do many side effects = effectiveness, for anti-depressants, and vice versa???

hope4joy · ‎04-06-2016

Hi there,

I've just started a new anti depressant and I'm concerned by a comment my psychiatrist said. She said that anecdotally anti depressant medications that cause many side effects in a person are normally the ones that are most effective, and ones that cause few side effects usually don't work so well. I'd like to know if this has been your experience - that the most successful medications also had many side effects???

I guess I'm worried because I've found an anti depressant that helps me to some extent (SNRI) but I'm unhappy with the side effects so am trying out new meds, at the moment i've started a new one (tricyclic) and i'm scared it wont work because i'm not having any side effects.

Thanks!

blondguy · ‎05-06-2016

Hi Hope

My GP started me on AD's in 1997 after my anxiety spiked so much I really had no other treatment available as I was anti-meds at the time. The list of side effects was long and I just wanted to heal so I didnt take that much notice.

I do understand your question though...My AD's didnt have any side effects but worked a charm even though they were prescribed for severe anxiety. Your psych was being caring by mentioning that 'the ones that work have many side effects' You have a very good psychiatrist hope4joy 🙂

I have found that analyzing any meds and their side effects only made me more anxious and over sensitized. (thats just me though)

I have read many of your posts and always a treat to see you. I hope some of this has been a help to you

be gentle to yourself 🙂

Paulx

hope4joy · ‎06-06-2016

Hi Paul,

thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and kindness in your reply. It is special to know that you've noticed my presence on the forum. I actually came on yesterday and read this thread and another one that I'll tend to shortly, and I bawled my eyes out. To be seen is something I haven't had much of... i'm much more used to being invisible... and this this hit a tender nerve. And it gave me some much needed energy. I have one major uni assessment left and trying to write it is like trying to run through treacle... not that i've tried that before 🙂 but it is gruelling, like I have to pull each word out of my head, one by one. And I need 1500 words. Anyway I'll get there I suppose, but depression sure makes it tough. And acute anxiety too. But such is the thing with mental illness, it doesn't wait for convenient times to set in.

But coming back to this post and your reply, I see what you mean, that my psych might have been trying to lessen the impact of the side effects. I clarified with her today and she said that it can go either way and that no side effects can also mean a successful medication. Its also really nice that you found a medication that has worked for you. Do you mean you've been on the same one since that first prescription? (which sounds great!) Or have you had to jump around a bit? Or maybe don't take any these days?

And you're right too, over analysing never helps. Its hard dealing with the uncertainty to see if a new medication will work or not. I guess many of us have had to go through that and often many times. Waiting games are hard. I guess there is also so much hope too, hope that it'll work, but being scared to hope too much in case it falls through. I think i'm starting to Ramble Paul.

Thank you for helping lift my spirits yesterday,

Kindness and gentleness right back at you 🙂

Christina

White_Rose · ‎06-06-2016

Hello Christina

Like Paul I have seen some of your posts but not had the opportunity to talk to you before. Nice to meet you.

My experience of ADs is a bit woeful. I went through at least a dozen and I think they were all SSRIs. At that stage I didn't know much about types of medication. Eventually my psych settled me on an SSRI plus a SNRI. These are not usually given together and I remember the pharmacist querying it. What your psychiatrist said about no side effects = no good for you. I tried several drugs which had no side effects (yippee), but did nothing for my depression (boo). I had some which were horrendous and possibly if the side effects had subsided would have been great.

I staggered along with the SSRI/SNRI combination until I left this psych. My GP tried me on another SSRI which had some side effects but I put up with them. SSRI and SNRI are the latest drug group, although my doctor said there was a new group 'on the market' but I have no idea what they are. Tricyclic drugs are the oldest group for depression and have a broader spread.

In retrospect I think this AD was not as helpful as it could be. Then I was prescribed a medication by an oncologist and this med plus the AD exploded so to speak and I was quite unwell for about six months by the time the cause was determined , going off both and getting well enough to try again. Sounds silly doesn't it? Anyway, the point of this long story is that my GP put me on a tricyclic regime. Started off with a low dose and gradually increased until I was on an even keel. I am happy to report this drug has no side effects other than a dry mouth which I can manage. And THEY WORK. Fantastic!

So go with the new AD and see what happens. Have you been started on a low dose? My GP said it would help to decide if I was going to experience any side effects before I got to the general prescription level. So whether it was because I started low and worked up or because these meds suited me I don't know. THEY WORK.

One assignment left, that's great. What is your degree? I went to uni part time in my 50's. And I loved every minute of it. I wonder if I had gone straight from school if I would have enjoyed it so much.

Hope my struggles with meds helps you.

Mary

blondguy · ‎07-06-2016

Hi Christina

you never ramble...you are a delight to talk too:-) Even though I used to be anti-meds in 1997, I have had to try 2 and went back to the first AD. I have been on it every day for 19 years now.

Thankyou for your kind compliment Christina. It means a great deal to me that I lifted your spirits yesterday:-)

Paulx

hope4joy · ‎08-06-2016

Hi Paul,

That is really reassuring to hear that you found a medication that worked and have been able to stay on it, thank you for sharing. Its so nice to be able to help each other out!

Take good care,

Christina 🙂

White_Rose · ‎09-06-2016

Hello, how are you going? I am checking in with you to see if there are questions you have. And also to remind you that there is always someone here to talk to. Come and chat soon.

Mary

hope4joy · ‎10-06-2016

Hi Mary,

Its nice to meet you too 🙂 Thank you for posting here again and sorry I only just saw your earlier post, I somehow missed it when I replied to Paul. And thank you for sharing your experience with medication Mary, its helpful to know that tricyclics can work! and sorry to hear about some horrible combinations that you were prescribed.

I've just increased the dose and am really noticing the dry mouth, and I notice this is what you said has remained for you. It was difficult yesterday because I had an assessment interview at uni and I ran out of water and my mouth was so dry I sort of choked while trying to talk a few times. I never realised when they said dry mouth that it was this severe until now. I've been craving moist foods and lots of drinks to try to cope with it. The pharmacist said it might go away in time. Do you have any strategies that can help it Mary? Or things you do if you need to do a lot of talking? How do you cope with the dry mouth in general?

I'm also curious because the tricyclic i'm on is meant to make you tired but mine seems to have the opposite effect, it makes me more alert and awake. My psychiatrist has said that at higher doses I'll need to split it across taking it in both the morning and evening. Gosh i'm not even sure what my question is Mary, my thoughts are not very organised at the moment.

I guess for me these has been a sense of panic with trying to find the right anti depressant because I'm studying visual arts - and at the end of July I'm going to the US for a year abroad. It is an amazing opportunity and I got it based on having great grades and also some lucky events to make it 12 instead of 6 months, but lately I've been doubting my ability to cope... and doubting if my depression will subside. This semester at uni has been the hardest thing I've done pretty much ever I think, except for DBT group therapy which was tougher. So I'd like to know that I have medication that helps my depression before I go. And I feel like my psych doesn't validate my concerns with side effects. She has this view that "if it helps you, then side effects are a secondary matter". And yes that is true, but I'm in my mid 30s and I'm looking for a medication I can take long term (if it keeps working) - and the SNRI that worked for me eliminated all aspects of my sexual life, and I feel that is not something I want to give up on a long term basis. So I guess this has made trying meds so much more stressful.

hope4joy · ‎10-06-2016

Hi again, I just ran out of room.

I agree that being a mature-age student is very rewarding. What did you study Mary?

In some ways its hard being mature age student too, being older than almost everyone and also having a richer life experience and just viewing uni so differently. I also have higher expectations maybe and have been disappointed when some of my courses haven't been up to scratch.

Anyway enough from me. Thank you for listening, I really appreciate it.

Christina

hope4joy · ‎13-06-2016

Hi Mary,

do say hi if you pop into this thread, I'd like to chat. My dry mouth has already decreased a fair bit and my mood hasn't really picked up, but I've stopped crying so much and am not so negative... I think it might be working! 🙂

Christina 🙂