topic SSRIs and time to work in Anxiety

SSRIs and time to work

AnxietyGirl74 — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:55:22 GMT

Hi There,

I started on an SSRI 11 days ago and have not yet started feeling any better. I had to come off an SNRI. Anxiety is really bad and I’m awake from 4am. It’s really tough! How long should it be before I start to feel better? I need some hope that this is going to work. Anyone have any ideas of things that might help?

Thanks.

AnxietyGirl74

SSRIs and time to work

PamelaR — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 11:34:23 GMT

Hello Anxiety Girl

Welcome to Beyond Blue (BB) forums. You'll find the people here are supportive, friendly, caring and respect individual's privacy.

We're not counsellors or therapists. Though we do try to help, sometimes through sharing our experience of mental illness, to let you know you're not alone.

I have anxiety and depression, when I first started taking antidepressants it took at least 4-6 weeks to have any affect. However, each person is different and I would suggest you talk with your gp if you are concerned about how you're feeling.

If you want to talk about how to manage your ongoing anxiety and depression - do a google search for:

Beyond Blue - anxiety

Beyond Blue - depression

Kind regards

PamelaR

SSRIs and time to work

AnxietyGirl74 — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 11:49:35 GMT

Thank you! It’s great to know I’m not alone... 😊

SSRIs and time to work

PamelaR — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:30:36 GMT

Yeah, isn't it AnxietyGirl

There are quite a number of us out there.

SSRIs and time to work

geoff — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 19:51:25 GMT

Hello AnxietyGirl, I agree with PamelaR everyone is different so we can't really determine how long it's going to take.

For some people it works straight away, they are the lucky ones, while a lot of us have to wait until it gradually settles down in our own symptoms.

I also take SSRI and have for a long time, however I was put on them straight away on a low dose so there was no dry out period, that's what my GP thought would be the best.

This depends totally on your doctor and each one is completely different.

Geoff.

SSRIs and time to work

AnxietyGirl74 — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 20:59:58 GMT

Thank you, Geoff. Do you recall how long it took for sleep to return?

SSRIs and time to work

geoff — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 22:26:55 GMT

Hi AnxietyGirl, thanks for getting back to us.

I'm sorry that sleep seems to be a problem for you, this can always be a major issue for many people.

I have to take a heavy dose of 2 anti-epileptic medication which also makes me sleepy but it's annoying to me and I only wish I could pass some on to you.

Once your body becomes accustomed to the drug then your bodily functions should return and if not then go back to your doctor, they need to be advised either way.

Please let me know.

Geoff.

SSRIs and time to work

AnxietyGirl74 — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 20:42:29 GMT

Thanks Geoff and PamelaR,

I’m seeing the doctor again tomorrow. I am just so sick of feeling so rotten. I’m really worried I will never feel normal again...😢 It has now been 2 weeks on the new medication and I am sick of feeling like this. It’s really wearing me down.

It will get better, won’t it?

AnxietyGirl74

SSRIs and time to work

PamelaR — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 07:40:19 GMT

Oh, yes it will get better AnxietyGirl74. So glad to hear you're going to your GP.

You won't know yourself once you're there. Something to remember is - it is ongoing self management to get the best out of life. Total pits! However, caring for yourself does help in the long term. Have a look at the Staying Well forum for hints about what we all do to keep us feeling good. And what we do if we have a downer. There is loads of positive stuff.

Good luck with the doctor's tomorrow. Thinking of you.

Kind regards

PamelaR

SSRIs and time to work

IreneM — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 07:53:48 GMT

Hello Anxiety Girl

I was on an Antidepressant for over three years and it wasn't an SSRI. SSRI is just one of several Anti-depressant drug groups. Do a search for SSRI if you want to know more, just like PamelaR suggested.

You said also, that it's only 11 days since starting on it. I would allow up to a month to start receiving benefits. As PamelaR has suggested, the forums here are great as well especially when you're still down and waiting for treatment to kick in, or waiting for an appointment with a Psychologist or Counsellor.

There are many natural things that you can do for Depresssion and Anxiety also. For example, I took my other half to see a Dr who wanted to put him onto an anti-depressant and he refused, due to seeing many people die from the long-term effects of anti-depressants. So the Dr suggested Fish Oil. This got us curious so we did some research.

We found that one Fish Oil benefit is that it increases Serotonin, a substance in our body that makes us feel good and happy. So we did more on Serotonin and found that Sunlight increases it also. So we started our day with a cuppa in the sun, this makes a big difference.

So hang in there, Anxiety Girl.

SSRIs and time to work

IreneM — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 08:07:50 GMT

Please be patient Anxiety Girl.

If you don't start to see results within another two weeks, go back to your doctor.

For Sleep: if you are not on any medications that are sedative (makes you sleepy) like Geoff and I, try doing some of the other things that I do:

* Don't eat too much in the last few hours before going to bed, if you do, make sure that they are high potassium fruit (Potassium and Magnesium are natural relaxants). If your digestive system is too busy trying to digest food it can keep you awake.

* Nightcap - Have warm milk drink just before bed, I have a warm milk and honey. If dairy is an issue, try alternative milks like soy or almond milk. My sister had hot milk and water. After 5 or 6 pm I just have chamomile tea which is also relaxing, and my nightcap as the last drink.

* Meditation or relaxation music in the background quietly can also help.

* If your head is full of negative thoughts, try and use a journal to let go of any negative feelings before you drop off, and do it in low light, too much light can wake you up. Avoid electronics during this time.

SSRIs and time to work

Tams20 — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 09:50:23 GMT

Hi Anxiety Girl,

Definitely go back to your doctor if you don’t start to feel better, or start to feel worse. I have just come off SSRIs after 3 months because they were making me much worse. I was prescribed SSRIs for anxiety and depression and I have just been diagnosed with Bipolar II. They were the wrong meds for me.

One thing I did when I went to my GP was write down details of what I had been experiencing and feeling (based on advice I had received from these forums). I did it because I wasn’t sure how honest I would be talking about it, but it proved very useful. My GP then passed it onto my Psychiatrist in her referral letter and the psych said that she wished everyone did it as it helps them so much.

Good luck - I hope you feel better soon!

Tams

SSRIs and time to work

geoff — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 17:31:31 GMT

Hello AnxietyGirl, what I did a long time ago was turn on the radio to a station playing the music you like, listen to the song playing and don't think about anything negative, hopefully this will help you sleep.

If you listen to a talk back program this will only stimulate your mind, that's not what you want, you need to relax your mind and not get it thinking.

Hope this helps.

Geoff.