Antidepressants

[EndureEmo]

finaly got on medication today for my depression!,
finaly got mum to take me to the docters about it,
she noticed im acting different worst, than i usally am!
so its going to take a week or so to start working but im glad
i finaly got help with my depression
iv know iv had it for a year or so now...
the docters getting me more help too!

[Thirteen]

That's great! But, keep in mind that if you feel something different (in a bad way), where you suspect you might hurt yourself, or worse, contact your doctor right away! If you can't contact them, go to an emergency room!

Anti-depressants work differently on different people. Some find the right medication right away, whereas other people need to go through a trial-and-error process until they find one that helps them.

I wish you the best, and hope this medication works well for you.

[IanSmith]

oh no, soo sad, but please do everything, but don't take medicine, this is worst solution of all...

[EndureEmo]

how is it bad that im on the medication? its going to help me!

[david2357]

meds are over-rated. just telling u this so u arent disappointed. im not telling u this out of a "meds are bad" belief, im telling u this from personal experience. They really dont work all that well.

[Ghost On The Highway]

If you don't mind my asking, what are you on? I agree with Julz that these medications work differently for different people, but there are some side effects that are highly medication-specific.

I used to agree with you David...but it's all a matter of staying on the right med at the right dose for several months. When I go off my meds, it only takes a few days for me to disintegrate completely, and I would attribute very little of my depression relapsing to the "reverse placebo" effect. I do understand where you're coming from though -- Wellbutrin generic, for example, was like a sugar pill for me.

Ian, yes, these meds are scary. I plan to get off of them as soon as possible, but for now, I need them to function, to graduate, to live my life. It's the lesser of two evils for many people. If I wasn't on meds, I probably would end up dropping out of school, losing several friends and my job, alienating my family, and committing suicide out of shame, fear, and disgust. On them, I have several awful side effects and fear for my long-term mental/cognitive health, but at least I'm here today, waiting for something better.

Situational depression (i.e. due to grieving, stress, relationship troubles, etc.) is the worst time to take meds. When your life sucks and you know it, don't mask the problem with "happy pills," try to work it out in therapy, through meditation, diet, exercise, etc. Then try the pills if nothing else works.

Do some research online. Doctors, especially general practitioners, aren't always knowledgeable or even completely honest about the effects of these pills, and they're often pushy about increasing dosage, adding additional meds, etc. Do be aware that "groupthink" abounds in patients reporting mental side effects though, several of the patient "horror stories" are blown completely out of proportion. And people who have problems on the drugs are more likely to share their stories than people experiencing moderate improvement.

Don't hesitate to PM me if you have any ?'s, I hope you feel better soon .

[EndureEmo]

Originally Posted by Ghost On The Highway

If you don't mind my asking, what are you on?

I have been prescribed Lovan for my depression .

[Ghost On The Highway]

How's it going so far? Hope you're feeling a little better already.

Apparently Lovan=Prozac=Fluoxetine if you want to do a little research. I took generic fluoxetine for about a month and. to be honest, it didn't help me very much. Of course, I was almost catatonic when I started, suicidal, hopeless, etc. The "only" side effect I noticed was insomnia, which I'm sure didn't help at all and was the reason I discontinued the medication. That started pretty much immediately. I don't remember much else from that time, except that I improved enough to go on a mission trip to New Orleans, helped a person in great need, and was quiet as a churchmouse. My depression is seasonal though, and this was winter, and a stressful one at that. I have yet to be on another antidepressant during the winter (now on Effexor), and I'm afraid even this one won't make a difference.

[EndureEmo]

the doctor said the medication wont start working for a few weeks, and even after that i can get worst during the first 2 months of taking the medication. so hopefully i just keep on the medication for like 3 or 4 months or untill i feel much better, im not looking farward to the part i get bad on the medication tho. so i really scare myself alot sometimes and i dont want the to happen again just coz of the medication!

[Kyeto-X]

Depression meds are the type of medication that takes a while to build up in your system. It takes a few weeks for the right level of drug to build up in your brain to actually START doing work. So, KEEP TAKING YOUR MEDS ESPECIALLY IF YOU START FEELING BETTER!!! Keep in contact with your doctor and let him know how you are feeling and what is working and what is not working.

And like Jay was saying, don't corner yourself in with this pills. Try different therapies and treatments. Keep working your lifestyle out into something that works the best for you.

[Dr.Bobby]

Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I think it crosses the line into blatant irresponsibility and selfishness when it is offered without being specifically asked for, and when it directly contradicts a trained medical professionals assessment performed in real life. One's personal experience with something as complicated as anti depressants isn't necessarily generalizable onto others, especially when they express relief and optimism for beginning a new treatment for a disorder that has troubled them for some time.

Ok, that said, when properly used, anti depressants can provide significant relief to many of the more difficult symptoms associated with depression. Like any medication, your results may vary, but typically, it takes about a month or so for the newer varieties to be adjusted to the level that provides therapeutic relief. Until then, you might feel better, worse, or nothing at all, as well as the side effects your doctor told you about. Stay with it, be in touch with him, especially if you experience any negative reaction.

[Ghost On The Highway]

Originally Posted by Dr.Bobby

Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I think it crosses the line into blatant irresponsibility and selfishness when it is offered without being specifically asked for, and when it directly contradicts a trained medical professionals assessment performed in real life. One's personal experience with something as complicated as anti depressants isn't necessarily generalizable onto others, especially when they express relief and optimism for beginning a new treatment for a disorder that has troubled them for some time.

I agree wholeheartedly with the last half of your post, but that first statement troubles me. Truth is, these pills are often prescribed to people who don't really need them by people who don't really care. I literally told some PNP that I was depressed and feeling hopeless, and 15 mins later I had a prescription for Zoloft, very few questions asked. Then again, my last psychiatrist was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. It's just a matter of finding the right people and the right drugs, if drugs are even necessary.

[Dr.Bobby]

Originally Posted by Ghost On The Highway

I agree wholeheartedly with the last half of your post, but that first statement troubles me. Truth is, these pills are often prescribed to people who don't really need them by people who don't really care. I literally told some PNP that I was depressed and feeling hopeless, and 15 mins later I had a prescription for Zoloft, very few questions asked. Then again, my last psychiatrist was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. It's just a matter of finding the right people and the right drugs, if drugs are even necessary.

Agreed!

Medications are most effective when their use results from an accurate assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan from experienced professionals who specialize in the presenting problem. In the absence of that, like anything else improperly used, the results will be less than optimal.

My concern is the over generalization of one's own, unique experience onto another's. It's understandable that one would feel negatively about a treatment that didn't work. However, as you correctly note, outcome is much more a function of an accurate assessment and diagnosis, the medication (and it's effectiveness) is simply the result of that process.

[Ghost On The Highway]

Originally Posted by Dr.Bobby

Agreed!

Medications are most effective when their use results from an accurate assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan from experienced professionals who specialize in the presenting problem. In the absence of that, like anything else improperly used, the results will be less than optimal.

My concern is the over generalization of one's own, unique experience onto another's. It's understandable that one would feel negatively about a treatment that didn't work. However, as you correctly note, outcome is much more a function of an accurate assessment and diagnosis, the medication (and it's effectiveness) is simply the result of that process.

Exactly. (10 char)