← Back to all stories

SNRIs Experience

Age: 18–25  ·  Duration of use: 1–2 years  ·  Current status: Yes, still taking
Symptoms: Anhedonia

In December of 2024, I was given duloxetine (an SNRI) in order to treat me for depression. At the time I found it weird since I didn’t suffer from depression. It turned out I suffered from ME. The doctors misdiagnosed me and I took an SNRI, trusting them anyway.

I only took one dose of the SNRI and it sent me into severe panic and triggered severe OCD that, after over a year, hasn’t left me.

Ironically, me taking the medication left me more mentally vulnerable, and even my own family has told me that I am no longer the same in terms of mental health.

With that said, I’ve been able to taper off all antidepressant meds after I had dabbled with them in order to fix the OCD that the SNRI initially triggered. CBT, EMDR, and ERP exercises have helped a lot. Unfortunately, it sucks that a single dose of an antidepressant caused such a poor reaction in me. Thank you.

Has a prescribed medication affected your life?

Share Your Story