topic How effective are medications in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

How effective are medications

Relay_for_life — Tue, 03 May 2016 11:46:15 GMT

I have been prescribed SSRI for anxiety and depression and have been taking them for about 4 months now . Every now and then I have been slightly increasing my dose under supervision of my GP . Symptoms have improved and I am able to function , but I still don't feel like I am my normal self . Still struggling with thoughts and sadness at times . I am also seeing a phycologist . My question does that mean that the medication is not working or may be dose needs to be increased ? How should I feel while I am on medication ? . My thinking is that I am on medication anyway so why I am still feeling like that at times ?

How effective are medications

blondguy — Tue, 03 May 2016 15:58:45 GMT

Hello Relay and Welcome to the Beyond Blue Community

The meds do take time to work. I understand how you feel after 4 months on them. I have had depression for many years and it took a few months for them to 'kick in' with me too.

You have done well to be seeing your therapist and taking the meds. The meds prevent the severe lows and provide you with a platform on which you can heal and recover.With regular counseling combined with the meds you will find some peace.

Your best course of action right now would be to see your GP and let him/her know about the feelings you are having at this early stage. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing so.

You are not alone....there are many kind people on the forums that can be here for you..

Kind Thoughts

Paul

How effective are medications

geoff — Tue, 03 May 2016 19:32:58 GMT

hello Relay for life, I'm sure that this is the million dollar question that we often ask ourselves, but before we start to take any medication for our depression we are so low not only to be able to function, but mentally we feel incapable of doing anything, so when we start to take AD it has an enormous job to try and stabilise our mind, only because it's unbalanced, so it does take awhile for us to begin to recover, however some people are fortunate enough to get the effects almost start away.
You may not feel normal because not only is this medication trying to work, but you yourself have to overcome a great deal of what has been going on, and what you have been struggling with, so it's not like taking a headache tablet where your headache immediately goes away, these particular medications only work slowly and there's a reason for this, because if you or anybody got a 'high' from them, then that would not serve their purpose and not their intention.
It's very possible that your doctor will increase the dosage, as long as you don't have any adverse reactions to them, but it should be done by small increases and if there is not any improvement.
Trying to overcome our depression doesn't mean that it's going to be smooth sailing, because there will be times when feel awful, I'm sorry to say, because you're battling a very difficult illness, so take some pride when you have your good days. Geoff.

How effective are medications

Relay_for_life — Wed, 04 May 2016 01:08:57 GMT

Thanks Paul and Geoff for your kind words and nice support . It is good to remind ourselves at times that depression and anxiety are real and tough and we have a battle that needs to be won against them