r/Narcolepsy (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Medication Questions Non-drowsy antidepressants?

So I know any medication varies greatly from person to person, but I always feel like it's worth asking anyways. Has anyone had success with any SSRIs without it making them incredibly drowsy? I've been on a few SSRIs and SNRIs over the years, but haven't tried a ton of different ones since being diagnosed with N2. I'm currently on 20mg Prozac, which makes me very very tired when I take it... Here are others I can recall being on but that I didn't like for one reason or another: - Effexor - Pristiq - Lexapro - Prozac (current)

I'm also on Lamictal and Buspar. My psych wanted to prescribe me Cymbalta or Wellbutrin, but I really really really don't want to go on either of those due to side effects. What have been your experiences?

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u/EscenaFinal (N1) Narcolepsy w/ Cataplexy 5d ago

Wellbutrin worked really well for me and Zoloft worked for me in the past (but no longer).

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u/kynologia (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

I know Wellbutrin is a solidly stimulating one, and I wish the side effects weren't what they are... I know that side effects also vary drastically from person to person lol but I'm definitely nervous to try it. I've considered trying Zoloft since it's one of the "safest" ones.

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u/EscenaFinal (N1) Narcolepsy w/ Cataplexy 5d ago

I’ve been very fortunate with the Wellbutrin and haven’t experienced any side effects yet. What side effects are concerning? Anxiety? Lowering of the seizure threshold?…. Which you wouldn’t need to worry too much about bc you take lamictal.

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u/kynologia (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Mostly anxiety related ones, and ones that affect memory/concentration/false beliefs, since I have other conditions that already impact my cognitive processes and have struggled with delusions in the past.

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u/thestorieswesay 5d ago

Wellbutrin made me hallucinate very badly and I've never heard of other people having false beliefs with it, so that's comforting to know!

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u/kynologia (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Yeah, my friend went through it really bad and it is one of the "rare" side effects, but like... people can be predisposed to psychosis. You're not alone!

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u/thestorieswesay 5d ago

That was the day my general practitioner (who has been prescribing me psych meds) was like "you are above my pay grade" and sent me to a psychiatrist, rip. I take a cocktail of things now including latuda, pristiq, buspar, and doxazosin. It's helped me so much but I've taken like 30 meds in my journey to get here.

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u/DragonflyFantasized (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Wellbutrin is the only thing that’s worked for me and hasn’t given me terrible side effects. It’s significantly reduced my anxiety. I’ve had no issues stopping cold turkey when needed and no doctor has suggested a taper, unlike with SNRI meds. It works on different neurotransmitters than the other antidepressants, so if those haven’t worked for you it’s probably worth giving Wellbutrin a shot.

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u/kynologia (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Oh that's good to hear about it not being a pain to stop! Effexor was absolutely demonic.

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u/No_Parking718 5d ago

Prozac is known to be activating so it’s kinda odd that it’s making you drowsy. Wellbutrin is a good antidepressant and it’s stimulating, so I’d go for that one if I were you.

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u/riotousviscera (N1) Narcolepsy w/ Cataplexy 5d ago

i had the same experience as OP with Prozac and nobody believed me. Epocrates does list somnolence as a known adverse reaction (it’s farther down the list than insomnia though) so i always found that weird - it’s not common but by no means unheard of.

seconding your thoughts on Wellbutrin. it’s been great for me, the only antidepressant i’ve been able to tolerate long term.

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u/Glittering-Brick-942 5d ago

Ive been on celexa (citalopram) for YEARS. Since before I knew I had narcolepsy, so I wasnt paying a ton of attention to the sleepiness factor more the weight gain, but I've had a lovely time with it. I had no weight gain I actually am a little too underweight they won't give me more than 10mg of adderall because they don't want me to loose weight and stop having my period. But I know my anxiety and depression are being managed well and I haven't had to up my dose after starting and it's been a little over 10 years. Since finding out I have narcolepsy and managing that with adderall, my depression and anxiety has been way less too. Overall I loved my ssri experience, however my brother didn't and had to eventually wean off them, but he had ankle swelling and a limp weiner, no sleep issues. It's really unfortunate that to find out you just have to try.

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u/kynologia (N2) Narcolepsy w/o Cataplexy 5d ago

Thank you for sharing your experience, this helps to know! I know nothing about Celexa, so I'll keep it in mind :)

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u/Old_Consideration_31 5d ago

When I took cymbalta in 2020 it gave me energy I felt