which comes with some notoriety in that arena.

[etkearne]

Effexor, while an SNRI, is close enough. It never has done anything to my creativity. Actually I have always felt like it helped a bit in that sense. Everything has a beautiful feel to it when the med works right. Too much, I get agitated. Too little, it does nothing. I found all of the SSRIs I was on to be bad or neutral in the creative sense.

[lifesart]

I have been taking effexor at a pretty low dose, 150 extended release per day, for nine years. Reading this thread, and others, it occurs to me that those few of the members who can use this drug, and maintain creativity, are few and far between. My experience has been that either the ennui and apathy, or the complete inability to penetrate the fog that surrounds my formerly huge drive to put all my ideas out there, has destroyed all of the years I have been taking the damn stuff.

On the other hand, I have been able to hold down a really good job, that I realy like, that I am very good at and can mostly make myself connect to.

I was a painter, and someone who could fly off the handle, in my office job, without much provocation.

I am a good administrator and cfo, who can sit on the couch for years at a time, rather manically buying huge amounts of craft supplies for things I mostly never make. Time flies by without much care, unless I forget to fill my prescription (or the internet refill doesn't happen and I don't notice) and I run out of 'e' and have to look the pharmacist in the eye and tell him he has to give me three pills now, I know my doc will refill the scrip, he doesn't want to read about me in the paper tomorrow. Last week I went without a dose on Friday night and then Tuesday I ran out and by Wednesday evening, (took a dose before I got home, having picked up my prescription) I had burned two long time vendor relationships, let my boss witness a personal meltdown and, when I got home, nearly ran off into the night after an enormous fight with my husband. I realize that cold turkey withdrawal, or even titrating down without supervison, is stupid, but I worry so much that the use of 'e' for all this time has completely damaged any self control I might once have had.

There is just no telling what individual effect a drug will have on you. There may be enough similar effects that people can could be classifed into general groups of: "effexor would be best" or "prozac would be horrible (has any medical professional ever said this?)" or "a combo of wellbutrin and lexapro would help but only at low doses". But it's all a shitty compromise between being able to live within society and support yourself and yet not having that thrill of love when my husband walks into the room, or the thrill of pride at having created a painting that glows with soul, or the thrill of joy that my garden that thrives because I take care of it. Maybe someday they will be able to design drugs direct to the individual, because we are all wired in infinitely different ways.

I'd get really depressed, but I just don't care that much about anything. Is this a good thing?

[Babyfacemagee]

I have been taking effexor at a pretty low dose, 150 extended release per day, for nine years. Reading this thread, and others, it occurs to me that those few of the members who can use this drug, and maintain creativity, are few and far between. My experience has been that either the ennui and apathy, or the complete inability to penetrate the fog that surrounds my formerly huge drive to put all my ideas out there, has destroyed all of the years I have been taking the damn stuff.

I realize that cold turkey withdrawal, or even titrating down without supervison, is stupid, but I worry so much that the use of 'e' for all this time has completely damaged any self control I might once have had.

I was on Effexor for a full decade. I was living in LA trying to get work as a television writer and tried multiple times to get off of the Effexor. Each time I would fly into panic attacks, anxiety, sweats, get electric shock/popping sensations in my head. I was told repeatedly by doctors that I 'needed' the drug and that I was slipping back into anxiety and depression. So each time I would give in...go back on the Effexor and then go another year or so feeling that effexor 'fog', where I didn't have spontaneity, flexibility and creative sparks that I used to. I also didn't 'feel' music and films and emotions as deeply as I always remembered. Things just didn't effect me as much.

Finally, I started dating this girl who was a therapist and she recommended a new Psychiatrist who helps get patients off of drugs. I learned that Effexor has one of the worst withdrawal profiles of any SSRI or SNRI. Depending on how long you've been on it, the dosage and your own particular sensitivity to the drug, getting off of Effexor has been compared to getting off of heroin. Several psychiatrists have now told me that they recommend Effexor patients take a FULL YEAR or more to slowly wean off the drug. I finally got off Effexor 4 years ago and it was an absolute nightmare. I went through massive anxiety and panic attacks, sweating profusely, all kinds of emotions and memories and regrets and anger that seemed to have been suppressed for the full decade I was on the drug came rushing back into my head.

It took a good 6-8 months after my last dose of Effexor that I really had 'stabilized' and started to feel like my old self. I've been off Effexor and haven't touched an SSRI or SNRI in 4 years and I feel so much more alive. Music, movies and even aromas and sounds just feel more 'real'. It's like 3 dimensions vs. 2. I've also got my old creativity back and have written more in the past 3-4 years than in the 10 years before while on the meds. I think the trick is to embrace feeling your emotions and realize you can control what you focus on and what emotions you trigger. If you focus on looking at the opportunities and positive possibilities in every area of life instead of the negatives, fears etc then you empower yourself and the more you do it the easier it becomes. I simply never let myself go 'down that road' into negative thinking so I don't ever start down the path to anxiety or depression. I haven't had even one relapse of any of my old issues since I've been off meds. I've simply forced myself to have a healthy outlook on life no matter what happens. Daily exercise helps a lot too.

I think the point I meant to make in writing this post is that many doctors/psychiatrists etc often don't realize just how powerful the withdrawal effects of many of the SSRI's and SNRI's are. They often mislead patients into thinking that the withdrawal effects are the 'return' of the 'illness' (depression, anxiety, panic etc) when in fact it's nothing of the sort. it's simply your brain is craving the drug and it takea while...many months sometimes...before it adjust to it's new chemical reality. Often when you take a drug that artificially boosts some chemical (like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine etc) your body and brain's ability to make the chemical itself actually lessens to a much weaker state than before you took the drug because it is now relying on the 'pill' to unnaturally boost these hormones or chemicals in the brain. When you stop taking the drug your body/brain needs a few weeks or months just to 'get up to speed' to where it used to be...since it has atrophied it's ability to make these chemicals in the amounts necessary for so long. Think of it as if you were wearing a cast on one arm and no cast on another. When the cast is removed that arm is weaker than it ever was because it didn't have to use any of the muscle all the while it was in the cast. It could take weeks or months to strengthen that arm just back to a 'normal' strength again since it has atrophied the muscle for so long.

Anyway...good luck.

Edited May 6, 2012 by Babyfacemagee

[crtclms]

Babyfacemagee, that post is so full of bullshit I don't know where to start. First of all, I am sorry that Effexor did not work for you. I wonder if you ever asked your pdoc about trying a different AD?

Secondly, you do *not* get addicted to Effexor. If you were, you would crave it, and need higher and higher amounts to satisfy that craving. What you are talking about is *dependence.* Diabetics are dependent on insulin. Unlike Diabetics, we can be weaned off of the meds, but it can be difficult. That is not addiction.

What kind of psychiatrist makes a living taking mentally ill patients *off* of psycho-active drugs? Not a very good one.

Thirdly:

It took a good 6-8 months after my last dose of Effexor that I really had 'stabilized' and started to feel like my old self. I've been off Effexor and haven't touched an SSRI or SNRI in 4 years and I feel so much more alive. Music, movies and even aromas and sounds just feel more 'real'. It's like 3 dimensions vs. 2. I've also got my old creativity back and have written more in the past 3-4 years than in the 10 years before while on the meds. I think the trick is to embrace feeling your emotions and realize you can control what you focus on and what emotions you trigger. If you focus on looking at the opportunities and positive possibilities in every area of life instead of the negatives, fears etc then you empower yourself and the more you do it the easier it becomes. I simply never let myself go 'down that road' into negative thinking so I don't ever start down the path to anxiety or depression. I haven't had even one relapse of any of my old issues since I've been off meds. I've simply forced myself to have a healthy outlook on life no matter what happens. Daily exercise helps a lot too.

Are you fucking kidding me? Just don't be negative? If you "empower" yourself, you won't suffer your mental illness anymore? Should we also snap out of it? Mental illnesses are biological illnesses, like heart disease and cancer.

Maybe you are in remission, or maybe you were misdiagnosed. But the facts of your life have no bearing on the facts of our lives. And you have absolutely zero data to back up your assertions.

I think the point I meant to make in writing this post is that many doctors/psychiatrists etc often don't realize just how powerful the withdrawal effects of many of the SSRI's and SNRI's are. They often mislead patients into thinking that the withdrawal effects are the 'return' of the 'illness' (depression, anxiety, panic etc) when in fact it's nothing of the sort. it's simply your brain is craving the drug and it takea while...many months sometimes...before it adjust to it's new chemical reality. Often when you take a drug that artificially boosts some chemical (like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine etc) your body and brain's ability to make the chemical itself actually lessens to a much weaker state than before you took the drug because it is now relying on the 'pill' to unnaturally boost these hormones or chemicals in the brain. When you stop taking the drug your body/brain needs a few weeks or months just to 'get up to speed' to where it used to be...since it has atrophied it's ability to make these chemicals in the amounts necessary for so long. Think of it as if you were wearing a cast on one arm and no cast on another. When the cast is removed that arm is weaker than it ever was because it didn't have to use any of the muscle all the while it was in the cast. It could take weeks or months to strengthen that arm just back to a 'normal' strength again since it has atrophied the muscle for so long.

And you got your information about psychiatrists, where, exactly? Am I supposed to believe you, who clearly has his head up his ass, or my pdoc, who had 6-8 years of post-grad training? What about the fact that medications make me feel better, not worse? Should I listen to you just because your *psychologist* girl friend told you to spread anti-psychiatry propaganda on internet?

This is a pro-psychiatry, pro-medication site. We do not encourage people to stop taking their meds, here. Are you going to continue your anti-scientific treatises? Because if you are, you might want to think about hanging out elsewhere.

[matthewmurphyj]

I found that Remeron least inhibited my cognitive functions. Though not a SSRI, it is a potent and effective antidepressant and may be the solution to your problem.

[chitownkel]

I know this is an old post but just adding my .02.  The meds that affect my creativity the *most* is definitely Lexapro.  I only take 20mg a day but when I only dropped to half - boom - major motivation and all kinds of ideas for my writing and art started popping.  Then I went down to none and it was fantastic.  But of course that went straight into hypomania which meant - right back onto my full dose of Lexapro -- and just like that, back to "blah and balanced".  It sincerely sucks doesn't it?  I have a writing workshop starting tomorrow (which of course I signed up for during my recent 'lexapro vacation') and I'm kinda dreading it.  "I got nothing" = EXACTLY.

 

Also I'm on Adderall - which has had no effect on my creative output (thank God).  And I'm also on Lamictal 300 mg a day for bipolar which I worried would wipe it right out.  I feel it affected it but nowhere *near* what lex has done.  I doubt my pdoc will allow me to switch to Effexor since I'm finally even keel now and sounds like Effexor might lead to mania. 

 

Anyways - just my exp; YMMV, but hope that helps.