Medication - does it get worse before it gets better?

[Matt_VG]

Hi there

This year has been hard. Anxiety with some depression. I've been doing everything I can in terms of lifestyle changes but in the end I surrendered to needing medication to help while I work through everything.

I wasn't able to sleep much and felt in flight mode all the time/ hypervigilant.

I started medication and it helped calm me and helped sleep quite a bit too. My mood was still not fantastic and my psychiatrist suggested changing the dose

I've been on that now for over 2 weeks and pretty much after starting, my anxiety increased and sleep worsened a bit. I've had some good days to but overall I'm hypervigilant again,

What is others' experience? does the 'get worse before it gets better' last for a while sometimes?

I don't know where else to turn to and it's been really hard for me. To know if staying on this dose is right or not... At the moment I'm taking her advice but i guess part of me is just looking for reassurance

[Sophie_M]

Hi Matt VG,

Welcome to the forums. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really difficult time but have made some great steps in getting some support and starting medication. We think sharing this here is a wonderful thing to have done. Our welcoming community are very understanding, and many will have some perspectives and experiences to share with you once they spot your post.

It is important to remember that treatment is a journey and can be different for everyone, so it’s important to seek all advice from your prescribing doctor or seek a second opinion from a differing doctor. However, this is a really great space to hear from people who can relate to what you're going through.

Thanks again for sharing here. This is a judgment-free space, so please feel free to share, knowing that you'll be met with understanding.

Kind regards,

Sophie M

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Matt VG,

Welcome to the forums and thank you for joining us. I don't think medication is a surrender; it can just be another part of your mental health care and it sounds like you're doing all the right things.

To answer your question- sometimes.

(I know, so helpful 🙂

I've been on A LOT of medications and some have had side effects so bad I couldn't take another med, others I had to jump around doses, others felt pointless, and others helpful. Medications are always tricky because there's no way to know how each of us is going to respond to it.

It sounds like the smaller dose helped in the beginning, but got worse once you upped it.. from my own experiences one of the things that helped is trying to go lower again. Is this something that you could talk to your GP about? Ultimately they know you best so can hopefully provide more reassurance and the next steps.

I hope you find what's right for you.

rt

[Petal22]

Hi Matt VG,

Wellcome to our forums!

Im sorry you are feeling this way.

I suffered with severe anxiety OCD, I was put on a antidepressant to help manage my anxiety….. in my experience my medication did make things worse before they got better. I’m fine now though

I believe medication and therapy go hand in hand I did both.

Have you done any type of therapy?