Depression medications.

[Trish_M]

I have been taking a SNRI for about 8 weeks now. I started on a half dose and saw my GP after 3 weeks. At this point, my GP doubled the dose. Initially, I felt better but perhaps it was a placebo affect because honestly, after 8 weeks, I truely don't feel any different or better. What should I be able to expect from AD medication?

After 8 weeks, I still feel very depressed, am teary most days, have withdrawn from social contact, sleep badly, am completely exhausted and feel leaden and joyless.

Is this normal? Should I have noticed some improvement by now?

Any suggestions?

[geoff]

dear Trish, thanks for posting a comment on the BB site, and what you have asked is a common question, but this doesn't mean that it's not important, because it is.

Your doctor has increased the dosage because it wasn't doing it's job, and when it is increased we tend to have the psychological effect that it will work, but when it doesn't then you need to go back to your doctor and suggest that you want to try another antidepressant from another type, like a SSRI, but it's the clean out of the old medication that is the trouble, but in the long run it maybe better.

Sometimes AD's may not work as well as they should, and I say this because the AD I am taking now didn't have much effect on me for a few years, but then finally I could overcome depression and now it stabilises my illness, so sometimes it's a catch 22 situation.

My doctor who was also a psychologist wanted me to stay on this particular AD because she felt as though it was eventually going to work, so I had trust in her decision and kept on taking it, although now I am on the max dose compared to half the dose with her as she has now left.

Have a talk with your doctor and see what they have to say. L Geoff. x

[REOSpeedwagon]

Hi Trish - I agree with Geoff, the first step should be a revisit to your doctor, they have a lot of latitude in getting the dosage right and then as Geoff suggested maybe a change of type is required.  Most GPs are very good in this area and I hope if you don't have one that you are comfortable with you will search a bit wider to find one that you an better relate too.  Don't give up after 8 weeks, it will get better and you are on the right track.

[Trish_M]

Thank you Geoff and REOSpeedwagon for your replies.

What you both said makes sense. I have an appointment to see my GP on Tuesday coming to discuss my journey with depression and the medication he has put me on. Hopefully I am on the right track and improvement won't be far away.

Regards, Trish M.

[Selkie]

Hi there trish m,

just wanted to quickly add onto what the previous 2 posters wrote. gp's aren't the best for medications. You really need to visit you're local hospital with a mental health ward and speak to a psychiatrist there. 

[Trish_M]

Just wanted to let you all know that finally, with a change in medication, both type and dosage and with the passage of time, I am now feeling so much better. I kept hoping and trying to believe that there was an answer, a light at the end of the tunnel, something, anything to cling onto.

 It seems to me that there isn't one solution for everyone so if you are struggling, my suggestion and my hope for you is to keep connected, keep persisting, please don't lose hope. Thank you also to the wonderful guardian angels here on the Beyond Blue Forums for your time and advice. Bless you.

Now that my brain is working properly, perhaps for the first time in all of my adult life, I am seeing a psychologist who is assisting me in strategies for living to keep me well.

Just for now, I choose to stay in contact only with those people who support my journey and care about me and the affect this horrible illness has had on me. Just for now I am ok. Thank you Beyond Blue for being here for me. X