How long did it take for your SSRI medication to work?

[MisterM]

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.

[geoff]

dear MM, I take a SSRI AD and it was for my depression as well as my OCD, and we have to remember that everyone is different when they are taking AD's, however for me the AD didn't work straight away, but this is for me, but after I had overcome my depressionthey have held it and even though I have had relapses, but these only lasted for a couple of days, because I knew that I would get better, so my doctor wanted me to stay on this particular SSRI at the start waiting for them to start working.

Now for my OCD well I still do them but I think that now they have improved, because I have been asked or I have commented a few times on whether they help or not, but there is no pill that will get you stop doing OCD, just lessen the thought of doing habits or rituals.

So I would stay on this particular SSRI, and I forgot to say that I'm on the max. dose, so basically it has stopped my depression reoccurring for a long period and it has helped with my OCD. Geoff.

[MisterM]

Thank you Geoff 🙂

[Selkie]

Hi there Mr M,

if you're feeling better, then the medication is working 🙂 especially if you have no bad side effects to mention!! 😛

[MisterM]

Thanks Selkie.

Yeah I have been lucky with the side effects.

A pharmacist said I must have a strong stomach to taker the dose I take every morning without food without feeling nauseous.