Experiences with Medication

[AJ2014]

Before I start If you are able to respond to my post please keep in mind the following forum rule that threads and post may be removed if it "makes any reference to specific prescription medication names and/or dosages or seeks medical advice"

I have been on medication for a while however over the last 4-5 months I have been unsure it it has been helping. I am keen to know what others experiences have been with medication and how you knew or assessed if the medication was helping or not helping.

My general belief about medication is that if depression is a hole then medication is a ladder. You still need to climb it. I am just not sure if the ladder is broken or I'm just not climbing it. If the ladder is still good then lately I have found it harder and harder to climb it.

[Kazzl]

Hi AJ - firstly I must say what an excellent description that is - medication is the ladder out of the depression hole, but we still need to climb it. It doesn't necessarily take us to the top of hole without some effort on our part. I might borrow that description if that's OK! 😊

I have been on anti-despressants for years and I do know that sometimes they can start to lose their effectiveness. I have had to change from one type to another (from an SSRI to an SSNRI), and I have also had to increase the dosage from time to time (on doctor's instructions).

I know from others' experiences too that sometimes your doc might need to try a couple of different drugs to find the one that works best for you.

I think if you are concerned that the drugs aren't doing their job you need to speak to your doc. Could be the ladder's not high enough, or it's the wrong ladder.

Best wishes

Kaz

[JZee]

Hi 😊 From my own experience, on first diagnosis with depression I was prescribed a very popular SSRI that in hindsight didn't actually work that well. At the time I believed it would help, and it did a little, even if it was only a placebo effect. after a while it seemed like I didn't need it anymore so I stopped (with advice of my doc of course). Later I had a relapse and started taking the same medication again, only it made the symptoms far worse! Quickly made the switch to a different type as we were dealing with both depression plus anxiety this time, it really made all the difference. Sometimes it can be a bit of trial and error, but finding a med that works can give you a leg up that ladder and your doc is there to help if you want to consider other options.

[Cwideoraefta]

Different medications work in different ways, and sometimes the same medication will work in different ways in different people.

Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to let you know whether your medications have a range of time frames in which they can be normally expected to work. I know that most of the antidepressants I used to take needed two to three weeks to start working, but that some people need a little longer and others need less time.