Dear Jaimo,
Well done for bringing this up (and for responding to a few other threads). The more you communicate about this the better as you want to find the optimum drug and dose in the end. But you know that's only one part of recovery/treatment.
The meds for mental illness seem to have huge differences of "working" or "not working" with individuals. An antidepressant that works for one with depression might cause a manic slide in someone like me with bipolar. An epilepsy drug that is useless in an epileptic might be just the ticket for me (with bipolar). It's never ending. Some drug companies donate in order to get their drug considered. One of my local pysch hospitals even has a ward built/donated by a drug company.
Personally, I don't think it matters how long it takes as even when on an optimum drug and optimum level your mental health can still be affected by stress related life changes, the weather, whether you remembered to take them or even if you accidentally took a double dose. What's more important is for you to have a balanced mindset and maybe even anticipate these med changes. That way you won't have to get anxious about "another" med change or dose change.
I would relax. At least we have meds to try. 100 years ago they would have just locked you in the asylum for life with all the crazies, the pregnant unmarried woman and the guy who flashed his private parts at the Queen one Ascot race meeting. He was giving her a tip. Lol.
I don't mean to make fun of your situation - it's just my style of responding. The meds are important but you also need to find a perspective that can sustain you. It's not the meds that are making you feel like a guinea pig it's your anxiety. At least you're not awaiting discharge from a psych hospital after getting the meds right. You're probably in your home, drinking cocoa and watching Masterchef. Be patient.
On another thread you mentioned 3 different health professionals have given you 3 different diagnosii. I'm a bit surprised you didn't mention that fact in this thread considering your "I'm just a guinea pig" reaction. Don't you think that's important stuff for a responder to know ? I only picked it up because I've been responding for 2 years. Kind of a mixed message. Just saying.
Adios, David.
