Of all those I have used (and there have been many) Fluoxetine (prozac) was the one with least side effects, and it has such a long half life there is no trouble coming off of it.

I'm now off Citalopram which is the newer drug of choice and replaces Fluoxetine for many situations.  It has more chance of side effects because it has a short half life, but as long as you are ready and able to come off its no problem - I've just done it - you must just ramp down gradually rather than stop dead so please dont fear it. 

It helped stop hot flushes and increased bowel responsiveness (as the major amount of serotonin is snythesised in the bowel) so a part of me is sad that I can't justify taking it any more just to make my life easier.   Its a clear indication of how the medication......and the disorder of depression itself....   has such a physiological action

I was reminded earlier about something that came up in my 'talking therapy' sessions:   how depression leaches the feeling of pleasure out of everything until you end up cerebrally participating in the most incredibly joyful event and feeling absolutely nothing.     I'd urge all of you to conciously decide a few things that make you happy, WHETHER YOU CAN currently FEEL IT OR NOT, and do it regularly.   And ditch daily things you can that make your heart sink.   You have enough to deal with if you are struck with depression, don't aid the illness by making life still harder.....

So,   solitude; books; old wood as furniture or otherwise.... and wooden pegs rather than plastic.   Those are my 'happy things'   carefully nurtured and remembered through several blights of depression.

What are your 'happy, needful things?'