Don't fear the SSRIs. They get a bad rap because they've been blown way out of proportion from what I've seen. I have a co-worker who didn't just treat his MCD with Zoloft, IT WAS CURED ENTIRELY. He hasn't needed it or taken it for something like 5 years now and he's still just fine.

The truly dangerous ones - and this is also not as bad as it sounds most of the time - are MAOIs. They're reserved as a last-line treatment in most cases, and it's because SSRIs are quite a bit safer the vast majority of the time.

So don't let the bad rap SSRIs get scare you off; talk to a doctor before you come to any conclusions whatsoever!

Worst side effect I ever had on an SSRI was from paroxetine, and it actually worked to my benefit, at least until I had to get off the medication for financial reasons. Let's just say the woman I was dating at the time was REALLY happy to never find herself "unsatisfied" if you know what I mean! I was never satisfied, though, so yeah that was kind of a bummer, but that was honestly the worst side effect I ever experienced. And I've been on nearly every one there is (at least in the US anyway).