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MisterM How long did it take for your SSRI medication to work?
  • replies: 4

For those of you taking SSRI medication, how many weeks did it take until you noticed a considerable difference to your thoughts and feelings? I am just curious as to when I should see the full benefit of the drug. I am on it for anxiety and depressi... View more

For those of you taking SSRI medication, how many weeks did it take until you noticed a considerable difference to your thoughts and feelings? I am just curious as to when I should see the full benefit of the drug. I am on it for anxiety and depression. I have been on the full prescribed dose for 22 days now after starting off on lower doses to avoid adverse side effects, I have noticed I am calmer and not as depressed as I was before. However my obsessive worries have not stopped, some days I am fine but then the obsessive worrying comes back. I think I may have Pure OCD. I want to remain on this drug for a few months to see if that goes away if not I will need to speak to my GP and/or prescribing psychiatrist for perhaps an increase in dose or switching to another drug. My psychiatrist is confident I do not need a higher dose. My psychiatrist told me to start the count from the time I first took the full dose prescribed and that I should continue to see improvements over time. I just worry it won't fully rid me of my obsessive thoughts/worries.

masterfuleve SSRI seems to have stopped working
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. What a great resource! I have been taking SSRIs for around 7 years - with an increase in dosage about 3 years ago. Last year I reduced the dosage again - but my anxiety returned - my GP increased it again - but I s... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. What a great resource! I have been taking SSRIs for around 7 years - with an increase in dosage about 3 years ago. Last year I reduced the dosage again - but my anxiety returned - my GP increased it again - but I seem to be worse! Generalised anxiety and now my old friend depression!! I haven't suffered from depression for years and now it's back!! Can they just stop working? Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!

mirnz help needed please
  • replies: 29

Hi there, I don't know where to begin. I'm stuck and I feel so alone. I suffer from ocd and have been on anti depressants for almost a decade. I have come off them for a few months now. That is amazing and such an accomplishment but I am going back t... View more

Hi there, I don't know where to begin. I'm stuck and I feel so alone. I suffer from ocd and have been on anti depressants for almost a decade. I have come off them for a few months now. That is amazing and such an accomplishment but I am going back to were I started. I don't know what to do anymore :"( I don't want to go back on medication because they gave me such strange side effects. I tried so many types for so many years all were good yet with nasty embarrassing side effects. I suffer from acid reflux and is due to the anxiety and depression. I am always tired and fatigued. I feel so alone.... I have been undergoing cbt for a couple years and see a little difference but it's so hard although I won't give up. I just want to be able to find something that works for me I just can't.

G0nz0 Hair loss and unusual bruising on antidepressants?
  • replies: 4

Hello, I noticed recently that when I shower my hair is falling out more than usual, it's not super excessive but I'm losing maybe 2-3 times more than normal for me. I also discovered several bruises but I am almost certain I didn't hit myself on any... View more

Hello, I noticed recently that when I shower my hair is falling out more than usual, it's not super excessive but I'm losing maybe 2-3 times more than normal for me. I also discovered several bruises but I am almost certain I didn't hit myself on anything. Some of the blemishes are more like clusters of broken capillaries rather than regular bruises. This began about 2 weeks ago and for a while there I wasn't sure why it could be happening until I finally added it up and the only thing that has changed is that almost 3 weeks ago my psychiatrist increased my antidepressant dosage. I've done a bit of research and I saw that these are some of the relatively uncommon side effects.. I guess I didn't think it could possibly be related because I didn't experience anything like this when I initially began taking the antidepressant on the lowest dose. Should I tell my doctor and is this something particularly concerning or will just it pass? Any advice would be appreciated. Thankyou

deer2 bio feed back
  • replies: 2

hi my name is deer2 I have been suffering for years with bipolar 2, complex post traumatic disorder. cant seem too get better.have extreme ups and downs. struggling with life in general!! just wondering if any one has had or tried bio feed back??? do... View more

hi my name is deer2 I have been suffering for years with bipolar 2, complex post traumatic disorder. cant seem too get better.have extreme ups and downs. struggling with life in general!! just wondering if any one has had or tried bio feed back??? does it really work???

Amy_G what does it feel like when meds start working?
  • replies: 7

I recently started on my third AD, I tried two SSRIs before but they didn't do anything, so now I'm trying an SNRI. My problem is that I don't know how I'm supposed to know when one starts working? What does it feel like? And is it possible that I wo... View more

I recently started on my third AD, I tried two SSRIs before but they didn't do anything, so now I'm trying an SNRI. My problem is that I don't know how I'm supposed to know when one starts working? What does it feel like? And is it possible that I won't really notice it, like if it was gradual? I'm just worried that I won't be able to see that one is working and that I'll just keep trying new meds forever... - Amy G

MisterM Since starting AD medication almost a month ago I felt great then today a lapse
  • replies: 6

I don't know what has happened. Since starting my SSRI medication almost a month ago I was feeling better, calmer and more positive. All of a sudden today I have lapsed into a depressed state with negative thoughts and feelings. I didn't sleep much l... View more

I don't know what has happened. Since starting my SSRI medication almost a month ago I was feeling better, calmer and more positive. All of a sudden today I have lapsed into a depressed state with negative thoughts and feelings. I didn't sleep much last night, perhaps that is why and plus I think I upset my friend today (hard to tell with online messages as things get misconstrued, maybe I am reading too much into it and making something out of nothing) which has me in a low mood. I've been worrying about not being able to find work so couldn't sleep well last night. Plus two of my friends have found work recently which makes me feel more useless. Are lapses common when on medication? Or was this all a placebo effect for me.

ala just starting out on medication
  • replies: 4

Hi. I have just been prescribed medication for depression and anxiety today. I have had my doctor telling me for over 12 months that I need medication and had given me scripts but I never filled them. I am so nervous about taking medication! I know I... View more

Hi. I have just been prescribed medication for depression and anxiety today. I have had my doctor telling me for over 12 months that I need medication and had given me scripts but I never filled them. I am so nervous about taking medication! I know I need to but ....anyhow, I filled my prescription and decided I need support to get through this journey so here I am.

Snoman Weaning my house of cards
  • replies: 4

I have enough side effects from my current AD that tI am keen to get off it. I have been doing really well thanks also to my psych. About 4 months ago I spoke to my GP about my concerns of coming off the current AD - it is know for severe withdrawal ... View more

I have enough side effects from my current AD that tI am keen to get off it. I have been doing really well thanks also to my psych. About 4 months ago I spoke to my GP about my concerns of coming off the current AD - it is know for severe withdrawal side effects. She suggested possibly switching to a very similar one that is kinder on the system. Problem is that it is much harder to wean off that one. Anyway, I have started to wean off my current AD (with the intention of staying off meds). It is a capsule, so I can count out the little beads inside. I started weaning in the first week of January, and have only just gotten down to 75% of my original dose. I keep a log as it is important to do this right. On days that I reduce my dose, I am only dropping my about 0.07% of my original dose. Some days I don't reduce. I base this on how I am feeling and how much I need to be stable in the coming week. The process is working really well. Mostly I have been feeling better than I have for years. My only issue is that my emotions are as stable as a house of cards on a wobbly table. It doesn't take much to fall apart. I had one very awful weekend and have since been more mindful of when to reduce. I have taken up taekwondo as part of the replacement to my meds - exercise is so helpful in combating depression. Days when I have training tend to be good days to reduce my dose. I always feel much better after a session. The fragility of my mood tends to keep me away from the BB forums. I know that once I stop reducing my meds (because I will be free of them), then my mood will be come more stable. Snoman

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